Canyon will be assembled at GM’s Wentzville, MO assembly plant this fall.
GMC revealed the 2015 Canyon tonight, ahead of the NAIAS. The all-new mid-size truck and its brother, Chevrolet Colorado – shown late last year in Los Angeles – join the all-new 2014 Silverado and Sierra 1500s, and the Silverado and Sierra HDs to give Chevy and GMC a line of pickups that cannot be matched by Ram or Ford F-Series. Both Ford Motor and Chrysler Group have inexplicably abandoned the mid-size segment to Japanese automakers, notably Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier, Canyon’s primary targets.
Canyon says GMC will deliver class-leading capabilities in an efficiently sized, maneuverable package for customers who want the cargo-hauling and trailering versatility of a truck without the size of a full-size pickup. GM executives hope to steal some sales from all of the above makers, and concede that there will be some cannibalization – they say slight – from GM. The new Canyon is expected to deliver:
- The segment’s best horsepower – an estimated 193 horsepower (146 kW) from a standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and an estimated 302 horsepower (224 kW) from an optional 3.6-liter V6. Both engines have direct injection and variable valve timing. An aluminum block, forged-steel crankshaft, dual-overhead camshafts and jet-spray piston cooling are also inside both engines.
- The segment’s best payload of at least 1,450 pounds (657 kg).
- The segment’s best maximum trailer rating (when properly equipped) of at least 6,700 pounds (3,039 kg).
- Even greater capability with a powerful and efficient 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine is coming in 2016 model year
Canyon’s technologies include optional OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and expected segment-first optional driver alert features such as forward collision alert, lane departure warning and a standard rear-vision camera. RemoteLink Key Fob Services allow owners to lock and unlock their vehicle, flash the lights and honk the horn, and, on equipped models, even remotely start the engine using the smartphone app. The service is free for five years. Additional OnStar services and data plans will be optional with a paid subscription.
GMC’s ProGrade protection program for two years/24,000 miles – whichever comes first – of scheduled maintenance, is standard and covers four oil changes, tire rotations and 27-point inspections. It complements the three-year/36,000-mile – whichever comes first – bumper-to-bumper limited vehicle warranty and five-year/100,000-mile – whichever comes first – powertrain limited warranty.
Three body configurations are offered: An extended cab model with a six-foot bed, a crew cab with a five-foot bed and a crew cab with a six-foot bed. With the tailgate down, the six-foot bed allows eight-foot-long items to be moved within the vehicle. Canyon is offered in base, SLE and SLT models, in 2WD and 4WD models, and with an All-Terrain package offered on SLE models. It includes 17-inch painted aluminum wheels covered by all-terrain tires, a body-color grille surround with horizontal chrome bars and specific suspension tuning.
All models come with a six-speed automatic transmission that is said to make hauling and trailering easier and more comfortable, including auto grade braking and a tow/haul mode. A six-speed manual transmission is also optional with the 2.5-liter engine in base extended cab/2WD models.
The Canyon has triple-sealed doors inlaid in the body sides, like the 2014 Sierra, for improved aerodynamic performance and a quieter interior. To help keep overall mass down and improve the front-to-rear weight balance, the Canyon has an all-new aluminum hood. It also has the segment’s only active aero grille shutters, which close at certain highway speeds to enhance efficiency through improved aerodynamics.
Additional exterior items include:
- Segment-first CornerStep rear bumper design, pioneered on the 2014 Sierra, is standard.
- Optional segment-first locking tailgate that uses an internal torsion bar to make raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for more-controlled lowering.
- Standard two-tier loading that allows a platform to split the bed into upper and lower sections, making it easier to haul, store and conceal items such as tools.
- Thirteen reconfigurable and four stationary tie-down locations throughout the bed for use with optional, removable cargo tie-down rings.
- Standard bed rail and tailgate protectors.
- Optional factory-installed spray-in bed liner.
- Range of 16-, 17- and 18-inch aluminum wheels.
Read AutoInformed on:
- New 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Mid-Size Pickup Debuts in LA
- GM CFO Shows 2015 Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon Pickups
