2001 Gmc Sierra 3500 Slt on 2040-cars

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2025 GMC Yukon AT4 teased, will likely follow 2025 Suburban template

It's time to begin teasing the 2025 GMC Yukon, the luxury truck division doing so with a glimpse of the front fascia on the AT4 trim. This being a refresh, we're not looking for major changes to hard points. In contrast to today's Yukon, it seems the new face will stress horizontal breadth instead of highlighting the central aspect of a giant grille and skid plate area. Starting with the taller C-shaped headlights on the 2025, a shorter horizontal element at the top no longer reaches all the way to the grille surround, and it's separated from the three main beams below by a body-colored piece extending from the grille cradle. Below the light, a new lower bumper treatment probably increases the aggression compared to today's truck. Instead of black centerpiece that houses the skid plate and a pair of tow hooks, it appears the entire bumper will be black and wrap around into the fenders. Finally, the grille looks the same, but its crossbars have been reprofiled.  As sibling to the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban that Chevy revealed last November, we expect many of the same updates here. Outside, that would mean refinements to the independent rear suspension for more nimble handling, new wheel designs, and availability of the second-generation 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six with 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque instead of today's 277 hp and 460 lb-ft. Inside, we expect a new instrument panel housing a 17.7-inch touchscreen for infotainment, and a column shifter replacing the push buttons on the center console. Updated trim materials — along with the overdue infotainment upgrade — should provide a finer sense of luxury than what's currently on offer.  If tech treats carry over, buyers will have access to the Connected Cameras feature for viewing and recording inside and outside of the vehicle for crash and security purposes. An Interior Motion Detection system can detect "micro-movements" in the cabin that could signal a baby or a pet left in the vehicle.  The Yukon might go further than the Chevy SUVs, seeing that GMC has some birthdays to celebrate: 2024 is the fifth anniversary of the AT4 trim and the 25th anniversary of the Denali trim. We'll find out later this year, GMC promising the Yukon reveal sometime after the new Acadia begins shipping to dealers.

Next Chevy Silverado could get this built-in tailgate step

General Motors just received patent approval for a tailgate step in a pickup bed. And given the timing, don't be surprised if you see this on the upcoming 2019 Silverado pickup (not the mention its GMC Sierra twin), expected to arrive in late 2018. According to the patent, granted in December of last year, the whole mechanism is housed in the tailgate assemble. The magic happens when a portion of the top half of the tailgate swings down and a step folds out. There's also a handle that locks into position to help climb up into the bed. As trucks get bigger and taller over the years, it gets harder and harder to access the cargo bed. Ford's solution with the 2009 F-150 was a step that slides out from the end of the tailgate. Back then, Chevy made an ill-advised ad highlighting the feature for Ford. And while Howie Long mocked the F-150's "man step" Ford saw almost a third of its trucks with the option in the first year. The GM design seems to improve on Ford's idea as it appears to be wider and has a back to the lower step. That is, you don't have to worry about stepping through the ladder-rung design as on the F-150. Ford's tailgate step later spread to the F Super Duty, and other cargo access assists have proliferated through the truck world. On the most recent redesign, the Chevrolet Silverado took a trick from the Avalanche and added cutouts to the corners of the rear bumper that act as a foothold. Ford also offers a deployable side step, Chevrolet has running boards that scoot rearward with a kick of the boot, and Ram offers fixed wheel-to-wheel side rails. Nissan is in on the game too, with an optional folding step that tucks under the rear bumper. We don't expect Chevrolet to comment on when or if we'll see this feature in the showrooms. But given that engineers are already hard at work on the next Silverado and the timing of this patent lines right up with the new truck's development cycle, we'll be disappointed if this patent stays in the file cabinet. Related Video:

GM recalls over 323,000 HD pickups because tailgates can open unexpectedly

General Motors is recalling more than 323,000 heavy-duty pickup trucks in the U.S. because the electronic tailgate release switches can short circuit and open the gates while the vehicles are in park. The recall covers certain Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks from the 2020 through 2024 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Tuesday that water can get into the switches and cause the tailgates to open when in park gear. The agency says that can result in unsecured cargo falling out of the beds, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. GM is advising owners to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before they drive the trucks. Dealers will replace an exterior touchpad switch. Owners are to be notified by letter starting March 18. GM dealers also have been told to stop selling affected vehicles until repairs are made. The company says in documents that it has 136 complaints about the tailgates opening unexpectedly. GM reported one complaint of a minor injury and three complaints of minor property damage. Recalls Chevrolet GM GMC Truck