The GMC Granite concept may not be a segment-buster, but it's definitely a radical departure for the General Motors truck division.
Who knew square could be so hip?
There’s been a rush of new models that could best be described as “box-mobiles,” including the Nissan Cube, Kia Soul and Scion xB. Could General Motors’ GMC truck brand be next to enter the fast-growing fray? That’s a distinct possibility if you check out the maker’s new Terrain concept vehicle, which the automaker prefers to refer to as an “urban utility vehicle.” It’s making its debut, this week, at the 2010 North American International Auto Show.
Granite’s goal, suggests Dave Lyon, GMC’s Executive Director of Design, “is to redefine GMC for a totally different customer.” Read that, “young” and “hip,” but not necessarily the struggling, first-time buyer that Nissan, Kia and Scion have been targeting.
Don't call those "suicide doors." Designer Dave Lyon prefers you call it a "cabinet-style" portal.
A bit lower and wider than the models that might be its competitors, Granite has a more upscale feel, reflecting the general strategy of the brand. GMC has done a surprisingly good job, over the years, convincing its buyers that it’s a step up from Chevrolet – even though its products are all but identical to Chevy’s trucks.
But that has to change in today’s competitive market, admits Lyons, who stresses that while there are some similarities between the 2011 GMC Granite concept and the new Chevy Orlando crossover, the two models don’t even share the same platform.
One of the most appealing features of GMC’s show car is its uncannily large interior compartment, one that readily swallows a bicycle without disassembly. That’s all the more impressive when you consider Granite is a full 2 feet shorter than the new GMC Terrain crossover. But it’s a full 70.5 inches in width.
Another distinctive design touch is the use of suicide doors. Oops, bad word among auto industry folks. Lyon prefers to call them “cabinet-style” doors. “We could have these in production, and we’re still looking into that,” he says. But don’t go betting on it. In production – and sources say a street model is likely to come – you’ll likely see more conventional doors on the GMC Granite than those appearing at this week’s Detroit Auto Show.
The interior of the GMC Granite concept is not traditional for the brand, but definitely more up-market than you'll find in competing box-mobiles, like the Kia Soul.
We also expect the automaker to downsize the prototype’s 20-inch wheels, though you may see some other basic design elements hold. The overall design brings together a series of complex, intersecting angles and lines, with a high beltline and tapered rear glass. There’s not a whiff of chrome on the body, just satin and nickel finishes, which fit the GMC brand theme. Perhaps the one familiar design cue is the classic GMC grille.
Lyon admits the concept is “not a segment-buster,” but he still contends the 2011 GMC Granite, “is radical for us.”
The prototype is powered by an all-new 1.4-liter inline-four cylinder engine, part of General Motors’ push to improve its mileage numbers. That’s mated to a six-speed automatic.
How soon would the GMC Granite make it into production? No one is saying – at least on the record – but if the response is strong on the auto show circuit, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it reach showrooms by 2012. And GMC officials confirm there’d be no matching Chevrolet version.