Section: GMC
Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 30th, 2008 5:28 PM
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1966 Chevrolet (Shhh, it’s really a GMC) Dale Earnhardt Tribute Van, complete with:
- Advanced checkered flag theme
- Three Intimidator murals, A Portrait of Dale, The Crash, and The Big Oval In The Sky
- Extra creepy Jesus head
- Several platitudes
- American flag topper
- Two-tone Pergo flooring with Chevy “bow tie” inset
- Carpeted walls
- Wall of NASCAR with twin speakers
- A thousand tiny reminders that life is sad, glorious, and ultimately too short
- “Only going up in value”
+ eBay Motors: 1966 Chevy Other
Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
March 3rd, 2008 3:00 PM
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A fifth General Motors plant is set to be shut down due to the UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
GM’s Moraine, Ohio assembly plant is said to run out of parts by the end of second shift tonight. The Moraine plant assembles GM SUVs, including the Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy. The strike at American Axle has already forced GM to shut down plants in Pontiac, Mich., Flint, Mich., Fort Wayne, Ind., and Oshawa, Ontario.
However, J.D. Power & Associates reports that the Envoy sat in the dealer lot for an average of 59 days between December and February, according to the Detroit Free Press. The Trailblazer was even more pitiful at 75 days. So, in the end, who’s the strike really hurting? Certainly, not GM.
+ Detroit Free Press: 5th GM plant idled by American Axle strike
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
February 28th, 2008 9:00 AM
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General Motors plans to idle assembly today at its Pontiac, Mich. truck plant. The idle comes due to the UAW strike at American Axle and Manufacturing.
The plant assembles the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra full-size pickups. About 80 percent of American Axle’s sales come from GM, supplying axles for the automakers truck and SUV lineup.
American Axle wants to negotiate a contract with the UAW to where its hourly labor costs are around $20 to $30 per worker, from the $70 that it’s paying now. In anticipation of the strike American Axle worked overtime to build a surplus of parts for GM.
+ Automotive News: GM to idle truck plant due to American Axle strike
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
February 7th, 2008 10:45 AM
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General Motors continued with its onslaught of hybrid vehicles here at the Chicago Auto Show, pulling the wraps off of its latest flavor of dual-mode pickup, the 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid.
The Sierra shares the twin bond with its Chevrolet doppelganger, the Silverado Hybrid that was launched a few months ago in Los Angeles. Despite the fact that GMC had already released most of the relevant information for its new green truck, we thought that the least we could do was bring you some live images from the show stage. Enjoy.
Written By: Phil Floraday
February 6th, 2008 7:00 PM
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The GMC Denali XT concept makes a lot of sense. It offers lots of practicality, versitility, and probably a healthy dose of fun in a reasonably sized package. It’s packing a 4.9-liter V-8 that will keep truckers happy and also a two-mode hybrid system to keep the Sierra Club somewhat happy. The midgate can drop for longer loads, and we’re pretty sure the El Camino fan club is ready to replace its fleet.
Could such a vehicle be produced? We’re sure this concept isn’t a complete pine-in-the-sky idea, but we welcome you to check out our live shots and let us know how you feel in comments.
Written By: Evan McCausland
February 3rd, 2008 12:01 AM
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Chevrolet launched its 2009 Silverado Hybrid in Los Angeles, but GMC waited to unveil its Sierra counterpart until today. The Sierra Hybrid, another application of GM’s 2-Mode hybrid technology, makes its debut this week at the Chicago auto show.
Like its Chevy sibling, the Sierra Hybrid uses a 6.0-liter V-8 and electric motor coupled through the same two-mode transmission used in all of GM’s full-size truck hybrids. GM claims the hybrid system helps the truck achieve a 25 percent improvement in overall fuel economy - a sizable gain, if true.
Although we won’t know the actual EPA figures for the hybrid pickup until later this year, we do know the Sierra Hybrid will still be capable of towing close to 6100 pounds and a maximum payload of 1459 pounds. Look for it to arrive in GMC dealers this fall.
(Click through for a gallery of the Sierra Hybrid and a release from GM)
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Written By: Evan McCausland
February 2nd, 2008 10:45 PM
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We know the upcoming Pontiac G8 ST may be the closest thing to a reborn Chevrolet El Camino, but we can’t help drawing ties to the ‘ute whenever we look at GMC’s concept for the Chicago auto show, the Denali XT. Or if not the El Camino, at least some GMC-badged version of it. Sprint, Caballero; you make the call.
