Just a few short years ago, Hummer was put to pasture after being unable to secure a buyer. During the SUV craze of the early 2000’s, it was exactly the vehicle General Motors needed to capture the hearts of consumers and, with their impeccable timing, the Detroit-based company struck an absolute goldmine with their gargantuan off-roaders. But it wasn’t to be.
So while the Hummer nameplate is now absent from the American market, rumors are stirring that General Motors has been rumored to be developing another American G-Wagen, in an attempt to fill the void of a super-capable off-road SUV. And that responsibility will rest in the GMC brand.
According to reports, GMC designers have hinted that they are well on their way to creating another all-terrain behemoth. Yes, a brand new, world-tackling, dirt-conquering, rock-climbing machine.
There is very little information regarding the vehicle, but with hardware such as the new K2XX body-on-frame platform, diesel engines and other technologies at their fingertips, one can imagine that this trail-rated animal is brimming with potential if indeed, General Motors desires to pursue such a segment.
Further evidence to point that such a vehicle is actually in the works is Mark Reuss’ comments stating that GMC will indeed get a vehicle of its own. That is to say, unique from Chevrolet. That’s also to say that it will be different than the current 2015 GMC Yukon and Yukon Denali hitting the market right now.
Aiming its sights directly at the people’s champion of the off-road arena, the legendary Jeep Wrangler, GMC has massive plans for its latest brain-child with intentions set on taking the segment by storm.
No news has yet been released on when the said vehicle would launch in the American market, or if at all; but if the men and women from GM can wholly recapture the essence of the behemoth Hummer line-up, General Motors indeed may have yet another über-successful SUV on their hands.
Comments
This is what I have been asking for since Hummer left.
GMC is prime to take on Jeep as they have an added quality and refinement edge to them. Lutz has said the one greatest mistake he made was not making Hummer a GM model VS its own brand. It just make making changes and adjustments to the market much more difficult and expensive.
I saw Consumer reports list of 10 SUV models not to buy and 3 were Jeep one was Dodge and none were GM. I would say a properly done vehicle here could give a Grand Cherokee and Wrangler a run for its money.
The key is to make it better and make it price competitive.
GMC is GMs answer to Jeep; in addition, it was foolish not to fold the best of Hummer (H2) into the GMC line up.
GMC needs more unique product, at least on the surface, in terms of design. The brands can offer a lot more than rebadged Chevy pick ups.
Together, GMC and Buick have tremendous potential as a global semi premium distribution channel.
This sounds great! I think a new Envoy would fit that spot perfectly. With a 5.3L V8 (VVT, SIDI, AFM and iVVL) that has 365HP and 390FT-LBS or a 2.8L TDI I4 that has 190HP and 350FT-LBS paired to an 8-Speed Manumatic on the Canyon or Yukon platform. GM needs to have a viable competitor to compete with Jeep and this is the answer. I also think that GMC will benefit from this greatly.
Why would there be a new Envoy when there already is the Terrain?
Because the Terrain is a CUV and going on the Delta ll Platform in 2016 whereas an Envoy is an SUV on a truck platform and would be more capable for pure offroading.
The target here is a wrangler competitor. Then you can expand as needed. GMC needs cool, efficient and real world off road.
I expect made H4 like no H2.
I expect more H4 like and not H2 like. Look for these models to try to draw people to more fun but yet more efficient models in the GMC line.
Sorry I missed on the cell phone.
I would expect a h2 h3 h4 type!
All of the platforms are already there, GM will need to have those 50k plus trucks to help pay for the 20k and 30k models
Coming to market with an upscale, GMC, off road truck to woo Ford SVT Raptor customers would make more sense to me, but, i suppose, they must have done their research.
Great, GMC can pick up where hummer left off. I have one question though, would it be possible for GMC to offer a g63 AMG 6×6 like vehicle?
GMC will not just stop at the Small Hummer/Wrangler type vehicle. They will do a Raptor truck but it may be on the Canyon.
