Chicago 2012: GM Will Finally Breathe New Life Into GMC
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There’s just one day remaining until the opening of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, where General Motors is expected to showcase a new product or two from GMC.
The Highly Anticipated 2013 GMC Acadia
If the latest spy photos are any indication, we can be on the lookout for a refreshed GMC Acadia. Rather than being a full-fledged redesign, we expect the refresh to feature a series of exterior styling changes culminating in a new grille and front fascia that will have a “more boxy look”, from what we’ve been told. Additionally, we hear that the interior will get new, softer materials and a couple of design changes, along with GM’s industry-first center airbag. Overall, the update may be just what the doctor ordered to turn slumping Acadia sales back around.
The refreshed Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse won’t be shown at Chicago, but we expect them to show up at New York in April and possibly L.A. later this year.
Another Chevy Concept?
Last month, GM Authority reported that the 130R and 140S were the first in a series of concept cars targeted at the Millenial market to come out of GM in 2012. While Chevy isn’t on the schedule of auto show conferences, yours truly remains hopeful for a surprise from the Bow tie brand… even though my hopes will most likely be squashed.
Overall, Chicago promises to have ten world debuts from the entire auto industry — the first of which will begin on Wednesday, February 8th.
Wait then will the production for Lambdas go on this fall?
As in not stop? I would imagine it wouldn’t…
i meant go on sale this fall
Could be. I imagine it will be a quick turn-around since it’s not a redesign or re-engineering effort.
because it just wouldn’t make sense that they only show the Acadia on the display and not all of the lambdas because people aren’t going to know that it has been refreshed
I don’t think most people know today of the relationship between the three Lambda vehicles, and — as far as I know — this update will differentiate the vehicles further.
Also, I’d assume that the updated trio goes into production at the same time… Although it most certainly doesn’t have to be this way.
true…. but some salesman they would tell the customers that they are similar though lol
I never did understand why GMC is still around. What is the point in spending all this money to make two of the same thing? I hear that it’s the working mans truck. I also hear that it’s moving up market. Would any working man need / want the features that come in a Cadillac put into his work truck. enlighten me please Thanks 🙂
I’m with you on this one, Daniel. GMC just needs to go away. And by a “more boxy look” do they mean it will look more like that eye-sore Terrain? They can move it as far up market as they want…I’m not buying.
Here are my questions: what is GMC? Who is it for? What makes someone buy a GMC over a Chevy? Right now, the only two reasons are styling and brand/image.
So I’m with Richard and Danny. Do away with it and focus on Chevy, as FOMOCO did with Ford.
Alex, I know many people who associate GMC with toughness and strength. Yes I know it doesnt mean much right know, but with some work and alot of differentiation and GMC specifc products/features it can stand out and be a brand worth keeping.
I think the terrain looks great
Its funny how we will say I like a certain vehicle, it should really be I would buy that vehicle and yes I can afford that vehicle. We can all say I like that design or that look but if we are not willing or able to fork over the cash then who cares especially from the perspective of GM marketing or business. The end buyer should be defining the demographic the vehicle caters to; I personally buy used and am more concerned about function more often then looks.
Take someone who likes BMW’s as an example; Heck I like BMW’s they have exceptional designs, am I willing to fork out the cash for one and also shell out the maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle for one; not a chance; now maybe most people lease these, good for them; doesn’t mean they can actually afford one Or that they are the demographic BMW is catering too, my point is GMC is building the terrain to match a specific demographic and while we may or may not like its over all design at the end of the day people are buying it and it does represent the brand well, but how many of us can even afford this vehicle driven off the lot brand spanking new, or for that matter the Acadia, Love the Acadia but good god the price is really high.
GMC is the new Pontiac.
Denali is GXP.
Circles are squares.
GMC has one of the highest brand loyalties in the market and Pontiac did not that is the main reason GMC is around the other is the fact that GMC makes more trucks than all of GM divisions except Chevy. Alex you asked what is GMC before I answer I would like to know what others define GMC as. You all know the products but how many of you have actually owned a GMC and discussed your purchase with an owner of a competitors truck as well as a chevy owner? If you looked deep into the reason people buy GMC you would be suprised how passionate the owners are and most would not consider a Chevy so if GMC went away those sales would be lost to competitors I would hope fans of this site would not want that to happen. Also GMC is also the most profitable brand GM has and the transaction price is second only to Caddy that is a lot of money. I hope you GM fans will at least support your brand and give GMC the loyalty it does deserve.
Alex I don’t think you thought this through being a big supporter of GM in general. There is more focus going to GMC you just haven’t seen the results yet, I think GMC as a brand does very well with the smallest advertisement budget of all the brands. Alex why do you want GMC to go away with my mentioned facts? I am concerned that the founder of this site really seems to not like GMC at all and wants to focus all attention on Chevy I assume? GM in general covers the large suv and pickup truck and mid size suv more completely than anyother brand and this pays very large dividends to the company so they can continue to develop future products. I am interested in your thoughts?
jd, I have owned a GMC Acadia and I loved the styling compared to the other lambda, Traverse was too bland and the enclave to fluidy for my tastes. I want GMC to live because of the great potential it has. I think it just needs much more differentiation and it could become the SUV/Truck brand. It could have a subcompact, compact, midsize, and full size crossovers all with distinict GMC styling and GMC only features. It could even have a small truck that could maybe be like the el camino. I think the granite was a good step for GMC. They could make a car that competes with the ford transit. They should return to their Professional Grade slogan and be known for durability and dependability. Maybe put tougher interior parts in GMC vehicles compared to their chevy counterparts. Make a certain feature like a rear view camera standard on all GMC models. Those are just some ideas Im sure you guys at GM have a lot more. In short, make GMC different and im sure it could be a lower volume, niche, very profitible brand.