No, there aren’t any styling cues that trip our memories into a retro-hazed flashback, but you try looking at this four-door unibody pickup without seeing muscle. The flared haunches, high cowl, chopped roof and short windows all suggest plenty of power, all of which is channeled through the rear wheels - measuring in at 23 inches, by the way.
(Click through for a gallery and more on the Denali XT, including a release from GMC)
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
January 30th, 2008 3:00 PM
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We told you in the past weeks about General Motors’ intention of merging brands together under one dealership roof. GM denied any announcement to act on the dealership plan. Well, GM CEO Rick Wagoner recently showed up at a new Henry Brown Buick-Pontiac-GMC store in Gilbert, Arizona, to see one for himself.
Wagoner pointed out that the new dealership is the first in Arizona to encompass the GM new dealership strategy – hence the brand consolidation. He said 40 other dealerships nationwide have installed the brand consolidation strategy – called “GM Collections” with about 100 more to come.
No word on what other brands will consolidate under the same roof, but check back for more details in the future.
+ The Arizona Republic: GM chairman visits Gilbert auto dealer
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Seyth Miersma
January 28th, 2008 3:00 PM
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Though the news is as yet unconfirmed by General Motors, reports coming out of the Washington D.C. auto show from friends over at AutoblogGreen have The General hybridizing a whole new batch of SUVs in the relatively near future.
Show floor specialists from GMC seem to be under the impression that the Acadia and Sierra are due to receive hybrid powerplants, while similar members of Saturn’s staff believe there will be an Outlook hybrid. The specialists were on hand to answer questions at the recent D.C. show, but unfortunately said they were unable to have their comments recorded.
Whether the GMC and Saturn show folks were speaking the truth, or just under some sort of misconception, is unclear. What is clear however, is that three new hybrid SUVs flying under GM’s flag would mesh well with the company’s stated goal of releasing a new hybrid every three months, for the next four years.
+ AutoblogGreen: Exclusive: GM to hybridize Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
January 25th, 2008 3:00 PM
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Bob Lutz said that GM would be unveiling a Zeta platform, four-door GMC-badged pickup concept at this year’s New York Auto Show in March. Now, it seems, according to Jalopnik, that the unibody truck will see the lights of the Chicago Auto Show – over a month earlier than expected.
While the speculation was that the concept would be a GMC ute that would be an updated Holden Crewman (seen above), but apparently not. Jalopnik’s sources claim the car-based pickup will be completely different than anything anyone’s seen in Australia, or anywhere for that fact.
In the new world order of crossovers, will the ute be versatile enough to make an impact?
Let us know in the comments.
+ Jalopnik: Chicago Auto Show: Lutz Confused, GMC’s Pickup Truck Concept Coming to Chicago
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Evan McCausland
January 21st, 2008 4:30 PM
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Now that the 2008 Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale have passed, we’re keeping our eyes out for the next big-ticket item to pass through an auction house. We’ve found one, but we think it’s more of a gargantuan ticket item. Bob Valdez is looking to sell his restored 1952 GM Futurliner on eBay in the coming weeks.
The massive bus-like vehicle, measuring 12 feet tall, eight feet wide, and 33 feet long, is one of 12 vehicles built by GM to transport its Parade of Progress exhibition from coast-to-coast. Originally built in 1940, the Futurliners were re-built in 1952 to eliminate a bubble-dome canopy and to fit the behemoths with 302 cubic-inch I-6 motors from GMC.
(Click through for more on Valdez’s custom Futurliner)
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Written By: Evan McCausland
January 21st, 2008 10:20 AM
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The jury’s still out on whether a Pontiac G8 pickup is in the wings for North America, but visitors to this year’s New York Auto Show may well see some form of a Holden-based ute. Product czar Bob Lutz has told the Australian car website GoAuto that a a four-door pickup crossover, based off Holden’s current VE Commodore, will appear as a GMC-branded concept at the show.
“It’s a very interesting study,” said Lutz, “in that it is a GMC tough-looking four-door ute that could then obviously be badged as a Holden for Australia.”
Reportedly, the pickup closely resembles a mix between the current Commodore and the previous Crewman four-door ‘ute, which isn’t surprising, given the entire concept was reportedly designed by Holden’s staff in Melbourne. Lutz says the vehicle mixes tough with a very low and aggressive stance - although it may not be love at first sight.
(Click through to read more on a possible Crewman for the U.S.)
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