2009 Gmc Sierra 2500 Sle 4x4 4dr Crew Cab Lb on 2040-cars

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GM Design shows another early Hummer EV sketch

Like a new mother who's still so excited about her one-year-old baby that she can't stop showing ultrasound photos, General Motors is so excited about its biggest new baby, the battery-electric GMC Hummer, that it can't stop showing off development design sketches. The off-road monster with the 200-kWh Ultium battery pack debuted online on October 21 last year. The next day, the GM Design Instagram page posted some of the Hummer's early "theme sketches" leading to the production version. These had a conceptual flair to them, but were rather restrained. A month later, GM uncovered a series of development renderings showing off a much wilder truck bursting with more angles than a geometry text book. The archives have opened up again with a new "ideation sketch," this one between the first believable sketches and the second truck that Master Chief and Doomguy share on their days off.  All three sets of drawings show similar three-box proportions, it's the details that got a ton of love. On this newest sketch, the fenders flare a touch more than on the production truck, but the wheel wells are cut with the kind of clearance found on a Baja 1000 Trophy Truck. Out back, save for the tow hooks, the rear end is totally different than production. The sketch puts illuminated Hummer script across a narrow tailgate flanked by small square, taillights housing six individual elements. Beneath that, a bumper-less rear end puts nothing more than a sloped bash pate between the truck and the rocks it's just scrambled over. To our eyes, this is the best blend of production-ready comfort from the first sketches and zoot suit angles from the second that we've seen so far.  First deliveries of the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 are expected before the year is out. When we get a chance to absorb the truck in its native habitats, we'll know whether there's cause for disappointment at what could have been. If so, with all this hunger among the monied for something different, we feel like restomodders have been given the perfect head starts on custom rebodied Hummers that would make things right. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Weekly Recap: Lamborghini fires on all cylinders

Lamborghini added 192 technicians and specialists in 2014 as the Italian automaker expands under the ambitious growth strategy of parent company Volkswagen AG. The additional workers helped Lamborghini increase its sales 19 percent last year to 2,530 supercars, and further expansion is planned for this year. Lambo has added more than 500 people in the last four years, bringing its headcount to 1,175. "Lamborghini is undergoing a strong phase of growth in both sales and in terms of recruitment," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement. "We invest significantly in our people ... in 2015 we plan to hire further." The supercar maker's solid performance last year came during a time of transition. Lambo sold off the final 265 Gallardos, which were the brand's best-selling models ever. Its 10-cylinder successor, the Huracan, immediately filled the void. It garnered 3,300 orders, and 1,137 of them were delivered in 2014. The other Lamborghini, the 12-cylinder Aventador, saw its sales increase 13 percent to 1,128 copies. The sales leap comes as Volkswagen drives sales expansion across its portfolio of brands. The German carmaker sold 10 million vehicles around the world for the first time last year. Though Lambo will never make supercars in great numbers, it is expected to contribute to VW's bottom line through its image and profitable sales. Look for further growth this year, and a Super Veloce version (shown above) of the Aventador has already been spotted during testing. Lamborghini has been working on a sport utility vehicle for years, though the company has never publicly approved the project. It also showed a hybrid, the Asterion, at last year's Paris Motor show, suggesting the automaker is considering an electric future. Other News and Notes GMC ponders Jeep Wrangler fighter GMC is considering adding a competitor to the Jeep Wrangler and has discussed the idea with its dealers, according to the Wall Street Journal. Details of the vehicle are unclear, but the report suggested the vehicle could have cues from General Motors' old Hummer brand. The move would broaden GMC's lineup of trucks and SUVs and attract new customers. GMC sold 501,853 vehicles in 2014, making it GM's second-best selling brand. GMC had more volume than Cadillac and Buick combined, though it's still well behind Chevrolet's tally of more than two million vehicles. The notion of a "Wrangler fighter" could be a moving target.

2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Buying Guide | What you need to know about this pickup truck

The GMC Sierra is a work-capable truck that can be optioned like a luxury car. Variety and choice are the keywords for the Sierra, not to mention close rivals like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet's own Silverado 1500. A Sierra buyer has a seemingly infinite list of choices when it comes to specifying exactly what they need in their pickup. In terms of cab length alone, there are three choices – Regular, Double, and Crew – to go along with your pick of Short, Standard, or Long cargo bed. Engines range from a 4.3-liter V6, upward to a range-topping 6.2-liter V8 available in top trim levels like the SLT and Denali. The Sierra can be ordered with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive, and transmissions include both a 6- and 8-speed automatic, depending on your choice of powertrain and trim. Changes for the 2018 model year include the standard fitment of a rearview camera, along with a Tire Fill Alert system that lets the driver know when the correct pressure has been reached. A 7.0-inch touch-screen stereo system is also now standard equipment on base Sierras. Is the 2018 GMC Sierra Safe? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 an overall crash-test rating of five stars. In front and side impact tests, the latest Sierra 1500 scored a five-star safety rating. A four-star rating was recorded in the Rollover resistance test – this rating applies to Sierra trucks fitted with either rear- or all-wheel drive. Because the Sierra is such a popular vehicle, it's worth noting that the NHTSA conducted crash tests on models fitted with both these drivetrains, and in two cab lengths. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which provides ratings for new vehicles based on its own comprehensive crash tests, also tested two versions of the Sierra 1500. The extended cab model registered "good" ratings in all but one of the IIHS' crash tests. Driver side protection in the small overlap test was deemed "acceptable" – front passenger-side results were not rated. Headlight effectiveness was given an "acceptable" rating, dependent on trim level selected. Meanwhile, the ease of use of the Child Seat Anchors (LATCH) was deemed "acceptable" in the extended cab Sierra. Ratings dip slightly for the Sierra 1500 in standard cab format. Driver-side protection in the front small overlap test drops to "marginal," while the available LATCH system scored a "poor" for its ease of use.