No doubt about it, the up-and-coming next-generation Ford Bronco is one hotly anticipated new debut. With that in mind, it makes sense that potential rivals are looking to get in on the action, including GM, which was believed to have a body-on-frame off-roader of its own in the works. However, according to a recent report, GM has canceled its plans to create a midsize Ford Bronco fighter.
The new report outlines that GM canceled its Ford Bronco fighter project as of November, 2018, around the same time the automaker was in the middle of restructuring efforts and new rounds of layoffs. During that time period, GM also apparently canceled its new 32XX truck platform, the same architecture slated for use in its new off-roader, which meant The General’s midsize Ford Bronco fighter was essentially dead in the water.
Additional victims of the cutbacks included a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 model equipped with the GM LT3 V8 engine.
Rather than create the new 32XX architecture, GM will instead produce an updated iteration of the current 31XX platform, the same bones used with the Chevrolet Colorado.
Interestingly, the new report indicates that the canceled Ford Bronco fighter would have been exclusive to the GMC brand, with no Chevrolet equivalent. If that were the case, it would have been a major break from tradition, as every current GMC product has some sort of Chevrolet alternative available.
If reports that GM’s Ford Bronco fighter has been canceled are indeed accurate, it would certainly come as a disappointment. It would also make us wonder what GM was doing benchmarking the Jeep Wrangler at its Milford Proving Grounds back in May, considering the project was ostensibly axed last November.
Our instinct tells us this isn’t the last time we’ll hear about a possible Ford Bronco fighter from GM. Stay tuned, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Source: Ford Authority
Comments
I hope this report is wrong. Doubt it though
Of course, this article is wrong.
No surprise here. It’s GMA 😀
Three years later, and there’s still no GMC Jimmy or any midsize body-on-frame SUV from GM on the horizon. Who is wrong?
Mary Barra sucks. She needs to GO!!!
Shut up dude lol
SLEprr,
You know not of that which you speak. The only reason that there is a GM today is because CEO Barra was appointed to the leadership role she currently holds. The shareholders, not the Feds, would have shut them down years ago.
Tim Kroeker,
Barra’s background is finance. She knows how to cut costs alright, but she doesn’t understand product. Unfortunately, the auto industry is all about product – which has suffered greatly under Barra, both in terms of selection and quality. Her investment shifting to EV development will fail miserably, both inside and outside of California.
Are you sure it’s finance rather and NOT engineering?
It’s anyone’s guess. A BS in electrical engineering, then an MBA. I’d say her background is more on the bean counting side of the fence. She worked in the Pontiac division for a long time. Where is that now. Meanwhile back at the ranch..
Jeep Grand Cherokee sales increased 23% last quarter.
GM is preparing themselves for the upcoming economic slow down. They need high market appeal products, unfortunately that means giving new crossovers names like ‘Blazer’. Whereas a niche product that might move 50,000-70,000 units a year isn’t going to survive the R&D cutting room floor.
A new Colorado, on an updated platform (though I thought it was to ride on a scaled T1?) that’s lighter and updated engines with new model ranges will be all we get. And that’s fine. It’s still a great truck and still generally beats new comers like Ranger in comparison testing – whether offroad models or subdued daily drivers.
Another wrong information here.
Bronco’s fighter will be based on the new VSS-T platform, and not on the 32**.
The same goes to the next gen Colorado/Canyon.
Instead of the current 31 ** and T1 ** platforms there will be a common modular body-on-frame architecture called VSS-T.
Once again, nothing has been canceled.
GM recently trademarked the Jimmy and K5 nameplates.
GM has blown through billions on new platforms and architectures since the bailout. In that time Toyota, Honda and Ford have saved billions.
A PSA-like stratagy eliminates redundancies, waste on 15 different stearing wheels and 50 unique door locks.
GEM, if Federalized, would anchor 40% of the line up. It must give good dynamics if in use by Buick in China. GM certainly wants to employ VW style kits but there are a multitude of cost cutting efficient and high quality solutions. GM with 10.7% margins this quarter proves this.
