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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.

GM puts e-commerce shopping in car dashboards

DETROIT — General Motors on Tuesday said it will equip newer cars with in-dash e-commerce technology, betting it can profit as drivers order food, find fuel or reserve hotel rooms by tapping icons on the dashboard screen, instead of using smartphones while driving. GM's Marketplace technology, developed with IBM, will be uploaded automatically to about 1.9 million model-year 2017 and later vehicles starting immediately, with about 4 million vehicles across the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands equipped with the capability in the United States by the end of 2018, GM said. GM will get an undisclosed amount of revenue from merchants featured on its in-dash Marketplace, Santiago Chamorro, GM vice president for global connected customer experience, said during a briefing for reporters. Customers will not be charged for using the service or the data transmitted to and from the car while making transactions, he said. "This platform is financed by the merchants," Chamorro said. GM will get paid for placing a merchant's application on its screens, and "there's some level of revenue sharing" based on each transaction, he said. It is too soon to say how much revenue GM could realize from the Marketplace system, he said. The GM Marketplace will compete for customer clicks and revenue with hand-held smartphones, which offer a far richer array of applications than the GM system will at the outset. Amazon.com is partnering with other automakers, including Ford, to offer in-car e-commerce capability through Amazon's Alexa personal assistant system. For example, GM will launch Marketplace with just Shell and Exxon Mobil icons in the fuel category. The only restaurant available for in-car table reservations at launch is the chain TGI Fridays, GM said. In addition, there will be apps for parking, and ordering ahead at coffee shops and restaurants such as Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and Applebee's. "We will be adding more vendors," with some coming in the first quarter of 2018, Chamorro said. In addition, he said GM plans to expand integration into its vehicles of music, news and other information services. GM also hopes to use its in-car Marketplace connections to expand purchases of products and services, such as additional access to in-car wifi, from its own replacement parts business and dealer network. Customers can "expect to see more service promotions coming through the platform," Chamorro said. Reporting by Joe WhiteRelated Video:

Son surprises his dad by restoring his 1949 pickup for Christmas

Norman Meal, an 83-year-old retired farmer from Rushville, IN, nearly missed his big Christmas gift when his son, Kyle, first presented it to him. Norman was oblivious and was looking all over the garage floor until Kyle pointed out a satin black pickup with a bow on it parked inside. This wasn't just another case of a child buying a parent a dream vehicle; the '49 GMC sitting there was Norman's very first truck that was restored and ready to drive. According to Fox 59 WXIN, Norman's father purchased the GMC in 1949, and Norman bought it from him in the mid '50s to use on the farm. However, for about the past 13 years, the truck had been rotting away in the garage of one of Kyle's friends. As a perfect gift to his dad, Kyle took the pickup to a restoration shop to make the old vehicle roadworthy again. Practically everything was replaced – except for the horn. Thankfully, Kyle filmed his dad's reaction to getting the GMC. Check it out and watch them take a drive in the heartwarming video above.