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Go Further: GMC Expands Capability of 2024 Sierra 1500 AT4X with Addition of Rugged and Refined 3.0L Duramax Engine

April 5, 2023Uncategorizedadmin

Go Further: GMC Expands Capability of 2024 Sierra 1500 AT4X with Addition of Rugged and Refined 3.0L Duramax Engine

The powerful yet sophisticated Duramax engine, first introduced to the Sierra stable for the 2023 model year, delivers increased power and torque for world-class on- and off-road capability in the AT4X.

2023-04-05

DETROIT – GMC announced today that it will make the rugged and refined second-generation 3.0L inline-six Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine standard on its extreme off-road Sierra 1500 AT4X trim, allowing customers to go further and explore more in their off-road adventures.

First introduced on select 2023 Sierra 1500 trims, the updated 3.0L Duramax engine comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission and delivers max power of 305 horsepower (a 10% increase compared to MY22), and max torque of 495 lb-ft (a 7.6% increase from MY22).

“The 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine has long been a favorite of Sierra light duty owners,” said Will Mellon, marketing manager, GMC Sierra. “Since the launch of the refined Duramax for the 2023 model year, around 20% of all Sierra 1500s sold have come with the engine and we expect its addition to the AT4X trim to take mix even higher.”

The Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine’s advancements are made possible through several key component upgrades, including:

New steel pistons with a revised combustion bowl
Retuned turbo compressor
New fuel injectors
Improved temperature control features

“These refinements of the 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine took an already awesome engine and made it even better for off-road applications,” said John Barta, GM assistant chief engineer, Diesel Engines. “The outstanding low-end torque combined with the smooth and quiet power of this diesel engine, make it ideal for customers requiring on-road capability for things like towing, as well as off-road adventures like long-distance overlanding.”

The Duramax engine will continue to be assembled at GM’s Flint Engine Operations plant in Michigan¹ and will be available on the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X later this summer.

With advanced off-road capability, premium technology and an exclusive, luxuriously appointed interior, the Sierra 1500 AT4X allows customers to venture further off-road with confidence and in comfort. Standard features such as Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear e-locking differentials, combined with the additional capability of the available AEV edition, make this the most off-road capable factory Sierra 1500 ever. All with the luxury-focused and tech-infused AT4X Obsidian Rush interior, which features full grain leather-wrapped massaging front seats, authentic ash wood trim, a 12-speaker Bose® Premium Series audio system and more than 40 diagonal inches of combined digital displays.

The 2024 model year also brings additional new features across the Sierra 1500 lineup, including:

New power retractable assist steps on Denali, Denali Ultimate, AT4 and AT4X
Available active exhaust for Denali, Denali Ultimate, AT4, AT4X and SLT
Two additional premium aluminum wheels
Two new unique and bold exterior paint colors, Downpour Metallic and Thunderstorm Gray²

Finally, for the 2024 model year, the 2.7L Turbo High-Output Engine will now carry the name TurboMax. With 310 hp, a best-in-class standard torque rating of 430 lb-ft⁴and max available towing of 9,500 lbs³, the TurboMax engine provides GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation, SLE and Pro customers with the power and capability necessary to take their work or hobbies further, whether that’s towing gear or tackling off-road trails.

¹Of domestic and globally sourced parts.
² Extra cost color.
³9,500 lb. rating: Requires properly equipped Regular Cab Long Bed 2WD model with a 2.7L Turbo High-Output gas engine and available Trailering Package.
⁴Class is half-ton pickups. Based on latest competitive data available.

About GMC
GMC offers a range of premium trucks and SUVs designed and engineered to the highest standard. With vehicles like the compact Terrain and full-size Yukon, all-new Canyon and Sierra light-duty, as well as the world’s first all-electric supertruck the GMC HUMMER EV, our trucks and SUVs deliver GMC’s signature combination of intuitive technologies, precise engineering and premium execution. Built on a strong foundation of manufacturing trucks since 1902, GMC now sells in a dozen countries across the world. Details on all models are available at www.gmc.com, Instagram at @GMC, Twitter at @GMC or at www.facebook.com/gmc.

