Talking Trucks With GM'S Top Truck Guy

[SS4EVER]

From the magazine "World of Wheels" they did a very informative article on the new trucks back in January's issue. Interesting stuff and the website has just part of that article. It was an interview with Garry White, GM North American vice-president and vehicle line executive for full size trucks.

Before we got to drive these new pickups, we scribes received a technical overview of them by the man ultimately responsible for them, Gary White. When he finished White referred to his talk as, "the 10-minute version of five years of work."

While Gary White has an intimidating title -- GM North American vice-president and vehicle line executive for full-size trucks -- he is not an intimidating personality. Since he was, and is, such a nice guy, we thought we would let him elaborate a bit more on his new babies. So we gave him another 20 minutes of our time. Here are some excerpts of that discussion.
WoW: The last time you re-invented your full-size pickups (for model-year 1999) you had virtually no import competition. Now you do. Did that competition influence how you approached the redesign of this truck? White: My instructions to the integration engineers went like this: 'I want you to get the isolation of the Ford without what I would call the heaviness; I want you to get the athleticism of the (Nissan) Titan, without the harshness ... their first truck was pretty hard; I also want the suppleness of the Toyota, without the vagueness; And I want you to get the toughness of the Ram's look, without the streetfighter posture. We took good ideas from everyone and made them better. Honda has underseat storeage, for example, but it's not lockable, so we made ours lockable and added power outlets. Ford's rear doors on the extended cab open all the way but the windows only go down 90 degrees. Titan has doors that open all the way but has a pop-out window. We have doors that open all the way and windows that go down all the way. We kept a close eye on everyone in this market.

http://www.worldofwheelsmagazine.com...es/article/854

World of Wheels was also told that the frame of the 900's trucks are much improved.

There's a new frame. The previous one was known to be one of the first high-volume applications of hydroforming (shaping hot steel by high pressure water to avoid welding or stamping). This time out, only the front section is of hydroformed steel, but the whole thing is way more rigid (234 percent increased torsional stiffness, and 62 percent increased vertical bending stiffness). With this stiffer backbone, and new steering, suspension hardware and geometry, GM is promising a much-improved driving experience.

[guitarlix]

It costs the same to do cruddy looking grain (on the dash and IP plastic), as it does to do the good stuff

Ford, are you listening? Please use better graining on your dash plastics. Maybe it's because I drove Ford trucks for a long time but now, everytime I get into on their cars or SUVs and see that graining, it screams "cheap" to me. (along with that ugly corporate radio)

[telo]

Why would he mention Honda? That ugly little thing shouldn't be compared to the likes of full-sized pick-ups IMO.

[asim]

Originally Posted by telo

Why would he mention Honda? That ugly little thing shouldn't be compared to the likes of full-sized pick-ups IMO.

He just mentioned some of the "new" little features that Honda put into their "truck". We may not like the Ridgeline, but I have to admit that it does have some pretty useful--utility type features and storage options.

[CBECK]

Originally Posted by telo

Why would he mention Honda? That ugly little thing shouldn't be compared to the likes of full-sized pick-ups IMO.

Because people like Ridgeone still consider it a truck. hell honda considers it a truck--silly.

[IROCNROL1]

Interesting article. Imagine, taking other companies ideas and improving on them. Sounds very Japanese to me. Now about that engine......

[VGT]

Originally Posted by CBECK

Because people like Ridgeone still consider it a truck. hell honda considers it a truck--silly.

It's quite possibly uglier than the Aztek and just as ugly as the Element and Scion xB. Nothing about it's form looks right. The interior is worse than anything GM could put out, and the total package looks late 90's. Add on the fact it's not even built like a real truck. It's mind-boggling how products like this sell because of the badge on the front.

[johnny smallblock]

Originally Posted by VGT

It's quite possibly uglier than the Aztek and just as ugly as the Element and Scion xB. Nothing about it's form looks right. The interior is worse than anything GM could put out, and the total package looks late 90's. Add on the fact it's not even built like a real truck. It's mind-boggling how products like this sell because of the badge on the front.

None of that matters. A crappy car can have a great innovation or two. And a smart company won't ignore innovation just because the overall vehicle isn't very good. The Silverado/Sierra is so good because they looked at all the other vehicles out there.

[tgagneguam]

We kept a close eye on everyone in this market.

Ah, a breath of refreshing air. I like this attitude! (And these trucks definitely demonstrate you did your homework, White).

