Autoblog

REPORT: GM's next-gen SUVs to be body-on-frame (otherwise they'd be crossovers)

Chris Shunk — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum - Click above for high-res image gallery

The GMT900 platform is by far the highest volume chassis General Motors has here in the States, as it underpins the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban, the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV, and the GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL. We never had any doubt that GM would continue to build body-on-frame trucks in the future, but with demand for SUVs shrinking quickly, some thought the body-on-frame SUV would soon be a thing of the past. Maybe not.

Our friends over at Pickuptrucks.com are reporting that the next generation of the GMT platform will be produced by Magna International's Cosma in Canada and Mexico - and that new platform will underpin the next-generation of GM SUVs along with the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. Pickuptrucks quotes Magna spokesperson Scott Worden as confirming that the next generation of GM's large SUVs will come with the body-on-frame architecture. This sort of chassis tends to add weight versus a unibody platform, but it also adds capability for towing and payload at lower cost.

We're not really all the surprised that GM will continue to build BOF SUVs, especially when considering that the General sold a combined 200,000 copies of the Suburban, Yukon, Tahoe and Escalade last month alone. And last we checked, these are still relatively expensive vehicles that bring in quite a bit of desperately needed profit. And if customers are interested in a family hauler with better interior packaging and fuel economy, we're sure GM dealers will be happy to get them into a Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse or GMC Acadia.

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

REPORT: GM's next-gen SUVs to be body-on-frame (otherwise they'd be crossovers) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Secret Service vehicles strike and kill pedestrian

Chris Shunk — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Presidential Limousine - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Tragedy struck the streets of Maryland Wednesday when a pair of heavily armored Secret Service vehicles designed to escort the Vice President struck and killed a pedestrian at an intersection. Inside Line reports that the unfortunate accident occurred at 2:27 am Wednesday morning in rainy conditions as the armored Cadillac limo and Chevrolet Suburban were en-route from Andrews Air Force base to a secure storage location. Vice President Joe Biden was not on board when the incident took place.

The armored vehicles, which weigh over 13,000 pounds, are driven by employees who have taken a special protective operator's driving course. The Washington Post has quoted a Secret Service official as saying the vehicles' added heft makes the vehicles "trickier to handle than ordinary vehicles." The incident is currently under investigation by the U.S. Park Police.

Gallery: President Obama Inauguration Limo Ride

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine

[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Secret Service vehicles strike and kill pedestrian originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Caravan, Suburban would move to Lambda platform

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, SUV, Crossover, Chevrolet, Dodge, GM, Rumormill

We reported last month that General Motors could move the next Cadillac Escalade to its Lambda platform that's currently used by the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse, and now GM Inside News is reporting via an inside source that the Suburban/Yukon XL may also get the unibody treatment. With replacements for the smaller Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Escalade reportedly cancelled, we think all signs are pointing to each GMT900-based SUV moving over to the Lambda platform with some of the current slow-selling Lambda-based models being cut altogether.

But the craziness doesn't end there. GM Inside News also reports an even more surprising vehicle could get moved to the crossover platform: the Dodge Caravan, assuming of course that the General follows through on talks to purchase Chrysler from Cerberus. You may recall that GM abandoned the minivan market earlier this year in favor of its Lambda-based crossovers.

The Lambda platform must be extremely modular if it can be stretched enough to accommodate the size of the Suburban along with the people- and cargo-carrying capacity of a Dodge minivan. Also on the rumormill menu is a possible Chevrolet version of the minivan. These changes are supposedly set to take place by 2014, and plenty of things can and will change by then. In other words, talk this all with a grain of salt.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Rumormill: Caravan, Suburban would move to Lambda platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade not being replaced

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

The full-size SUV's future is on shaky legs and now, reports have surfaced that General Motors has killed the next generation Tahoe and Yukon 'utes, just weeks after announcing it would shutter its SUV plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. Of course, if that pair is buried, the Suburban and the Cadillac Escalade that use the same platform must also come to an end, at least in their current form.

