Plans to make Sierra more upscale, and expensive, than Silverado

[latreille89]

I never understood why they killed off Pontiac instead of GMC. Pontiac really did differentiate itself from the other GM brands, in a big way. You don't find cars like the Bonneville or the G8 in the GM stable now. GMC has never been any different from the Chevrolet trucks with the exception of the Denali line, and that bridge could be bridged by making a slightly cheaper Cadillac Escalade and putting the Cadillac brand on a 1/2 ton (Extended and Crew Cabs only). Don't get me wrong, I love GMC, I have a GMC, they look better to me. But when it comes down to giving brands the ax, why did Pontiac go and not GMC?

 

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but if they made a Cadillac pickup, and i bought one, I don't think i could truly use it as a truck. A Cadillac pickup wouldn't work for me. Cadillac has built a great brand as a luxury line and in my mind a pickup doesn't fit there. GMC starting with a basic level model and working up to a luxury model works.

 

 

I wouldn't want to use a Denali as a truck either though. To me a truck isn't bells and whistles. A truck work tool. And a Denali is a luxury car that sits up high, has power and 4x4. I just wouldn't want to put a scratch on it.

[Vince Bissonnette]

The article reads in part;

 

Sierra models may get a longer list of standard equipment and a higher sticker price than comparable Silverados, Mark Reuss, GM president of North America, said in an interview at the Detroit auto show

 

To some this may mean 'upscale'. To me its not, if the same equipment is also available on a Chevy. What would truly differentiate the brands would be if one was more capable than the other. Given the strong history of both brands, I dont ever see that happening. What this boils down too is getting customers to pay more for a brand perceived to be high end. Nothing new to this

[MikeNH]

GMC sill exists because it's a huge money maker for GM with very little additional expense. Plus, even though there are very minimal differences now and next to no differences previously (unless you go way back), there will always be guys who are GMC people and ones who are Chevy people, even though it's the same damn thing in the end.

 

Pontiac was killed IMO for political reasons. The G8 was doing well and showed promise if GM continued to import Holden models but I've read/heard things from the rumormill that the UAW didn't like all these import models being sold and the plan was scuttled.

[Morgan1986]

I never understood why they killed off Pontiac instead of GMC. Pontiac really did differentiate itself from the other GM brands, in a big way. You don't find cars like the Bonneville or the G8 in the GM stable now. GMC has never been any different from the Chevrolet trucks with the exception of the Denali line, and that bridge could be bridged by making a slightly cheaper Cadillac Escalade and putting the Cadillac brand on a 1/2 ton (Extended and Crew Cabs only). Don't get me wrong, I love GMC, I have a GMC, they look better to me. But when it comes down to giving brands the ax, why did Pontiac go and not GMC?

 

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but if they made a Cadillac pickup, and i bought one, I don't think i could truly use it as a truck. A Cadillac pickup wouldn't work for me. Cadillac has built a great brand as a luxury line and in my mind a pickup doesn't fit there. GMC starting with a basic level model and working up to a luxury model works.

 

 

I wouldn't want to use a Denali as a truck either though. To me a truck isn't bells and whistles. A truck work tool. And a Denali is a luxury car that sits up high, has power and 4x4. I just wouldn't want to put a scratch on it.

 

Most people dont buy trucks now to use them as a truck now . Why do you think people buy crew cabs . Its just a gloriefied people mover but my mind is if people can afford them and people want them then the market will provide for its needs. There is more people that like the truck concept and will never actually really need it but once inawhile . A good example of this is most people in alberta drive trucks and they all have 50 thousand plus after market assories (might beover estimating a bit ).

[Morgan1986]

the reason why gmc and silverado/chev are basicaly the same in everyway is its the safe thing to do . Just like movie producers always making part 2s and 3s nothing orginal with economy hard times .

[j-ten-ner]

They should better get rid of this nonsense:

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/reviews/roadtests/2009/03/06/hummer-h3t-alpha/

 

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[waumo1]

I never understood why they killed off Pontiac instead of GMC. Pontiac really did differentiate itself from the other GM brands, in a big way.

To hard core Pontiac owners, Pontiac was dead in the late 70s when they became rebadged Chevrolets. The the nail in the coffin was when Pontiac announced it was going to become the "BMW of GM" or some such silliness. I never owned a Pontiac after 1971 even though I tried to get myself to several times. GMC needs to heed this lesson to survive.

[tyhuck]

Why not just make a Cadillac Pickup though?

[oldschool327]

All this talk of getting rid of the Sierra's........Why dont we talk about getting rid of the bastard spawn Silverado and really make the Grabowsky brothers proud!! The GMC Truck did come first right?

[MikeNH]

All this talk of getting rid of the Sierra's........Why dont we talk about getting rid of the bastard spawn Silverado and really make the Grabowsky brothers proud!! The GMC Truck did come first right?

 

 

It really makes no sense to ditch one or the other- even though the trucks are largely the same, each has it's loyal followers. Though if one did have to be cut, I'd say it'd be GMC. There is just way more heritage behind the Chevy name. Don McLean didn't sing about driving his GMC to the levy did he?

[Morgan1986]

I GOT IT !!!!! Since both trucks are basically the same heres what they can do . The GM and CHEV bowtie is not installed yet on the front or tailgate and when you go to the lot the dealer asked what you want a gm or a chev . and they come out with a box and some auto movtive tape and slap a GM or CHEV sybol on for yea and put a cover on the steering wheel of ethier a GM or bowtie. LOL Instance huge cost savings . oh but wait they can charge more money for the GM logo becuase that is the more upscale one lol .

