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GMC could have used Jeep's prized grille design on its born-again Hummer

General Motors confirmed it's bringing the Hummer nameplate back on an electric, GMC-badged pickup by publishing a dark photo of its front end. The battery-powered drivetrain under the sheetmetal represents a tectonic shift, but we noticed another flagrant break with tradition: it wears six slot-like inserts instead of seven like on every previous Hummer and countless Jeeps. Adding an extra slot wouldn't have landed GMC in hot water. The seven-slot grille has historically been associated with Jeep, and the company proved it's willing to go to significant lengths to ensure another automaker — especially one it perceives as a rival — doesn't use it. Parent company Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) bitterly sued Mahindra over the Roxor's design, including its five-slot grille, and won in 2019, forcing the Indian firm to unveil a redesigned side-by-side for the 2020 model year. And yet, stylists would have very likely been able to get away with it on the Hummer. While General Motors owns Hummer, the brand traces its ancestry to 1970, when American Motors Corporation (AMC) purchased Jeep from Kaiser and changed the name of its General Products Division to AM General Corp. The division manufactured the rear-wheel drive, CJ-based DJ for the United States Postal Service and began developing the Humvee in 1979. Jeep and AM General went their separate ways when Renault began investing in AMC. Foreign companies weren't allowed to own defense contractors, and AMC had more to gain by gradually selling out to Renault than by keeping AM General, so it divested the division to LTV Corporation in 1983. Humvee production started shortly after, but no one protested its seven-slot grille because there was no risk of it stealing sales from a comparable Jeep model. It was manufactured exclusively for the U.S. Army, and civilian sales weren't planned. H2SUV View 4 Photos The original civilian Hummer released in 1992 must have raised more than a few eyebrows but, here again, it didn't directly compete with one of Jeep's off-roaders, so no one complained. It was huge, correspondingly expensive, and its portal axles made the YJ-generation Wrangler wet its pants. It's the H2 concept (pictured above) unveiled at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show that set off alarm bells in Auburn Hills. DaimlerChrysler's lawyers counted the slots in the chrome-plated insert that dominated its front end and shuddered when they reached seven.

GM trucks get hybrid versions, but you'll probably never see one

A few years ago, General Motors sold hybrid versions of its Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. They weren't very good, using GM's old two-mode hybrid system that resulted in only negligible fuel economy gains. But GM's trying again, launching eAssist models of the 2016 Silverado and Sierra that are said to offer 2-mpg improvements in city, highway, and combined fuel economy ratings. Problem is, you probably won't be able to get one. Only 700 eAssist trucks will be made for the 2016 model year – 500 Silverados and 200 Sierras. When you consider that GM moved 824,683 examples of its light-duty pickups in 2015, this small run represents 0.08-percent of all Silverado/Sierra production, and GM says it "will monitor the market closely ... and adjust as appropriate moving forward." But that's not the only limitation. The eAssist trucks will only be sold through California dealers. For the Silverado, eAssist can only be optioned on the 1500 Crew Cab 1LT 2WD model, and for the Sierra, the fuel-saving technology is solely available on the 1500 SLT Crew Cab 2WD model with the SLT Premium Plus package. Granted, in terms of the Sierra, that means you get niceties like LED headlights and taillights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bose premium audio, heated seats and steering wheel, lane keep assist, and more. In the trucks, eAssist combines a small electric motor and 0.45-kWh battery pack with the pickups' 5.3-liter V8. GM estimates total output of 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque – no more horsepower than the non-eAssist trucks, but three more pound-feet of torque. GM says the eAssist trucks can tow up to 9,400 pounds, and the battery only adds 100 pounds to the trucks' weight. The electric motor provides 13 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque for a boost of acceleration off the line, or during passing. It also allows the engine to run in four-cylinder mode for longer periods of time. eAssist uses regenerative braking to help power onboard electrical systems, and adds start/stop to the powertrain. Finally, the so-equipped trucks have a six-percent improvement in aerodynamics, thanks to a soft tonneau cover and active grille shutters in the front fascia. Great news is, the eAssist option is relatively inexpensive, only costing $500. But good luck getting your hands on one.

2017 GMC Acadia adds four-cylinder and All Terrain model

General Motors has officially started the process of updating its long-in-the-tooth fullsize CUVs by unveiling the second-generation GMC Acadia at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. While the Acadia is 700 pounds lighter, it's also shorter and narrower, which means it's not quite the people mover it used to be. You'll no longer be able to haul eight passengers, although there will still be five-, six-, and seven-passenger offerings. While families might not be thrilled with the loss of a seat, the lighter weight is a net win. Not only will the V6 model feel more powerful and efficient – in addition to the lower curb weight, there's a new, 310-horsepower engine – but it will also likely be more economical. GM estimates the front-drive V6 will return 25 miles per gallon on the freeway, compared to 24 mpg for the current front driver, but city fuel economy remains pegged at 17 mpg. In a move we're not entirely sold on, though, the Acadia will also adopt a four-cylinder engine, and no, it's not GM's highly regarded 2.0-liter turbo. Instead, you'll be able to order this 4,000-pound CUV with a 2.5-liter, 194-horsepower four-cylinder. What it won't be able to provide in straight-line speed, it will make up for with fuel economy. GM is wagering the front-drive, four-cylinder Acadia will net 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. Both engines are paired with a HydraMatic 6T75 six-speed automatic. A new All Terrain model is said to be optimized for wet, snowy and icy conditions, and its drive mode selector removes the Off Road selection in favor of All Terrain. We have live images of both the new Acadia Denali, as well as the new-for-2017 All Terrain model, direct from the floor of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. There's also a video of the full GMC press conference with reactions from our editors. Check them out. GMC Introduces All-New 2017 Acadia * 700-lb. lighter, more efficient crossover aimed at heart of midsize segment * Expanded range of available active safety features, including Front Pedestrian Braking and Surround Vision Camera * New powertrains include a 2.5L I-4, offering a GM-est. 28 mpg hwy, and an available est. 310-hp 3.6L V-6 * Acadia Denali with new, exclusive Continuously Variable Ride Control * New Acadia All Terrain with an advanced AWD system with Active Twin Clutch * On sale this spring DETROIT, Tuesday, Jan.