2012 Gmc Sierra 2500 Denali on 2040-cars

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GM dealers have ordered 30k Colorado and Canyon pickups, 3rd shift added

General Motors has an early success on its hands in the form of the initial rollout of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks. According to the automaker, dealers have ordered nearly 30,000 of the trucks thus far, a number that far exceeded GM's early expectations.
This high demand for the Colorado and Canyon twins has prompted GM to add a third shift to its Wentzville Assembly plant where the trucks are built, starting early next year. An extra shift will add an additional 750 jobs at the location to the 1,315 that were already employed there, according to the press release that you're welcome to read down below.
Such positive sales projections for the Canyon and Colorado may portend good things for the midsize pickup segment, which was once hugely popular but has more recently contracted, with the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma standing firm as the market leaders. Now that GM's entries are the most up-to-date, and with the segment's first diesel engine on the way, it will be interesting to see how the trucks continue to sell and if their hopeful success leads more automakers back onto the playing field.

5 things we love about the 2019 GMC Sierra AT4

NEW YORK — The 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 proves that GM's upmarket truck and SUV brand is getting serious about offering rough-and-tumble capability to rival the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500 and Nissan Titan. Until the Sierra AT4 rolled onstage at a media event in lower Manhattan, prior to this year's New York Auto Show, the GMC brand had been more focused on luxury touches like fancy chrome wheels and posh interiors — no surprise, considering the upscale SLT and Denali trim levels account for the vast majority of GMC sales. So now GMC wants to get muddy and adventurous? Well, yes and no. The AT4 adds hardware that'll take truck buyers off the beaten path, though this GMC isn't anywhere close to being a Spartan, no-frills work truck. To better explain, let's look at five key features we love about the 2019 GMC Sierra AT4: More than stickers and chrome The Sierra AT4 isn't a cynical marketing ploy, there is some true all-terrain toughness built into this pickup truck. A factory-installed lift kit raises the AT4 by two inches, while Rancho monotube shocks, a locking rear differential, a two-speed transfer case and standard all-wheel drive prove this GMC can dare to venture off paved surfaces — though you might risk getting mud and muck on the truck's handsome 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels. Power and economy The Sierra AT4 comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In the standard Sierra 1500, this engine produces 355 horsepower. GMC didn't mention engine specs here in New York, though it's possible the AT4 might get a small power bump. This engine should be plenty for most truck buyers, though GMC offers two tempting alternatives. These include a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter inline-six, along with a 6.2-liter V8. Both motors are paired to stop-start fuel-saving systems, along with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Carbon fiber cool factor The GMC Sierra's available carbon-fiber cargo bed, called CarbonPro in GMC-speak, trims 62 pounds of weight, as compared to a traditional all-steel bed. This slick feature uses carbon composites for interior panels and, judging from GMC's videos of burly bricks and huge hammers being thrown into a CarbonPro cargo bed, it should prove more than up to the task of ... well, having someone throw bricks and hammers into the cargo area.

GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado diesels finally heading to dealers

Customers who have been waiting to receive their diesel-powered Chevrolet Colorados and GMC Canyons should be relived to hear that GM will finally start to ship them out of the Wentzville Assembly Plant. "The highly anticipated 2016 GMC Canyon diesel has begun shipping to dealers," a company spokesperson confirmed to The Detroit News. The trucks originally had a fall launch date, but a final review forced a delay in deliveries. The 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel in the midsize trucks produces 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and the company touts the engine's low emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board even put the mill through extra scrutiny with a real world test in the wake of VW's diesel scandal, and the Duramax passed with no problems. At that time, a Chevy spokesperson told Autoblog that the models' launch was on track. The Duramax engine adds $3,730 to the price of a comparable V6 model, but they're the most fuel-efficient pickups on the market. The EPA estimates the twins at 31 miles per gallon highway, 22 mpg city, and 25 mpg combined in two-wheel drive form and 29/20/23 with four-wheel drive. Buyers likely can't wait to finally experience these pickups after reading a heap of positive reviews. The Colorado diesel recently earned Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award. We also came away impressed with it during our First Drive and liked the Canyon during our Quick Spin. Related Video: