We’re eagerly anticipating the reveal of the 2019 GMC Sierra, which will take place this Thursday, March 1st. And now, we have come to discover a new feature that will be exclusive to the upcoming all-new pickup truck: a carbon fiber bed.
That’s according to a new Wall Street Journal report (subscription req’d). This isn’t the first time that we are hearing reports that General Motors will offer a carbon fiber bed in its new T1 platform pickup trucks. In fact, the repot also confirms expectations that the 2019 GMC Sierra will also carry various exclusive features when compared to its platform mate – the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado – but doesn’t state what these features will be.
A teaser image of the 2019 Sierra 1500 released by GMC last week
Purpose
Carbon fiber is highly regarded for its light weight and high tensile strength. Since it is extremely expensive to utilize, the material has mostly been relegated to use in specific areas of sports cars and other exotic vehicles. Its use in pickup trucks, especially the bed – an area that takes a significant amount of abuse, is unheard of.
As such, it will be interesting to see how GMC will implement a carbon fiber bed, as well as its reasoning for using the material in place of steel, which GM was quite proud to use in the bed of the 2019 Silverado. We’re also curious to see just how much of a premium a 2019 Sierra with a carbon fiber bed will cost over a similarly-specced model with a steel bed.
2019 GMC Sierra undergoes testing in Michigan
The End Of Badge Engineering?
General Motors has often been criticized for “badge engineering” Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. The exercise involves minimally differentiating vehicles offered by both brands by only changing out the logos and lights, while leaving the rest of the vehicle the same. The Silverado and Sierra can be described as textbook examples of the practice. The practice is often frowned upon by automotive enthusiasts and analysts, though its proponents argue that it optimizes profits by minimizing development and production costs of two different vehicles.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2019 GMC Sierra 1500
At the present time, six of GMC’s seven models are mechanically identical to Chevrolet models. With the introduction of the 2019 Blazer, that will bring that total to seven. A carbon fiber bed in the 2019 GMC Sierra, however, would serve as a significant differentiator between it and the 2019 Silverado, which was revealed in the December-January timeframe. Also all-new for the 2019 model year, the new Silverado shares the Sierra’s platform and assembly plants. The two models are also expected to share the interior design and powertrains, including two new V-8 engines, a new 3.0L Duramax inline six cylinder turbo-diesel engine, and three other powerplants that have yet to be announced.
About 2019 GMC Sierra
The all-new 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 will be revealed at a special event in Detroit on March 1st and GM Authority will be in attendance to bring you live coverage from the event. In the meantime, follow our GMC Sierra news coverage.
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Comments
Of the 7000 pickup truck interviews, how many said “I want a Carbon Fiber bed!”? Then how many said “I want a class leading interior?”
Ford troll on here.
Looks like someone is jealous Ford got beat on the first to use carbon fiber, a much more advanced material than aluminium.
I’m not a Ford guy but will say “Troll” is one of the nicer things I’ve been called today…
Do you think many consumers asked Ford for a twin turbo V6 instead of a V8? Do you think many consumers asked Ram (Dodge at the time) for rear coil springs instead of leaf springs? I bet there were very few people who would have asked for IFS before GM implemented it in their trucks in the 60’s.
The problem is it was people like you in the focus group and we got a Silverado with an awkward, flat faced, yet somehow also squished front end. Grant it is growing on me and it’s likely better looking in person, but the various F150 and Ram front end combinations are better looking
We found the luxury car guy who wants a truck for the image. He doesn’t care about capability and actual useful truck stuff but instead how many features the truck has compared to his leased German luxury car he turned in and if it looks “cool” enough to be seen at the local Starbucks and kids little league games. Can usually spot these guys by their focusing on particular luxury items or aesthetics as opposed to useful and applicable items, in this case complaining about a non-luxury car looking interior rather than a useful truck like interior and making no comments on the added bed space which is the cornerstone of a truck… Just look for a Denali/Platinum truck with KO2 tires, off road 4×4 decals all over the truck and a lift or level to find them in the wild.
As if a luxury car guy would buy a truck from GM when much better interior design, materials, and features can be found at Ram and Ford.
Well you have two things in play here. One the people in this segment want all it all generally and that is why most of it is standard.
Two the brag rights for the bed is an image thing that will sell it. We saw it with the Ford owners when it came out with Aluminum.
Three MPG even in this price range is a factor.
GM has found a profitable segment to mine for money and more power to em. If gimmick or practical but either way it sells more trucks at higher ATP then go for it.
Never question the rational of the buying public. Just give them what they will pay more for.
GM has played it smart and has really found a way to offer a truck for just about anyone who wants a truck be it a base work truck to a full blown luxury cruiser. Most people anymore like having both. They want the ability to do what they need but they also like features. GM has a mix of models to appeal to this on many levels.
If they buy a Denali and never haul an engine block. So be it. If they buy a ZR2 and only hope curbs in a mall parking lot great. As long as they make the payments and buy more trucks God Bless Em!
Rocky Ridge has made a fortune with some simple bolt on’s to people who many of which never haul a fence post or even driven in the mud.