You are not fooling anyone scott
Wrangler (& Bronco) are today’s equivalent of the 1960’s muscle car craze.
No Millennial wants a Camaro, this is the domain of aging Boomers. GM needs a Wrangler fighter and already has ideal branding in the form of Hummer as a GMC nameplate.
Buyers of these trucks are probably doomsday prepares for the coming Purge, um minority um zombie apocalypse.
Lol I may get a SUV if a new job requires me to get one (essential employee)..
I’m in my 20’s and I’ll be in the market for a ’20 SS 1LE. I have 4 friends/peers with 6th gen Camaros also.
So, idk which millennials you’re talking about. We love cars.
Chevrolet could design and build a special edition variant with optional suspension pieces for the Blazer or Traverse to be capable of off-road excursions.
10/10. Bravo
Why am I not surprised.
Remove Barra, make GM great again!
Make GM great again? When was the last time that GM was great honestly?
I am not the biggest fan of hers to be honest but she is the one that brought GM back and making money now. She deserves credit for that. The biggest issue with her is she doesn’t understand todays Car Market. There is a reason why GM cannot sell Sedans and others do. There is a reason why the Rav-4 and CR-V are selling like double the Nox unites and both of them are ugly as Hell.
She doesn’t allow GM to spend where it counts for Modern Day Customers. It is inexcusable that every GM Car doesn’t have all the Safety features Standard as others do, and most importantly, the Interiors are borderline a joke when compared to competition. Todays Customers for the most part have no clue about Powertrains. The ones that do, won’t be getting Base Civics, Accord, Camry, Malibu and such.
It is completely inexcusable for the All New from the Ground up 1500’s to be getting their you know what handed to them by Ram. But guess what Ram did that GM did not…Make an incredible interior. Not everyone purchases a Pickup Truck for work, a lot just love to drive them. GM really messed that up.
The new Vette shows they can make an incredible interior and for the Price Point as well, they unfortunately try to squeeze out as much profit as possible and chose not to. This is why GM is falling behind!!!
In the late 60s/early 70s GM was great. If Chevrolet comes back with a new K5 or Jimmy ZR2 wake me up.
I think Ackerman gets more credit for bringing GM back after the bankruptcy. The recent profits have been buoyed by cost cutting. Once this magic runs out, GM will see profits fall, GM’s market share has to be at record lows since Machete Mary has taken over, and will fall even further when Cruize and Impala leave the market. You are right she does not understand the market, instead banking GM’s future on All EV lineups and Triple Zero visions and GM being a tech company. Sorry, if you are a second rate automaker like Barra is driving GM to be, you will not be considered a leader in tech. Get what you are doing now correct before you move into something new. What we are seeing under Barra is the reincarnation of Roger Smith. Unfortunately, GM does not have the 40 percent market share GM had before Smith wrecked it, and the fall to obscurity will be a lot harder.
@Tigger
You make some great points. Maybe Barra gets partial Credit for the Financials.
I disagree about one thing though. She (whether is is really her idea or not who knows) is correct into moving quickly into EV’s. China is directing this move to every Auto Maker. China is the World leader in EV’s right now and they want to Desperately hold onto to it.
Europe has Followed suit with the EV mandates so what do you think All Auto Makers have to do going Forward? Get a lot of EV models out there or the European and China market will soon be closed to your Company.
We in this Country are dragging. Our whole Political system (Both Sides) are pretty much only loyal to the Lobbyists that get them their Position and DO NOT realize the Future harm they are doing to the Big Three by not getting into the EV mandate. This has nothing to do with Climate Change or anything Political at all. I am strictly talking about Business. Our Big Three cannot sustain themselves with Europe but mostly China. GM realized and smartly so that they cannot afford to give up the China Market so they moved early and somewhat swiftly into the EV sector.
Hope it pans out for them. Believe me, there will be some Legacy Auto Makers that will not make the Transition soon enough and Die a really slow death.
