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2019 GMC Sierra Denali MultiPro tailgate and CarbonPro bed explained

When the 2019 Chevy Silverado debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January, GM's Mark Reuss promised that the new 2019 GMC Sierra would have some significantly different styling and features than its corporate sibling. Previously, the Sierra has been little more than a Silverado with new front and rear fascias and some extra chrome inside and out. Well, Reuss was right. In addition to new sheetmetal, the Sierra exclusively gets the slick MultiPro tailgate and CarbonPro carbon-fiber bed box The tailgate really is trick. At the debut, GMC had multiple demonstrations, with engineers walking us through all six different configurations. Like all Sierra tailgates, the MultiPro version uses an aluminum skin to reduce weight. It's easy to tell which tailgate is which, as the MultiPro has a distinct cutout in the middle where it can fold down or extend. It can be used to extend the bed, drop to allow easier access, provide a sort of workbench, or be used as a step to help get into the bed. Yes, there's even a handle. Ford who? The step itself can support up to 375 pounds, 75 pounds more than Ford's similar tailgate step. This tailgate really is unique to the Sierra and is standard on SLT and Denali models. That said, the power-operated tailgate from the Silverado won't be coming to the GMC. Chevy gets its own exclusive, too. The Sierra's other big exclusive is the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic bed box. CFRP replaces steel inside the bed though not on the fenders. The bed uses four pieces; one for the bottom, one in the back and two along the sides. This isn't a CFRP. There is no steel hiding underneath these panels. Just take a peek underneath. The bed is a composite that uses 1-inch carbon-fiber threads, not a weave. Sheets of CFRP are molded and quenched — a process where the plastic coagulates and solidifies, locking in the carbon fiber — in just 60 seconds. That allows GMC's supplier to crank out these much more quickly. The finish looks like black fiberglass, though an engineer said that this wasn't the final production version. The final model will have different textures in order to improve grip and keep things from sliding around. GMC is touting the material's dent and corrosion resistance, though it remains to be seen how well it holds up to cracking. A video at the reveal showed people going after it with hammers and cinder blocks, but in-person demonstrations weren't available.

2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition pushes the limits even higher

The GMC Canyon AT4X is already a formidable off-road pickup truck, but now it’s getting even more capable with the addition of the 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition. If youÂ’re familiar with the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, then by proxy youÂ’re familiar with GMCÂ’s version of it already. Like the bow-tie version of the pickup, the AT4X AEV Edition is lifted an additional 1.5 inches beyond the regular AT4X, giving it 12.2 inches of ground clearance, which is identical to the ZR2 Bison. You also get to work with a 38.2-degree approach, 26.0-degree departure, and 26.9-degree breakover angle. ItÂ’s fitted with AEV beadlock wheels wrapping 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory mud-terrrain tires and uses hot-stamped boron steel skid plates for the radiator, steering gear, transmission, transfer case, fuel tank and rear differential. Appearance-wise, the AEV Edition sports a new front fascia with integrated fog lights and larger fender flares that facilitate the bigger tires. It uses AEV stamped-steel front and rear bumpers that include heavy-duty recover points, and the front bumper is compatible with a winch. The rear bumper (below) is particularly clever, as it has easily removable plastic corners that can be replaced with 10 millimeter-thick steel skid plates for a little extra protection on the trail. YouÂ’ll find an AEV in-bed mount for the spare tire, too, as the big 35-inch tire doesnÂ’t fit in the usual under-bed storage spot. GMC wasnÂ’t ready to provide hard numbers for payload or towing, but expect the Canyon AT4XÂ’s specs to go down in a similar manner as the ZR2 Bison that lost 230 pounds of payload capacity and 500 pounds of towing. And yes, the AEV Edition retains the AT4XÂ’s high-output four-cylidner that produces 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. You get all the other AT4X goodies, too, including things like the Multimatic spool valve shocks and electronic-locking front and rear differentials. It also gets the sweet off-road launch control system that initially debuted on the Bison that can adjust power in real-time based on the traction available off-road. On the inside, the AEV Edition adds three standard auxiliary switches that you can hook up off-road or overlanding accessories to. The truck is also fitted with AEV-embroidered headrests and AEV all-weather floor liners. Pricing for the AT4X AEV Edition isnÂ’t available quite yet, but GMC says itÂ’s expected to be available for customer orders later this year.

GM will compensate SUV owners for fuel-economy error [UPDATE]

General Motors will offer debit cards to owners of some of its crossover SUVs after it was discovered that GM overstated the vehicles' fuel economy on window stickers, Automotive News says. GM will offer reimbursements to about 135,000 customers that are worth between $450 and $1,500 each. Some owners will also have the option of being provided with an extended warranty free of charge instead of the debit card. GM overstated fuel economy on about 170,000 vehicles by one to two miles per gallon because of what it has said was an inadvertent error stemming from not factoring the impact of emissions-related hardware into the EPA window-sticker figures. As a result, GM put a temporary stop-sale on the Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave before switching out the window stickers on about 60,000 vehicles. Automotive News says letters and debit cards will be sent out next week, and Reuters is estimating that the reimbursement program will cost GM about $100 million. With automakers ranging from Hyundai/Kia to Ford to, more recently, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi being ensnared by emissions or fuel-economy-rating issues, GM is working quickly to address the problem. For those curious, the reimbursement totals, factoring in current gas prices, the SUVs' combined fuel economy, and typical driving of about 12,000 miles a year, will provide between three and 12 months worth of free gas for those drivers (the models get either 17 or 18 miles per gallon combined, depending on front- or four-wheel-drive configuration). While about 135,000 customers will be reimbursed, Automotive News says the fleet buyers of about 35,000 crossovers haven't been addressed yet. UPDATE: GM spokesman James Cain, in an e-mail to Autoblog on Sunday, confirmed that the company will reimburse about 135,000 customers. Purchase customers will be given the option of a pre-paid debit card or a 48-month/60,000-mile protection plan, while lease customers will be offered the pre-paid debit cards. Most of the cards will have a value of between $450 and $900 on them. "We want all of our customers to have a great ownership experience, so we designed this reimbursement program to provide full and fair compensation in a simple, flexible, and timely manner," he wrote.