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GMC Still Believes A Small Crossover Could Expand The Brand’s Appeal

It seems like a no-brainer for GMC to expand into the subcompact SUV territory as its sister brands Chevrolet and Buick have. Despite this, GMC has yet to tackle the segment.

However, it’s still on the table, according to Automotive News. The publication spoke with Duncan Aldred, head of the Buick and GMC brands, and he said a smaller SUV is a logical step for the brand.

“To me, there is more room for SUVs in the GMC stable,” Aldred said. “An obvious place for GMC to be if it expands is that small SUV segment.” Buick sells the Encore and Chevrolet sells the Trax with much success.

GMC Granite

It’s been seven years since the idea of a small SUV for GMC was proposed. The GMC Granite concept debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show with quirky looks and the footprint of a Chevrolet Cruze. GMC reapplied for the “Granite” trademark in 2013 and again in 2015.

Aldred added that GMC “should have been first” in the hot subcompact SUV segment that boomed years ago. Instead, Buick took advantage of the segment as a first comer. Since then, nearly every automaker has moved to introduce a similarly sized vehicle.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. It would probably come with next generation Trax & Encore. With Opel out of the picture there will be a volume gap to fill.

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  2. Small CUV and small truck 2019. Next gen Sierra 2018. Next gen Canyon 2020.

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  3. Make it ELECTRIC to compete with VW’s ID Series!

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  4. GMC needs needs an identity besides “slightly up-class Chevrolet”. GMC either needs their own, unique vehicle, or a flagship.

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    1. GMC should do an BOF SUV built on the midsize truck platform to take on the Wrangler with an offroad/ZR2 top trim

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      1. I agree 110%. GMC deserves an upscale off-road halo product. Why chase the bottom of the market? Let the Japanese, Koreans and Chevy battle in that space.

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  5. GMC own vehicles that are going to ride on their own platforms? Nope! GM can make them look different but they will always be Chevy expensive brother!

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    1. Even if they don’t get their own platforms, they should be plucking the best pieces from the parts bin to make them feel different. I think the Bolt’s 10.2″ screen should have made it’s way over to the GMC line as an infotainment upgrade. The Bose system should be reworked to appeal to Audiophiles. While their interiors need to switch over to a different and fresh modern take, especially the switchgear and steering wheel, maybe real wood and metal.

      Reply
  6. Maybe they are thinking of calling it a Montana instead?

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  7. When the Granite was first shown years ago, I was ready to put my money down right then. Still would. It is unique from the other GM small crossovers. The suicide doors would be a HUGE hit. Gasoline, Hybrid or electric – doesn’t matter. And keep the unique styling. Its about time and past time for GM to take a leadership position again in styling…instead of bringing out new stuff that is outdated the moment of introduction.

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  8. Build it.

    Make the interior fully functional like a Honda Fit, offer a performance engine option and 4WD, price it right and start tooling up the factory now!

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  9. If they finally produce this thing, it should probably be something that’s more about customization, like Mini. With the Encore kind of taking the premium space, something more powerful and rugged looking needs to be placed under the GMC banner. I’m not impressed with what they did to the Terrain and a fresher take on a modern interior is needed. The 106.3″ platform under the Cruze is where they should start. Allowing you to create a Denali version that rides on 19″ wheels as a top trim. No less than the 2.0T as the engine of choice, but since the 1.5T is on its bigger brother, it’s likely to be the base engine.

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  10. The Granite is not coming. It is a old show car that did not come because it could not be built with the doors as shown and had rising cost.

    If they do anything it will be more Jeep like things like the Renagade and Cherokee.

    Say what you like . While it is a fancy Chevy the GMC line is one of the most profitable companies around.

    The Denali line is magic in a bottle that has people paying even higher prices on the higher priced GMC models that has really paid off.

    Any new product at GMC and with the Denali is just going to add more to profits even at lower volumes.

    I would like to see GMC get a Wrangler Challanger. There are some inside that have pushed this but we have still not seen anything approved. Let’s hope the keep pushing.

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  11. That little SUV concept has such a unique look to it without being OTT. Just build it GMC and have a ding-dong battle with the quite vanilla Japanese & Korean small SUVs. (Needs 2.0-liter turbo gas & diesel variants, as well as a 1.5-liter turbo).

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  12. Building a GMC variant of the Buick Encore is a no brainer as consumers will gobble up almost as many of the cute CUVs that General Motors can build and it won’t matter that the vehicle is virtually identical except for cosmetics to the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax.

    Reply

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