GM Won't Bump Up Release Of Next Generation Pickups

[William Maley]

GM Won't Bump Up Release Of Next Generation Pickups

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

April 26, 2011

The pain at the pump is increasing and automakers have been accelerating development and release of new fuel-efficient vehicles. The most current automaker to make news is GM with the announcement of the 2013 Malibu beginning production next January, a jump of four months. Now, questions are being asked if other GM vehicles in the pipeline, like the next generation Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Pickups will be accelerated. At the New York Auto Show last week, GM CEO Dan Akerson was asked about this and said,

"Trucks would not be a program that we’d move up in a mileage-sensitive market."

This answer makes some sense. When GM declared bankruptcy in 2009, they revised their launch schedule for the pickups. Also, GM has so many engineers they can put on programs to help move them along.

But the question remains, Why not GM? The next generation pickups from GM are rumored to have new V6, V8, and hybrid powertrains which will be more powerful and efficient. Also, the trucks are losing some weight which will help with the fuel economy.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Pickuptrucks.com

[hyperv6]

The extra couple MPG will have little effect on helping sales much. The shock of the gas kills most truck sales for a while untill they drop again. The question this time with the Middle East issues are will they ever drop again?

The present truck will do ok in the near term in this kind of market. I would rather them take the extra time to get the new trucks right and continue work on higher MPG cars.

The last time GM hurried up the new trucks the gas spiked and hurt sales for a few months till they dropped. So much for getting in a hurry.

[PurdueGuy]

The extra couple MPG will have little effect on helping sales much. The shock of the gas kills most truck sales for a while untill they drop again. The question this time with the Middle East issues are will they ever drop again?

The present truck will do ok in the near term in this kind of market. I would rather them take the extra time to get the new trucks right and continue work on higher MPG cars.

The last time GM hurried up the new trucks the gas spiked and hurt sales for a few months till they dropped. So much for getting in a hurry.

Gotta agree with every bit of what you said. Only reason I can think of to speed it up is if it makes a big difference for CAFE (and that goes right back to it probably being more important to be working on the cars), but it's still better to get it right than fast.

[Justin Bimmer]

Gas savings at the truck level are significant with a few MPGs compared to say 10MPGs at the small car level. Think about it like this: going from 15 to 18 MPGs is a 27% improvment. Going from 30 to 40 MPGs is a 12% improvement.

[Drew Dowdell]

They still have many holes in their car lineup. Other than compact trucks, they don't really have any holes in their truck lineup.

[z28luvr01]

Very true JB, and given that trucks still sell more than cars, that still translates to more fuel saved.

But still, this is the right call. Don't rush the trucks to market. Take your time, GM, and get them right. The current GMT-900s will hold the fort down until they're ready.

[ZL-1]

Gas savings at the truck level are significant with a few MPGs compared to say 10MPGs at the small car level. Think about it like this: going from 15 to 18 MPGs is a 27% improvment. Going from 30 to 40 MPGs is a 12% improvement.

That is true, but losing sales and market share if another major shift from trucks to smaller vehicles occurs while GM's pants are down would be worse. GM is a leader in trucks and that won't change: Chevy/GMC people won't magically turn into Ford folks, so leaving the truck program run its course and invest more in covering as many bases as possible for shifts in market preferences is a better set of priorities, me thinks.

[hyperv6]

While I am no fan of the present Chevy Stying it is a very good truck and really gives up little to the Ford and Ram.

Like stated many are brand loyal here and seldom change ranks. The CAFE is an issue starting 2015 so they have some time on that. If they just tweek these and spend most of the funds and extra time on the new trucks they will better off for it. Sometimes when things get rushed they leave much on the table till later anyways.

[GMTruckGuy74]

So, does it remain 2013 then? What I find interesting is that most of the product specialists for both GMC and Chevy Trucks at the NYIAS told me 2013 is the year for the redesigned full-size pickups. And I'm not talking about the pretty models standing on the turntables/displays... I'm talking about the older guys and gals that were positioned at the information centers that seemed to have some time working for GM (the reps were ones I spoke to at previous Philly & NY auto shows over the years).

[Drew Dowdell]

Model year 2013...... so as soon as 16 months from now.

[GMTruckGuy74]

They still have many holes in their car lineup. Other than compact trucks, they don't really have any holes in their truck lineup.

Where?