As for the 6×6 just how many does Benz Sell? Few right so I would not expect it here. To do that it would have to be a Cadillac and there is not enough market to cover the development cost for GM.
Is this implying General Motors is bringing back Hummer and rebadging it under the GMC name or is GMC making an off road style vehicle similar to the Hummer lineup?
this vehicle will be a GMC version of the global Chevy trailblazer . It has the size and capacity to compete with jeep in NA .In the global markets the testers say it extremely competitive. look at the reviews in Oz . I think this midsize platform for the Canyon/ Colorado is perfect and remember the platform in the past was the basis of the H3 .
Not it is not implying GMC will bring back Hummer.
What GMC may do is resurrect the ideas that Hummer was looking at. They had considered a Wrangler competitor and GMC still lacks a real trail rated Grand Cherokee competitor.
The fact is Jeep is profitable but most of their products are cheap crap. People with money still buy them as they are the only real choice for many off road or trail applications from the factory. GMC could do much to change this. There are several SUV models on a new platform we have yet to see. They will be RWD based 4×4 models possibly based on the Alpha or the Omega.
It will take some time but GMC will transform more and more away from just a rebadged Chevy. The Denali line is showing some of what they are doing with Magnetic ride shocks and heads up on some of the models that Chevy does not offer.
While the Denali Is luxury I see them also doing more trail ready rides. Macho Luxury you could call it for the guys who can not bolt on a suspension lift.
I do see more smaller models and things featured on the new small truck etc. GMC need balance with higher MPG models so there may be some neat things coming that will be more affordable too.
GMC is a clean canvas here. They are a solid and profitable division that can take some risk and try some things that Chevy could not do easily at their price point.
I think this could be very interesting if they can green light these ideas.
GM should only bring back the Hummer division of all the division’s they shelved!
They need to bring hummer back.
GMC can add the name “Hammer” which is similar to Hummer except for the first vowel.
That will really help the CAFE rating!
Hummer, Hammer or even Humbug will not be part of any name at GM again. Like Pontiac let it go.
They will be GMC!
I am excited to see what they come up with. I like the global Trailblazer/Colorado7 suv. They should make it hardcore offroad with good efficiency, then call it the Jimmy!
Keep in mind the more hard core things become the more expensive they become and the more limited in sales they will be.
A cheaper smaller Jeep like model would be something they could sell cheap. offer it with a Ecotec for good MPG and even offer it more hard core and still not get much higher priced then $30K.
I think even jeep was surprised with the 4 door Wrangler and GM could do their own easily. The down side is that it would not be a Jeep but the up side is they have more freedom to fix the things they have to keep to make it a jeep. My buddy’s new wrangler has paint chips all down the side because of how the fenders are on his wrangler and it is not even a year old. They also have limited size interiors due to the shape. GM could work around these and make a better jeep.
@Scott
I agree on putting this offroader in the 30k range. I think this can be done with a good 4 link rear suspension/ solid front axle or a tough long travel front suspension. There are lots of good engines they could use as well. This is an exciting possibility.
I think you will see a more modern suspension if they choose to do a Wrangler competitor.
Solid axles are of the dark age with most 4×4 vehicles. Also GM now has a good rear indepensdent rear that they could adapt to the rear of such a vehicle. The use of coil over suspension or even a magnetic shock could really make for an advanced model .
I just hope they would do like Jeep and offer it not only in a well optioned package but also a bare bones lets get it dirty base model that people can take off road and modify as they see fit.
The aftermarket for Jeep is what really helps it and GM will need to see the same happen here.
I would love to see them do a real rock crawler from the factory.
What are you talking about? Mercedes Benz g-wagon and unimog both have solid axles and are regarded as two of the best off road capable vehicles on the planet. On top of that, the off-road market always goes to two live axles whenever they modify a car.
