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GM profits threatened by glut of pickups

Automotive News reports that General Motors may slash production or ramp up discounts in order to deal with an oversupply of pickup trucks. GM currently has more than double the standard supply of pickups, and the vehicles are threatening to dampen the automaker's profits for 2013. Typically, automakers try to sustain a 60- to 75-day supply of vehicles, but GM is currently loaded with a 139-day supply, as of last month. At the end of November, the automaker was sitting on 245,853 units.
The manufacturer says that it will adjust production accordingly before laying any incentives on the profitable pickups. Even so, there's some concern that the inventory swell could hurt the roll-out of the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM actually began slowly stepping back production in August, but it's clear the company will take further action as it heads toward the end of the year and into the next. Analysts predict the automaker could reduce pickup manufacturing by nearly half in the first quarter of 2013.
That still may not be enough to keep GM from laying extra cash on the Silverado and GMC Sierra. While the company's incentive spending was down in November compared to the same month in 2011, both the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 saw double-digit percentage increases in sales last month while the Silverado and Sierra numbers slid compared to a year prior. Incentive spending could help move more trucks and add some balance to the GM inventory surge.

2024 GMC Acadia to go big again for third generation

In July, spy shooters caught prototypes of the next-gen GMC Acadia wrapped up tight in camouflage. We couldn't make out any useful aspects but one: The coming third-gen Acadia is larger than the current second-gen. Remember, GMC debuted a smaller Acadia for the 2017 model year, lopping eight inches of length and three inches of width from the first-gen large mid-size SUV to create a smaller mid-size three-row SUV. The new prototypes appeared to show that decision would be reversed, now we have proof thanks to more comments unearthed from GM's recent Investor Day presentations in New York. Caught by GM Authority, automaker president Mark Reuss said, "Alongside the Traverse, we’ll move the GMC Acadia to a little bit different size standpoint. This comes in a little bigger than the old Acadia, so itÂ’s a big transformation for GMC and its part of the market." In a 2016 Automotive News piece about how GMC planned to increase sales volume, AN reported, "One potential avenue: venturing into Jeep's terrain. Industry sources believe GMC is drawing up plans for an SUV based on the same body-on-frame platform that serves as the bones of the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup. It's in the early stages — it doesn't appear to have been sourced to suppliers yet and the SUV's arrival isn't expected until 2020 or later." The first-gen 2016 GMC Acadia was 200.8 inches long, while a 2016 GMC Canyon Crew Cab with the roughly 5-foot bed was 212.8 inches long. It's thought that truncating the second-gen GMC Acadia to 193.4 inches long and 75.4 inches wide was intended to leave plenty of room for the planned SUV on the Canyon platform. However far that SUV project got, it was reportedly canned in 2018.   Hence an upsized Acadia returns. Reuss' comment about the Chevrolet Traverse could imply what's coming for the GMC, the Chevrolet being 205.9 inches long and 78.6 inches wide. A bigger Acadia could make a better sales proposition against the two-row Terrain, too. The Terrain costs almost $9,000 less than the Acadia and is 182.3 inches long and 72.4 inches wide. It's not clear when GMC plans to show the new Acadia, but the consensus is that it will go on sale for the 2024 model year. Expect an all-new cabin, Super Cruise capability and a front fascia reminiscent of the new Canyon. Powertrain options are a mystery.

GMC Hummer EV heads north for winter

GMC announced early Tuesday that its new Hummer EV pickup is ready to head north for winter testing. What might seem like a trip in the wrong direction to us warm-blooded enthusiasts is a critical next step in the development of GM's new electric truck.  We also got a couple of teaser pics of the Hummer EV at GM's Milford Proving Grounds, along with two shots of development prototypes being assembled, of which GM says it has "a series." There's not much new to see here, but GM says there's more to come. "The GMC HUMMER EV has arrived at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds to continue validation tests and will head to northern Michigan to run through the teamÂ’s grueling winter testing process," GM said in its announcement. "We will document the journey and share updates in the coming weeks and months." The GMC HUMMER EV arrived at GM?s Milford Proving Grounds to c View 3 Photos The GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 will feature three electric motors, enabling torque vectoring. GMC says these motors produce 1,000 horsepower, though we don't yet have a final torque figure. Power comes from a 24-module Ultium battery pack which can provide an estimated 350 miles (or more) of range. GMC says this new architecture supports 800-volt fast charging up to 350 kW, which is comparable to the system Porsche introduced with its Taycan electric sedan, and GMC says it can replenish 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Planned variants include a two-motor setup, and an alternative three-motor version without torque vectoring. The Hummer EV rides on fully independent suspension with adaptive air shocks. They can provide continuous damping adjustments for comfort, and have a height adjustment range of 6 inches. When set in its max-height off-road mode, it has two additional inches of ground clearance, and the "Extract Mode" will lift it six inches higher than default. The Edition 1 model also comes with standard 35-inch mud terrain tires, and combined with the suspension, the Hummer EV has a fording depth of two feet and the capability to climb over an 18-inch vertical obstacle. Edition 1 Production begins late next year, with a starting price of $112,595. In fall 2022, we'll see the regular top trim starting at $99,995; In spring 2023, weÂ’ll get a mid-level trim that has three motors, air suspension and four-wheel steering -- but no torque vectoring -- starting at $89,995.