2013 Gmc Sierra 1500 Sle Crew Cab Pickup 4-door 5.3l on 2040-cars

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GM looks to combat high theft rates on SUVs with added tech

The Cadillac Escalade has been at or near the top of most-stolen and insurance-loss lists for more than seven years, until it dropped to number six earlier this year. In 2011 it was fitted with a host of new security features to address its easy-to-override features and that has brought the number of thefts down, but when eight of the ten most stolen rides are large SUVs from General Motors, no one will argue that something else needs to be done.
Thus, GM has fitted this same theft-deterring tech to the 2015 Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon. The Suburban and Tahoe will get the steering lock that the Escalade and Yukon already get, plus bolted-down third-row seats to deter thefts like this, stronger door lock cylinders and shields, and side-cut keys to inhibit picking.
Additional security measures in a Theft Protection Package can be purchased for $395, consisting of sensors on the greenhouse glass and interior, an incline/tilt sensor and added "key control systems" to make it more difficult for the men in black balaclavas to steal what you bought.

2024 GMC Sierra EV revealed with 754 horsepower, 400 miles of range

This is the 2024 GMC Sierra EV in all its Denali Edition 1 glory. You probably knew this was coming. After all, when Chevrolet debuts a new pickup, the GMC version of said truck is typically quick to follow. That’s exactly the case here yet again as the Sierra EV follows the somewhat recent debut of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV. Per usual, the Chevy and GMC versions of the electric truck share a lot of similarities. TheyÂ’re also different in many of the same ways weÂ’re accustomed to within the GM pickup family. The biggest differentiator is design. If the Silverado EV wasnÂ’t your cup of tea, perhaps the Sierra EV is! Just like the Silverado EV, the Sierra rides on GMÂ’s Ultium platform. ItÂ’s being offered exclusively in Crew Cab form at launch. GMC designers emphasized its upright stance and proportions as typical truck styling. However, close examination will show a lot of curved edges and a focus on aerodynamics to achieve a lower coefficient of drag. The front grille is devoid of any flashy patterns, as GMC has opted to go for the shield aesthetic. Light is heavily used to bring a flash of design to the face — the whole grille features a light-up surround. A three-bar charging status indicator can be seen on the front end, and engineers intentionally mounted the headlights lower in the front fascia than usual. For the Denali Edition 1 (the only version of the Sierra EV available at market launch), all of the exterior trim is done in glossy black, except for the areas you might step on, which are finished in a flat black. The rear features GMCÂ’s MultiPro tailgate, and just like the Silverado EV, the Sierra EV comes with the fancy MidGate. GMC calls it the “MultiPro MidGate,” but itÂ’s the same tech used here as youÂ’ll see in the Silverado EV. With the MidGate down, you get nine feet of storage between the cab and the tailgate. Storage can extend out to 11 feet if you use the MultiPro tailgateÂ’s stopper feature with the tailgate down. Also, the MidGate can be folded with a 60/40 split, so you can get that extra length and still retain some backseat passenger room. All of the powertrain and battery tech is similar to the Silverado EV. That means you get a pair of electric motors for all-wheel drive capability with a combined output of 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque. YouÂ’ll need to be in “Max Power Mode” (we know, much less exciting than WTF mode in the Hummer EV) to realize all that power.

GM exploring ways to raise half-ton Duramax diesel tow rating

Lots of truck owners cheered when GM announced fuel economy numbers for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado with the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six. Even after Ram let loose its EPA mileage ratings for the 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, the Chevy oil-burner still took the trophy. The victory was years in the making, GM engineers spending an entire four-year development cycle refining the LM2 Duramax to increase mileage. The tradeoff, as well all know by now, is towing; the Duramax in half-ton duty pulls a maximum 9,300 pounds in the Silverado. Rivals across town can do more, the Ford F-150 PowerStroke rated at 11,500, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel game to pull 12,560. GM engineer John Barta told Muscle Cars & Trucks that more hauling chops could be on the way, explaining, "We’re actually looking at upgrading some of the materials around (the engine bay) to see if we can maybe raise our tow rating." Engine bay materials are at issue due to thermal complexities underhood. John Barta, GM's assistant chief engineer of diesel engine controls, said the Duramax's inline-six configuration allowed engineers to get emissions hardware like the combined selective catalytic reduction, diesel oxidation catalysts, and diesel particulate filter unit closer to the engine, where it heats up quicker, getting emissions down quicker. But that filter puts another heat source in those confines, enforcing a cap on the tow rating to keep the engine and other systems from overheating. "If you look under the hood," he said, "youÂ’ll see a significant amount of silver ‘moon tapeÂ’ around to make sure things arenÂ’t getting overheatedÂ… if we were to go up in higher towing, which we can, we start impacting the possibility of deteriorating some of the components.” There isn't much space for more grille, so swapping for a better grade of "moon tape" or a different kind of material could reduce engine bay heat, extracting a higher tow rating in the process.  It's important to note a point Barta's been making for months about the Duramax figures, though. "Even though itÂ’s nice to brag about big numbers, in reality, light duty customers are not towing that large with their trucks," and, "We do know that (95 percent) of our light duty customers donÂ’t tow over 9,000 pounds." On our First Drive of the 2020 Silverado diesel we called out the tow rating, but emphasized that the Chevy and GMC have more important challenges to overcome.