According to Automotive News, the GMC Granite compact hatchback (pickup?) has been given the green light, and will make its debut somewhere in calender year 2013 — Dutch doors and all. This report further solidifies previous accounts of the Granite’s confirmation.
As far as we know, the Granite will be unique to the GMC family, and will probably share the compact Delta II platform with the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Cruze. We may see a 1.4-liter boosted Ecotec under the hood, as the concept version cradled that very engine. We would also like to rule in a turbocharged 2.0-liter, and naturally aspirated 2.4 or 2.5-liter four pots as additional possibilities.
Who’s excited? Who’s irate? Sound off in the comments below!
Source: Automotive News
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Comments
I def can’t wait…. I hope Element Owners pay attention to this one
I think it is a great concept, but in my opinion, it does not fit with the GMC line. GMC to me is like the work grade of Chevy, Whats next? the GMC version of the Malibu or maybe a cute GMC Volt. Now dont get me wrong here, Its a cool looking car and could definitely have a place in the GM lineup but i think it would fit better with a bow tie on the grill.
I felt the same way at first when I laid eyes on it in Detroit back in January of ’10. But it’s for those very same reason you mentioned (“GMC is like the work grade of Chevy”) that made people question why GMC didn’t get the axe back in 2009, where Pontiac did, because underneath the sheetmetal, all GMCs — besides the Sierra 1500 Denali’s 6.2L Vortec V8 offering — are the same as its Chevy twin. (read my initial reactions here: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2010/01/the-granite-gmcs-most-unprofessional-grade-car-yet-3/)
Obviously, I’ve warmed up to it since then. Now, I feel that this vehicle would have been a great fit for Pontiac (probably better than GMC), but this is a breath of fresh air for those who want to see something more unique and exclusive to the GMC family. The pickup truck version is also a great idea, and targets a whole new niche.
I think this is a perfect fit for GMC. Buick/GMC dealers need more product that is unique and just a step above Chevrolet.
I was shocked when they axed Pontiac, went as far as writing GM, rethinking GMC and diversifying its portfolio could be good if done right or it could be a total disaster, If one buys GMC for the upscale and yet when they go to the dealership there is this runt of the litter vehicle it may throw people off. My guess is that there is some smoke and mirrors going on here and in fact we will se this as a Chevy, or a Chevy variant. Any way I personally love it, can’t wait to check it out…
While I disagree with the strategy, GMC is supposed to be “professional grade”. How is this a “step above Chevrolet” in any way?? This should be a Chevy. HHR goes away and they decide to NOT bring Orlando to the US, instead moving those buyers to GMC? Hard to believe they don’t value brand loyalty given that they are de-emphisizing the GM mark. Moving customers from one dealership or brand (where they are comfortable) to another (unknown and differant) is a recipe for losing them (see Pontiac and Saturn).
The HHR replacement is the Cruze Hatch — which IS coming to the States, while the Orlando is much bigger and much more family-oriented.
We’ll see what happens here, but I’m strongly against this vehicle being a GMC… All for it being a Chevy.
I really love the Granite Concept; but I’m skeptical that it will make it to showrooms looking anything as cool as the concept. Remember how awesome the Volt concept was? The reality, while still a great car, lacked the visual sex appeal of the concept.
GMC wasn’t ditched during bankruptcy because it’s extremely profitable to dress up a Chevy truck or SUV and sell it for thousands of dollars more. My pitch was for GM to ditch GMC and then create a sub-brand of Chevrolet called Black Tie. The trucks would be dressed up like a GMC Denali and wear a black bow tie logo in front. It would have saved a bundle in separate division marketing costs while retaining the profitability of the GMC line.
I too believe the Granite belongs at Chevrolet. If it’s a hit, dressing it up to be a GMC would be a no-brainer. Let’s face it, GM is back to its old ways of cloning a Chevy product up the food chain. A Lambda SUV is at all brands but Cadillac and we recently learned that Cadillac will get its own version of the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave now. Malibu and Regal (and LaCrosse) are all based on the Opel Insignia. The Cruze is now a Verano. How long before a Caddy version will be announced (probably based on the next-gen Cruze), positioned below the upcoming ATS?