[Morgan1986]

ok reading the artical again it sounds like GM and CHEV are not going to be that different again . Gm is just going to come with more standard options and charge more for the truck . So basicaly you can option out the same truck with a chev and pay the same just the GM you wont beable to buy a more basic truck . So again there is going to be alot more chevs on the road . They did mention they might change the sheet metal for both a bit but that is not really a big change .

[11Silvy]

Sounds like all talk...I doubt gm will make the gmc that much different or upscale from chevy. Who really knows though. I just wish Buick would bring back the Grand National.

[Z45]

fyi...............................................

 

Its ironic that so many want GM to kill its most profitable division. LOL

 

Over the course of the last year the GMC brand has been a quiet one at the new General Motors. While Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet all debut a near endless barrage of new product, GMC has been in the background continuing on their successful Professional Grade formula. While GMI hears the GMC brand is about to start its own onslaught of new product, until then the GMC name prepares to celebrate 100 years.

 

In 2012 the GMC brand will turn the big 100, only the second GM North America brand to do so, behind Cadillac. As a prelude to their centennial GMC has released a list of ten little known facts about the brand. Some you probably already knew since you're a GMI member, but some you may not have. Hit up the list below.

 

 

1.The GMC name turns 100 years old in 2012. In 1912, Rapid Motor Vehicle Company was merged with two others – Reliance and Randolph – to become GMC.

 

2.On August 1, 1909, a Rapid F-406-B – a GMC predecessor – was the first truck to reach the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.

 

3.If GMC was a standalone manufacturer, it would be the tenth-largest automaker in the United States in terms of total vehicle sales from January to November of 2011.

 

4.GMC built some of the world’s earliest electric vehicles from 1912-1917. These trucks had single-digit model names, each denoting load capacity, from one-half-ton to 12 tons.

 

5.GMC’s luxury-focused Denali trim level currently outsells the entire product lines of some premium automakers, including Land Rover, Jaguar, and Porsche.

 

6.GMC was tasked with engineering and production of the 1936 Parade of Progress vans and the 1941 Futurliners, which toured the country carrying mobile road shows.

 

7.Today, GMC and the Denali trim level are among the fastest-growing nameplates in the U.S. with respective sales increases of 22 percent and 91 percent year over year.

 

8.During World War II, GMC manufactured approximately 584,000 military vehicles, including the CCKW-353 “Deuce-and-a-Half” and the amphibious “Duck.”

 

9.The GMC Sierra – the brand’s top selling model – outsold the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan combined, with 40,000 sales to spare, through the first 11 months of 2011.

 

10.From 1973-1978, GMC produced motorhomes in 23- and 26-foot lengths. They appeared in Bill Murray’s 1981 movie, Stripes and the 1996 blockbuster, Twister.

[a42887]

fyi...............................................

 

Its ironic that so many want GM to kill its most profitable division. LOL

 

Over the course of the last year the GMC brand has been a quiet one at the new General Motors. While Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet all debut a near endless barrage of new product, GMC has been in the background continuing on their successful Professional Grade formula. While GMI hears the GMC brand is about to start its own onslaught of new product, until then the GMC name prepares to celebrate 100 years.

 

In 2012 the GMC brand will turn the big 100, only the second GM North America brand to do so, behind Cadillac. As a prelude to their centennial GMC has released a list of ten little known facts about the brand. Some you probably already knew since you're a GMI member, but some you may not have. Hit up the list below.

 

 

1.The GMC name turns 100 years old in 2012. In 1912, Rapid Motor Vehicle Company was merged with two others – Reliance and Randolph – to become GMC.

 

2.On August 1, 1909, a Rapid F-406-B – a GMC predecessor – was the first truck to reach the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.

 

3.If GMC was a standalone manufacturer, it would be the tenth-largest automaker in the United States in terms of total vehicle sales from January to November of 2011.

 

4.GMC built some of the world’s earliest electric vehicles from 1912-1917. These trucks had single-digit model names, each denoting load capacity, from one-half-ton to 12 tons.

 

5.GMC’s luxury-focused Denali trim level currently outsells the entire product lines of some premium automakers, including Land Rover, Jaguar, and Porsche.

 

6.GMC was tasked with engineering and production of the 1936 Parade of Progress vans and the 1941 Futurliners, which toured the country carrying mobile road shows.

 

7.Today, GMC and the Denali trim level are among the fastest-growing nameplates in the U.S. with respective sales increases of 22 percent and 91 percent year over year.

 

8.During World War II, GMC manufactured approximately 584,000 military vehicles, including the CCKW-353 “Deuce-and-a-Half” and the amphibious “Duck.”

 

9.The GMC Sierra – the brand’s top selling model – outsold the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan combined, with 40,000 sales to spare, through the first 11 months of 2011.

 

10.From 1973-1978, GMC produced motorhomes in 23- and 26-foot lengths. They appeared in Bill Murray’s 1981 movie, Stripes and the 1996 blockbuster, Twister.

 

 

Most on that list shows a time when GMC was an innovator. Like I said before, I have a GMC, and I love my GMC, and I personally don't wanna see GMC go. But when you have absolutely ZERO unique product that isn't just badge engineered, what innovating are you doing?

 

(Especially when coupled with my previous comment about Pontiac, who did have unique product not found anywhere else in the GM USA line, such as the G8, GTO, the G8ST (that would have come had the brand not been shuttered), Solstice (after Saturn kicked the bucket, Pontiac had the only model), Vibe (I know this was a Toyota built product, but I'd rather someone buy it from GM and keep just that little bit more cash stateside than Toyota, plus you could use GM incentives and corporate pricing on it), etc)

 

I'm not bashing GMC, just trying to understand the logic behind everything.