VSS-T, or Vehicle Strategy Set – Truck, is the name of an upcoming automotive architecture that will underpin next-generation, rear-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive-based four-wheel-drive pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from General Motors.
Contrary to its name, the VSS-T will also underpin sport utility vehicles built using a body-on-frame construction. Meanwhile, unibody SUVs (technically crossover utility vehicles or CUVs) will ride on the GM VSS-S platform set.
It is also probable that VSS-T will underpin body-on-frame vans.
Overview
The VSS-T platform, or more appropriately the VSS-T vehicle set, is part of GM’s objective to consolidate platforms, reduce complexity, and simplify engineering and manufacturing processes in order to realize significant cost savings and enable the company to deliver better-differentiated designs more quickly to customers around the world. In that capacity, the VSS-T platform would replace all of GM’s rear-drive, longitudinal-engined, body-on-frame platforms with a single set. This single set that will, in turn, have several subsets for differently sized vehicles.
GM’s vehicle sets will employ common components and structures, which will save engineering, purchasing and tooling costs. In theory, the undertaking will also enable GM to better tailor individual models to regional markets and specific sectors. For instance, a Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck would share a significant amount of basic parts but not sheet metal with the GMC Canyon mid-size pickup truck.
Development
Development of the Vehicle Set strategy was started in the 2013-2014 timeframe by GM CEO Mary Barra when she headed GM’s product development department before succeeding Dan Akerson as CEO in January 2016. The project is currently lead by GM Executive Vice President of Product Development, Mark Reuss.
Subsets
It is believed that the VSS-T set will have several subsets to underpin differently-sized vehicles. It is currently unclear what these subsets will be.
Vehicle Applications
VSS-T will underpin future rear-drive or rear-drive-based four-wheel-drive pickup trucks and SUVs with a longitudinal powertrain orientation. The first vehicle on VSS-T is scheduled to be launched by the 2020 calendar year.
Here are the vehicles we expect VSS-T to underpin:
Future Chevrolet vehicles:
- Future Chevrolet Silverado (fifth generation; full-size pickup truck)
- Future Chevrolet Tahoe (sixth generation; full-size SUV)
- Future Chevrolet Suburban (13th generation; extended-length full-size SUV)
- Future Chevrolet Colorado (third generation; mid-size pickup truck)
- Future Chevrolet Trailblazer (for markets outside North America) or potential future global midsize body-on-frame SUV
- Future Chevrolet Express (second generation; full-size van)
Future GMC vehicles:
- Future GMC Canyon (third generation; mid-size pickup truck)
- Future GMC Sierra (fifth generation; full-size pickup truck)
- Future GMC Yukon and Yukon XL (sixth generation; full-size SUV and extended-length full-size SUV)
- Potential future midsize body-on-frame SUV
- Future GMC Savana (second generation; full-size van)
Future Cadillac vehicles:
- Future Cadillac Escalade (sixth generation; full-size SUV)
Future Buick vehicles:
- None
Platform Replacement
GM VSS-T will succeed longitudinal-engined, rear-drive and rear-drive-based four-wheel-drive pickup truck and SUV platforms, including:
- GMT K2 platform, which underpins:
- Chevrolet Silverado and Silverado HD
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chevrolet Suburban
- GMC Sierra and Sierra HD
- GMC Yukon / GMC Yukon XL
- Cadillac Escalade / Cadillac Escalade ESV
- GMT 31XX platform, which underpins:
- Chevrolet Colorado (U.S. and Canadian version)
- Chevrolet Colorado / S-10 (international version)
- Chevrolet Trailblazer (international version)
- GMC Canyon (U.S. and Canadian version)
- GMT 600 platform, which underpins:
Other GM Vehicle Sets
VSS-T will join three other General Motors vehicle sets, including:
