It's Official: New GMC Canyon on the Way

[GMTruckGuy74]

Source: http://news.pickuptr...on-the-way.html

It's Official: New GMC Canyon on the Way

Posted by Mark Williams | September 20, 2012

After many months of speculation and secrecy, Brian Sweeney, vice president of Buick and GMC, finally announced today that there will be a new GMC Canyon midsize pickup to be paired with the previously announced Chevy Colorado. Both trucks will be built in the soon-to-be reconditioned and upgraded truck plant in Wentzville, Mo.

Although no mechanical or engine information was released, we think it's safe to say GM will continue with the same two-truck strategy with the Chevy and GMC pair that we are all familiar with: Chevy will likely continue to be the mainstream, work-friendly, price-aggressive model, with GMC mapping out a more upscale territory for itself. And if the new large and small GMC SUVs or rumors about the new Silverado vs. Sierra exterior design are true, we'd expect more visual and body styling separation between the two.

Exact production and arrival timing to dealerships will be announced later.

“While we continue to make strong progress in fuel-economy gains on our full-size trucks, we know that there is a group of customers who want the functionality of a truck but may not need full-size pickup,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick and GMC Marketing. “We believe that introducing a new agile and efficient mid-size Canyon will meet the needs of many pickup buyers.”

We should note that because General Motors only produces and sells the Chevy Colorado overseas, there are no photos of GMC models yet (likely only to be sold in the U.S. and Canada). Below are two global Chevy Colorado models. If you want to know more about how the new Chevy Colorado (badged as a Holden Colorado in Australia) performed in our most recent Global Pickup Shootout, click here.

The article shows these two Colorado pictures, as none of the Canyon exist yet:

colorado1.bmp

colorado2.bmp

I think the red one looks way better than the silver one. Something just looks better with the way the red one sits is on the road compared to the "squeezed" look of the silver one.

[hyperv6]

I have have some interest here if they do a 2.0T in a ZQ8 suspension package in a much higher quality package vs the present truck.

[ocnblu]

I have some interest here if they do a 2.8L Duramax in a Z71 suspension package in a much more modern package vs the present truck.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I'm still being tempted by the current, 2012 truck:

http://www.colemanbu...e-NJ/1586501923

5.3L V8, SLT Trim, upgraded 18" chrome rims, Crew Cab, "Off-Road" 4WD suspension...

It looks very similar to this one:

GMC really needs to release the new 2014 model

Edited September 22, 2012 by GMTruckGuy74

[hyperv6]

I would wait or you will be wishing you had.

The new Canyon will improve on the old like the 08 Malibu did over the 07 Malibu. Better quality, better engines, better interior and better chassis.

God knows I have tried to love the present truck but as soon as I get inside the love stops cold. I know many who would love to buy a small GM truck but have passed up or have regretted buying the present truck. They all hope GM can bring us something we all can love again.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Oh, I totally agree about the new, upcoming Canyon (I wonder if it is still a 2015 model expected in 2014?). If I were to bite on a '12 Canyon like the one I posted above, it would be for a lease vs. purchase deal. This way I could easily move into the new Canyon when it debuts

[ocnblu]

Nothing wrong with the current trucks. They've been left to wither, as is normal GM practice, but they're still nice enough. The 18" wheel on the Z71/OffRoad model looks good.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I just LOVE those new-for-2012 18" upgraded chrome rims. Those, in addition to the 5.3L V8 engine and a being an SLT model, have definitely piqued my interest in the black one I posted the link too. I may just tease myself and see what a lease plan would be on this pickup sometime this week.

[hyperv6]

The present truck not only withered but it just never caught on with the public for several reasons. It was just never the truck it should or could have been right from the start.

