Autoblog

GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2011 GMC Sierra - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors is recalling a handful light-duty GMT900 pickups from the 2011 model year due to faulty rear axle cross pins. Both the Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500 are subject to the action, as are the Cadillac Escalade EXT and GMC Sierra 1500 - a total of 1,262 vehicles in all.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites that these rear axle cross pins were not manufactured up to proper specification and that the pin could "fracture and become displaced within the rear axle." NHTSA further details the consequences of a displaced pin, saying:

"The driver may hear a banging noise coming from the axle. If the pin shifts out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning."

GM will begin notifying owners about this problem in January, and dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin without any cost to the customer. NHTSA's official statement is available after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 GMC Sierra

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First pickups tested using NHTSA's new crash testing system

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Chevrolet, Dodge, GM, GMC, Toyota

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rolled in the first batch of pickup trucks to be tested using its latest Five-Star New Car Assessment Program. Three trucks were tested: the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (this truck's scores were also applied to the nearly identical GMC Sierra 1500), 2011 Ram 1500 and Toyota Tacoma.

Of the trucks tested, the pair from General Motors recorded the best scores, earning a Combined score of four stars. The 2011 Tacoma also managed a Combined score of four stars, but performed significantly worse than the GM trucks in NHTSA's front crash testing, taking home just two stars for the passenger.

Bringing up the rear in this round of testing is the Ram 1500 (non-Heavy Duty). While Chrysler's full-size pickup managed a Combined rating of three stars, it floundered in the agency's tough new pole test with just one star being awarded. Check out PickupTrucks.com for more analysis on the results, and search NHTSA's full 2011-model-year crash testing database here.

[Source: NHTSA via PickupTrucks.com]

First pickups tested using NHTSA's new crash testing system originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GMC Sierra Denali 3500 debuts at Pickup Shootout

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, GMC, Diesel, Luxury

2011 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 - Click above to enlarge

You want the heaviest of heavy-duty pickup trucks and you want to drive in the lap of luxury. If that sounds like you, have we got some great news to share. The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 pickup truck is now officially official, and the first such unit is currently being tested in tandem by the heavy haulin' folks at PickupTrucks.com and our very own Sam Abuelsamid.

Best of all, come August 16, you'll know exactly the big bruiser Denali compares with its peers. A total of nine Heavy Duty pickup trucks are currently being compared out in Detroit, including multiple models from Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.

While we're waiting for all that data to drop, we can at least consider what differentiates a regular Professional Grade GMC pickup from a Denali: Chrome, and lots of it... from the grille to the door handles to the giant badges; 18- or 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels and an interior swathed in leather and brushed aluminum trim. Other niceties include power-adjustable pedals, a Bose audio system, 12-way power seats, heated steering wheel and heated and cooled seats. Unfortunately, the exterior will only be available in three colors: Black, Stealth Gray and White.

Feel free to brush up on all the details in the original press release from May after the break, and check out the first image of the GMC Sierra Denali 3500 above.

[Sources: GMC, PickupTrucks.com]

Continue reading GMC Sierra Denali 3500 debuts at Pickup Shootout

GMC Sierra Denali 3500 debuts at Pickup Shootout originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty trucks set new HD standard

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, GMC, First Drives

2011 GM HD Trucks - Click above for high-res image gallery

Usually whenever we head out to a new vehicle press launch, we have to sit through exhaustive technical and marketing presentations before we get a chance to climb behind the wheel. However, General Motors put us straight into a dual-rear wheel GMC Sierra 3500 crew-cab diesel upon our arrival in Baltimore. On the docket? A 130-mile trek from Baltimore airport to Rocky Gap Lodge in the Allegheny mountains of western Maryland with Vehicle Line Executive Rick Spina sitting shotgun.

We actually appreciated this 'backwards' approach, because it gave us the opportunity to develop some 'gut' impressions of these new trucks even before we got the attendant sales pitch. For a two-hour, mostly highway jaunt, the duallie SLT proved to be a surprisingly amiable companion, but it was just the first of seven different trucks we would drive over the next couple of days. Read on past the jump find out what GM's new heavy duty trucks are like when sampled in a range of real-world conditions.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 GM HD Trucks

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty trucks set new HD standard

First Drive: 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty trucks set new HD standard originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty technical deep dive

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Work, Chevrolet, GM, Diesel

2011 GM HD Truck New Technology - Click above for high-res image gallery

At first glance, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickup trucks don't appear to have changed much compared to their 2010 counterparts. But don't let their familiar faces fool you, because virtually all of the greasy bits have been substantially upgraded or replaced entirely. Like the competitive heavy-duty trucks from Ford and Dodge, General Motors offers its trucks in a huge array of configurations with varying passenger, payload and towing capacities and an array of gasoline and diesel engines.

We drove seven different variants over two days in the Allegheny mountains of western Maryland along with the latest models from Dodge and Ford for comparison's sake. While the sales volume in the heavy-duty truck segment is smaller than it was at its peak a few years ago, it is still hugely profitable and comprises about 25 to 30 percent of all pickup sales. Follow the jump to learn more about what General Motors' truck engineering team has done to help ensure those dollars keep rolling in.

Gallery: 2011 GM HD Trucks New Technology

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty technical deep dive

First Drive: 2011 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty technical deep dive originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NTEA 2010: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD puts the Heavy in Heavy Duty

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, GM, GMC, Misc. Auto Shows, Diesel

2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the first time in its history - and considering that the company has been around for over 100 years, that's significant - GMC decided to make an official appearance at the National Truck Equipment Association show in St. Louis. And the Professional Grade brand brought along the heavies... specifically, the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD.

When the truck hits the market later this year, it will be the first time that GMC has offered a Denali version of its Heavy Duty truck platform. After giving the truck a thorough once (and even twice) over, we have to say that the Denali, even with all of its drilled-out chrome highlights, looks rather subdued and classy in all-black paint. And, though we certainly appreciate the in-your-face attitude of General Motors' two main competitors in the pickup wars, we'd say that understated appearance is a good thing.

Inside, you'll find the expected luxury trimmings, including heated and cooled leather seats and a matching wood-trimmed heated steering wheel, along with some nice details like Denali-specific door sill plates. All that is well and good, but the big news resides under the truck's big black hood: a revised 6.6-liter Duramax V8 diesel engine, which is mated up to a stout Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission.

For those who like to keep track of these thing, which is to say every single person who's actually interested in purchasing one of these earth-moving behemoths, GM's latest Duramax beats out the 2011 Ford Super Duty in the all-important horsepower and torque wars with 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet. Wanna pull a ten-ton load? No problem. That powerplant is also more fuel efficient (by 11 percent) and cleaner than the unit it replaces.

Interestingly, GM representatives tell us that they had a bit of a back-and-forth with the Feds regarding how best to handle the required refilling of the diesel exhaust fluid tank, which won't run dry for about 5,000 miles between fill-ups. It seems that when the truck gets dangerously low on the exhaust treatment, its speed will be capped at 55 miles per hour. If you run out, the computer nannies will keep you to just a four mph crawl so that you'll never be stranded completely. Want more? Check out our gallery of high-res images below and click here for the rest of the details.

Gallery: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD

NTEA 2010: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD puts the Heavy in Heavy Duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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