2009 Gmc Sierra Sle 1500 Crew Cab Z-71 4 X 4 Truck on 2040-cars

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2015 Sierra All Terrain HD looks ready to hit heavy-duty trails

GMC is getting its heavy-duty trucks ready for the mud this summer with its All Terrain package for the Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD. Meant to blend style, tech and ruggedness, the pack includes a lot of extra chrome outside and an off-road package underneath.
The 2015 Sierra All Terrain HD trucks naturally come standard with four-wheel drive with an electronically controlled transfer case to handle things in the dirt. The Z71 off-road package is also standard, which includes Rancho twin-tube shocks, hill descent control and a skid plate. To add some style when off the beaten path, the pack includes chrome trim on the mirror caps, lower bumper and grille surround, plus LEDs around the headlights and 18-inch wheels (20-inchers are optional on the 2500HD). The 3500HD also gets chrome, adjustable outside camper mirrors. The interior receives a technology upgrade thanks to the standard rearview camera and IntelliLink infotainment that can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot through OnStar 4G LTE, read text messages and includes Siri Eyes Free for iPhone users.
The All Terrain package goes on sale on both trucks this summer and is offered on either the SLE or SLT trim levels in double cab and crew cab models. The standard engine is the 6.0-liter V8 with 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, but the Duramax 6.6-liter, diesel V8 with 397 hp and 765 lb-ft is also available. The gas engine is mated to a Hydra-matic six-speed automatic, and the diesel uses an Allison six-speed automatic. Scroll down to read the full announcement about these heavy-duty off-roaders.

2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study shows there's less quality than last year

Vehicle inventory, vehicle pricing, and the supply chain are finally showing improvement. Vehicle quality, on the other hand, is still going the wrong way. That's the takeaway from the 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study that found overall problems exceeded last year's record high. The study surveyed owners of 2022-model-year vehicles to assess the average rate of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership. The average figure for the 32 ranked manufacturers in 2020 was about 166 problems per 100 vehicles. In the 2021 IQS, that dropped to an average of 162. For 2022, the average jumped to 180 problems. For 2023, the PP100 is up to an industry average of 192 — an increase of 30 problems per 100 vehicles in just two years. Let's get to the good news first: Dodge reclaimed the crown of having the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles at 140. Buick won last year with 139 PP100, falling to third this year. Dodge was the first American automaker to top the IQS in 2021. Its return as the least problematic gives parent company Stellantis three wins in four years after Ram was crowned in 2021. It also gives U.S. brands a four-peat after Buick topped the chart in 2022 by having owners report the fewest problems. This year's top 10 is Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Porsche, Cadillac, Kia, and Lexus. Stellantis gathered a few feathers for its cap, in fact. Maserati showed the largest improvement year-on-year, followed by Alfa Romeo, and Alfa Romeo posted the lowest PP100 among the premium class, beating Porsche and Cadillac. Alfa Romeo has been vocal about working to improve quality, mentioning Lexus as a target. Last year the Japanese brand finished sixth, the Italians finished near the bottom, between Jaguar and Mitsubishi. This year Alfa jumped to third, Lexus dropped to tenth. Ram was the third-best on the list of improvers from 2022 to 2023.   The individual model with the lowest PP100 is the Nissan Maxima. Now for the troublesome bits. In the words of Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, "The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future.

Refreshed GMC Terrain is introduced. Again.

Back in January of last year, we got our first look at the refreshed GMC Terrain that was supposed to go on sale sometime last fall as a 2021 model. But that was January 2020, just a couple of blissful months before the world shut down. So the Terrain ended up delayed, just like the Chevy Equinox, and now GMC is re-introducing us to the refreshed crossover, which is slated as the 2022 GMC Terrain. This time around, we've been shown photos of not just the new AT4 off-road oriented trim, but other more common variants. They all get larger grilles, larger headlights and new C-shaped taillights, and all trims get fulling LED exterior lighting. Both the AT4 and Denail get unique grille designs, with the former getting a gunmetal grey design with thick slats, and the latter getting an all-chrome one with more delicate lattice-work between the slats. The AT4 also boasts a front skid plate for protection, and from our early preview last year, it seems to get chunkier tires. The Elevation trim returns, too, as a black-out appearance package for the more entry-level SLE and SLT trims. The interior is mostly unchanged except for a revised shifter panel -- the buttons are new, but the same controversial design remains (see the video below). There are new features available, though. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still standard, but now they're wireless. A head-up display is available as an option for SLT and AT4, while it comes standard on the Denali. The Denali also gets an 8-inch screen in the instrument panel. Only the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and nine-speed automatic have been announced for the Terrain. It makes the same 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque as before and can be paired with either front- or all-wheel drive. We're expecting a higher-horsepower, larger-displacement engine to be offered in the near future. The SLE, SLT and AT4 models will go on sale this summer. The Denali will follow in the fall. Pricing and additional details should be revealed in the coming months. Related Video: