2009 Gmc Yukon Xl 1500 Slt Sport Utility 4-door 5.3l Navigation, Chrome Package! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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

GM diesel pickups first to undergo extra EPA, CARB testing

The effects of Volkswagen's long-running diesel emissions evasion are starting to spill over to other automakers, but General Motors is taking things in stride. The 2.8-liter, four-cylinder Duramax in the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon is the first engine to get extra scrutiny by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, Automotive News reports. Rather than just the usual in-lab test, it's also being checked on the road. However, the extra evaluation shouldn't have any impact on when the trucks with his mill hit dealers later this fall. "We're in our final stages of the EPA certification, and our launch is on track," Chevy spokesperson Otie McKinley tells Autoblog. The four-cylinder diesel in the trucks makes 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and the automaker is touting low NOx production. In the announcement for the Colorado's specs, the company calls it "the cleanest diesel truck engine ever produced by General Motors." The tech includes exhaust gas recirculation to lower combustion temperatures and improve emissions. There's also a urea tank like on the bigger diesels for full-size trucks, and it gets refilled in time with oil changes. An indication on the instrument panel lets drivers know when that's needed, too. Even with the more demanding testing, the company doesn't seem too worried about the four-cylinder passing. "Part of our development process is on-road and off-road [laboratory] testing," Scott Yackley, Chevy Trucks assistant chief engineer, said to Automotive News. In the wake of the VW scandal, the EPA has pledged more rigorous testing. Before, on-road emissions evaluations were largely limited to heavy-duty vehicles, but the agency has decided to apply the checks more often to other models. There's also now greater cooperation with Canadian authorities.

GMC to get own model not shared with Chevy?

For years, GMC has existed as a brand without a single unique product, reconstituting Chevrolet trucks, SUVs and crossovers with more frosting in exchange for a few extra dollars. The Sierra is a Silverado, the Acadia a Traverse, and the Terrain an Equinox, although admittedly the latter pair are visually differentiated to a significant degree.
GMC could be set to expand beyond its Chevy-based roots, though. During last week's Detroit Auto Show press days, GM's product boss Mark Reuss was asked whether there'd ever be a GMC that wasn't taken from Chevy. "Oh, yes, you will," Reuss told the media. "The health of GMC is astonishingly good from a consideration standpoint." Reuss wouldn't elaborate on what the model could be, although we're quite happy to make some guesses. GMC has its bases fairly well covered, with a mid-size and full-size crossover, as well as a mid-size, full-size and HD pickup. We doubt GMC will be building a family sedan, sports car, or hatchback, so really, the only place we can see the brand going is into a smaller crossover.
Automotive News points out that the most recent small GMC showcar, the 2010 Granite concept (shown above), won't see production according to General Motors. That vehicle likely would have rode on GM's compact vehicle architecture, known internally as Gamma II, which underpins the Chevy Spark and Sonic, as well as the Buick Encore (and its overseas Opel/Vauxhall/Chevy counterparts).