2006 Gmc Savana 1500 Van 8-12 Passenger Van Double Side Door 94k Miles on 2040-cars

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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.

2019 GMC Sierra 1500 prototype shows off differences from Silverado

Now that the new Silverado has made its debut, we're awaiting the reveal of its mildly restyled twin, the GMC Sierra 1500. While it likely won't be that different as far as capability and major equipment are concerned, we are looking forward to seeing what design changes it will have. Based on these recent spy shots, the changes will be mild, but still enough to make it visually distinctive. One of the more obvious differences will be in the front fascia treatment. Unlike the Silverado's grille that's level with the top of the headlights, the GMC's will rise above the lights, which will also yield a slight drop on each side of the hood to meet the lights. The grille is quite tall, extending far below the headlights, too. We can make out, behind some mesh, two dips on the outer edges of the grille that give the Sierra a more menacing frown. Large foglights are also found right near where the scoops for the wheel air curtains, and the headlights are unified on the edges, rather than split on the Silverado. Along the sides, the sheet metal looks relatively unchanged. At some angles, we can make out the distinctive shoulder line from the Silverado that runs up to about the rear mirrors where it stops to make room for another crease that rises up from somewhere in the middle of the front doors to lead to the front. The wheel arches are decidedly different from the Silverado's though. While the Silverado has fairly rounded arches, the Sierra's have a rear-slanted bevel to the fronts of the arches and a rounded 90-degree corner at the rears. There isn't much we can tell about the rear except for the taillights. They're quite large, and unlike the Silverado's, there aren't any areas where the sheet metal intrudes. It also appears that the tops of the taillights extend farther forward into the bed sides than the Chevy's. Because the Sierra has almost always been a mechanical twin of the Silverado, we expect it to offer the same 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s, as well as the new 3.0-liter diesel inline-6. Also, being a GMC, it will likely have a flashy, chrome-laden Denali trim level. We also will see the fully revealed model soon, as Automotive News reports the debut will be on March 1. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 spy shots View 39 Photos News Source: Automotive News Spy Photos GMC Truck chevrolet silverado

Auto sales in March and first quarter down nearly across the board

Nearly every major automaker reported weak U.S. sales for March and the first quarter of 2019, citing a rough start to the year, but said a robust economy and strong labor market should encourage consumers to buy more vehicles as 2019 rolls on. GM, which no longer releases monthly sales figures, saw first-quarter sales fall 7 percent, with declines across all brands. Sales of Silverado pickup trucks fell nearly 16 percent and the high-margin Chevy Suburban large SUV dropped 25 percent. Ford also no longer releases monthly sales numbers, but is due to release its first-quarter sales figures on Thursday. According to industry data, Ford's sales fell 2 percent in the quarter and 5 percent in March. Ford representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FCA reported a 7 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and a 3 percent drop for the first quarter. All of FCA's brands dropped in March, except for Ram, which saw a 15 percent increase in pickup truck sales. "The industry had a tough first quarter, but with spring finally starting to show its face and continued strong economic indicators ... we are confident that new vehicle sales demand will strengthen going forward," FCA's U.S. head of sales, Reid Bigland, said in a statement. Toyota reported a 3.5 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and 5 percent for the first quarter, hurt by declining demand for its Corolla sedans and Camry vehicles. "While some of our competitors are abandoning sedans, we remain optimistic about the future of the segment," Toyota said in a statement. Nissan posted a 5.3 percent drop in sales in March, and its first-quarter sales were down 11.6 percent. Honda and Hyundai bucked the trend. Honda's U.S. sales rose 4.3 percent in March and 2 percent in the quarter, while Hyundai's were up 1.7 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. Passenger-car sales suffered throughout the January-March quarter compared with the same period in 2018 as Americans continued to abandon them in favor of larger, more comfortable pickup trucks and SUVs, which are far more profitable for automakers. The battle for market share in the particularly lucrative large-pickup truck market intensified in the quarter, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Ram brand outsold the U.S.' No. 1 automaker General Motors' Chevrolet-brand trucks. The two automakers have both launched redesigned pickup trucks.