I would wait as once you see the new truck I suspect you will be glad you did. While the wheels have helped the look of this truck it still has not addressed the many things the new truck will. The improvments of all the new GM products will be seen in the new truck.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I get what you're saying, hyperV6. It's been 2^1/2 years since I've last purchased, which is habit for me since I was into leasing for so long (hey, I'm not as bad as ocnblu!!). The Envoy has been a great buy since it only needs basic maintenance performed (the GMCPO bumper-to-bumper warranty took care of many warranty issues before it expired), but it is a 6 year old vehicle and I'd like something new. If GMC would have shown the all-new 2014 Sierra, and if I fell in love with it, maybe that would help quell my desires for something new at this time. While I have not been a HUGE fan of the Canyon, I won't say it has never been not liked by me (I miss my '01 Sonoma Highrider, and was suppose to get an '04 Canyon but the wife made me get a car instead ['04 Malibu]). Seeing as how production of these trucks has ended, and dealers have what they'll have until the '15 Canyons arrive, I've been noticing them more and the one I found happens to be a SLT model with the 5.3L V8 and the upgraded 18" chrome rims which just make this truck shine (I'm not a big fan of the black exterior color, but washed and waxed it does look sinister).

Time will tell....

[hyperv6]

The GMC Canyon can't be that far behind as the sheet metal will be all that is different. It is already released in other markets and soon to be release here in the Chevy so I do't expect more than a few months to a year behind the Colorado. Also you can check the Colorado out soon and see if it has the underpinnings you would approve of.

It takes more than a set of wheels and the V8 to fix all that is wrong with the present truck. You would be better off with a full size for just a little more.

I would expect a Terrain, Acadia like nose with Terrain Fenders. It would give it kind of a Hummer Light look.

I saw a rare H3T the other day and thought then that would have made a nice GMC. Lutz I think is right that he made a mistake on not putting the Hummers as a model of GMC vs a Division. They could have called them Jimmys.

[GMTruckGuy74]

hyperV6, you'll be happy to know that I've put away my car shopping desires for the time being. I pass the dealership where that black Canyon is everyday going to & from work, so it's not easy, but ultimately buying something new really isn't in the plan at this time. I totally agree with you that the Canyon was not a great 100% effort, but I still like them regardless Plus the recent news about the full-size pickups has refocused my attention back to them.

I never agreed with GM making Hummer a stand-alone brand. Like you, I always thought they should have been paired with GMC as an uplevel off-road vehicle. This way, it would have been logical to move the Hummer platforms to a GMC design/styling after the bankrupcy proceedings and the embarassment of trying to "sell" Hummer off. I occasionally see Hummer H3 pickups on the highways in my travels and wish they were produced in more quantities - I'd love to own one of those for sure!

[Drew Dowdell]

I would wait or you will be wishing you had.

The new Canyon will improve on the old like the 08 Malibu did over the 07 Malibu. Better quality, better engines, better interior and better chassis.

God knows I have tried to love the present truck but as soon as I get inside the love stops cold. I know many who would love to buy a small GM truck but have passed up or have regretted buying the present truck. They all hope GM can bring us something we all can love again.

I"m with you here. I need a truck and I like the exterior look of them, but the interior just kills it for me. I'd much rather go with an older S-10.... at least I can graft a Bravada grill onto one of those....

[dwightlooi]

For small trucks, they really should do a large displacement four based on the Gen V V8.

There are five reasons for this:-

• A 3.1 Liter class Pushrod or SOHC 8-valve four with direct injection will be about 210 hp @ 5600 rpm / 210 lb-ft @ 2600 rpm which is about right for a small truck.
  
• The power and torque characteristics -- higher torque, lower peaks -- will be more suitable for a truck than the 2.5 liter DOHC-4
  
• Fuel economy will be similar to the 2.5 liter DOHC-16v engine with lower internal friction offsetting lower pumping losses
  
• It can be built on the same tooling and assembly line as the V8
  
• It is actually cheaper than the DOHC engine.
  

In fact a direct injected Pushrod 4.6 liter 90 deg V6 may not be a bad idea either in the 315hp @ 5600 rpm / 315 lb-ft @ 2600 rpm bracket. Again, high output is not the goal here, although at the same output as a Northstar V8 it's not bad really. They goal is good towing characteristics with class competitive performance without the complication and costs of forced induction. Again, all the pistons, rods, wrist pins, injectors, valves, rockers, etc.

[ocnblu]

Dwight, I'm with you on this. A truck engine is different than a car engine, it has to be.

A good, stout gas 4 and 6, along with the option of a diesel 4 is what these trucks need.