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How Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra will take on the Ford F-150 profit machine

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — When General Motors engineers were developing the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, some of them joined public tours of Ford's Dearborn, Mich., factory to watch aluminum-bodied F-Series trucks go down the assembly line. The redesign of the Ford F-Series trucks, launched in 2014, set a new standard for fuel economy and lightweight vehicle construction. But armed with stopwatches and trained eyes, the GM engineers believed they saw problems. "They had a real hard time getting those doors to fit," Tim Herrick, the executive chief engineer for GM truck programs, told Reuters. His team did more intelligence gathering. They bought and tore apart Ford F-Series doors sold as repair parts. Their conclusion: GM could cut weight in its trucks for a lower cost using doors made of a combination of aluminum and high-strength steel that could be thinner than standard steel, shaving off kilograms in the process. These pounds-and-pennies decisions will have major implications in the highest-stakes game going in Detroit: dominance in the world's most profitable vehicle market, the gasoline-fueled large pickup segment. What's more, GM is banking on strong sales of overhauled 2019 Silverados and GMC Sierras to fund its push into automated and electric vehicles — a business many investors see as the auto industry's long-term future. The risks are high given the hits automakers have taken from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies. Rising aluminum prices spurred by Trump's tariffs are driving up costs on the Ford's F-Series, while rising steel and aluminum prices likewise drag on GM results. GM also has a significant risk should the United States, Mexico and Canada fail to agree on a new NAFTA trade deal, given GM trucks built at its Silao, Mexico, factory could face a 25 percent tariff if NAFTA collapses. Major profit per truck Interviews with GM executives and a tour at its factory here in northwest Indiana provide a detailed look inside GM's plan for the most important vehicles in its global lineup. These big pickups are everything Tesla's Model 3 or Chevy's Bolt electric car is not. The mostly steel body is bolted to the truck's steel frame, rather than the one-piece body and frame electric vehicles. The majority of trucks will have a V-8 gasoline engine powering the rear wheels — like the classic GM cars of the 1950s. Some Silverados will have new four-cylinder engines, but there is no electric or hybrid offering as of now.

GM expected to debut two new crossovers at Detroit Auto Show

Next month, General Motors is expected to debut two new crossovers at the North American International Auto Show. That's according to Automotive News and The Wall Street Journal, which reports that the successors to the aging Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain will finally make their debut. The two crossovers have been on sale since 2009 and 2010 respectively and are due for updates as the competition has newer models on the market. Both crossovers play in growing market segments where sales success is crucial for the respective brands. GM, and the automotive industry as a whole, has been shifting its focus towards crossovers in the last few years. The Traverse and the Terrain are some of the oldest SUVs on the market and are in dire need of an update. GMC's Acadia, the former corporate clone to the Traverse (and Buick Acadia), switched to a new platform in 2016. And the Terrain's platform-mate, the Chevrolet Equinox, was revealed a few months ago. Both the new Chevy and GMC models are expected to go on sale late in 2017 as 2018 models. Look for a follow up to the Traverse's sister, the Buick Enclave, to make an appearance soon. Related Video: News Source: The Wall Street Journal via Automotive NewsImage Credit: Reuters Rumormill Detroit Auto Show Chevrolet GMC Crossover SUV gmc terrain 2017 Detroit Auto Show

GMC Sierra electric pickup previewed, will launch in Denali trim

An electric GMC Sierra Denali is coming, and this is our first look at the fully-electric pickup truck. It’ll be the second electric pickup from GMC, following the Hummer EV pickup that is about to launch. GMC didnÂ’t reveal much about the EV, but it did say that the electric Sierra will launch exclusively in Denali trim. That means you shouldnÂ’t expect to buy any cheaper versions of the truck in the immediate future. Denali is extremely popular among GMC buyers, though, so this being the exclusive offering probably wonÂ’t hurt GMCÂ’s sales prospects too badly. Beyond the trim, GMC also says the truck will be built on the Ultium platform, which is a given these days for new electric GM vehicles. As for the image and teaser video (see the video below), GMC gives us a fairly clear view of what the electric SierraÂ’s front end will look like. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. ItÂ’s no surprise to see the “grille” has been transformed into a shield of sorts. That shield is then flanked by a pair of giant LEDs that wrap around the edges of the top front corner. The turn signals are also previewed, as they blink in three-dot fashion on the front bumper. We can also see some fairly aggressive hood sculpting shrouded in shadow. And thatÂ’s about it. GMC says the electric Sierra will be fully revealed next year, but doesnÂ’t provide an exact date. We already know the electric Silverado is coming to CES in January, though, so we suspect many questions about the GMC version will be answered then. When the electric Sierra does come out, GM says it will be producing them at its assembly plant in Detroit and Hamtramck, MI. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.