I think there is a large niche for a small/compact pickup truck like UPC. Toyota and Nissan abandoned the small pickup market in favor of the larger versions of the Tacoma and Frontier. Around LA, the older, smaller versions of these trucks are hot on the used car market because they are easier to maneuver in crowded traffic and parking lots and they get better fuel economy. Just as many businesses find that the Ford Transit Connect works just fine for their needs, I think many contractors and tradesmen might find a small pickup truck serves their needs as well as or better than a full-size pickup or even a mid-size truck.
Very well put. Although I don’t think GM is back to its old ways of dressing a vehicle up the food chain (the Caddy Lambda will be quite different than the Lambdas we see today)… And I really like your idea of Chevy Black Tie line. Very intriguing.
Here is the thing if GM is rethinking GMC they need to go all out, I am talking 3 or 4 unique new to the market vehicles, revelutionary products at that… The Granite would be a great start, but it can’t be the only vehicle.
Blitz everyone with commercials talking about the new GMC…
Right! A single model like the Granite — which is already taking way too long to bring to market — won’t cut it — and will either end up 1) alienating current GMC owners or 2) flopping altogether because the potential buyers can’t align themselves with what is otherwise a truck-only brand.
I need it with a diesel. If it’s gonna be based on the Cruze then it shouldn’t be too hard. I believe it’s best placed at GMC since, for all intents and purposes it will serve to push up the CAFE rating of GMC. It also just looks like a GMC. It’s a far better execution than the Terrain which I think is an embarrassment.
This is ridiculous as a GMC. They already have the Equinox clone Terrain, and along with Buick they got first dibs (and a better look, imho) on the Lambda with the Acadia. How much more damage can GM inflict on Chevrolet? Maybe they’ll bring in the Cruze hatchback and rebadge it as a GMC exclusive.
And those are “suicide doors” (rear door hinged in the rear) not “dutch doors”, (split horizontally, top to bottom)
This will be a unique cuv for GMC and will be very differant from anything chevy has coming, they will not recieve a Granite copy, but Buick will with a slightly streched version of the Granite Pictures of this unit are currently on line at GM inside news and as you will see from the photos this will be more of a classic buick look but be based on the Granite program and platform. This was the only way to make the GMC viable to build, and it will also lead GMC to get higher MPG numbers starting with the Granite being much better than the Terrain, and the interior will be very unique and have many inovative features. I think you will like it the final version is close to the concept.
What I don’t understand is how the Granite fits into the GMC lineup and brand image… Seems like it’s being shoehorned into a truck-only lineup, where the truck-faithful roam. I’ve been told by several present GMC Sierra owners that if the Granite is to be produced, they will disown their trucks… and GMC.
PS: the Buick you mention will actually be a CUV, whereas the Granite is a tall car (without higher ground clearance).
Hmmm… Not impressed. I was hoping for an El Camino/Holden Maloo if anything. Oh well I’ll pass!
Two words, Badd Ass!!!!!!
Is this all about cafe rules and migrating the GMC brand to vehicles that provide better mpg, not sure if each brand is required to meet future requirments…
“I’ve been told by several present GMC Sierra owners that if the Granite is to be produced, they will disown their trucks… and GMC.”
This kind of talk makes me laugh. Are GMC owners so insecure that they can’t even shop the brand if it contains a compact, car-based vehicle? That’s just sad.
To me, the design and “look” fits with where GMC is going with the Terrain. Overall, GM needs a compact SUV to fill the gaping hole beneath the Terrain/Equinox and they need it yesterday.
Most of the Sierra owners bought their truck because it was what they wanted, they probably didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the GMC line and certainly won’t buy a Dodge or Ford because GMC offers the Granite.
Acadia buyers bought their vehicle because it was what they wanted, the buying decision had nothing to do with GMC Pickup offerings.
Etc, etc, etc.
Cmon why so smug??? The suits at GMC finally got some balls and have hired brilliant designers, engineers and are making cars for a new generation who appreciate art, style, innovation and originality!! What’s wrong with that? It’s fresh, I applaud them!
The hatchback is nothing more than a re-badged Sonic. The truck version is cute, but I don’t think there’s a market for a truck that small. What can it haul? Maybe a couple cases of beer?
Are you eyes giving up on you? It’s not a rebadge, it’s a shared platform.
There aren’t many straight-cut rebadged car nowadays.
