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2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X makes Duramax diesel standard

Changes are afoot for the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 lineup. The one ringing the biggest bells for the off-roading crowd is the engine swap headed to the AT4X trim. Right now, if you want an AT4X you've got Hobson's choice of engines: The 6.2-liter EcoTec V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Next year, the 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six that's standard equipment on the AT4 and Denali Ultimate trims becomes the standard engine on the AT4X. The oil-burner makes 305 hp and 495 lb-ft., sent through the same ten-speed automatic the 6.2 V8 is yoked to. GM said around 20% of buyers have checked the Duramax box when buying a Sierra 1500 since the automaker released the upgraded engine for the 2023 model year — it's also offered on the SLE, Elevation, SLT, and Denali trims. The percentage should grow thanks to the diesel's low-speed grunt being one of the best "force multipliers" when traipsing over and through particularly challenging corners of the woods. The 6.2-liter will take the exhaust note crown over the diesel after the introduction of an active exhaust system with a Sport mode exclusively for the 6.2. Assuming no more changes to engine lineups before the 2024 Sierra arrives, the SLT, AT4, Denali, Denali Ultimate, and AT4X will have access to the active exhaust option.   GM Authority says the Duramax is getting another maximal friend in 2024, too. The 2.7-liter Turbo High-Output four-cylinder makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft and is standard equipment on the entry-level Pro trim. the SLE, and Elevation trims will be renamed "TurboMax," which sounds like an Autobot, and that's not a bad thing. GM applied to trademark the name in January. The new moniker is headed to the Chevrolet Silverado as well, and we'd bet on exterior badging to let the world know.  Elsewhere around the Sierra, there will be two new exterior colors, Downpour Metallic and Thunderstorm Gray, mixable and matchable with two new aluminum wheel designs. And between those wheels, power retractable steps will be available for the Denali, Denali Ultimate, AT4 and AT4X trims. We'll be waiting to see how the steps differ from the GMC MultiPro Power Steps available now for $1,195.  Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2014 Chevy Silverado details continue to dribble out

PickupTrucks.com has gotten its hands on a few more details concerning the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and the 2014 GMC Sierra. General Motors held a conference call on the two trucks, allowing Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer for both, to answer a few questions. Luke said truck buyers are largely concerned with power and fuel economy, and as such, GM will continue to explore new methods of providing both. That may translate into any number of drivetrain permutations, including light-duty diesel engines, eight-speed transmissions or even a twin-turbocharged V6.
What's more, both the 2014 Silverado and its GMC twin will boast a tow rating of 11,500 pounds, but only when equipped with a max-trailering package. Without that special package, the rating drops to 10,200 lbs for regular cabs and 9,700 lbs for crew cabs. Buyers will no longer be able to opt for a 4.10 gear ratio.
We're also excited to hear that GM plans on making the Z71 package into something more than just a few a stickers. While Luke didn't go into details, PickupTrucks.com says "it will get significant improvements in the future." Head over to the site for a quick rundown of the call's highlights.

GMC confirms Hummer EV will be joined by an electric Sierra, or Sierra-like, pickup

GMC will step into the electric vehicle arena for the first time when it begins building the Hummer EV in 2021. While it's not planning on becoming an electric-only brand, it has more battery-powered models in the pipeline. "There will be an all-electric Sierra pickup, but no timeline yet. But, the plan is to make it electric; this whole electric thing is a moving target," Lynn Thompson, the president of a Buick-GMC-Cadillac dealership in Missouri, told the Detroit Free Press. He said executives revealed those plans during a national dealer meeting. What remains to be seen is whether the truck will be an electric variant of the Sierra as Thompson said, or if it will arrive as a standalone electric truck with Sierra-like dimensions and capabilities. Sister company Chevrolet is also planning to launch an electric pickup in the coming years, and it strongly hinted it will take the second route. Its entry into the segment won't look like a Silverado, and nothing seriously suggests it will be badged as one. It will also be interesting to watch how GMC ensures that the truck doesn't overlap with the Hummer EV, which will exclusively be offered as a four-door pickup with a relatively short cargo box when it arrives in stores as a 2022 model. Our crystal ball tells us the Hummer will be marketed as a more expensive model aimed at weekend adventurers who want to make a statement, while the Sierra-like model will be cheaper and primarily aimed at buyers who merely want a truck, whether they're commuters, contractors, or fleet operators. Chevrolet's entry into the segment will slot beneath these two models. General Motors used this strategy nearly 20 years ago to keep the Hummer H2, the GMC Yukon, and the Chevrolet Tahoe in separate corners of the same room. GMC's electric truck could share powertrain and chassis components with the Hummer EV. It might also be built in the same Hamtramck, Michigan, factory that parent company General Motors is funneling $2.2 billion into. Regardless of the path it takes, GMC is not going all-electric. "[GMC boss] Duncan [Aldred] said we're certainly not going to abandon our internal combustion engine vehicles because that's our core business, and that was good to hear. It's to let people know they're not going down the same road as Cadillac," a dealer who asked to remain anonymous said. Cadillac might go EV-only by 2025, starting with a crossover named Lyriq, and many of its dealers have refused to spend $200,000 on upgrades.