I only would agree to independent front suspension with long travel eg. 4Runner TRD Pro. Solid rear axle is what they off roaders want. I can see the demand for all independent for the side by side business because reliability is not as important. CV joints are always a weak point which can leave you stranded on the trail. I have a lot for Jeep for keeping the solid front axle on the Wrangler. The sales numbers agree with that setup.
Have you ever heard of the baha 1000, stadium truck racing? You know those four wheel drive trucks that tackle anything while trying to get to the finish line first?
Well what type of suspensions do those trucks have? Hmm! Yep independent front suspension! This argument that only real 4x4ers use solid axle 4×4 is a joke cuz the ones who are the professionals use IFS!
So the next time you think IFS is not as good the go watch real 4x4s driving threw the desert doing what 4x4s do best!
G wagon? And how many of these do they sell in the states every year? Not even enough to match what some dealers sell in one model of 1/2 ton pick ups.
I work in the performance after market and we deal in a lot of off road items and suspension packages. We also deal with real off road guys that really trail drive and or even rock climb.
Independent suspension are strong enough or can be made more than strong enough to keep things solid. Also they can make tuning and the ability to keep things on the ground better if you are in some tough places.
My rock crawler guys often built their cars as tube chassis. They will use fully independent in most cases. They even beef up and are using LS based engines or even Northstars.
The only reason there is a weak CV on a car if because a weak one was put there. Companies can fix this if they choose too. I see many broken solid axles too in stock from with broken hubs and axles. Many of the lighter trucks are not as strong as they used to be either.
It just comes down to if GM wants to do a trail rated vehicle they just need to built it with parts able to deal with it. I am not taking a Geo Tracker here but I am talking a vehicle that will road drive fine but one that really can take to the trail reliably. I know the parts are out there as I sell them. The question is will GM want to make a real off road vehicle or just jack something up and put stickers on it to look the part. I suspect this time they will go the route of a real vehicle for off road with advanced suspension technology vs. just what a jeep had in WWII.
Might also note the H2-H3 had independent front suspensions. The H1 was all independent.
It is nice crawling over a rock when you can keep both rear wheels on the ground when someone is shooting at you in Iraq.
I just laugh at people who try to down play the use of IFS as being a weak version of a 4×4!
I agree that in theory, IFS can be made tough, but we are talking about GM here! The reputation of GM is for weak independent front suspension, weak tie rods, ball joints, cv joints, not much travel. They are the company that needs to prove to people that they can build it right.
I see you have forgotten that thing GM built called a hummer!
Maybe just maybe the best off road vehicle ever made!
It had ifs!
AM General was owned by AMC when the original Hummer was developed. The Hummers developed under GM ownership were ok, but nothing legendary. I want a good 4×4 out of GM, but they need to prove it to me with the proper components. They can’t afford to cheap out.
I was talking about the H2!
If you are out 4 wheeling and you are breaking
Suspension parts then you don’t know how to drive off road!
It’s possible they reviving the hummer brand too ?
As I understand it, AM General is working to release a new HumVee civilian model and not the “Kit” that was rumored around. There would be an H1 type and something between the H2 and H1. The suspension would have the articulation of a modified Wrangler. Who knows? You might want to check out the Zibar from Ida Cohen.
Bring back the GMC JIMMY THE TWO DOOR I WOULD BUY LOVE TO OFF ROAD BUT GM DOESN’T REALLY HAVE OFF ROAD SUV PLEASE MAKE SOMETHING!!
Does anyone have an update on this?
I hope from this new vehicle they bring back hummer !!
I love and miss my Hummer H3, they should bring them back and just sell the H3 and H4. The H2 was just to big and wasted to much gas, but the other models were great!!!
My H2 had to be replaced in November and the only vehicle that came close was a Jeep Wrangler unlimited which I purchased. Not anywhere close to my H2 but it will do until they start making them again….yes I would purchase another big vehicle.
GMC needs to make the Hummer HX Concept, it just won’t be called a Humme. End of story, I’ll be first in line if they do. Check the link below
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/detroit-auto-show/news/a13956/hummer-hx-concept/