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2017 GMC Acadia loses 700 pounds, gains everywhere else

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Acadia. The 2017 version of the three-row GMC crossover has all kinds of newness. The 2017 Acadia has lost 700 pounds compared to its predecessor thanks to high-strength steels allowing redesigned parts, and the fact that it overall, the vehicle is actually smaller. Length is reduced by 7.2 inches on a wheelbase diminished by 6.4 inches, it is 3.5 inches narrower and sits 3.9 inches lower. The 2016 Acadia was 4,656 pounds, the 2017 is 3,956 pounds. GMC says it will still swallow people, but not as many: the eight-passenger option didn't make the transition, potential three-row trims permitting five-, six-, and seven-passenger configurations. While you lose space, you gain convenience with a split-folding second row featuring tilt-and-slide for both sections. The third-row seats fold flat into the cargo floor, and if the second row is folded as well, cargo capacity improves over the 2016 Acadia, 79 cubic feet compared to 70 cu-ft. A new 2.5-liter four-cylinder brings a second engine option to the spec sheet, returning an estimated 22 city miles per gallon and 28 highway mpg with the help of stop/start tech on front-wheel-drive trims. The new 3.6-liter V6 gets around 310 horsepower, a power bump of about 19 hp, and an estimated 25 highway mpg in front-wheel-drive guise. Towing capacity for that V6 goes down, though, from 5,200 on the current Acadia to an estimated 4,000 pounds. The optional Tow Vision Trailering system will make that pulling easier. Both engines are hooked to a six-speed automatic. Now we can get to its looks. Trademarks like the square, flared wheel arches, dark D-pillars, and wraparound rear side windows made the transition, everything else is new. While weight has gone down, safety's gone way up with internal changes like the splayed chassis members to confront the small-offset test. New active safety upgrades run from from three kinds of automatic braking systems to surround vision cameras, automatic high beam control, a safety alert seat, and a following distance indicator. Buyers can choose from a front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or All Terrain model, each with its own electronic drive selector modes. The Normal, Sport, and Trailer/Tow modes are common to the trio. The FWD gets a Snow mode, the AWD adds adaptive 4x4 and Off Road modes; on the AWD, the 2x4 mode disconnects the rear axle from the drivetrain.

GM also sheds parts from its pickups to boost payload ratings

The row between Ford and Ram over who boasts the best-in-class tow rating for heavy duty pickups has revealed a number of things. Chief among them is a report that Ford removes items like the spare tire, jack, radio and center console from its vehicles in a bid to lower its base curb weight and therefore keep the truck's gross vehicle weight rating down.
For those that need a refresher, GVWR is the vehicle's curb weight plus its maximum payload. A lower GVWR allows Ford to station its F-450 among the so-called Class III pickups, despite the fact that internally, it has the makings of a more brutish Class IV truck.
Ford explains away these deletions, saying a customer could order their vehicle in such a manner. It has also come to light that Ford is not the only automaker to engage in such practices.

GMC Sierra Elevation Edition is a dark take on a tough truck

GMC proved that it knew how to make a mean-looking pickup with the 2015 Sierra Elevation Edition. For the 2016 model year, the company is applying that aggressiveness to the refreshed Sierra that already looks tougher than the predecessor. The result is a seriously brawny truck that hits the market in the first quarter of 2016. Still based on the Sierra Double Cab, this latest take on the Elevation Edition starts with all of the styling tweaks for the standard 2016 truck, including a reshaped grille and headlights. From there, the pickup gets monochromatic with body-color parts for the door handles, mirror caps, grille surround, and bumpers. Black, 20-inch wheels finish the aggressive aesthetic. Drivers get an interior packed with tech, complete with a six-speaker stereo and seven-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All the occupants can also stay connected anywhere with OnStar 4G LTE and a WiFi hotspot. Under the hood, the Elevation Edition comes standard with a 4.3-liter V6 making 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. A 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower is also optional. Regardless of the powerplant, both come with a locking rear differential and the choice of two- or four-wheel drive. Check out the video below for a closer look at last year's truck, then scroll just a little bit further for the complete press release from GMC. Related Video: GMC Updates Sierra Elevation Edition for 2016 Sport appearance wears new front-end design, latest connectivity technologies DETROIT – The popular GMC Sierra Elevation Edition returns for 2016 with the styling enhancements and other features new to the entire Sierra 1500 lineup – including revised front-end styling with new, high-intensity discharge projector-beam headlamps and GMC Signature LED lighting. The Elevation Edition – available on Sierra double cab – has a street-smart stance, thanks to body-color moldings, door handles, mirror caps and a body-color grille surround, as well as body-color bumpers. It also rolls on 20-inch black-painted aluminum wheels and is further enhanced with new Elevation Edition badging. "The Sierra Elevation Edition offers a boldly styled pickup for customers who want a truck that looks as good as it performs," said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, Buick and GMC.