Past reports indicate that the ultra-lux ride from Caddy will move to the Lambda platform for its next generation. The Tahukon pair had been slated for a redesign in 2011, and since that's reportedly not going to happen, the duo's future is definitely in question. GM will probably keep churning out the current version until it's no longer profitable to do so.

These days, any story about the General would be incomplete without some mention of Chrysler, and this one's no different. America's number three automaker just announced just last week that it would be phasing out its full-sized 'utes as well. Therefore, any possible merger of the two companies would carry on without a new large SUV platform at all. How the times have changed.

[Source: The New York Times via Inside Line]

Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade not being replaced originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Be like Tony Soprano. Drive his truck.

Alex Nunez — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Auctions, Chevrolet

Click image for photo gallery

Long before Tony Soprano rolled in his Escalade, a red Suburban was his ride of choice. Fans of The Sporanos will remember it very well, of course, and as the truck Tony drives in the opening credits, it lived on even after he traded up to the more boss-worthy Caddy. Two identical cars were acquired for use in the series, and now die-hard fans have a shot at parking one of them in their own garage. Movie Time Cars leased the Suburbans to the production, and now comes word that one of them is being offered in an eBay Live Auction. It's got 53,743 miles on the odometer, and according to the listing, the faint smell of cigar smoke still lingers in the interior. It comes with a certificate of authenticity, and a surprise awaits the new owner when he or she flips open the vanity mirror. A note from James Gandolfini himself is written on the lid in permanent marker. The message? "Be nice to my car." We'd recommend you listen.

The auction begins August 3, and the mobbed-up SUV is expected to fetch between $30,000 and $50,000. You'll have to provide your own Paulie, Christopher and Sil.

Thanks for the tip, Tool!

[Source; eBay]

Gallery: Tony Soprano's Chevy Suburban

Be like Tony Soprano. Drive his truck. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Ford Bronco Centurion, the pre-Expedition

John Neff — Sun, 20 May 2007 13:46:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Auctions, Ford

eBay Motors has been a treasure trove of good finds this week, and today we bring you another rare SUV like the Saleen Explorer XP8. Though there are more than a few full-size SUVs on the market today, for decades the Chevy Suburban ruled a segment of one before the Ford Expedition arrived in 1996. But until Ford could develop a suitable Suburban fighter it made do by offering the Bronco Centurion, a four-door version of the Ford Bronco that was converted by a company named Centurion Vehicles.

The Centurion began life as a four-door club cab short bed F-Series pickup. To it was added a Bronco tailgate and fiberglass cap to close off the bed. A third-row bench was also donated by the Bronco to make the Centurion capable of carrying 8-9 people.

This particular Centurion is built off of the eighth-gen F-Series, though Centurions were also built on the ninth-gen F-Series up until 1996 when the tenth-gens arrived. It's powered by Ford's big 7.5L 460 c.i. V8 using the three-speed C6 automatic. Sure, it's got 220,000 miles on the odo and needs some TLC, but chances are any interested parties aren't looking for a show vehicle.

[Source: eBay Motors via GM Inside News]

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Ford Bronco Centurion, the pre-Expedition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2007 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM hopes price is right for Chevy's 2007 Suburban

John Neff — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV

Chevy used the Cleveland International Auto Show as the venue to announce how much drain a 2007 Chevy Suburban will put on the family budget, and from our seats, it ain't all that bad. Here's how the '07 'Burb breaks down in price.

LS 5.3L: $36,990 (Note: $2,550 less than 2006 LS)
LT 5.3L: $37,740
LTZ 5.3L: $45,655

LS 4WD: $39,790
LT 4WD: $40,540
LTZ 4WD: $48,455

LS 6.0L ¾-ton: $38,165
LT 6.0L ¾-ton: $38,915

LS 6.0L ¾-ton 4WD: $40,695
LT 6.0L ¾-ton 4WD: $41,715

[Source: GM via Autochannel]

GM hopes price is right for Chevy's 2007 Suburban originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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