GMC and EarthCruiser Collaborate to Shape the Future of Overlanding

March 30, 2023Uncategorizedadmin

GMC and EarthCruiser Collaborate to Shape the Future of Overlanding

Brands plan to combine GMC’s world-class reputation for designing and building premium off-road EV trucks and SUVs with EarthCruiser’s proven overland vehicle and global field expertise to create an overlanding upfit solution that is integrated onto a GMC HUMMER EV Pickup, allowing customers to explore the world in a new way.

2023-03-30

DETROIT — GMC and EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles are teaming up to help shape the future of overlanding with focused product development and innovative technologies that will provide zero-tailpipe-emission solutions to the overlanding arena. These two iconic brands share a vision for an electric future, while inspiring customers to get out and see all that the world has to offer in a truck and overlanding solution that they can trust.

Working with EarthCruiser’s research and design division, ECI (EarthCruiser Innovations), and informed by their extensive experience in the field, GMC is collaborating in the design and development process for a next-generation overland upfit solution for electric vehicles that will be integrated onto the HUMMER EV Pickup.

GMC offers purpose-built vehicles designed and engineered to the highest standard. In 2019, the brand took its expertise in the premium off-roading space to new levels with the introduction of the AT4 sub-brand, followed by the launch of the ultra-capable Sierra AT4X in 2022. GMC then introduced the most advanced off-road midsize truck with the Canyon AT4X¹.

GMC believes in an all-electric future and its commitment in this space is no exception. In 2020, the brand revealed the HUMMER EV Pickup, the world’s first all-electric supertruck, followed quickly by the HUMMER EV SUV in 2021². Most recently, GMC revealed the Sierra EV Denali³, making it the first and only brand with three all-electric truck offerings.

“GMC has long been a leader in professional-grade trucks with 100-plus years of uncompromising pickup capability, luxury and driver control,” said Josh Tavel, GM executive chief engineer, Battery Electric Trucks. “We had an instant connection with EarthCruiser — a leader in the overland community — and their similar vision to accelerate the zero-tailpipe-emissions future. EarthCruiser products have proven their performance in environments around the world and we’re excited to join them on this next chapter of adventure and exploration.”

This collaboration will look to leverage EarthCruiser’s renowned engineering expertise in the overland and off-road vehicle development space, proven through its successful lineup of EC Terranova, EarthCruiser EXP and FX overland vehicles, as well as their CORE line. GMC and EarthCruiser have come together in their shared vision to develop top-tier, zero-compromise adventure vehicles, leveraging EarthCruiser’s engineering technologies that have resulted in unique and innovative self-contained living habitats, while keeping capability and agility at the forefront.

“EarthCruiser designs its vehicles to thrive in the most extreme, toughest environments imaginable,” said EarthCruiser CEO/Founder Lance Gillies. “From the Australian Outback to the Alaskan wilderness and everywhere in between, an EarthCruiser was made to tackle tough terrain. As we consider the future of overlanding, we are continuing to look toward key technologies like electrification that will help us explore for decades to come. Electrification presents exciting opportunities for overland use, such as precise torque control over terrain and ease-of-use, in addition to zero-tailpipe emissions. We’re thrilled to be working with GM’s team of top-tier EV engineers and look to develop an overland vehicle that’s truly made for, and will define, the future of this industry.”

The GMC HUMMER EV overlander concept will be unveiled in late summer 2023.

Visit GMC.com and earthcruiser.com for more information.

About GMC

GMC offers a range of premium trucks and SUVs designed and engineered to the highest standard. With vehicles like the compact Terrain and full-size Yukon, all-new Canyon and Sierra light-duty, as well as the world’s first all-electric supertruck the GMC HUMMER EV, our trucks and SUVs deliver GMC’s signature combination of intuitive technologies, precise engineering and premium execution. Built on a strong foundation of manufacturing trucks since 1902, GMC now sells in a dozen countries across the world. Details on all models are available at www.gmc.com, Instagram at@GMC, Twitter at@GMC or at www.facebook.com/gmc.

About EarthCruiser

EarthCruiser is a company of designers, engineers, technicians and, most of all, adventurers with millions of miles of collective, real world overlanding experience. With its EarthCruiser EXP, FX and EC Terranova models, EarthCruiser designs and manufactures the ultimate self-contained, 4×4 off-road, world exploration vehicles in Bend, Oregon. More information on EarthCruiser can be found at https://earthcruiser.com/

¹Canyon initial availability early 2023. AT4X model available spring 2023.
²GMC HUMMER EV reservations are currently full.
³Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 available early 2024 by reservation only. Sierra EV Denali available spring 2024.

