2014 Gmc Sierra 1500 Slt on 2040-cars

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2019 GMC Sierra interior looks just like the Silverado's

The GMC Sierra has pretty much always been a Chevy Silverado in disguise. There was maybe some fancier trim plus the availability of the ritzier Denali trim, but the differences mostly amounted to different makeup on identical twins. As we can see from the spy photos above, the yet-to-be-shown 2019 GMC Sierra will actually have a more distinctive exterior, but the interior will continue the me-too tradition. Immediately apparent is the fact that the whole dashboard is carryover. It's the same chunky, plasticky place to be that, while likely highly functional, did little to impress when unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. Really, only the volume, tuning and climate control knobs look different from those in the Silverado. They appear to have a different ridged pattern on the edges, and are possibly a shinier, glossier finish. The steering wheel also looks different, with a chunkier center and more svelte spokes. The Sierra exterior would seem to be better differentiated. The headlights are very different in that they wrap around the fenders more so than on the Chevy. The grille looks more vertical and aggressive than the Silverado's. The wheel arches also differ in that the forward corners are rounded and the rears are more squared off. The GMC Sierra will be revealed March 1 in Detroit. As per usual, it will probably share all of its powertrain bits with the Silverado. That means at least 5.3- and 6.2-liter gasoline V8s and the new turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hacker jury rigs Amazon Echo into voice-controlled remote start

A lot of automakers have smartphone apps to start, lock, or unlock a connected car. Some automakers will even let you do that with a smartwatch. Then, there's YouTube user Jryanishere, who decided to use Amazon's chatty Echo voice-controlled, internet-connected information thingy. Yes, we said thingy, because we aren't really sure how else to describe the Echo. While the Echo system has received a hearty ad campaign – featuring Alec Baldwin asking Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, questions and ordering socks – we think this might be the first really useful thing we've seen it do. Using a MacBook, a Raspberry Pi, an Echo, an OBDLink plug-in, and his 4G LTE-equipped GMC, Jryanishere has basically made a voice-controlled remote-start system. Now, like so many voice-controlled things, this strikes us more of an extravagance than something that's functionally worthwhile. After all, the remote start on the a GMC keyfob isn't exactly rocket science. You can check out the Echo in action up top. Jryanishere gives a pretty thorough breakdown of how the setup works in the video above, but if you're at all into this sort of technological mischief, you'll want to watch (and check out the hilariously detailed blog explaining the job). Related Video:

Best cars for snow and ice in 2023 and 2024

What's the best car for snow? The real answer is "the one with winter tires." What do we mean by that? You could have the finest, most advanced all-wheel-drive system or four-wheel drive in the world, but if you're running all-seasons (the spork of tires), your fancy four-wheeler won't matter much. The odds are, any vehicle on the road running good winter tires will probably perform adequately in slippery, slushy and/or snowy road conditions. (Here's a more complete explanation of why winter tires are totally worth it). In other words, you don't really need any of the cars on this list. With a set of winter tires, countless others will do the job, and even these will be at their best with proper rubber. You can find a variety of winter tires for your car here at Tire Rack. Keep in mind that you will need a full set of four snow tires for safety and performance, no matter what you're driving. The days of your dad putting just two snows on the family truckster to get it moving in a straight line are long gone. Don't get us wrong, getting a car that performs well in snow and ice is still a worthy criteria for car buyers. According to the U.S. Transportation Department, 70% of Americans live in places that get snow and ice. And much of the country has been blasted with arctic air for much of the new year. So let's look at the cars. First, we're highlighting choices for a variety of buyers and price points. Second, we're not just considering snow; we're considering general wintery conditions people will experience driving to work or school. As such, these are all choices with advanced all-wheel-drive systems, usually with "torque-vectoring" systems that not only automatically shunt power front and back, but side to side between the rear axles. Most have extra ground clearance for getting through deep snow, and we prefer those vehicles with more responsive steering, throttles and transmissions that provide a greater sense of vehicle control in slippery conditions.    Acura RDX Read our Acura RDX Review Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system was one of the first to offer torque-vectoring, and besides often being touted for its ability to greatly enhanced dry-road handling, its benefits in the slick stuff can be profound. It's actually surprising that Acura hasn't leaned into this capability further by offering more rugged versions of its vehicles.