GM SUVs to continue with full frame, Granite still on the table

[lhanse08]

Report: GM SUVs to continue with full frame, Granite still on the table
Link to article

By Jeremy Korzeniewski
August 10, 2010

Automotive News reports that the redesigned GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe, due in 2013 or 2014, will likely stick to their truck-based roots. No surprise.

Nor should we be shocked by the revelation that the GMC Granite, which was first shown at the Detroit Auto Show early in 2010, is still in the works. In today's market conditions, an entirely truck-based lineup makes very little fiscal sense, but we'd imagine that General Motors' Lambda triplets will remain the automaker's volume sellers.

[EJD1984]

I hope they can make a substantial leap in mpg for the Yukon/Tahoe.

[Avalanche13]

Ugh read the comments on that article. One poster named "Gruv" seems to be particularly mentally deficient.

[Amphibian]

Good. There are still many families that need the towing capacity. They really need to improve towing capacity, though. I'd say somewhere at least north of 9000 lbs.

I like that they dropped the 4800 and made the 5300 standard. The 6200 should be retooled to run on premium and made an option in LT/LTZ trims. I can't help but think a baby Dmax could help both mileage and towing, if not perceptions. Mercedes and Audi SUVs with diesels have so far been decently successful, and others like BMW and VW I'm unsure of.

They should separate the vehicles more those rather than just trim finishes and new front clips. And being Hummer's gone, a GMC Yukon "Terra Firma" or "Baja" with all of the off-road style and mechanical changes like the Raptor would make for a really good truck. Screw you Range Rover and Land Cruiser.

And let's get rid of the LRA in non-HD models.

[Slideways]

Ugh read the comments on that article. One poster named "Gruv" seems to be particularly mentally deficient.

He's not the only one. Several of them would like to dictate what people can and can't buy based on their perceived needs. It makes me furious. Let auto makers build cars and let consumers decide what sells.

They should separate the vehicles more those rather than just trim finishes and new front clips. And being Hummer's gone, a GMC Yukon "Terra Firma" or "Baja" with all of the off-road style and mechanical changes like the Raptor would make for a really good truck. Screw you Range Rover and Land Cruiser.

I heard they will continue to make GMC and Chevrolet more distinct from each other, as they have with each passing generation of late. However, I think the Chevy will go the off-road route rather than GMC.

[Amphibian]

However, I think the Chevy will go the off-road route rather than GMC.

Wouldn't surprise me either. I just think it'd be more fitting with GMC being Professional Grade and the truck brand. Gives them something unique since Chevy has so much GMC will never have (Camaros, Corvettes, etc).

Just a pipe dream, this.

[Al63240]

Somebody clearly pissed in "Gruv's" cheerios. That is one angry man.

[RamJet502]

He's not the only one. Several of them would like to dictate what people can and can't buy based on their perceived needs. It makes me furious. Let auto makers build cars and let consumers decide what sells.

Some people don't understand that a Tahoe Z71 makes a great family vehicle that can tow a full-size boat to the lake and has enough ground clearance to take the family camping (in the back woods, not just a campground). You can't do those things with a Traverse or an Equinox. There are some of us who like our vehicles to be more than grocery getters.

[Amphibian]

there are some of us who need our vehicles to be more than grocery getters.

Fixed

[caddycruiser]

Some people don't understand that a Tahoe Z71 makes a great family vehicle that can tow a full-size boat to the lake and has enough ground clearance to take the family camping (in the back woods, not just a campground). You can't do those things with a Traverse or an Equinox. There are some of us who like our vehicles to be more than grocery getters.

Agreed. And this is from someone who drives a new '09 Avalanche Z71 as a DD...nearly 95 miles a day for the time being...at that. Averaging 20+ mpg everyday, with that glorious AFM 5.3L, 6-spd & high rear gears.

There's just some things a full size, BOF, V8 SUV can do that nothing else can't. The GM utes have always excelled in being the best overall for a lot of things, rear space aside, and interesting to watch at that. I enjoy my '09 immensely, did so for 2 of the last gen, and will buy another when the time comes and the newest of new are out.

[chakis24]

And why should they? They own like 75% of the market.

[chakis24]

And to add to that i commute by myself 2 days a week and carpool wirh my fiancee 3 days a week. My alone commute is 8 miles when we carpool its 12. Its also our only vehicle. Who saving more gas and polluting less? Thats what i thought. People need to actually think before they speak.


I drive what i want. That should be the end of it. I dont yell at smart car buyers because they bought one of the most idiotic vehicles ever. I just laugh at the thing and move on.

[chakis24]

Although i do agree with requiring a commercial grade license to drive one. Too many people that own them cant drive the things.

And sorry for the triple posting- im doing this from my fiancees iphone and its easier to jus do a new post than trtingto edit the old one.

[fm442scr]

Ugh read the comments on that article. One poster named "Gruv" seems to be particularly mentally deficient.

Idiots like "Gruv" who want to dictate what everyone should drive, or who argue that SUVs pollute more, or implies that drivers of SUVs are of "below average intelligence" are incredibly ignorant. Its a fact that most SUVs are immensely more capable of handling kids, cargo, trips to Home Depot, road trips, camping, etc, then a regular sedan. It is also a fact that most SUV owners are families or people who need to tow, if only on weekends. Just because someone drives one to work, doesnt mean they are not chaueffering the kids to soccer practice afterwards, going skiing on weekends, and to drop off that lazyboy at Goodwill. There is something to be said for ONE family ONE car-- how many Prius's would it take to fill the cargo and family capacity of a Suburban? Not to mention, while SUVs might not get better mileage than a car counterpart, many of todays SUVs get better mpg than a 3-5 year old car. AND many new SUV emit fewer emmisions than a 3-5 year old car. I remember an article a couple of years back, comparing a NEW Ford Expededtion to a 2-year old Honda, and the Expedition emmitted fewer carbon emissions than the Honda. As for intelligence of drivers, I've seen plenty of idiots behind the wheels of Camrys and Corollas and even a Tahoe or two, but the true idiots are the ones who think they know everything when in fact dont know their head from their a**-->GRUV this is you

[SierraGS]

They should separate the vehicles more those rather than just trim finishes and new front clips. And being Hummer's gone, a GMC Yukon "Terra Firma" or "Baja" with all of the off-road style and mechanical changes like the Raptor would make for a really good truck. Screw you Range Rover and Land Cruiser.

I think GMC would be the brand of choice for the Hummer replacement, it already attracts more upmarket buyers and any specialized "Off Road" model will be a small "niche" market that requires higher pricing to do correctly, and GMC buyers can pay that premium for a 4.5 TD GMC Sierra and Yukon "Terra Firma" or "Baja".

Don't discount unibody or more correctly "uniframe" Off-Road vehicles, other than the Wrangler, the old Cherokee is used extensively out here for heavy off-roading and it seems solid axles are more important than BOF and I would like to see GMC get an exclusive to GMC "Uniframe" Small truck and SUV patterned after the Comanche and Cherokee. Can't tell you how many times I have heard off-roaders say they wish someone would make replacements for them, there would be a waiting list like there is for the Terrain if GMC made them (with 2.9L TD please).