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GM Designers Envision A Future GMC Pickup Truck

The GMC Sierra is set to receive a refresh for the 2022 model year, but already General Motors designers may be giving us a hint of what kind of future design trends it has been exploring as of late.

Two new design sketches were recently uploaded to the GM Design Instagram page, where official GM designers will share some of their more well-received sketches from time to time. The first of these sketches (above) and our personal favorite is this modern-looking design sketch of a blue GMC truck.

The blue sketch is instantly recognizable as a GMC thanks to its large C-shaped LED headlights and the shape of its grille opening. Located beneath the grille is a front skid plate, which appears to be flanked on either side by a set of LED fog lights. One of the more extreme aspects of this design is the notch in the waistline, which goes up in the middle and tapers off towards the front and rear of the truck. This pickup also has a full glass panoramic moonroof, flush Tesla-style retracting door handles and rather large and complex-looking alloy wheels wrapped in knobby Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires.

While the sketch of the blue truck looks like at least some aspects of it could make it to production, the second sketch has a more sci-fi feel to it that would be hard to replicate on a production vehicle. This is a compelling design, however, and a major departure from GMC’s current styling practices. With a single LED light bar framing the entire grille, large scoops in the hood, integrated LED side marker lights, a glass roof and a sporty roof spoiler, this is a very contemporary pickup design that would be great for a truck with a battery-electric powertrain, if you ask us.

Current GMC Sierra

It should be noted that neither of these designs has been greenlit for production. GM designers often times produce many sketches of vehicles that never get built while searching for inspiration, so we wouldn’t look too far into these designs. That said, they still give us a great indication of what kinds of ideas are being tossed around in GMC design meetings.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. that 2nd one with the LED across the grille has a Hummer feel to it.

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    1. bring it on like those bulk looking truck

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    2. I agree. I like that full front-spanning light bar, looks aggressive.

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  2. That first one has more of a Ford feel with the top of the lights tapering off towards the back.

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    1. I like the first one but the second one is just plain fugly…each have larger wheels and tires which is a good start.

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  3. OK if you want a show truck, but totally worthless for an actual work truck, or try taking either on a back road trail! Most of us regular people want a truck that will get us through the work week, one that will stand up to real work, and still look good enough to get us to church on Sunday, and maybe a little muddin’ on Saturday! You know, like GM used to make!

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    1. @M. L. Turk I like how you think man lol

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    2. Absolutely! Give me a truck, not a pimped out sci fi wanna be.

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  4. The successful electric PU should be subtle in design (more rounded) not attempt to look like an 18 wheeler or an off road vehicle & have wheels preportion to the overall size of the truck. In short understated & more carlike. At least that’s the only PU truck I would be interested in.

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  5. Can we lower the beltline? What’s up with building the doors so tall and the windows so short?

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    1. No kidding. And the windshield is laid back so far it’s going flat. They’re bad enough right now as it is… I always feel like if we were in a rollover there’s no head room for safety at all. Talk about claustrophobic. That’s not a truck.

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    2. I’m sure as far the production model goes from either concept, modifications will have to be made in order for them to meet or exceed Crash Test and overall Safety Standards, so we can expect this truck to not look too extreme if either design makes it to the Showroom Floor.

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  6. I like the first one the best.

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  7. Bill Mitchel must be turning over in his grave when he sees how ugly the GM pickups have become in the last 20 years. The last decent looking GM pickups were the 1988 to 1998 C1500s and the 95 and later S10s. Since them I can only see how they are getting uglier every year.

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  8. Hire the crew that designs the RAM front end and interior. Convert GM 1500 models to coil spring suspension. It makes for a car like ride.
    My friends RAM is a much more appealing truck than current GM trucks. That is why their sales are soaring.

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  9. I don’t like either of them.

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  10. Hate the grille of the 2020 GMC trucks. Stupid tab look. I would rather buy a Chevy 2500 HD.
    The 1500 Chevy has a weird front end design with the side tab look is just plain ugly. As for the FORD trucks I never liked the design of the front door window belt line. I would buy a RAM before I bought an F150.

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  11. What ever it is, at least offer a version with a 130″ or shorter wheelbase! Some people have standard garages, boats to tow, and alleys to maneuver in, and around! Goes back to that avalanche-it was the all around SUT, and they canned it.

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  12. I Don’t like either one. I agree the first one looks like a Ford, NOT GOOD. The second one looks like a cartoon truck. I also don’t like the front of the 2020 GMC Sierra. Bad looking grille shape. I’d like to add I’ve been driving GM trucks since 1972. I’m currently driving a 2000 GMC Sierra 2500 and will continue to drive it until the wheels fall off because the prices of the new trucks are unbelievably high.