Just think of this. If it wasn’t for Tesla, what other American Auto Company can you honestly state would be leading in the EV World? I mean it would probably be GM with the Ho Hum Bolt right?
I for one am glad she or the board moved as quickly as they did on that front. But the upcoming EV’s better be light years ahead of the Bolt or Tesla, VW, and other Chinese EV startups will destroy GM in the Marketplace unfortunately.
I would love for GM to get a set of you know what and go All In on EV Hummers. That would be amazing.
It would assist GM in the following. They would charge slightly higher prices which in turn would assist them in the EV R&D.
They would finally have a Real Class leading vehicle in the Segment. And it would Prove to the consumers that EV’s are here to stay and guess what, they can pretty much do anything an ICE vehicle car can…well except amazing real V8 engine noises HAHA
I think you made some great points. Dale said GM was great in late 60 and early 70 but we are talking around 50 years ago. A lot of the car buyers were not even born yet so what GM was then does not matter to them now. Being an older guy I remember GM back then. I guess that is why I am so frustrated and disappointed in them now.
The equinox outsells both
I dont care what people say to try to defend GM for not responding to this market but what a joke. I love GM but they are missing the mark on some areas and this is truly one of them.?♂️
What a stupid move… Colorado yes we being that back but won’t bring a proper mid-size SUV back.
Hello people what the heck you talking about whats good For GMC is what is good For Chevy !!! Case ya didnt know ITS THE SAME COMPANY!!!!
…
I hope the article is wrong but if not it’s Another opportunity lost for GMC to different itself from Chevy and be a real competitor in a fast growing segment. In their quest to save money GM miss so many opportunity to make money.
This is where Mary Barra gets GM IN HUGE TROUBLE. Manufacturers like Hyundai, Mazda, Kia, all German Makes are killing it on cars and suv vehicles, in design, content, tech, and pure risk taking. Mary needs to partner Cruise Automation with a bigger partner that will take a 50/50 percent of the pie and costs. She needs to stop destroying product lines, design, content and tech just to secure self driving cars.
GM is doing it the stupid way. Taking on small percent partners is not the way to do it. They should even think of partnering with Microsoft or Apple or Google , yes tech companies that understand tech to be a full on partner.
GM killing a Bronco fighter is beyond stupid.. so many men and women love the outdoors and lifestyle vehicles made for them. I just yesterday bought a new Crew Cab Truck.. lifted it 6 inches. 36 inch tires, fender flares, light bars, exhaust, cold air intake, etc because I spend tons of time outdoors and love the look.
I want GM TO HAVE A JEEP FIGHTER BUT BRING BACK HUMMER TO DO THIS, PLUS HUMMER STILL HAS THE TOOLING FOR THEIR JEEP GLADIATOR FIGHTER MIDSIZE TRUCK THAT WAS JUST INTRODUCED BEFORE THEY KILLED HUMMER.
If GM wants to win then they need to entice the young, the Toyota Tacoma is on fire because the young are flocking to it, Jeep is on fire because it represents a niche that’s in huge demand. GM.is So STUPID!!!! I could make their Canyon/Colorado pickups destroy the Tacoma in sales, my back ground is product marketing and design. I dont want to give away how I’d do it but I can…
Reading this article carefully it says the initial platform was cancelled not the vehicle, the Bronco fighter would be based on the current Colorado?.
What about the GMC Jimmy that was spouse to come out in 2020 Car&Driver magazine had great photos of it !! It looked Amazing!! Thats the one that has Always givin the Ford Bronco a run for the money!!
To all those saying Gm is falling behind what are the stocks telling us.
GM is at 41.58 and Ford is at 9.28.
Now I’m not a stock guy but what is that telling us?
It tells us nothing since you don’t know the volume. What would you rather have, 100 shares at $41.58 or 10000 at $9.28?
It seems that Ford and Dodge are always one step ahead of GM. Although I am a staunch GM guy, I wish GM would offer some of the features that Ford and Dodge have had for a few years. Like dual exhaust on the truck, yeah, I know, they have them on the new Silverados, but not on the Colorados and Canyons. Why doesn’t GM give their customers what they want? I’m almost considering jumping ship.
