2004 Gmc Yukon C1500 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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.

2025 GMC Terrain fully revealed in spy photos

A couple of months ago, GMC teased the 2025 Terrain compact SUV and said there'd be a reveal sometime this year. We're still waiting on the official reveal, but in the meantime, a spy photographer caught the GMC out and about without any coverings. So this is an early look at the Terrain, both in AT4 and Denali trim levels. Being a mechanical twin to the recently revised 2025 Chevy Equinox, there are some similarities in the roofline, the prominent C-pillar and the window lines, but beyond that the Terrain continues to be solidly distinguished from the Chevy. The front has GMC's more vertical headlights and tall grille, with the latter getting a unique black surround. The fender flares are given more prominence, particularly from the signature amber marker lights over each wheel, and there are subtle taillight and bumper changes. There are design differences between the AT4 and Denali, too. The AT4 has black contrasting flares and bumpers, whereas the Denali has body color pieces. And the AT4 has tow hooks and smaller wheels with all-terrain tires. The Terrain really differentiates itself from the Equinox inside, though. It trades the more organic, trapezoidal Chevy design for the crisp, rectangular looks of larger GMC models. Complementing the look is the touchscreen in portrait layout compared to the Chevy's landscape unit. We don't know for sure whether this screen will be standard across the lineup (the photo is of a Denali), but considering GM's willingness to include big screens in all its models, we wouldn't be surprised if this is included even on base Terrains.  Underpinning the Terrain will be the same new platform as Equinox, and almost certainly the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive should be on offer, with the former getting a CVT and the latter an eight-speed automatic. The AT4 model clearly has reworked bumpers for better approach and departure angle than the standard Terrain, and probably has some additional light protection. We'll be curious if GMC offers a twin-clutch rear differential for some locking and torque-vectoring functionality to help it stand out and potentially compete with the likes of high-end Bronco Sport. But that's more in the realm of speculation. We should have confirmation of many of these details and much more soon when GMC officially reveals the Terrain itself.

GM announces 3 new recalls affecting 1.7M vehicles in North America [w/video]

Still embroiled in the ongoing ignition switch recall, General Motors announced today three more discrete recalls, affecting a grand total of 1,546,900 vehicles in the US. The Detroit News reports that some 1.7 million vehicles are affected overall in North America. The first and largest of the trio of new recalls concerns some 1.18-million Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia crossovers from the 2008-2013 model years, Chevrolet Traverse from 2009-2013 (pictured above) and Saturn Outlook vehicles from 2008-2010. All of the crossover utilities may have an issue with the wiring harness for their seat-mounted side airbags. Apparently, the vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light that, if ignored, "will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints." Those restraints include the side airbags, a front-center airbag if the vehicle is so equipped and seatbelt pretensioners. Dealers of affected vehicles will be instructed to remove driver and passenger side airbag wiring harness connectors, and then "splice and solder the wires together." The second recall affects 303,000 Chevrolet Express (pictured right) and GMC Savana vans from model years 2009-2014, and with gross vehicle weights under 10,000 pounds. Said vehicles do not comply with a head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants, and will need a reworking of the instrument panel material to be sent back on the road. It doesn't sound as though there's a quick fix for this one, as the GM press release states: "Unsold vehicles have been placed on a stop delivery until development of the solution has been completed and parts are available." Finally, the third recall affects 63,900 Cadillac XTS luxury sedans from model years 2013 and 2014. A brake booster pump may be susceptible to corrosion by way of the relay, potentially causing and electrical short, overheating, melting of plastic components and even engine fires. GM says it is aware of two engine fires in unsold XTS models and two cases of melted parts. Repairs for the issues affecting the XTS have not not mentioned by GM in the release. The Detroit News is also reporting that along with news of the triple-recall, GM is taking a $300-million credit to help pay for the repair costs, and to deal with the ongoing costs associated with the ignition switch recall. In an attempt to explain just what GM has been doing in the face of these very serious issues, newly minted CEO Mary Barra has addressed the issues in a new video.