GM Will Introduce Two Mid-Size Pickups For 2015

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

GM will have two new mid-size pickups out in 2015, just in time to steal the spotlight from the all-new Ford F-150. And according to TTAC Commenter and GM exec Mark Reuss, the two trucks should have fairly different missions.

Speaking to the Detroit Free Press, Reuss said that the Chevrolet pickup will be a “lifestyle” oriented truck, while GMC’s truck would be aimed at fleets and small businesses. Reuss also said that the new trucks would have all-new powertrains and be slightly larger than a Toyota Tacoma. We can only hope that this includes some kind of diesel, perhaps the Duramax that’s offered in the Thai version of the Chevrolet Colorado.

Perhaps our Aussie/global readers can fill us in on the subtitles of the Colorado vs. Hilux debate as well.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Jeff S Jeff S on Apr 05, 2013

    @Denver Mike-I don't think you work for the Feds but you might work for a marketer, but then again you might not. Not all consumers make vehicle choices based on which vehicle sells the most, otherwise we would have just one manufacturer. I agree, a midsize truck is not for everyone, nor is a full size truck. I would probably like full size trucks more if they were closer to the size and height of the early 90s pickups but unless the midsize trucks grow to those proportions then I will stick with the current midsize trucks. There are many reasons why midsize trucks don't sell as well and one is the Chicken Tax but that is just one. Safety equipment has grown the size of trucks, price is another, crossovers, and many other reasons. I like to have a bed to haul things at a level that I can reach, also I like a truck that is easy to park, and takes up a little less space. I probably will never use my trucks for towing but then I want an open bed so that I don't mess up the interior. My old S-10 is smaller than a lot of the current midsize trucks but larger than many compact pickups of the early 90s(it is the right size for me). I do think the diesel option that is currently available on the global Ranger and Colorado would be a good alternative for many as long as it is not priced too high. The Mahindra was a no go from the start and it is very primitive and questionable quality. The Chinese have much better trucks than the Mahindra. Mahindra failed because they had a poor product and they could not get their act together.

    • DenverMike DenverMike on Apr 05, 2013

      @Jeff S - Buyers don't necessarily buy whatever sells the most and really sounds mindless if not bizarre when talking about new vehicles. OEMs still have sell a minimum of units though. And a minimum of hard loaded. There's a few people that cannot deal with the size of full-size, no way, no how. But there seems to be up to 2 million annual new truck buyers that don't mind their mass/height/footprint including full-size SUV buyers. How can the Chicken tax affect sales of mid-size truck? Do you mean the lack of global competition sends potential mid-size buyers to buy full-size or anything else on the market? The mid-size market was once filled with plenty of global truck brands, but their sales were starting to disappoint anyways. You cannot blame the Chicken tax on that. If what I say sounds like I'm defending the existence of tariffs, clearly I am not and that would be a different topic. Mid-size trucks are continuing to growing with each new generation and it looks like they're headed to the size and mass of early '90s full-size. If you wait long enough, you may have your perfect truck. The viability of diesels won't pencil out for most consumers unless they drive an excess of daily miles. Diesel VWs have been in the US market for many years now and sales leveled off at stagnant. I'm not saying the poor quality of the Mahindra didn't also kill the deal, but it's EPA MPG was very disappointing. 30 EPA MPG doesn't seem in the cards for global trucks even with regular cab base-strippers.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Apr 05, 2013

    @Denver Mike--Chicken tax has less influence than the EPA ratings of a few years ago that classified smaller trucks in the category of smaller cars but larger trucks were exempt from the tighter mpg standards. The same thing happened to the station wagon which became the crossover, which is more like a truck with car features. Do you remember that article that TTAC ran a few months ago about this and that Lou or someone else posted to PUTC? That was more significant than anything else. The history of the Chicken Tax was originally used against Germany, France, and the Netherlands in retaliation for those countries putting high tariffs on American poultry to protect their markets. LBJ signed the Chicken Tax into law in late 1963 after taking office. Senator Fulbright from Arkansas was lobbying hard for this tax because Arkansas is a major poultry producer. There were other items that were taxed as well but those items are no longer taxed. The Japanese initially got around the tax by sending just the trucks without the beds and the beds were put on once they reached the US thus paying a much less tax than the 25%. In the early 80s the law was amended to make it much tougher so the Japanese started putting assembly plants in the US, first Nissan in Smyrna, TN and then Toyota in California. We will have to wait for the Colorado/Canyon to enter the US market to see for sure, but both appear to be larger than the prior Colorado/Canyon. We will also have to see if the diesel is offered as an option and if these twins are closer to the global models except maybe load and towing capacity will probably be less.

    • See 2 previous
    • DenverMike DenverMike on Apr 05, 2013

      @Jeff S - I found you the truck you're dreaming of... http://www.cargods.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/new-2013-volkswagen-truck.jpg

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Apr 06, 2013

    After reading about the global Colorado, these twins are starting to grow on me. I am not as crazy about the front end but I could live with it. The GMC Canyon will have a nicer front. I was not that crazy about the first generation Colorado, Canyons, and Isuzus Is but after having my Isuzu I-370 for almost 5 years it has grown on me and for the most part it has been a good truck. Denver Mike I looked at the link you provided on the Amarok and that seems to be a nice truck as well. I would have to drive these twins and look at them before I could really judge them, but if they are as good as my current Isuzu I would be satisfied. My 99 S10 has been a very solid and reliable truck as well.

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