These are the worst states for speed-related traffic deaths

March 16, 2023Safe Drivingtraffic deathsadmin

New cars are safer than they’ve ever been, but too many people still die needlessly in speed-related crashes. A recent study from Forbes Advisor found that speeding causes 29% of deadly accidents, amounting to 30 deaths every day in the U.S. on average. The publication also ranked the states with the most speeding fatalities, and some of the locations might surprise you.

First, let’s deal with the best states. With 9% of deadly crashes caused by speeding, Florida is the best state in the nation in this study. Tennessee is second-best with 15%, and Nebraska is third with 17%. Mississippi and Iowa all slid into the survey with fewer than 20% of crashes caused by speed.

The worst state for speeding-related fatalities was South Carolina, with 46% of deaths caused by speeding. Colorado was second with 46% (fewer overall deaths than in SC), and Hawaii was third with 44%. Unsurprisingly, states with higher speed limits had higher percentages of speed-related fatalities. With its 85 mph limit on some highways, Texas saw 37% of deaths due to speed, and the 80-mph-max state of Montana was at 39%. Even so, Hawaii had tons of speed deaths, and its speed limits top out at 60 mph.

Speed-related fatalities have decreased slightly since 2011, but some states have improved more than others. Maine saw 23% fewer speed-related crashes since 2010, and West Virginia clocked a 20% decline. Forbes attributes some of those declines to more active policing. Maine has conducted speed limit studies on busier parts of its highway system, raising and lowering the limit over the past decade.

At the same time, some states are backsliding. South Carolina and Colorado have both gotten way worse. South Carolina’s speed-related deaths climbed 11%, and Colorado’s grew by 10%.

Drivers know speeding is dangerous — 82% said so, even as 90% admitted to doing it.

For a full rundown on the best and worst states for speeding-related deaths, check out the full report at Forbes Advisor.

2023 GMC Sierra Review: Upscale and off-road capable

March 15, 2023GMCGMC, GMC Sierra, Truckadmin

Filed under:
GMC,Buying Guide,New Car Reviews,Truck

Continue reading 2023 GMC Sierra Review: Upscale and off-road capable

2023 GMC Sierra Review: Upscale and off-road capable originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Mar 2023 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think you’re not dangerously drowsy during a long drive? Bet you are

March 13, 2023Safe Drivingdriving safety, drowsy drivingadmin

A sign on the Bruce Highway south of Mackay, Australia. (AFP/Getty)

When in doubt, take a nap. In fact, take a nap even if you’re not in doubt.

Pull off the road and stop the car, sip a coffee and close your eyes.

That’s some of the advice offered based on a study presented by the American Automobile Association, which found that drowsiness — a condition it says is too often ignored by drivers — plays a large and often underestimated role in traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths.

For long-haul drivers, and indeed any driver susceptible to nodding off on even short routes, the study’s findings are provocative. Becoming less alert behind the wheel can be deadly: Crashes caused by drowsy driving tend to be severe because the driver may not attempt to brake or swerve to avoid a collision.

“Being drowsy while driving is a dangerous form of impairment, and it does not resolve or improve with continued driving,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our goal is to help drivers learn to heed the early warning signs of drowsiness so they can stop, rest, and then continue their journey as safely as possible.”

Participants in the research project drove a 150-mile simulated route at night and took regular breaks. Some rated their levels of drowsiness as low, when in fact three out of four were found to be moderately or severely drowsy. And even when drivers recognized that they were extremely drowsy, “they still declined 75 percent of their opportunities to take breaks and kept driving,” the report said.

The AAA’s suggestions for avoiding drowsiness are rather obvious, but worth noting: Don’t take medications that cause such conditions before a trip; limit yourself to one Big Mac and a small fry before hitting the road, and force yourself to take naps. “Pulling into a rest stop and taking a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep — can help to keep you alert on the road,” the report suggests.

The project was conducted at the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa. Ninety participants (50 male/40 female; average age 31.4 years) completed the study. Established in 1947 by AAA, the Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded research and educational organization.