More Tell Fritz product news: GMT900 SUVs to get flat load floors

[Buick61]

GMT900 SUVs to get flat load floors
www.gmreinvention.com
October 29, 2009

Q:
I love my new Yukon Denali, but can you PLEASE find a way to make the rear seats fold down flat...it seems like such a waste of space. Thank you!

A:

Bryan, Great to hear that you love your Yukon Denali and we appreciate your input on the rear seats. Stay tuned as we are working on a new seating arrangement to accommodate a flat load floor.

-Susan Docherty, GM Vice President, U.S. Sales

[killerrd2]

Interesting...

...I wonder if that means they will keep the body on frame and not switch to the Lambda platform as previously disclosed?

[Blair1118]

I still think that Chevy should go entirely unibody, and leave body on frame to GMC. Cadillac, IDK. But that would give the mass market brand higher mpg, and since the bof 900's would not be sold in mass as previously, they would be in the higher price bracket of GMC to help offset the lost revenue. Keep a super stripped down version (SL) at the base Chevy price, but all other equipment levels are at standard GMC prices.

[nsap]

I have inquired to GM about this for an official comment. Good find!

[TuffG929]

I hope this means IRS...not Lambda. BPG err.....BG already has a Lambda and leaving the Yukon BOF would give consumers the chance to make their own decision.

[chakis24]

i dont think so. chevy already has a lambda. maybe theyll go the irs route like ford. although if they could pull it off with a solid rear that would be an achievement imo.

[TuffG929]

^ I think there is good reason to believe it's IRS. The 900's were supposed to get IRS in 2007 as a mater of fact.

EDIT: It's amazing that GM held onto its leadership position in this segment without a flat loading floor.

[calgaryhhr]

I would add that every SUV/CUV vehicle should have a flat load floor with the seats folded down (ie. the new Equinox.)

[mbukukanyau]

Great news. I love t5he Tahoe. It cremes every other SUV out there.

[johnny smallblock]

Originally Posted by Blair1118

I still think that Chevy should go entirely unibody, and leave body on frame to GMC. Cadillac, IDK. But that would give the mass market brand higher mpg, and since the bof 900's would not be sold in mass as previously, they would be in the higher price bracket of GMC to help offset the lost revenue.

I agree. Let the pick-ups stay on the 900 platform and also let GMC use it for their SUVs and Chevy use it for the Suburban. Otherwise, Chevy should shrink either the Traverse or the Tahoe to slot above the Equinox but below the current Lambdas. That would also give GMC some differentiation.

As for Cadillac, get the Slade off the 900 platform. I would be the farm that something like 1% of buyers actually use their Cadillac to tow. And then Caddy would get better CAFE numbers, the trucks would drive better, and would have a greater appeal.

[Canyonaro]

I was wondering when this would happen. But I don't know how I feel about the IRS idea, time will tell if I as well as others will except the Tahoe as such.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

I agree. Let the pick-ups stay on the 900 platform and also let GMC use it for their SUVs and Chevy use it for the Suburban. Otherwise, Chevy should shrink either the Traverse or the Tahoe to slot above the Equinox but below the current Lambdas. That would also give GMC some differentiation.

As for Cadillac, get the Slade off the 900 platform. I would be the farm that something like 1% of buyers actually use their Cadillac to tow. And then Caddy would get better CAFE numbers, the trucks would drive better, and would have a greater appeal.

all moving the tahoe to lambda does is create another traverse. if they do that then they need to let one of them go, and i dont think they would do that. the tahoe is too good and sells too well and the traverse is a brand new vehicle that is also selling well.

disagree, the slade should stay where it is, that is the appeal of the escalade.

[chevydlrmn]

I don't think they should mess with moving the trucks (Tahoe, Yukon, etc...) to BFI. Leave them BOF. Chevy customers are loyal to their brand as are GMC's.

[goochman]

we loooooved our Tahoe but ended up with an Enclave when it came time to replace - the fold flat seats def were part of the equation, as was the 10k price difference at the time!

[Gagarin]

Rear seat... the 3rd row? You can take it out, right?

If it's the middle seats... don't they fold into the pocket? Not a lot of wasted space.

I would also like my rear wheels to also turn...wait...