It is about making money with products people will pay more for.
Trucks are not just for work anymore.
Sounds like you have a good “luxury car guy” story which is the source of your comment…
Overwhelming majority of people who buy a brand new Sierra Denali own at least one other vehicle and often have more than one…If “Luxury Car Guy” wants to write a check to large GM, why does anyone care if he uses it? They could be super wealthy and just need to truck to tow their and may need it to tow their boat around…
I see Super Wealthy?
Some folks do not relay on the movement for everything.
We in the normal sector call it successful.
Don’t tell my main contractor who has used his Denali as a Work truck, office and daily driver. It is dirty and has never seen golf clubs or a boat. But it has made him a lot of money by being a useful vehicle for his company and delivering the goods.
Not everyone is waiting for the city of Stockton to pay them for just getting up taking a breath ever day.
FYI an overwhelming number of people own more than one vehicle no matter the wealth. Heck I had three good vehicles at one time before I was twenty and have never had less than 3 or more since. I am not wealthy but I am successful.
We have to remember that just because we see an optioned out $75K Sierra Denali performing work, it doesn’t necessarily mean the owner purchased it new, the owner could have bought it with a salvage title, high mileage, etc…Since this is about the all new MY19 Sierra, my comments on focused on those who purchase the vehicle new…
When one thinks of the Denali, one doesn’t think it means “capability” (because it doesn’t); for the MY18 Sierra Denali, you can get a 5.3L or the 420hp 6.2L (same offerings as the Silverado) which means when a Denali is equipped with the 5.3L, the Ram, F150 and even the Silverado can be equipped with more capability engines…What does Denali mean in a Sierra? It’s a brand, it means it’s the most premium/luxurious mainstream fullsize pickup on the market…The “Luxury Car Guy” usually cares about image and vanity, therefore high odds if they’re dropping $52Kish+ (base Sierra Denali MSRP) for a brand NEW Sierra Denali they most likely have other relatively high MSRPs vehicles…
I’m unsure how we can even determine the amount of people who own a single vehicle vs people who own at least 2+ vehicles…I’d take a Vegas bet over half of vehicle owners own a single vehicle…
Have you seen the 2019 Ram Limited interior? The Sierra is going to have to seriously step up its game because the Ram is extremely nice inside. The nicest of the trucks by far. Hopefully GM has something up their sleeves.
Yes, both the Ram and the F150 have better interiors then what’s shown in the Sierra’s interior spy shot…Some are hoping the upper trims including the Denali offer an entirely different interior, if Vegas would take my bet, I’d bet that its pretty close to above…
If GM/GMC wants to increase sales, their CF bed pet project efforts would have been better spend on a nicer interior…
And how many people in Ford interviews asked for an aluminum truck? Please oblige us.
Since you asked…
Ford didn’t proclaim they “listened to our customers” “by conducting 7K interviews”…
So… Ford doesn’t listen to their customers. I can believe that.
Google next time:
“We went through a process when we started developing this program in 2009. We first talked to customers, because you know it starts with customers. We’ve been talking to customers on the truck side for decades.”
http://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-f-150-team-what-we-learned-since-aluminum-launch/
None
Well if it is done the Denali is the perfect place to try it.
The ATP is about $56K and exceeded all the major luxury car MFG. Benz is the closest and is $1000 lower. BMW is at $45K.
From what I am seeing the Sierra and Denali will be offering much more than the Chevy this time around and with that in mind the more expensive bed could be used in lower volumes and not impact the price as much as they will have more room to absorbed it say over a gutted Work Truck.
Once they get it into production they can work to continue to lower the price and spread it around the GM truck segment over time. I am wondering if they have finally got to where they can mold the larger carbon parts to by pass the added labor cost that hurts carbon expansion in the market. I know they have been working on smaller parts like this but it was still difficult.
Lets face it if it works it works and they make more money and hold an advantage. If it fails it will vanish like the plastic bed did years ago. It is not like committing to a all aluminum program and then getting stuck with higher unanticipated material cost and being locked into them with no alternative.
The bottom line is it is a low risk venture and the potential of financial gain is there with control over the program should it not work.
To be honest there was more risk in the Diesel V6 as the issues over emissions and public acceptance is hard to control. With all the VW emissions issues it could have been a big problem if the public had turned on diesel.
GMC just posted a third teaser image. This time of the rear end. Tailgate won’t have embossed/extruded brand or model lettering. Sticking to the conventional GMC badge
It’ll be 1 of how many choices of tailgates?
What ever model they buy be it Chevrolet or GMC. They pick the one they want and go with it.
Low end. Top end some where in between.
As long as they are happy with their pick.
I for one love two tone paint also matching colors inside.. They Would Sale…
GM has been working on this technology for a long time; I can’t imagine they would make this available if the bugs hadn’t been ironed out. Cost, availability, and range of applications is probably just a matter of economies of scale.
https://www.compositesworld.com/news/general-motors-teijin-form-automotive-carbon-fiber-joint-venture