And further, if you had actually read this, the thought is that this will be on the Delta Platform. The Sonic is on the Gamma II architecture. Secondly, I love the CPU. I on’t know if I would actually own one but I live fairly close to San Francisco and I could see it being very useful there. Which my GMC Sierra 1500 was decidedly less so, hard to drive around…
Wow. Abandon the company products because they’re being innovative and coming up with new ideas. There’s a demonstration of some careful thought and understanding of business models. The Granite CPU is something I’ve been wanting built for some time now. I could ditch my half-ton and car and just have one vehicle. I think a lot of people underestimate the attractiveness of the utility a small, fuel-efficient truck provides. Not to mention, it looks great. Whoever brings this version of vehicle to market first is going to get my money. If it’s Toyota with the ABAT, great. If it’s GMC with the Granite, also great.
As to one scholar’s remarks regarding what can it haul, a couple of cases of beer…well, it can certainly haul my two off-road scooters without any trouble. Or anything from wherever, for the most part.
As long as these forums attract geniuses of every description who are bent out of shape by evil concepts such as fuel efficiency, smaller sized trucks, the GMC brand being compromised by thoughtful design; well. What can one say.
Just bring it to market and I guarantee the world won’t crack in two.
i think the encore could have been a gmc and call it the granite making a compact cuv instead of a tall car but keep the styling (cause it rocks)
this way we wouldn’t need a chevy version here
My armchair quarterback 2 cents: Sure – build it. This vehicle will sell relatively well based on it’s design. People want to stand out, and if GM doesn’t capitalize on this inventive shape, others will.
It also has to become reality because factories have to keep producing, and GM has 1.4 Ecotec lumps to sell. The more platforms to shove it in, the better for the beancounters and union decision makers.
For me, I agree with dickebird. There’s a huge gap to be filled by trucks that have lighter weight, better versatility and higher mileage. Avalanche is out now, but it’s idea needs to live. Honda Ridgeline stays in production, year after ugly-ass year because it fills a particular sales niche. C’mon guys, $40,000 for a Ridgeline that is as ugly as your friend’s bulldog?!! People would buy a better looking Ridgeline – a truck based not on a rail chassis but a braced monocoque. Avalanche was too heavy. One thing we all could use is a better ride. Trucks don’t have to have leaf springs. There’s been so many near misses in this category. Look at that Explorer SporTrac train wreck! Honda got it nearly right – they just paid the wrong guy to design it with a “push-me-pull-you” design – I MEAN WHICH END IS THE FRONT/BACK??? IT’S REVERSIBLE! Toyota’s ABAT is so Ridgeline-ish. Great concept: Small multi utilty truck with a hybrid drivetrain and independent rear suspension that won’t kill your back – BUT UGLY AS WHISTLER’S MOTHER!!!!
Granite could reduce it’s frontal area a bit and retain it’s rugged appeal – keep the sidelines and rear – boost the platform size and make a small version and a larger Ridgeline size….Add a hybrid option. It’s a wide-open category waiting to pluck customers from all the other brands.
Guys: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/01/gmc-granite-program-cancelled/
There apparently isn’t going to be a Granite.
i know it’s gone and that sucks but gmc needs a smaller more fuel efficient vehicle and i think using the granites design tweaked a little and the encores platform plus awd for the denali of course and you will have an awesome vehicle also then you won’t have to produce a chevy variant of it here. (obviosly there is going to be a chevy elswhere i mean its already been anounced)
exactly
mrrr why must this go away??
excellent ,looks edgy and modern and cool
Fred, the Granite is no more:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/01/gmc-granite-program-cancelled/
Which seems like a good thing, to me:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/03/granite-cancellation-means-gm-still-confused-about-gmc-or-is-it/
I think it’s a bad idea that they canceled it
Vic, my biggest problem with the Granite wasn’t its existence or the idea/concept behind entering the segment. My biggest gripe was that GM was going to do it with GMC. There isn’t one good reason that the Granite shouldn’t have/couldn’t have been a Chevy first and foremost… with Chevy styling cues, of course. A GMC variant could have followed.
However, launching the vehicle as a GMC would have automatically and severely limited its market potential/appeal. Again, were it a Chevy first, that would have been great.
I was just thinking like they should have a Honda element replacement vehicle and GMC would be a great idea because of it’s unique styling compare to the Chevrolet counterpart (If it exist)