2024 Gmc Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate on 2040-cars

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Even if GM does close all 5 of those plants, it'll still have too many

DETROIT — General Motors' monumental announcement on Monday that it will close three car assembly plants and two powertrain plants in North America and slash its workforce will only partially close the gap between capacity and demand for the automaker's sedans, according to a Reuters analysis of industry production and capacity data. Sales of traditional passenger cars in North America have been declining for the past six years and are still withering. After GM ends production next year at factories in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, it will still have four U.S. passenger-car plants — all operating at less than 50 percent of rated capacity, according to figures supplied by LMC Automotive. In comparison, Detroit-based rivals Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will have one car plant each in North America after 2019. The Detroit Three are facing rapidly dwindling demand for traditional passenger cars from U.S. consumers, many of whom have shifted to crossovers and trucks. Passenger cars accounted for 48 percent of retail light-vehicle sales in the United States in 2014, according to market researchers at J.D. Power and Associates. This year, sedans will account for less than a third of light vehicle sales. That shift in turn has left most North American car plants operating far below their rated capacities, while many SUV and truck plants are running on overtime. The collapse in passenger-car demand is a challenge for nearly all automakers in the United States, including Japan's Toyota and Honda, which have the top-selling models in the compact and midsize car segments. Toyota executives said last month they are evaluating the company's U.S. model lineup. But Toyota also plans to build compact Corolla sedans at a new $1.6 billion factory it is building in Alabama with partner Mazda. The obstacles facing GM in its plans to close more auto factories became apparent on Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block payment of government electric vehicle subsidies to GM. While it is not certain that Trump unilaterally has the power to do that, he made it clear he intends to use his office to pressure the company to keep open a small car plant in Ohio that GM says will stop building vehicles in March.

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 warning 800,000 owners that their cars may need oil changes more frequently than they say

The days of changing your engine oil every 3,000 miles are long gone thanks to most cars having automatic oil monitoring systems, but about 800,000 General Motors vehicles apparently have incorrect monitoring software that is leading to premature engine component wear. According to Autoweek, certain 2010-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain models equipped with 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines could be going too long in between oil changes resulting in a higher-than-normal number of warranty claims for the engine's balance chain. The balance chain links the balance shaft to the crankshaft, and a worn one can produce higher noise levels.
As a fix, GM dealers will be reprogramming the software for the monitors in an effort to reduce the interval between oil changes, which varies based on driving habits and conditions. Through February 2015, the software update will be done at no cost to vehicle owners, but since this is not a recall, after that point, it will be up to the discretion of dealers as to whether or not they will charge for the service. What isn't immediately clear is whether GM plans on giving assistance to out-of-warranty customers who are experiencing engine issues from the worn chain.