Reuss: Low Priority For Ford Raptor Competitor
Will there be a Silverado or Sierra ready to battle the Ford Raptor in Baja Valley anytime soon? Not quite, according to General Motors.
Edmunds says GM doesn’t have current plans to build a Raptor competitor, despite speculation that Chevrolet and GMC are working on such a beast as of this writing. The brands themselves also won’t confirm if the “Badlands” name filed in February with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is meant for a high-performance full-size off-road pickup.
Per GM global product development boss Mark Reuss, his company has the capital and a lot of priorties on the table, of which a Chevy/GMC Raptor is among the lowest in priority. Reuss added that he would not rule out such a thing, citing the Colorado ZR2 concept from the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show as where GM may go if it so chose.
Meanwhile, Buick-GMC vice president Duncan Aldred had this to say about the “Badlands” name:
When you are looking at terms, or names and phrases, the first thing you do, even if it is a speck of an idea, you trademark the name because it can become a legal mine field. If someone says, “I like that,” you generally go for it and work out if you might use it later. We’ve probably got hundreds, if not thousands, of names (we) don’t use.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Top Gear had fun last week on the show. Really impressive IF used for what it is supposed. No...not your everyday high schooler's cowboy/cowgirl wannabe pick up truck. A bit over-kill. However...IF I had a large ranch and lots of open field duty...this would be a fine tool to have. And this is perhaps why it is sooo demanded for border patrol use. It is an off-road monster.
I normally tell people not to hate vehicles just because of the inconsiderate people that drive them. But...I *hate* Raptors, like...with a passion. And it's entirely because of the people that drive them, and the way they're typically driven. A Rapptor nearly took me out on the icy highway last week because he was in such a hurry that he tried to overtake me at 20 mph over what everyone else was doing, and lost control. So to hear that GM isn't too interested in pursuing this segment, I'm relieved, honestly. The last thing we need is more of these factory-sanctioned toolmobiles on the road.
"BadLands" - perhaps that name is going to Cadillac ;) I'd like to see a ZR2 Colorado but not a more expensive Raptor fighter. GM should build the ZR2 Colorado and then build a modified Duramax as a hardcore offroader. I see way more modified diesel pickups than gasser so it makes more sense to target that market. The Power Wagon is a ripe target for a Duramax powered 4x4. The current PowerWagon has a 1500lb capacity and 10k towing coupled with typically poor mpg of a gas powered HD. A true HD offroader would sell well.
How many of you raptor haters know anyone who owns a raptor and what they do with them? Most I've met take theirs off road, the bro dozer crowd normaly cannot stomach the milage penalty for to long and end up selling gently used raptors to people like me who use the $&!t out of them. The gray fenders on my truck are all scratched up but I've never encountered a place where my truck didn't fit. Also most of us owners have the means to use a car was to clean our trucks normaly within a day of coming back from an outting. As for over taking in the snow and ice I do it all the time I run studded winter tires in the winter and am going to get where I'm going at a reasonable speed. If your going on I 80 through Wyoming in your accord at 40 mph and the speed limits 80mph I will pass you at 40 mph diffrence. The raptors wide track helps with stability. The problem occurs when self righteous pricks think they need to go 30 under in the left lane instead of the 40 under that other people in inferior vehicles are doing and cut off some one going the speed limit. I wish I could up load some pics or videos of the places that I have taken my raptor off road to show you what your average owner does with their trucks.