[Norseman]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Ah, a breath of refreshing air. I like this attitude! (And these trucks definitely demonstrate you did your homework, White).

Amen!!! Brother!

[Cabana Boy]

Originally Posted by guitarlix

Ford, are you listening? Please use better graining on your dash plastics. Maybe it's because I drove Ford trucks for a long time but now, everytime I get into on their cars or SUVs and see that graining, it screams "cheap" to me. (along with that ugly corporate radio)

Funny,
I was recently looking at the new graining or textures that Ford uses on its new SUV's, like the Expy, Explorer and Escape and thought....more people need to be doing this. It was very nice. They did away with the texture or grain pattern emmulating leather or vinyl or whatever, you know that organic look - and instead they have an interesting geometric shape look to it.

Guitarlix,
sounds like the Ford vehicles of 2007 and beyond have little in common with the Ford's you hated years ago. I am certain that is by design as well.

Do you ever have anything good to say about Ford.

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Ah, a breath of refreshing air. I like this attitude! (And these trucks definitely demonstrate you did your homework, White).

Now let's do this on the cars!!!

[WishIhadatruck]

I love the new trucks. They are good looking inside and out, have a lot of great features, and are very capable. The only 2 things that are bothering me are: the HD trucks still have very tiny tires (visually) and it seems more obvious on the new trucks than the old; and the lack of 6-speed transmissions across the board.

At least they have larger tires as an option on the HD trucks now. All the ones I've seen so far are too small looking however. You have to get a 2LT truck to get the largest size. Why should tire size be tied to trim level on a truck?

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by telo

Why would he mention Honda? That ugly little thing shouldn't be compared to the likes of full-sized pick-ups IMO.

Millions of people buy pickups just because they look cool.

The Ridgeline gives you a crew cab with more space than other compact pickup crew cabs, standard locking rear diff, standard all wheel drive, traction control, stability control, standard side curtain airbags, ABS, trailer wiring, excellent handling (because it's not a real truck platform and has 4 wheel independent suspension), cruise control, power locks, remote keyless entry, a bed, and an 8 second 0-60 mph for $28,000.

Take a Silverado crew cab. Option it out as closely as you can to the Ridgeline, and you have a $33,000 truck that's easily twice as capable. But if you're not going to use the extra capability (and you don't mind how the Ridgeline looks), the Silverado is a waste of $5,000.

If you want a truck but don't actually have a serious use for one, the Ridgeline is a decent choice.

(And before anyone says it, the GM engines have Active Fuel Management which give them EPA-rated fuel economy about the same as the Ridgeline despite having tremendously more low end torque and top end power. I know that.)

[02silv]

Not to appear as "trolling", as I've been a huge fan of GM all my life and have fought and argued for them to the bitter end, FOREVER. However I have to ask "WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT THESE INTERIORS????"

Up until the release of the GMT900's all thought was "Don't screw it up....don't screw it up...". To me, they screwed up the interior. I don't get mad about it until I read a snow job like this article or some piece of garbage in my mail from GM's marketing department saying how much better this model's interior is than the previous. The only thing that is better is that it makes them more $$$$$$$$.

Examples:

- Gone are the swivel map lights (which I thought gave perfect light), replaced by two hideous rigid lights.

- overhead storage console - gone

- courtesy light on the door - gone

- CD holder in the armrest - GONE

- I know many disagree, but, the plush upholstery of the GMT800 has been replaced by an extremely light fabric that, honestly, reminds me of an '84 Ford LTD that my uncle had.

- Inboard armrests on the bucket seats - gone

- Dual zone climat control - now an option $$$

- I've seen aftermarket speakers look better than what is in the doors of the GMT900's. The old ones (although big) were so well integrated with it's surroundings.

- The five buttons below the heater controls (I don't know what they all are - one's for tractioncontrol lockout ithink). If you don't get all the options, they leave these holes, fit for storing a pencil or maybe a piece of gum. Would it kill them to put some knockouts here to cover them up.

- Last but not least, not really an issue but always gets me going...would GM PLEASE stop pushing the 49 cents worth of "noise dampening" foam in the A pillars. This reduces cab noise by what 1%?

Again not trolling, just venting. Maybe I'll see some replies that will help me like these a little better. I do, in all fairness, like the chrome. Hopefully it doesn't fade over the years.

(putting on flame suit)