GMC Unveils Urban Truck Concept in Detroit [w/ pic. Econopod posing as truck.]

ABC ^ | January 11, 2010 | Unknown

[matt1234]

If its new concept truck is any indication, General Motors Co. may enter the hip urban mini-truck fray against the Kia Soul and Nissan Cube.

GM's GMC brand unveiled the short, wide Granite at the Detroit auto show Monday. It's a cross between a panel truck and a minivan. GM says it's loaded with electronics and features that appeal to young professionals.

The Granite's sides open like French doors, and its rear seats flip or fold to the side, creating enough space for a mountain bike, even with the tailgate closed.

If GM decides to build the Granite, it would be the smallest vehicle ever assigned to the GMC brand.

[Westlander]

Looks like an Aztec with lines.

[21twelve]

Back when my 1980 Chevy Pickup was on it’s last miles I said the same thing about having an old station wagon like my dad’s. Enough room to carry my family of five, but also be able to carry plywood (and everything else). But I didnn’t want a king cab with a eight-foot bed for suburbia. And I also wanted the option of an open bed to dump dirt in.

Then I saw a review for the Chevy Avalanche! Although I guess the Suburban or Expedition is closer to a station wagon - the Avalanche was exactly what I had been looking for. Eight years later I have no regrets. I hope Obama gets out of the car business by the time I need another truck.

[cva66snipe]

Right now I'd settle for an old 78 Chevy K-5 Blazer in mint condition. As a 4X4 it was a real fine work horse. I've owned two of them before. I sold my second one a few months back to a guy who needed parts to make one good one. He had the money and capability to do the work and I didn't.

I also remember last summer or fall looking at what I thought was a car lot of trucks and SUV's. At first glance most looked like they still had many years and miles left in them. Then I looked at the windshields and CLUNKERS was wrote on them. That kind of waste is sinful.

[Rome2000]

It looks gay, communist,and African

[wolf78]

My problem with GM: crossoveritis. Cars should be functional and ideally look the part. Trucks should be tough, simple to repair and able to haul stuff. Urban cars should offer good safety and interior space in a compact package. That's why a VW Golf or a Ford Focus is so popular in Europe. A truck is quite useless in the city and a Focus isn't the right car for a farm. That's also why an Escalade is terrible car and a a Range Rover is a great car. An Escalade looks good in a Hip Hop Video. A Range Rover looks good, i.e. works off road. If I just want presence, I'd go for an S-Class, because it's the real deal.

Cars should be the real deal, not pretend to be something they're not. That's also why I find station wagons great. Because they're not fake. But who am I with my non-streamlined opinion?

[matt1234]

Your argument is sound. But my problem with GM is that they’re using our money. And they’re being pressured by Zero and co. to build stuff that is environmentally focused rather than customer focused.

[wolf78]

Your argument is sound. But my problem with GM is that they’re using our money.

That too, of course. I was just talking about the model range.

And they’re being pressured by Zero and co. to build stuff that is environmentally focused rather than customer focused.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with some "environmentally focused stuff". Because there's a market for it. It was small cars sold in Europe that kept Ford out of bankrupcy. And now that $3 gasoline is coming back many customers will only buy as much car as they need. If that's a big truck, they will buy that. But not for a short urban commute.

The secret: You have to offer a range of competitive products, you've got to give the customer choice. GM has sold three different flavors of the same midsize sedan or SUV under three different names. That's not choice. Instead make one or two good sedans, build one good big truck. One nice small car instead of the half-*ssed Aveo.

There's nothing wrong with selling a lot of SUVs if the market demands. But if all you can do is all SUV all the time, you get killed when there is the slightest change in customer preference. Toyota and Ford were better positioned to react to market changes.

Of course the Washington bureaucrats won't help GM. But GM's management has been horrible for decades. Because they have no soul, no passion for cars.

[mirkwood]

[calex59]

That’s not a truck. GMC, gone to sh**.

[bmwcyle]

I see they have upgraded the Aztec.

[Overtaxed Patriot]

It looks gay, communist,and African

Just like Obama.