Im sorry but you are crazy !! Ive had fords and dodges , but always go back to Chevy because they are by far the best mechanical running machines on the road!!! Duel exhaust system is nothing to knowing every day you get in and turn the key it starts and runs like a champ!!!!
Truth is GM is cutting products. That is how they are keeping there stock value. One of these days GM well be bought up by another company. I am thinking Hyundai Corporation it’s just a matter of time.
Lol. Hyundai as a company is worth about half of what GM is. The truth is that only a few Hyundai products are actually profitable, which is why GM just cut those products and is introducing others (a new segment of crossovers, for instance) to take their place. So your “prognosis” is way off.
Also, GM can be significantly more profitable today if it removed investments in Cruise Automation and electric vehicles. But in reality, those investments should be what will allow it to lead in the next 100 years in the industry of moving people and things… areas that Hyundai hasn’t made much progress.
So I like where GM is from a competitive standpoint now, and where it’s setting up to be for the future.
Agreed Alex,
I just wish they spent a little more here and there, on things people feel see and touch.
A little more on some interiors, less on other interiors.
A little more on some engine tunes, may be a little less on others.
I guess its each to their own.
I was glad to see the article on Cadillac, as far as better tunes, or drivetrains.
I will wait for the next step, and hope it comes.
Man I really wanted a premium luxury CT5 with more than a 2.0T, and will switch brands before I buy another Cadillac with a 2.0T.
But maybe now if they at least admit they need more, things will get better.
Look at the HD, the 2020 I drove, responds like an entirely different animal then my 2017, with the same LP5, and its not all the transmission. Just the throttle response alone is unbelievable, the entire truck is great, except the look of the center dash.
I’m so glad I have one in line to be built.
But I haven’t driven a Cadillac yet a can say that about. And if I don ‘t think that about the XT4 with the 2.0T, do you think I will think that about the CT5 with the same 2.0T as the XT4 ?
Well we will wait and see !
Ok Boys take it from me the cosmetics in the truck isnt what matters!!!! What matters is whats under the hood !!! Chevy has done that the best for years !!!! If ya like things with alot of makeup go head and buy a Ford or Dodge !! In a few years all ya will have left is a lawn ornament that dont run !!
Well Alex i personally think they should cut the whole Caddy line!!! To expensive and same thing as the Gmc & Chevy lineup your just paying all that extra money for the
” Makeup ” on the outside!!! They should cut the line and put that money into the bread and butter of the company… The Blue Collar working class ” Gmc and Chevy ” line !!!
I think that GMC is an underrated brand. For example, every model in the GMC lineup is literally just a rebranded Chevy. There are a few Buick models (but not for long) that are exclusive to Buick. Cadillac has, and is starting to have its own models. But as great as the brand is, and as well as it sells, GMC is treated like the red-headed stepchild by GM. It almost feels to me like GMC is not allowed to be great. I personally think the Terrain, the new 1500 trucks and the new HD GMC trucks all look MUCH better than their Chevy cousins…..yet they are not advertised as much, nor promoted by GM as much.
Even in GM’s own Rencenter (in the main area), there were many Buick models on display, almost every Cadillac model on display, and quite a few Chevy’s. But there was only 2 GMC models….a Yukon and a Sierra 1500.
Yes Henry i agree!!! My Son & Daughter in law just bought a new Terrain its a Beautiful Crossover!! I never really looked at the crossovers!!! You never see any ads about it !! But you should they would sell alot more !!
The mini van they had looks like junk compared to it ( it wasnt a GM product!!!) !! Im more a truck person but that little crossover is really great !!
Let me guess, with the termination of this potentially fun and interesting “Bronco Fighter”, GM will release another 5 CUV thingies and release another 3-4 EV cars, each having 11 sq. ft. of cargo room for the nifty price of $55k?
Wahoo!