2014 Gmc Sierra 1500 Denali on 2040-cars

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Driving the Kia K5 and Mini Cooper JCW GP, plus an interview with Jimmy Chin | Autoblog Podcast #637

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and News Editor Joel Stocksdale. They veer off right away into talking about their dream project garages. Next up is news, including some info on the next Nissan Z car, the Honda Fit being discontinued in the U.S., new Mercedes-Benz EQS details, and some talk about the new, electric GMC Hummer being adapted for the military. Then they talk about driving the new Kia K5 sedan and the Mini Cooper JCW GP, before they opine about the 1966 Pontiac GTO. Autoblog Senior Producer Chris McGraw interviews Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin about his collaboration with Ford for the Bronco reveal, and more. Finally, our editors help a listener in the U.K. pick a used vehicle in the "Spend My Money" segment. Autoblog Podcast #637 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Some thoughts on project cars News Nissan suggests the next-generation Z won't be electrified at launch Fit Is Gone! Honda drops subcompact hatch in U.S. Mercedes-Benz announces the electric EQS will offer over 435 miles of range GMC's electric Hummer could someday serve alongside the Humvee in the U.S. Army Driving the 2021 Kia K5 Driving the 2020 Mini Cooper JCW GP 1966 Pontiac GTO: Love it or hate it? We talk Ford Bronco and other adventures with Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

Costco Auto Program adds the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra through July

Costco members lean to the Bowtie when it comes to pickups. The big box store wrote that the Chevrolet Silverado "is currently the most requested Chevrolet and pickup truck through Costco Auto Program and has been for the past 11 years. In the 14 years Costco has partnered with Chevrolet for member-only incentives, the Silverado (when included), has been the top selling vehicle every time." Members can rejoice, because just for the months of June and July, the Costco Auto Program has added the Silverado and the GMC Sierra to its Costco Auto Savings Event. Until July 31, 2024, card-carrying shoppers can get an additional $1,000 discount on top of any manufacturer incentives they qualify for when leasing or purchasing new examples of either. The Auto Savings event includes other vehicles as well, the $1,000 incentive applicable to certain other models from Chevy and GMC, as as well Volvo and Cadillac. Tire kickers considering the Polestar 2 can get $2,000 off.  You can check out our write-up on the Costco Auto Program for all the details and the frequently asked questions. The summary is that the store works with "selected" dealers to refer customers to, about 3,000 storefronts across most automotive brands. The program comes with no-haggle pricing for any straight-up purchase. Costco offers customers a research tool to check out vehicles by type and compare specs and features. After a customer zeroes in on a car, it's time to visit the dealership for a chat with an "Authorized Dealer Contact" to examine the vehicle and go over the fine print. Haggling would only arise if the customer has a trade-in; that valuation is between the customer and the dealer. The customer can check out the Costco Member-Only Price Sheet, which "displays your prearranged pricing. The savings can be displayed in one of two ways: One version lists pricing for all models available at the participating dealership; the other will show a VIN-specific price based on the vehicle you select, including any applicable manufacturer incentives or rebates." And for those looking on the battery-powered shelves, the program offers the same $1,000 off the Chevy Blazer EV and Equinox EV.

Next Chevy Silverado could get this built-in tailgate step

General Motors just received patent approval for a tailgate step in a pickup bed. And given the timing, don't be surprised if you see this on the upcoming 2019 Silverado pickup (not the mention its GMC Sierra twin), expected to arrive in late 2018. According to the patent, granted in December of last year, the whole mechanism is housed in the tailgate assemble. The magic happens when a portion of the top half of the tailgate swings down and a step folds out. There's also a handle that locks into position to help climb up into the bed. As trucks get bigger and taller over the years, it gets harder and harder to access the cargo bed. Ford's solution with the 2009 F-150 was a step that slides out from the end of the tailgate. Back then, Chevy made an ill-advised ad highlighting the feature for Ford. And while Howie Long mocked the F-150's "man step" Ford saw almost a third of its trucks with the option in the first year. The GM design seems to improve on Ford's idea as it appears to be wider and has a back to the lower step. That is, you don't have to worry about stepping through the ladder-rung design as on the F-150. Ford's tailgate step later spread to the F Super Duty, and other cargo access assists have proliferated through the truck world. On the most recent redesign, the Chevrolet Silverado took a trick from the Avalanche and added cutouts to the corners of the rear bumper that act as a foothold. Ford also offers a deployable side step, Chevrolet has running boards that scoot rearward with a kick of the boot, and Ram offers fixed wheel-to-wheel side rails. Nissan is in on the game too, with an optional folding step that tucks under the rear bumper. We don't expect Chevrolet to comment on when or if we'll see this feature in the showrooms. But given that engineers are already hard at work on the next Silverado and the timing of this patent lines right up with the new truck's development cycle, we'll be disappointed if this patent stays in the file cabinet. Related Video: