GMC Vehicles Prepared for Do-It-Yourself Project Trends

DETROIT – Springtime is here, which means the hammers and shovels for do-it-yourself home improvement projects are coming out. And from Terrain to Sierra HD, every GMC is capable of carrying the load – big or small – for a variety of home renovation projects.

Home improvement is an ever-growing industry with an expected retail sales increase of nearly 4 percent in 2012 to $269 billion, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute.

“I’ve been a contractor forever so I wouldn’t even consider a vehicle that can’t fit plywood and other materials” said Eric Stromer, host of HGTV’s “Over Your Head,” do-it-yourself expert on “GMC Trade Secrets” and a GMC Sierra Hybrid driver. “The crew cab is good for my kids, I can tow cement mixers and other equipment, and with it being a hybrid, it offers that capability with a lower carbon footprint.”

With Sierra 1500 half-ton, 2500HD ¾-ton, and 3500HD 1-ton pickups, GMC offers a variety of cab layouts, bed lengths, engines, transmissions, and axle ratios. Payload capacity is as much as 6,635 pounds and with the Duramax diesel’s 765 lb-ft of torque, trailers weighing up to 23,000 pounds can be towed. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, home addition projects that require heavy lumber, bulky insulation, and other materials are on the rise.

For the Acadia midsize crossover, which had its best sales year ever in 2011 and will be significantly updated for 2013, do-it-yourself projects were part of the development process from the beginning.
At the core of the cargo area’s development was the ability to accommodate a 4-foot-wide sheet of drywall or plywood. The second- and third-row seats fold forward to create a practical cargo space with a flat load floor for easy loading. Healthy lifting movements were also considered when the load height was set at an average waist level. Inside, there’s no deep well in the floor that would require excessive bending.

“I’m at the home improvement store all the time and I still haven’t come across anything that won’t fit in my Acadia,” said Sue Eckel, vehicle chief engineer. “I’ve slid the SmartSlide seats forward to fit small trees without tipping them over, and I’ve slid the second row rearward to put heavy pots securely on the floor. SmartSlide is all about that configurability.”

SmartSlide is an industry-exclusive feature in GM crossovers including Acadia that allows one-handed adjustment of and access to the second- and third-row seats. According to Eckel, “you can even slide the second row back enough to recline the front passenger seat fully to carry a ladder.”

The Terrain small SUV, which gets a more powerful V-6 and an upscale Denali model for 2013, offers similar versatility. Its Multiflex rear seats can be moved fore and aft nearly eight inches (200 mm) or folded flat in a 60/40 configuration to free up 63.9 cubic feet (2820 liters) of cargo space.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Mar/0322_gmc_diy

GMC Dealers

2012 GMC Yukon and Sierra Heritage Editions Announced [New York Auto Show]

Since the current Sierra and Yukon are on their way out—we expect an all-new Sierra pickup to be announced soon—GMC decided to give them one last flash of the spotlight. Heritage editions of both will take a bow at the New York auto show and are supposed to celebrate 100 years of the GMC brand.


Sierra Heritage Edition

Available on Sierra 1500 SLT crew cab models, the special-edition package (pictured above) features “Heritage Edition” exterior badges and embroidery on the floor mats and headrests. Twenty-inch aluminum wheels with chrome accents are standard along with chrome door handles, mirror caps, and door moldings.

A Heritage Edition truck will run an extra $2645 and include the Convenience package (normally a $725 option), which includes rear parking sensors, adjustable pedals, universal home remote, a locking tailgate, and rear fender liners. A rearview camera is also included.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2012-gmc-yukon-and-sierra-heritage-editions-announced-new-york-auto-show/

2013 Chevy, GMC Natural Gas Bi-Fuel Pickup Trucks Announced

General Motors announced today it will offer bi-fuel versions of its 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks that run either on gasoline or natural gas.

The two trucks are the 2500 HD (heavy duty) model, and can be ordered in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive and with a standard or long bed.

The pickups are fitted with a 6.0-liter V-8 engine that is modified to switch seamlessly between burning compressed natural gas, or CNG, and gasoline.

GM chose the bi-fuel option, it said, because it relieves buyers of the need to stay within range of a local natural-gas fueling stations.

No range anxiety

"Range anxiety is very real," said Joyce Mattman, director of GM commercial product and specialty vehicles. "We worked with the Chevy Volt team on that, and saw the same issues" among customers who worried about running out of electricity.

The trucks run on natural gas as standard, then switch to gasoline when the CNG runs out (or if the driver pushes a button to do so).

Natural gas-powered vehicles have lower emissions, producing about 25 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile than those running on gasoline.

The fuel is plentiful and domestically produced, with 98 percent of U.S. natural gas produced within the country.

Cheaper fuel costs

And with gasoline costs soaring, the cost advantage of CNG is by far its most attractive feature. Fleet customers may save $2,000 a year or more per vehicle on fuel costs.

Natural gas prices are much less volatile than gas prices, and CNG equivalent to the energy content of one gallon of gasoline costs slightly more than $2 in most areas.

Today, there are fewer than 1,000 natural-gas fueling stations in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than half open to the public. Stations are most prevalent in California, Oklahoma, New York, and Utah.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073663_2013-chevy-gmc-natural-gas-bi-fuel-pickup-trucks-announced

GMC Sierra 3500HD Wins Best Overall HD Truck

DETROIT – The GMC Sierra 3500HD won PickupTrucks.com’s “Heavy Duty Hurt Locker” comparison test, a grueling showdown among industry heavyweights that included towing 19,400-pound fifth-wheel trailers up and over some of the most demanding grades in the United States.

“We procured similarly equipped trucks from Ford, Ram and GMC and put them through the paces, towing up and down some of the toughest grades in the country covering a total of 2,200 miles,” said Mike Levine, editor of PickupTrucks.com. “When we analyzed the data, the GMC Sierra 3500HD simply outperformed the trucks from Ford and Ram.”

The results of the comparison conducted July 11-18 between Denver, Colo. and Laughlin, Nev., reflect improvements to the 2012 Sierra 3500HD that give Sierra best-in-class towing for both conventional and fifth-wheel trailers.

“Customers choose full-size trucks for their capabilities,” said Rick Spina, vehicle line executive for full-size trucks. “For 2012, we built on the foundation we created in 2011, with engineering changes and additional validation designed to make the most capable heavy-duty pickup even better. Based on PickupTrucks.com’s test results, it looks like we got the job done.”

For enhanced fifth-wheel towing, engineers strengthened the pickup box sills and other box structures, rear springs, u-bolts and box mounts, and upgraded the shock tuning. As a result, Sierra 3500HD now has a best-in-class tow rating of 23,000 pounds, up from 21,700 pounds in 2011.

Sierra also will lead the class in dually payload, with a 7,215-lb. payload for the 3500HD regular cab gasoline dually. Updates to the trailer hitch receiver increase conventional towing to 18,000 pounds, up from 17,000 pounds. Both changes will be on models arriving in dealerships in the fourth quarter.

Read More: http://media.opel.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Aug/0815_sierra 

GMC Sierra Dealers Chicago

From Steak to Beef Jerky: GMC Hopes to Make You Criss-Crossover

General Motors is leaner and meaner, but is it greener? It’s not going from big T-bone steaks to salads, but may be downgrading to beef jerky. As part of a plan to remain viable in a volatile economy, GMC, once GM’s trucks-only division, has plans to expand its range. In addition to its earthy sounding names – Terrain, Granite, Yukon, etc. – GMC is actually getting a little earthy by expanding its hybrid offerings on future models. This represents a crucial shift for the big truck division as it prepares itself for a future where everyone, even truck buyers, want more fuel efficient, wallet and eco-friendly vehicles.

The GMC Granite subcompact crossover, a concept revealed at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, has done what few concepts ever do: Become a real car. The Granite should hit showrooms in the fall of 2012 as a 2013 model. With its big wheels and aggressive, boxy styling, the 2013 GMC Granite could be a domestic alternative against vehicles like Kia Soul, Scion xB, and Nissan Cube.

The 2013 GMC Granite will come with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, while a 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter engine may be offered for those seeking a little more power. The Granite offers its own brand of funkiness common to the segment, including rear-hinged doors that open out on the passenger side and enough boxiness to roll with the big boys, or the subcompact crossover boys, anyway
What GMC has got in the works:

GMC Terrain: The Terrain has managed great success in the midsized crossover segment, and we expect that to continue. It offers a roomy, nice ride with decent fuel economy to boot.

• 2013 models to include Denali version
• GM’s eAssist light-hybrid system may appear on 2014 or 2015 models

GMC Acadia: GMC’s larger crossover, the Acadia, delivers a roomy cabin with plenty of cargo room. Its sub-par interior will get a needed touch up.

• 2013 model to receive new grille along with a few cosmetic changes to both the exterior and interior
• A 3.0-liter V6 will replace the 3.6-liter engine
• 2015 should see the release of an all-new Acadia

GMC Yukon, Yukon XL: The Yukon has enjoyed a long successful run in part to its comfortable cabin, excellent towing capability and cushy ride.

• All-new 2014 model to include a more efficient powertrain and an eight-speed transmission
• Future plans include a more dynamic, fuel efficient hybrid system

GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500: GMC’s full-sized Sierra pickup has been a solid get-the-job-done choice for many years. The variety of models and engines also help it remain fixed in the pick-up market.

• New Sierra 1500 engineering and styling for 2014 model year
• More fuel efficient powertrain and a possible eight-speed transmission
• Sierra 2500 and 3500 models are expected to be restyled for the 2014 or 2015 model year, more fuel efficient models likely

GMC Canyon: GMC will discontinue the Canyon. It’s possible that the Chevy Colorado or a similar small to midsized pickup will take its place in the GMC segment in the future.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/from-steak-to-beef-jerky-gmc-hopes-to-make-you-criss-crossover-45875.html#ixzz1TVO2PRa4

Consumer Reports: Best new-car deals for March

Spring has sprung. If the new season and promise of warmer weather has given you the itch for a new car, you’re in luck as there are a number of deals and discounts out there. In analyzing current nationwide incentives, we've found some enticing discounts on good models. Locally, you may find additional sales deals being advertised. And being near the end of the month, dealers may be a bit more willing to negotiate to meet their quotas.

Those highlighted below have Bottom Line Prices well below MSRP, when factoring all national incentives. Regional or local offers, as well as bonus incentives that are targeted at specific audiences such as military personnel or college graduates, may further sweeten the deal. The Bottom Line Price gives you a strong starting point for your negotiations, working up from the rock bottom, rather than haggling down from MSRP or even advertised offers.

The models listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals—notable discounts on models recommended by Consumer Reports. These vehicles scored well in our testing, have average or better predicted reliability, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated.

Make & model	Expires	MSRP	Invoice price	Customer rebate	Dealer incentive	Bottom line price	Potential savings below MSRP
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab SLT SWB	5/2/2011	42,275	39,316	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+

Full pricing information is available to online subscribers through the model overview pages.

Consumer Reports also has a "Build & Buy" service that lets you configure a new vehicle online and receive guaranteed, competitive price quotes from up to three dealers in your area who have agreed to meet strict guidelines of conduct. Available to Consumer Reports New Car Price Report purchasers, as well as ConsumerReports.org subscribers, the service is completely free and you are under no obligation to buy.

Read More: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/03/best-new-car-deals-for-march.html

2009 GMC Sierra 1500 2WD Ext Cab 134.0

2009 GMC Sierra 1500 2WD Ext Cab 134.0
Stock#: 110580A
Exterior: Onyx Black
Interior: Dark Titanium
Miles: 10175
Doors: 2
VIN: 1GTEC19XX9Z103079
4.3L V6 Cylinder Engine

Sale Price $21,988

Limited Warranty 'Bumper-to-Bumper' to 02-14-2013 or 48,000 miles!
Powertrain to 02-14-2014 or 100,000 miles!

All Terrain concept hints at GMC Sierra HD's brawny future

DETROIT -- GMC is showing off an off-road, heavy-duty pickup concept that hints at bold, muscular styling for the next-generation Sierra HD.

The GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept, underpinned by the 2011 Sierra 2500 HD's re-engineered four-wheel-drive chassis, sports a wider track, brawny grille and an extra 3 inches of ground clearance. It was unveiled yesterday at a media preview for next month's Detroit auto show.

The concept was given the same 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine mated to an Allison 1000 six-speed transmission used in the Sierra HD. A restyle of the Sierra HD is expected in 2014 or 2015.

“You certainly could take it as a hint” of where the next-generation Sierra HD is headed, GMC design manager Carl Zipfel said.

While the massive 35-inch tires, mounted on 20-inch aluminum wheels, and Fox off-road shocks likely would be for “more of a niche or special edition” vehicle, Zipfel said many of the styling features could stick in Sierra restyle.

An all-terrain GMC pickup would compete with the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the Ram Power Wagon. It also would offer General Motors Co. an off-road vehicle to replace Hummer.

“It's [for] that premium customer who demands towing and hauling capability and off-road capability in one package,” Zipfel said.

Flared fenders and a streamlined front bumper fully expose the tires and allow for more ground clearance -- 21.1 inches. A beefed-up, forced-induction hood feeds more air to the engine.

The crew cab truck's 5-feet-8-inch bed, taken from GMC's light duty lineup, is nearly a foot shorter that the Sierra HD for better off-road handling. It includes a pair of lighted storage compartments on the sides of the bed.

Motorized, illuminated assist steps for both the cab and cargo bed offer easier access and maximize ground clearance.

GMC didn't say if or when it would green light the pickup.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101217/OEM/101219855/1403#ixzz18mT3QrUl

GMC Illinois

REVIEWS: 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew Cab SLT 4x4

I employed the GMC Sierra to tow my 19-foot Glastron boat, a burden of only 4000 pounds. That was a rather piddling load for this well muscled machine and it barely knew a load was in tow. What amazed me most is how quiet, smooth riding, and generally enjoyable this dual-rear-tired pickup has become. The Duramax turbo diesel is quiet, smoke free, and impressively strong especially from rest. It is supremely well matched to the Allison automatic transmission. Anyone who seriously needs this much capacity will be well served by this mega truck.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1011_2011_gmc_sierra_3500_hd_crew_cab_slt_4x4/index.html

GMC Chicago

IIHS reveals most, least expensive cars to insure by type

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a rating of which cars have the highest and lowest insurance claims by category. In general, 2007-2009 SUVs and sports cars fared better than most other vehicle types in minimizing insurance losses.

The top 10 vehicles with the lowest overall insurance losses were the Chevrolet Corvette convertible, Mazda Miata, Chevrolet Corvette coupe, Volkswagen New Beetle convertible, Saturn Sky, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz, Honda CR-V, Subaru Outback, and Toyota 4Runner.

Among the vehicles with the lowest claims rate for medical payments other than sports cars are the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 pickups, Honda Pilot, Audi A6, and Buick Enclave.

The results are relative, expressed on a scale with 100 representing the average car.  Unlike in past reports, IIHS says it adjusted, or standardized, the results to reduce distortions from non-vehicle factors such as operator age, gender, and marital status and vehicle population density. Collision and comprehensive results are also adjusted to standardize the deductible.