Babersher, I agree but don’t see how the Granite would fit in with “Professional Grade.”
JD — your bring up some interesting ponts. For starters, let me say that discussion and, in particular — my comments, reflect my personal opinions and not those of GM Authority or its partners or employees. My opinions aren’t set in stone. So when say that you’re concerned that “the founder of this site really seems to not like GMC at all and wants to focus all attention on Chevy I assume?” — you assume incorrectly. The purpose of discussion is to explore, challenge when necessary, and obtain the opinions of others (at least for me). No, I do not “dislike” GMC… rather, I’m questioning its purpose in light of Chevrolet and Ford’s not-to-distant decision to axe Mercury… and am seeking the opinions of others as it relates to the subject at hand. In other words, you’ve nothing to be concerned for… as they say, we’re “just talking”.
Now to your comment:
“GMC has one of the highest brand loyalties in the market”
Does it? If so, is this due to fleet sales? How will Ford’s recent “resurgence” affect this loyalty? I keep hearing about this immense customer loyalty but have never seen any actual statistics from GM itself or from 3rd parties. So I’m skeptical.
Secondly — I’d challenge that GMC sales would go to competitors if the brand were dropped. With the right type of targeted marketing, I’d even challenge that this would not be the case at all! For instance — GM (or dealers) can personally call each GMC owner and offer them the equivalent of their vehicle with a Chevy badge; add in some mail and email pieces, and you can convert most of your GMC customers to Chevy customers in one fell swoop. This isn’t Saturn buyers we’re talking about, after all.
“Also GMC is also the most profitable brand GM has and the transaction price is second only to Caddy that is a lot of money”
This has been thrown around for the last several years. I’d also challenge this with the following:
1. Is GMC the most profitable brand because all engineering, development, and research costs are offloaded to Chevy (on paper)? I strongly believe this to be the case.
2. As it relates to transaction prices… if you’re referring to transaction prices at the dealer level (dealer to customer sales), then the transaction price has nothing to do with profitability at GM’s level. GM never seems this money, as the car has already been sold to the dealer at a set price (not accounting for holdback and stair-step SPIFs and bonuses). Or am I misunderstanding something?
Again, these are my personal opinions and do not reflect those of GM Authority as a publication. Boy do I hope I don’t have to preface every comment I make with this — 🙂
For the sake of argument let’s say GM re banged every GMC vehicle as a Chevrolet what would happen? Would people be so upset for losing a name? Would they think the Chevrolet dealer network and support staff are not as competent as there GMC counterparts?
I don’t think that GMC should go away! however I also want to see Chevy with high trim packages, no less then GMC and no less then the competition, I heard a rummer that Chevy won’t have a variant to King Ranch, and Platinum instead GM want’s to force people for Denali. Denali is great, but there are Chevy guys who would never buy a GMC and when Chevy doesn’t have a high trip packages GM loses it’s customers.
Lex I honestly think if they did that they would be completing against themselves and that doesn’t make any sence to me. sorry 🙁
Not unless the GMC buyer is “vastly different” than a Chevy buyer. This is what I can’t figure out, as it would seem that the two buyers are pretty much identical in what they’re looking for in a vehicle.
In other news, the Regal kind-a-sorta competes with the ATS… and the CTS will overlap with the LaCrosse. I’m of the strong opinion that every GM brand needs to stand on its own and not be limited (especially in product) by the “GM world order/hierarchy”.
But then again Regal gets compared to the New Fusion too!
Not really. The Fusion is a nice car bit has a starting price in the low $20,000s. Regal starts at $27,000.
In my opinion, the Regal needs to offer more content (standard leather and keyless entry/push-button start, for example) and carry a base price of $30,000. This creates clear differentiation between mainstream mid size sedans (Malibu, Fusion, Sonata) and luxury midsize sedans such as the Regal.
Again, if Buick is serious about being/becoming a luxury brand, it needs to stop offering luxury as an option and instead make it standard. Otherwise, it will go the way of Pontiac and Saturn.
I think they have to update the Regal or else the ILX will dominate it even though ILX is Verano’s competitor.
Why do you think so? Do you think consumers will prefer ILX to Verano?
Well the species of the ILX does look pretty good except in the engine dept though.
I have owned and currently own both brands (Chevrolet and GMC) I’ve talked to a lot owners and read a lot of forums. To my conclusion I would say that 40% of GMC customers wont consider a Chevrolet and 70% of Chevrolet customers wont consider a GMC (as long as Chevy is in production). In fact most of Chevrolet customers are pissed off that GMC has Denali and Chevy don’t offer a high trim package. Why would GM want to risk it’s customers? GMC doesn’t need to upscale their trucks, it just have to be different then a Chevy. If GMC were to upscale, would they drop work trucks from their lineup? then is no point to upscale it from a Chevy. If you want to upscale a truck, make it a Cadillac. Mean while offer high trims on Silverado’s as well.