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  13. Whatever design makes it to production, if I may offer some feedback per the last 6 years living with my K2XX crew cab/short box. Wheel base: 143.5 inches is more than enough. T1 unit is to long. The front over hang to obtrusive looking. Realize crash testing dictates. Offer smooth non plastic pieces/step delete to the rear bumper. Tighten up the profile like the GMT400’s. The suspension/shocks on the AT4 need attention in line with the ZR2. Bilstein has been engineering some great systems lately. I couldn’t wait to ditch those Rancho’s for Bilstein’s front 6112’s. The truck rides so much better. It would be nice to offer Force Induction as another option. I’m sure seating/interior issues are being addressed from the team @ Lear. Cheers!

    Reply
  14. Is the current 8 speed issues corrected now??? Just ordered a 21 Canyon AT4…. scared to death it will be a repeat of the problem I’ve had with my 17 Canyon SLT… comments please…..

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    1. It has been corrected.

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    2. You’re good to go, Brad. Rest easy, and enjoy your truck.

      Reply
  15. The first design sketch puts it more in line with the F-150 when it comes to those headlights, and most of us have seen that type of look for quite some time now to an extent as to where GM would simply need to let that go. The second design sketch is more interesting which could give us somewhat of a glimpse into the 2024/2025 Sierra along with some inspiration from the upcoming HUMMER!

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  16. How about coming back with the regular cab shirt bed. Not everyone wants a big crew cab truck. How about a GMC Slt with a big v8. Interior like a Denali.

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  17. Work on lowering the price so they’re more affordable and you’ll see you’ll sell more trucks to more people!!!!

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  18. Need rear Air conditioning in the crew trucks. In Arizona it’s really hot in the back seat. Thanks.

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  19. What I would like to know is exactly what drug are these people on that envision these trucks and vehicles.

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    1. Bring back a two door short box 4×4 pickup in 1/2 ton style and I would buy one tomorrow. Sport truck. NO NEED FOR FOUR DOORS.

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  20. These are not far from the drawings of the current 2020 model. Drawings make the body lines really bold and in the production model they are not. At least to that extent. These trucks would have to be widebody fenders or a small cab width. The new Silverado is very wide almost to that of a hummer h1. Missing by 6 inch’s. Hell put some old school 3 inch bushwacker fender flares and your there.

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  21. It’s not going to be hard to sell an ev pickup in the $45k-70k range same as current ICE until rebates. As long as it pulls like they say they will. Bring back full size bed, with no ICE plenty of room to move the cab forward and get a larger bed. First to $36k price with 300+ range wins! Heck bring back the silhouette in ev form keep the dimensions and keep it under $36k get it to 300+ range you’ll sell them all day long!

    Reply
  22. Beautiful design if it’s true. The question is would be, would GM bring the same design to the SUV?

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  23. How about bringing back the square body

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  24. I purchase GMC DENALI’s with ultimate package and love my 2020, EXCEPT, such a beautiful Onyx Black with terrible looking busy aluminum polished wheels.
    Why can’t you dress up these trucks with Chrome wheels as 2018, 22 6 spoke, the real classy looking wheels of those models won’t fit 2020 due to larger brake calipers…. tried to have installed on my 2020, of course, would not fit.,,,SO, I HAVE HAD TO FIND OEM SAME WHEELS
    THAT WOULD FIT MY TRUCK…
    Wheels on Denali too cut up and very hard to clean due to complicated and busy cuts and holds.. keep is simple stupid (KISS) and make them simple but elegant for such a classy vehicle.

    Reply
  25. I am not a fan of the semi square wheel wells. GM has yet to produce a truck with an attractive grille. Ram gets the trophy every year. GM in second place for great looking interior and dash. Ram wins again. GM is on top with their drive train combos and durability. Six way tailgate is the best.
    Gonna take everything GM has to regain market share lost to Ram. Its amazing how many people who pull trailers have switched to Ram. My wife has horses and so many of the women pulling horse trailers have switched to Ram from Ford and GM.

    Reply
  26. I like the bold look of #1-however i waited two years on new “Envision” look change to Lacrosse and it looked the same so we went with GMC Acadia because of Grill (same as my truck) -now i’m waiting on 2022 GMC Sierra if they don’t offer a split front seat with “heat” this time i’ll go with RAM–heat bucket seats–

    Reply
  27. Had a 2017 Sierra with 8speed tranny—-hated the clunks in it and shifting to reverse.
    Got a 2020 Sierra with new 10 speed—-love it…smooth and really cannot even feel it shifting that 6.2.

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  28. This truck is awesome looking. I would buy either one tomorrow.

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  29. Keep it simple, functional, awd, range 300 miles, and affordable. Make it look like a pickup with some slight body shaping to reduce resistance. We are not looking for the Jetson’s truck…

    Reply

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