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Next-gen Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra may use carbon fiber

It's been generally accepted that the next generation of full-size GM trucks will use some sort of strong, lightweight material for the beds while retaining steel for the cab. While aluminum seems like the most obvious choice, according to Automotive News, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra will incorporate both aluminum and carbon fiber in their beds. The publication cites sources from within GM, though it seems the introduction of this comparatively exotic material mix is still a few years off. While carbon fiber is both stronger and lighter than steel and aluminum, it takes significantly more time and money to produce, essentially relegating the material to small-volume cars. The main benefit for trucks is the resulting reduction in weight to improve fuel economy without sacrificing the tough, rugged capabilities truck buyers expect. The Ford F-150 made the switch to aluminum for the 2015 model year and it's proved highly successful. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before the competition followed suit. Automotive News says that the next-gen trucks will launch with aluminum beds and that it will take a couple of years before we'll see any carbon fiber incorporated into the design. Even then, only look for the composite material on higher-trim models, with a trickle down to lower-spec trucks possible further in the future. In 2011, GM announced it was working with Japan-based Teijin Limited on a carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic. There's a good chance that material's introduction will be on trucks. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News Plants/Manufacturing Rumormill Chevrolet GM GMC Truck

2021 GMC Canyon Denali shows its new grille

GMC showed us its new 2021 Canyon AT4 pickup at the beginning of the year. We got a few details on the "more upmarket" top-tier Denali trim coming next year, but we've been missing good photos of the article until now. The more upmarket part rings true when it comes to the front fascia of the the 2021 Canyon Denali, achieved at the cost of a busyness compared to the 2020 model. That's because designers bent the set-square lines on the current trim into angles and flared edges from top to bottom, adding more prominent textures along the way. The comparison shot in the gallery above reveals all,  the "exclusive heroic grille design" — really, that's GM's name for it — the heart of "a more distinctive and sophisticated design that has become synonymous with Denali," according to Holt Ware, the brand's head of exterior design. Inside, the luxury trim offers a new and exclusive open pore ash wood for accents, a Cocoa/Dark interior treatment, heated and cooled front seats, aluminum trim, and embroidered headrests. There's wholesale change coming for the entire Canyon lineup, but we need to wait for GM to officially announce the 2021 pickup to codify everything properly. The trim walk has changed, from Canyon, SLE, All Terrain, SLT, and Denali to Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali, and we're still wondering what this might to do the $650 Elevation Edition cosmetic package. The bargain basement models have also gone away, putting the new MSRP floor $4,200 above the 2020 model to go along with other price increases dotted throughout the lineup. GM Authority says Canyon production won't be delayed by the coronavirus lockdown, so production should begin n Wentzville, Missouri, in a few months. Related Video:    

Chevy Trax engineer says GMC version possible

The Buick Encore is doing so well and its platform-mate the Chevrolet Trax has such good reviewer vibes going for it already, that a GMC version hasn't been ruled out. During the recent press launch, Automotive News asked lead engineer Al Manzor if the Trax could wear a GMC-branded suit, to which Manzor replied, "I think that is certainly possible." That's a long way from telling us anything about the probability of a GMC version of the Trax, and a legion of questions would need to be answered before it could happen. How would a GMC version be priced to leave room for the $26,465 GMC Terrain but not eat into sales of the $20,995 Trax or the $24,035 Encore? Or would that matter? Could it primarily be considered to encourage a new faction of The Yukon Set at the compact end, GMC buyers being famously committed to the marque? And of course, would there be a Denali version? It'll probably be a long while before we have any kind of answers, but if you want to see it happen, the door to your campaign of persuasion is at least ajar.