Chevy - Sonic, Cruze, Malibu are all new and more fuel efficient than their predecessors; we know a new Impala is coming and the Camaro will head over to the Alpha soon

Buick - Verano, Regal, LaCrosse (especially with the e-assist) are new fuel efficient offerings; we know the Enclave is getting the 3.0L and a smaller CUV is planned

Cadillac - ATS is on the way to be the fuel efficient Cadillac model

If anything, GM needs to concentrate on the truck line again... the compact offerings - GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado - need updating, and hopefully the new Colorado concept shown in Thailand will come here. A small diesel engine for 1500/half ton pickups would do wonders for the pickups. Something to compete with the Ford Transit Connect would be good too. How about the Granite to open up fuel efficiency for GMC? Seems to be a lot of holes in the truck line if you ask me...

[GMTruckGuy74]

Model year 2013...... so as soon as 16 months from now.

Which can also imply sales in calendar year 2012 too And even if they wait until 2013, 16 months is not a long time either (now if they pushed it back to 2015, then there's an issue as both Ford and Ram will be newer that GM's offerings).

[Drew Dowdell]

They still have many holes in their car lineup. Other than compact trucks, they don't really have any holes in their truck lineup.

Where?

Chevy - Sonic, Cruze, Malibu are all new and more fuel efficient than their predecessors; we know a new Impala is coming and the Camaro will head over to the Alpha soon

Buick - Verano, Regal, LaCrosse (especially with the e-assist) are new fuel efficient offerings; we know the Enclave is getting the 3.0L and a smaller CUV is planned

Cadillac - ATS is on the way to be the fuel efficient Cadillac model

If anything, GM needs to concentrate on the truck line again... the compact offerings - GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado - need updating, and hopefully the new Colorado concept shown in Thailand will come here. A small diesel engine for 1500/half ton pickups would do wonders for the pickups. Something to compete with the Ford Transit Connect would be good too. How about the Granite to open up fuel efficiency for GMC? Seems to be a lot of holes in the truck line if you ask me...

Less than 25% of what you just listed is actually on the road today.

Model year 2013...... so as soon as 16 months from now.

Which can also imply sales in calendar year 2012 too And even if they wait until 2013, 16 months is not a long time either (now if they pushed it back to 2015, then there's an issue as both Ford and Ram will be newer that GM's offerings).

That is what I was implying. Model year 2013 can start as early as Calendar year 2012.

[A Horse With No Name]

The extra couple MPG will have little effect on helping sales much. The shock of the gas kills most truck sales for a while untill they drop again. The question this time with the Middle East issues are will they ever drop again?

The present truck will do ok in the near term in this kind of market. I would rather them take the extra time to get the new trucks right and continue work on higher MPG cars.

The last time GM hurried up the new trucks the gas spiked and hurt sales for a few months till they dropped. So much for getting in a hurry.

bingo!

While I am no fan of the present Chevy Stying it is a very good truck and really gives up little to the Ford and Ram.

Agreed!

[hyperv6]

The key things I want to see with the new truck other than a better nose on the Chevy are these things.

Less weight. Ford has already started to remove upto 700 pound from their trucks. There is a lot of wasted space in todays trucks under the hood and in the cab. I hope they can find a pleasing way to pare down this waste of space and added metal and keep the trucks looking good.

Also Chevy needs to get a Turbo V6 in the next truck. The Ford is selling 36% of the F 150 with this engine and the market seems to be ok with it. They are also paying S750-s1750 more for it too. These engines with the way gas prices go up and down will only help sales.

In all I would like to see some changes to the trucks to move them ahead in styling and technology. Today the companies just want to make them big and bulky with the largest chrome grill they can. I know some like the mini semi look but I would like to see GM move the industry into newer and more creative areas for the truck. I think buyers would go for it as long as the styling was still pleasing. Trucks made a big jump from the 30's to the 50's and then from the 70 to the 80's. It is time again for anothe major advancement in the idea of what a truck can be.

[Intrepidation]

I want to see some sort of legit powertrain competitor to Ford's EcoBoost V6 (which has a 36% take rate). The power and capability of a V8 with the fuel economy of a V6. Either that or a diesel. I still don't get why more automakers aren't embracing diesels. Much cheaper than hybrids to develop, real fuel saving, and plenty capable. Great way to improve CAFE numbers, and more importantly, high efficeny diesels could save the truck segment when gas prices get even more absurd.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I want to see some sort of legit powertrain competitor to Ford's EcoBoost V6 (which has a 36% take rate). The power and capability of a V8 with the fuel economy of a V6. Either that or a diesel. I still don't get why more automakers aren't embracing diesels. Much cheaper than hybrids to develop, real fuel saving, and plenty capable. Great way to improve CAFE numbers, and more importantly, high efficeny diesels could save the truck segment when gas prices get even more absurd.

