If there’s one significant thing that concerns pickup truck buyers, it’s durability. In the rough-and-tough world of trucks and the people who use them day in and day out for work, durability, dependability, and reliability are hallmarks of a good pickup. So it’s easy to understand potential customers being somewhat concerned when an automaker changes the formula for a new pickup, even slightly. But that didn’t stop GMC from introducing its CarbonPro carbon fiber composite box.
To ensure that the new box could withstand the daily abuse of a pickup truck, General Motors went to great lengths to test its durability. Here’s the story of how it did just that.
In developing the CarbonPro box, GM performed rigorous drop tests, including dropping cinder blocks, 1,800-pound loads of gravel, and water-filled steel drums weighing 450 pounds from varying heights. Even though the carbon fiber composite box is naturally resistant to corrosion, GM performed corrosion testing anyway to guarantee durability. GM also put CarboPro through extreme temperature testing, taking it from Yuma, Arizona to Kapuskasing, Ontario to ensure the new invention could live up to unforgiving environments. But The General didn’t stop there.
It also performed snowmobile tests, where a snowmobile with metal studs on its tracks was driven into the bed. Then, a 250-pound driver accelerated the machine to full throttle. The test resulted in only minimal scratching to the bed surface. Finally, GM took a portable generator and aimed its exhaust at the corner of the bed, so as to ensure high heats and vibrations would not degrade the bed’s integrity.
All that represents a very good way to ensure that the CarbonPro box is fit for the most demanding pickup truck duties.
Customers who wish to get their hands on a pickup truck with the new CarbonPro box will have to be patient. At first, GMC will offer the box on limited-run models called the GMC Sierra CarbonPro Edition, which will be available on the 2019 Sierra AT4 1500 and 2019 Sierra Denali 1500. Availability will be expanded on the 2020 GMC Sierra.
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Comments
Hopefully we start to see things like floor pans, non structural interior cross members and mounting brackets, made out of this.
All hinged exterior panels are aluminum, but if they use an aluminum panel on the roof, and continue to supplement heavy unsprung components with lighter materials. It could shed another 150lbs from crew cab models.
Curious what they have in store for lightness on the next gen midsize trucks too. I’m guessing the Canyon Denali will get carbonpro and multipro as options.
I think it’s good that they have this as an option as it’s a practical niche item some owners will like. However, when they can’t even match basic options available in their competition in a new gen truck along with an interior that has caused widespread disappointment how is this bed a constructive use of time and funds? They’re driving customers away and they they don’t seem to realize it.
The carbon pro and multipro options would be used and appreciated the most by the folks that use a truck for work. Most of the trucks the trades use are base models where these 2 options are not available. That carbon bed and fancy tailgate will come in handy to the denali owners who maybe haul a bed mattress once every 2 years I guess.
On a side note I’ve started to see 2019 denalis driving around in my city and wow do they look gorgeous. I know the interior isn’t horrible but if they had 80% of the upscale look of the ram interior this would have been the bar for the industry.
I don’t know if they would consider this but only for the denalis why wouldn’t they give it the upcoming Yukon interior like how they did 2 generations ago. Keep the rest of the lineup the same as well as silverados and give your truck flagship an interior it deserves and with that I’m sure the R&D wiuld be next to nothing
I think the enthusiast world will have a heart-attack when GM reveals the asking price for one of these beds. It’s going to be very expensive, especially initially, when it’s only going to be available as part of an equally expensive upgrade package. Huge money that only the McMansion owners will have to haul their ten pound plastic bags of mulch.
It is not as much as you would think.
Not sure if your comment is more reflective of envy vs an attempt to establish the Denali buyer demographic. True, Denali buyer is a wealthier older individual (Above $188K household income), yet it is most likely one that has grown up with trucks and built a business and enjoys the continued functionality of a truck. The “McMansion” Denali owners are buying Yukons, not Sierras.
BTW those that have ventured to guess a cost on the CarbonPro box and put it in print, have indicated an expected price below $3k. Don’t think that will be overly alarming.