Read More: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/10/iihs-reveals-most-least-expensive-cars-to-insure-by-type-chevrolet-corvette-mitsubishi-lancer.html

GMC Dealers

2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD Reg Cab 133.7

2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD Reg Cab 133.7
Stock#: 110043
Exterior: Onyx Black
Interior: Ebony
Miles: New
Doors: 2
VIN: 1GT020CG4BF108723
6.0L 8 Cylinder Engine

M.S.R.P. $37,770

3 yr/36,000 Mile Ltd 'Bumper-to-Bumper'
Plus 5 yr/100,000 Mile Powertrain

Read More: GMC Illinois

Review: 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE

2010 has been a banner year for heavy-duty pickup truck fans, with revamped entries from all three U.S. automakers making their debut this year. Of those, the HD pickups from both Chevrolet and GMC received the most subtle exterior updates, but virtually everything under their skins is new, including a heavily revamped version of the company's 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8.

When it comes to full-size pickup trucks, the old Burger King tag-line of "Have It Your Way" still rings true. Regardless of where your brand loyalty lies, these types of trucks are available with either gas or diesel engines; as regular, extended or crew-cab and with regular or long beds. All you have to do is figure out what you need the truck for and then check the appropriate boxes on the dealer's order sheet. Somewhere in the middle of this cacophony of choice lies the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD.

For 2011, the only notable visual changes to the heavy-duty Sierra are a slightly re-shaped front bumper with a larger air intake slot and a new grille. The grille on non-Denali Sierras like our tester receives a black, three-bar treatment with similar perforations to the chromed, four-bar version found on the premium truck. The rest of the sheetmetal is carried over from the GMT900HD styling that's been around since its debut in 2008, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Read More: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/23/2011-gmc-sierra-3500hd-sle-review-road-test/

GMC Illinois

2011 GMC Sierra HD 2500 Denali 4×4 Diesel – Short Take Road Test

The fancy-pants Sierra turns out to be a heavy-duty hot rod.

Numbers are an obsession in the auto industry. Corporate suits worry about build costs, profit margins, and sales volumes; sports-car fans spend more time watching horsepower counts, acceleration times, and top speeds. But heavy-duty truck enthusiasts live and die by numbers, perhaps more than any other segment of the automotive sphere.

To that end, the 2011 GMC Sierra heavy duty—along with its Chevrolet Silverado twin—sees a couple of its key numbers swell to 6635 and 21,700. Those are the highest payload and trailer-weight capacities of the GM HD trucks; the totals for the 2500 truck tested here are 2631 and 16,800 pounds, respectively. But when we finished putting this GMC Sierra Denali 2500 through its paces, it wasn’t these digits that had our spreadsheets smoking.

Quick for a Big Guy

Indeed, a thoroughly overhauled Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 supplies the first pair of staggering numbers: 397 and 765. Those are the 6.6-liter engine’s respective horsepower and torque counts, the former peaking at 3000 rpm and the latter at 1600. Those two figures delivered the digits that simply blew us away—7.3 and 15.7, as in stopwatch ticks to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile, the latter feat occurring at 89 mph. What we have here is a 7560-pound truck that’s quicker than the first Chevy Camaro we ever tested and capable of hauling most of one in the bed or towing four behind it on a trailer.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_gmc_sierra_hd_2500_denali_4x4_diesel-short_take_road_test

GMC Dealers

2010 GMC Sierra 1500

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 2WD Reg Cab 133.0
Stock#: 100744
Exterior: Summit White
Interior: Dark Titanium
Miles: New
Doors: 2
VIN: 1GTPCTEXXAZ255314
4.3L V6 Cylinder Engine

Chicago GMC

2010 GMC Sierra 1500

2010 GMC Sierra 1500
M.S.R.P. $22,235
Stock#: 100767
Exterior: Pure Silver Metallic
Interior: Dark Titanium
Miles: New
Doors: 2
VIN: 1GTPCTEX1AZ255654
4.3L V6 Cylinder Engine

GMC Chicago