1979 Gmc Jimmy on 2040-cars

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Auto sales in March and first quarter down nearly across the board

Nearly every major automaker reported weak U.S. sales for March and the first quarter of 2019, citing a rough start to the year, but said a robust economy and strong labor market should encourage consumers to buy more vehicles as 2019 rolls on. GM, which no longer releases monthly sales figures, saw first-quarter sales fall 7 percent, with declines across all brands. Sales of Silverado pickup trucks fell nearly 16 percent and the high-margin Chevy Suburban large SUV dropped 25 percent. Ford also no longer releases monthly sales numbers, but is due to release its first-quarter sales figures on Thursday. According to industry data, Ford's sales fell 2 percent in the quarter and 5 percent in March. Ford representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FCA reported a 7 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and a 3 percent drop for the first quarter. All of FCA's brands dropped in March, except for Ram, which saw a 15 percent increase in pickup truck sales. "The industry had a tough first quarter, but with spring finally starting to show its face and continued strong economic indicators ... we are confident that new vehicle sales demand will strengthen going forward," FCA's U.S. head of sales, Reid Bigland, said in a statement. Toyota reported a 3.5 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and 5 percent for the first quarter, hurt by declining demand for its Corolla sedans and Camry vehicles. "While some of our competitors are abandoning sedans, we remain optimistic about the future of the segment," Toyota said in a statement. Nissan posted a 5.3 percent drop in sales in March, and its first-quarter sales were down 11.6 percent. Honda and Hyundai bucked the trend. Honda's U.S. sales rose 4.3 percent in March and 2 percent in the quarter, while Hyundai's were up 1.7 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. Passenger-car sales suffered throughout the January-March quarter compared with the same period in 2018 as Americans continued to abandon them in favor of larger, more comfortable pickup trucks and SUVs, which are far more profitable for automakers. The battle for market share in the particularly lucrative large-pickup truck market intensified in the quarter, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Ram brand outsold the U.S.' No. 1 automaker General Motors' Chevrolet-brand trucks. The two automakers have both launched redesigned pickup trucks.

Hummer teases crab mode, reveal set for Oct. 20

DETROIT — GMC confirmed it will reveal the Hummer electric off-roader Oct. 20 and released a video teasing the vehicleÂ’s so-called crab mode. Crab mode allows the Hummer to move diagonally and is enabled by the vehicleÂ’s four-wheel steering. The video shows tires, and well, a crab. “When you're in the really difficult terrain, this just gives you unparalleled maneuverability,” said Duncan Aldred, global vice president of Buick GMC. The Hummer will be offered as truck and SUV models, and customers will be able to make reservations beginning on the reveal date. Deliveries are expected to begin in fall 2021. The Hummer was supposed to be revealed May 20, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hummer was teased in a Super Bowl ad this year with NBA superstar LeBron James, who is the vehicle's frontman. It will have several EV powertrains which General Motors calls Ultium, and the most capable variant will have an estimated 1,000 hp and hit 60 mph in three seconds. The Hummer will also offer removable roof panels. “This is very much going to be a luxury vehicle which competes against a broad spectrum,” Aldred said Monday on a conference call with reporters. The Hummer will take aim against a variety of vehicles, including the four-door Bronco, RivianÂ’s truck and SUV and the Jeep Wrangler 4xe. Aldred is optimistic the return of the Hummer name will help GMC carve its niche in this growing segment of trucks and SUVs with varying degrees of electric propulsion and off-road capability. GM sold vehicles under the Hummer brand from 1992-2010, before scrapping it in the wake of GMÂ’s historic 2009 bankruptcy and restructuring. Hummer is relaunching under the GMC umbrella. “ItÂ’s real desirability, itÂ’s almost cult-like status,” Aldred said. “I think a huge amount of people are going to have interest in this.” GM, which is re-emphasizing its defense division, could also repurpose the Hummer for military use, perhaps as transport vehicles. Hummers are descended from the Humvee, which is still used by U.S. forces.

Regular-cab, short-bed Chevy Silverado Trail Boss pickup looks great

For all the wild popularity of full-size pickups, there's one configuration that U.S. buyers are no longer offered: the regular-cab, short-bed truck. Interestingly, however, GM still does make this configuration, and both the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are offered with it — in the Mexican market. That body style, however, is available solely in ultra-basic work-truck form. But a custom wheel shop, JC Wheels in the Mexican city of Culiacan, has converted one of these Silverados to Trail Boss trim, and we're digging the result. The sporty shorty Silverado Trail Boss comes to our attention via GM Authority, after the shop posted it on their Instagram feed. The shop added a 3-inch lift, assist steps, Chevy alloy wheels, a Trail Boss front fascia including red tow hooks, and Trail Boss badging. They also added dark window tint, which seems like a good idea in sunny Mexico. In the U.S., the Silverado Trail Boss isn't offered at all in regular-cab form; it only can be had as a double cab or a crew cab, the latter with a choice of a short bed or standard bed. But size is often a hindrance for trucks that actually get driven on trails, where this regular-cab, short-bed variant's smaller wheelbase would be an advantage. Beyond that, the Trail Boss upgrades keep this configuration from looking like a basic-spec machine. That's even more true of the same outfit's previous efforts: the conversion of the GMC Sierra regular-cab, short-bed pickup into a Denali. With so many buyers choosing pickups as personal-use vehicles, it's not hard to think that this configuration could find an audience here. But the key would be to do as this Mexican firm has done and offer it in the desirable off-road and luxury trims, rather than as a basic work truck. Would you buy one? Sound off in the comments below. The next step would be to use this configuration as the basis of a full-size, two-door SUV, in the mold of the classic Chevy K5 Blazer and GMC Jimmy.