GM first floated the idea of building a unibody pickup at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show when it showed the GMC Denali XT Hybrid. Shared platform architecture with Pontiac G8 game it a realistic shot at production, and the design was much better executed than the homely Honda Ridgeline's. The "Hybrid" bit of it came from the concept's "Two Mode"-type transmission (with the electric motor built in) packaged with a 4.9-liter V8.
Well, Automotive News reports that GM has scrapped plans to build a truck like this, evidently because the company couldn't achieve a significant fuel economy advantage over its conventional body-on-frame trucks...and thus couldn't justify the added cost. Plus, company research apparently indicated that consumers would expect to pay less, not more, for a unibody truck.
alman08 says:
08:52 AM, 09/21/09
Hybrid or not, GMC should build this truck, and make it a GMC only vehicle. And yes, the research is correct, because unibody truck is less expensive to produce, so then why would consumer expect to pay more and not less?
3.6 DI and the V8 used on the Camaro would be great for a unibody pickup truck, and I meant a GMC only pickup truck.
moparbad says:
09:05 AM, 09/21/09
Compact trucks with large payload are the market of the future. Utility and efficiency.
Midsize trucks were destined to be niche vehicles due to their similar size, less capability, similar mileage and similar if not higher price than full size trucks.
Ranger size and VW Saviero size vehicles are what I'd expect to see.
orangutan says:
09:55 AM, 09/21/09
alman08: Economies of scale reduce the cost of B-O-F pickups. While a unibody may be cheaper, you're only going to be producing a few thousand to tens of thousands of them compared to hundreds of thousands of body-on-frame pickups. The 3.6DI is not particularly efficient, smooth, or powerful, either. A better solution would be to install the 2.0T I4 from the Cobalt SS/Solstice GXP/Sky Red Line and retune it for greater low-end torque. Provided that the unibody pickup is less than 4,000 pounds you'd have a vehicle with fairly decent capabilities and fuel economy.
stovt001 says:
11:14 AM, 09/21/09
The 3.6 DI is nothing if not efficient and powerful. 300+ hp isn't powerful? 30 mpg in a 3,800 lb performance coupe isn't efficient? Give me a break.
altimadude00 says:
11:37 AM, 09/21/09
Why does that thing look like a tank? It has eye-slits for windows. Uhh!
subaru123 says:
12:32 PM, 09/21/09
What happened to the new GM???
hondacura4 says:
01:48 PM, 09/21/09
Everyone scoffed at Honda for building a unibody truck yet people are perfectly fine with GM's concept. Yes, GMs version looks substantially better vs the Ridgeline but its still a unibody truck therefor it isn't a "real truck" according to some.
Personally, Ive always thought a unibody truck made perfect sense for a lot of DIY's and people who need something to tow light loads (5000lbs or less) and carry bulky stuff from the local Home Depot. Too bad so many are to insecure to accept these trucks. Of course we live in a country where logic is put on the back burner and excess unfortunately takes its place.
estreka says:
01:57 PM, 09/21/09
I don't see this as a product that would have any longevity anyway.
subaru123 says:
05:20 PM, 09/21/09
@hondacura4
That's because the Ridgeline is ugly and only has 250hp to haul around 4600 lbs. The Denali XT hybrid actually has style to it and has a V8 plus an electric motor. It's daring and different unlike the Honda. It's ashame GM cancelled this truck.
dnoodles says:
08:46 PM, 09/21/09
another head up ass move by GM to even start a project like this. this truck could easily be a more attractive/redesigned avalanche, and despite all consumer common sense, it would sell. so why even consider having both in the lineup? GM's classic thought process of, "we can't seem to make decent cars that people like, so we'll just keep adding half baked POSs to our lineup until we are not-selling 30 models, as opposed to not-selling 6 models" really just makes me even more upset that our tax dollars are saving them, rather than paying for their funeral. why GMC even made it through the fire sale is beyond me. all of their products equate to rebadged chevy's, or the occasional chevy in different (and much uglier) skin. GMC has proven itself nothing more than a good old fashioned woodshed for GM to lock its ugly stepchildren in to suffer quietly away from prying eyes. the only products that GMC has ever sold in any quantity to write corporate about are their trucks. you know? the same trucks that you can get as chevy's, only with much blobbier grills. those trucks. there is no logical reason to not drag GMC behind its own metaphorical woodshed, and beat it to death.
inlinesix says:
09:04 PM, 09/21/09
This truck has some angles similar to the Honda Ridgeline. You think the Ridgline was ugly; this thing in production-ready trim wont impress.