PONTIAC (WJRT) -
(12/13/12) - General Motors is showing off its next generation of full size
pickups. The company says the new trucks will get better gas mileage and be
quieter than what they currently make. And GM has made an effort to make the GMC
Sierra look and feel different than the Chevrolet Silverado.
Among the many updates are three new engines and some crafty design
improvements.
"From hood to hitch, these are the most refined, best engineered pickups
ever," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.
The front doors have been redesigned.
"This reduces wind noise and improves aerodynamics," said Jeff Luke,
executive chief engineer of full size trucks.
GM is also offering an optional longer bed in the crew cab version. The rear
bumper has a toe-hold and there's a hand grip to make it easier to climb into
the truck bed. The tailgate has mechanisms to keep it from opening too quickly.
"As we all know, there's nothing more refined than a pickup tailgate that
doesn't slam down when you open it up," Luke said.
Auto industry observers like what General Motors has done with the new
design.
"The initial impressions are this is the truck they desperately needed. They
have the oldest truck in the segment right now, certainly among the domestics,"
said Paul Eisenstein of theDetroitBureau.com.
During the announcement, GM pointed out they made an effort to differentiate
the designs of the Silverado and Sierra.
"It's been very important for them to start separating the two brands. They
didn't want to have a Silverado and a Sierra that look alike," Eisenstein said.
GM says production of some 2014 crew cab models will start in the summer of
2013, with other cab styles following later in the year.
The trucks will be built at GM Flint Assembly. They're undergoing a $328 million
renovation to prepare for the new heavy duty versions of the pickups. Production
dates however have not been announced.
Prices for the 2014 pickups will be announced at a later date.