+1

I totally agree with Dodgefan's point above, and even mentioned that in my post as one of the holes in the current truck line-up.

Edited April 29, 2011 by GMTruckGuy74

[hyperv6]

I think the take rate on a Turbo V6 would be greater than a small Diesel. Many people in the 1/2 ton market are not as dedicated diesel fans as they are in the 1 ton class. I know they both are trucks but they do have two very diverse group of ownes. The 3/4 is the meeting turf and it is still a gas dominated platform with a good number of diesls in this weight class.

Don't get me wrong I would love to see a small diesel option in a 1/2 ton but I am afraid I just don't see it as a very popular move in this country.

As for the Hybrids I just don't see a great take rate unless they find a lot of MPG or get them priced about the same as a normal truck. I have driven them and just don't see the interest at the price point they are at. Some think a Volt is over priced I think the Hybrid truck/suv has them beat.

I see most half ton owers ok with Gas V6 as long as it is smooth dependable and has equal power to a small V8.

I even wonder if a lighter truck would still be a good call. Ford at one time offered a light F100 back in the 80's. It was not a truck you would beat hard on but it would meet the needs of many truck owners that only haul light loads and to be honest really don't need a truck for major work use. Lets face it many truck ride empty and seldom haul anything large. Note too most do not even have a ball on the bumper for towing.

Edited April 29, 2011 by hyperv6

[Intrepidation]

I mean its the perfect answer. It allows the bigger vehicles Americans tend to buy to be frugal enough to still sell with $4+ gad prices.

[daves87rs]

Very true JB, and given that trucks still sell more than cars, that still translates to more fuel saved.

But still, this is the right call. Don't rush the trucks to market. Take your time, GM, and get them right. The current GMT-900s will hold the fort down until they're ready.

+1

[riviera74]

The key things I want to see with the new truck other than a better nose on the Chevy are these things.

Less weight. Ford has already started to remove up to 700 pound from their trucks. There is a lot of wasted space in todays trucks under the hood and in the cab. I hope they can find a pleasing way to pare down this waste of space and added metal and keep the trucks looking good.

Also Chevy needs to get a Turbo V6 in the next truck. The Ford is selling 36% of the F 150 with this engine and the market seems to be ok with it. They are also paying S750-s1750 more for it too. These engines with the way gas prices go up and down will only help sales.

In all I would like to see some changes to the trucks to move them ahead in styling and technology. Today the companies just want to make them big and bulky with the largest chrome grill they can. I know some like the mini semi look but I would like to see GM move the industry into newer and more creative areas for the truck. I think buyers would go for it as long as the styling was still pleasing. Trucks made a big jump from the 30's to the 50's and then from the 70 to the 80's. It is time again for another major advancement in the idea of what a truck can be.

QFT. +1. GM needs to ditch about 1000 pounds in their trucks, and that will solve just about everything.

[Drew Dowdell]

The key things I want to see with the new truck other than a better nose on the Chevy are these things.

Less weight. Ford has already started to remove up to 700 pound from their trucks. There is a lot of wasted space in todays trucks under the hood and in the cab. I hope they can find a pleasing way to pare down this waste of space and added metal and keep the trucks looking good.

Also Chevy needs to get a Turbo V6 in the next truck. The Ford is selling 36% of the F 150 with this engine and the market seems to be ok with it. They are also paying S750-s1750 more for it too. These engines with the way gas prices go up and down will only help sales.

In all I would like to see some changes to the trucks to move them ahead in styling and technology. Today the companies just want to make them big and bulky with the largest chrome grill they can. I know some like the mini semi look but I would like to see GM move the industry into newer and more creative areas for the truck. I think buyers would go for it as long as the styling was still pleasing. Trucks made a big jump from the 30's to the 50's and then from the 70 to the 80's. It is time again for another major advancement in the idea of what a truck can be.

QFT. +1. GM needs to ditch about 1000 pounds in their trucks, and that will solve just about everything.

and the tired old V6