2001 Gmc Jimmy/envoy Slt 4x4 No Reserve 4.3 V6 Chevy Blazer on 2040-cars

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Huge, pricey trucks haul jobs and profits for the Detroit Three

DECATUR, Texas — Mickey McMaster is on his 12th pickup truck. The 61-year old farm equipment dealer in Decatur, Texas, two weeks ago treated himself to a 2019 GMC Denali for around $69,000 — a reward for long hours at work. "For me this is the Cadillac of trucks, it's a real luxury vehicle," McMaster said. "I've worked my way up to afford a truck like this and it shows that I've earned it." McMaster is the kind of customer General Motors Co is banking on as it plans to add 1,000 jobs at a plant in Flint, Michigan that will build a new generation of its largest pickups. Demand from Texas and other heartland states for big pick-ups is providing a lifeline to many workers the No. 1 U.S. automaker is laying off at plants elsewhere. The Detroit Three automakers and thousands of their U.S. workers are counting on customers like McMaster to keep buying bigger and more luxurious pickup trucks even if overall U.S. vehicle demand weakens this year, as most analysts predict. At Flint, GM will build a new generation of its heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierras, including luxury models that are some of the most profitable vehicles on the planet. GM, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV's Ram division own the segment and are each doubling down with new or redesigned models launching this year. Sales of heavy-duty pickups in the United States have grown to more than 600,000 vehicles a year, up more than 20 percent since 2013, according to industry data. Prices for luxury models can easily top $70,000. GM on Tuesday celebrated the launch of a new generation of heavy-duty GMC and Chevrolet pickups at the assembly plant in Flint, Michigan, that is now building all such trucks for the company. At the same time that GM is laying off thousands of U.S. workers and planning to shutter five North American factories, Flint is hiring. The plant runs on three daily shifts, six days a week. As the new model's assembly system ramps up, the plant's capacity will increase by more than 25 percent, plant manager Mike Perez told Reuters. The Flint plant plans to add 1,000 workers, more than half of the 1,500 factory workers who have asked to transfer from plants GM has targeted for shutdown as part of CEO Mary Barra's restructuring plan. "We're bringing in 50 to 100 people every week," said Perez. Workers last week were still finishing the job of retooling the Flint factory to build the new heavy-duty trucks as part of a $1.5 billion investment project.

GMC Terrain adds AT4 trim, completing the set

"AT4 all of the things!" is GMC's new rallying cry, as the brand has announced that the off-road-themed trim level is coming to the GMC Terrain midsize SUV. The Terrain will join the just-announced 2021GMC Yukon and the 2021 GMC Canyon midsize pickup, both of which add an AT4 variant for the first time. The model designation was introduced on the Sierra full-size pickup for 2019, and spread to the Sierra HD and to the Acadia three-row crossover for 2020. AT4 content, however, varies widely by model. In the Sierra full-size pickup, the trim level brings a full slate of off-road gear including a two-inch suspension lift, a two-speed transfer case for the 4WD system, a locking rear differential, hill-descent control, Rancho shocks, skid plates, off-road tires, and more. The Acadia AT4, meanwhile, includes little more than standard AWD, black wheels and exterior trim, and all-terrain tires. It sounds like the Terrain AT4 will be closer to the Acadia in execution, with GMC promising a black-chrome grille and exterior design elements plus "confident capability and advanced technology." Hmm. The GMC Terrain AT4 doesn't arrive until the 2021 model year, which means this fall, so more specifics, including pricing, are still to come. But GMC couldn't wait to show the Terrain AT4, which completes the AT4 family photo seen above. Related Video:    

11 vehicles from Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas worth watching

This weekend will see the world's collector car crowds descend on Las Vegas, NV for one of the biggest shows on Barrett-Jackson's popular auction circuit. There are hundreds of vehicles up for bidding, ranging from a brand-new Lamborghini Aventador to a spattering of Art Deco classics and a huge swath of classic muscle cars.
While it's virtually impossible to assemble an inarguable list of the best cars coming during the three-day, 700-plus vehicle auction, we've sifted through the listings for this year's show - it was a tough assignment, we promise - and assembled a list of what we think will be some of the most interesting lots. We'll admit, it's a bit heavy on American iron, but if you browse BJ's listings, you'll come to a similar conclusion. Still, scroll down for our list of what we think will be the most interesting vehicles at the upcoming auction.