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2016 GMC Sierra All Terrain X is cool but no Raptor threat

If you want a brutish off-roader from Ford or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, you're spoiled for choice. There's the F-150 SVT Raptor, the Jeep Wrangler, and the Ram Rebel and Power Wagon. But since General Motors killed the Hummer brand, it's been without any real competitor to those trucks. The new, special edition GMC Sierra All Terrain X is not going to be that vehicle, but it's close enough to be worth a look. The oft-overlooked Sierra All Terrain's off-road suspension and Eaton locking rear differential give it some real trail credentials. The All Terrain X builds on both with cosmetic and performance upgrades. For most owners, the big draw will be the brawnier 5.3-liter V8. Fitted with a performance exhaust, it should deliver a meatier tone, and according to GMC it bumps output up from 355 to 365 horsepower. The other big performance upgrade comes from the tires, knobby Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac MT mud-terrain-rated things. The tires and their accompanying 18-inch black aluminum wheels are nice touches. Cool as the All Terrain X might be, it strikes us as an odd strategy for the GMC brand. For one, the trail-ready tires and performance exhaust of the All Terrain X don't seem to fit into the more premium market position that GMC occupies. Moreover, Chevy already has an off-road-oriented pickup in the new Colorado Z71 Trail Boss. Visual upgrades like the black bed-mounted sport bar, LED off-road lights, blacked-out accents, and the 18-inch wheels, the look of the All Terrain X is more in line with the Colorado Trail Boss theme. It's just our two cents, but it seems like attaching the All Terrain X's aesthetic to the Silverado would have been a stronger strategy, and would give Colorado buyers a larger off-road-focused truck to aspire to. You can look for the special edition All Terrain X in GMC dealers this spring, with prices to be announced closer to the on-sale date. Read on for the official press release from GMC. Related Video: GMC Announces Sierra All Terrain X The News GMC today announced the 2016 Sierra All Terrain X – a special edition of the All Terrain model, featuring exclusive premium content that enhances off-road capability and an aggressive, monochromatic appearance. The All Terrain X's powerful attitude reflects a popular personalization trend among off-road enthusiasts, executed with the top-range refinement GMC has cultivated for years with models such as the Sierra Denali.

GM readying aluminum-body fullsize pickups

Ford's extensive use of aluminum in its 2015 F-150 is a big deal. A really big deal. Big enough, in fact, that General Motors is reportedly changing its fullsize pickup strategy. According to The Wall Street Journal, The General has locked in partnerships with Alcoa Inc. and Novelis Inc. - companies that will supply aluminum for the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.
"Ford's introduction of the 2015 F-150 pickup truck was a game changer, and it's the first, not the last, conversion of this type," Novelis spokesperson Charles Belbin told the Journal. The switch to aluminum has allowed Ford to shave roughly 700 pounds off its fullsize truck's curb weight. And while official mileage ratings have not been announced, the weight loss should go a long way for improving efficiency, especially when combined other efficiency-minded improvements including better aerodynamics and new, turbocharged V6 engines.
Of course, aluminum-bodied cars are nothing new. But extensive use of aluminum in a major, best-selling product like the Ford F-150 is expected to kick off widespread use of this weight-saving material as availability rises and cost decreases. The WSJ reports that GM had originally explored the idea of moving to aluminum pickups back in 2008, but abandoned the idea due to cost concerns amid economic woes.

2020 GMC Acadia AT4 priced just a little more than the SLT trim

Cars Direct has seen the order guide pricing the 2020 Acadia AT4 at $42,495 after destination; that means a $41,300 MSRP plus $1,195 for shipping and handling. GMC has left a lot of pricing room between the rugged, all-wheel drive AT4 and the dressed-up, top-shelf Acadia Denali with AWD, the latter costing $49,495, a $7,000 difference. The spread's blown out some by what appears to be an $800 increase for the 2020 Acadia Denali with all-wheel drive. The 2019 model costs $48,695. On the other hand, it looks like the 200 Acadia SLT trim has gone down in price. Cars Direct says that model will run $41,995, which is $300 less than the 2019 version that goes for $42,295 after destination. The new price leaves a $500 gap between the SLT-1 model with all-wheel drive and the AT4 trim, a figure that's a no-brainer to justify for any buyers trying to get a more butch curb appeal.     The Acadia AT4 package comes standard with all-wheel drive and the 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, puts black chrome on the grille, and nabs a set of exclusive 17-inch wheels on all-terrain tires. The other two engines in the lineup are a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and cylinder deactivation. That motor will be the standard kit on the SLT and Denali trim levels, supplanting the 3.6-liter that's standard on the 2019 models. The entry-level engine carries over, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque.