Denali 4 Dr Suv Automatic Gasoline 5.3l V8 Sfi Liquid Silver Metallic on 2040-cars

Auto blog

GMC Hummer EV could have had the Chevrolet Avalanche's Midgate

One of the many rumors swirling around the GMC Hummer EV claimed the truck would resurrect the Midgate inaugurated by the original Chevrolet Avalanche. Although we now know there's no way to fully knock down the partition between the cab and the cargo box, the firm revealed the rumor wasn't entirely false. "There was [a Midgate] early on. We opted for the functionality of the drop glass in the back. With the package layout and things like that, it was not advantageous to pursue that one. And, the five-foot bed was kind of the industry standard in regards to price of entry in that segment," explained John Mack, the Hummer's exterior design management, during an interview with Muscle Car & Trucks. The Hummer will go on sale with a five-foot box, and it doesn't sound like a longer bed will be available, so a modern version of the Midgate would have made the model more versatile by giving users the ability to fold down the partition behind the rear seats to carry bulky items, like plywood and ATVs. It's a feature that would have inevitably made the truck more complicated to build, however, because it adds moving parts that need to be sealed. Hinges, seals, and latches in turn add weight, and complexity almost always invites high manufacturing costs. As an electric pickup built with newly-developed components, the Hummer already has enough of each. Motorists who need to carry something that's significantly longer than the cargo box aren't entirely out of luck. As Mack pointed out, the rear window drops into the partition, so owners will have the ability to haul surfboards, lumber, or anything else that's relatively long and reasonably thin by simply pushing a switch. Alternatively, the only thing limiting cargo space when the roof comes off is the sky — or, depending on where you live, bridges. Mack didn't reveal when the Midgate was dropped. GMC launched the Hummer project in April 2019, and it previously released early design sketches that show how the truck transitioned from a sketch to a prototype. As of writing, nothing suggests the Midgate will make a comeback in the near future on any member of the General Motors portfolio. It was introduced in 2001 on the first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche, which went on sale in the United States for the 2002 model year. It later spread to Cadillac's luxed-up variant of the truck, the Escalade EXT, and to the short-lived GMC Envoy XUV.

2021 GMC Canyon gets AT4 trim and a 'more upmarket' Denali

The AT4 train continues at GMC, with the 2021 Canyon AT4 climbing to altitude in Vail, Colorado, to announce its arrival. The off-road package, teased during the Sierra HD launch last year and already rolled out on the Sierra and Acadia, replaces the Canyon All Terrain trim. The rectangular grille goes away, the new rig picking up a larger, Sierra-like grille with a dark chrome surround and vertically-oriented fog lights. And because nothing says off-road badass like red recovery hooks, of course there's a pair peeking out from under the tweaked lower bumper. Otherwise, all the All Terrain kit carries over, like the tuned suspension with Advanced Hill Descent Control, transfer case skid plate, automatic locking rear differential, and 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac® tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the headrests are embroidered with AT4 logos, and Kalahari stitching is exclusive to this trim. GMC also announced a more polished Denali trim, without providing any photos. The coming pickup adopts a grille with a "more sculpted and layered pattern," plus five-inch chrome assist steps, and 20-inch Diamond Cut aluminum wheels that we'll assume come in a different pattern than the current 20-inch Diamond Cut aluminum wheels. The cabin goes upscale with open-pore ash wood trim and aluminum trim, a new Cocoa/Dark Atmosphere color theme, and unique stitching. Both the AT4 and Denali offer the same two engine choices. There's either the 3.6-liter V6 throwing out 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic, or the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel producing 181 hp and 369 lb-ft, shifting through a six-speed auto. The 2021 trucks will be available later this year, pricing to be announced closer to the on-sale date. The 2020 Canyon All Terrain starts at $37,695, the 2020 Canyon Denali starts at $41,595. Featured Gallery 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 View 11 Photos Related Gallery 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 View 11 Photos GMC Truck Luxury Off-Road Vehicles

Mary Barra reportedly confirms GM's electric pickup truck plans

According to Motor Authority, CEO Mary Barra confirmed General Motors' intentions to build an electric pickup truck this week. Whether or not it would be an all-new vehicle is unknown. The news comes not even a week after Ford announced a $500 million investment in electric-vehicle startup Rivian. First, electric powertrains were integrated into cars. Then came the crossovers and the SUVs. Naturally, then, the next wave will be pickup trucks. Ford is set to produce an electric F-150, Rivian has the R1T, and now General Motors has reportedly confirmed its plans to introduce a competitor into the field. The article says the topic was brought up in a recent investor call as part of a brief overview of the automaker's electrification strategy. That's where the details end, however, as there is no indication of a timeline, what GM brand would carry the truck, or whether it would be an entirely new product or an adaptation of a current model. The latter seems most likely, which points to the Chevrolet Silverado or the GMC Sierra as possibilities. Chevrolet has been GM's electrification leader this decade with the Bolt and Volt, so an electric Silverado would align well with that messaging and branding. However, an electric pickup would likely be a pricier premium product, which could align it better with GMC. Autoblog has reached out to GM for comment and will update this space when we get a response. Green Rumormill Chevrolet GMC Truck Electric Future Vehicles Mary Barra electric truck chevrolet silverado