2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LTZ

General Motors has recently announced the new hauling capacities for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickups. The 2011 model trucks can now pull up to 21,700 pounds in fifth-wheel configuration. Also they now can lug around 6,635 pounds worth of payload, making them the new best-in class champions. Traditional tow rating sits at 17,000 pounds. To hit these new towing capabilities GM says that it thoroughly tested the trucks’ systems, including the engine, transmission and brakes at the new gross combined vehicle weight and found that the trucks could handle a much heftier load.

The Silverado HD and the Sierra HD both now come with tougher bed rails. GM specified a new high-strength steel that can handle more compared to last year’s pieces. The trucks are beating the closest competitor, the 2011 Ford F-350, by 1,000 pounds on the conventional towing front and a more modest 100 pounds under fifth-wheel conditions.

Frankly, there’s not a whole heck of a lot going on over at GMC this year. That’s understandable, since its model lineup underwent such big changes in 2007 when all models, except for the ancient Envoy and people-hauler Savanna, were almost completely redesigned.

Photo Gallery: 2008 GMC Model Year Changes – Latest News, Features, and Model Changes – Automobile Magazine

Our 2008 Technology of the Year just got more work duty.

Photo Gallery: 2009 GMC Sierra Two-Mode Hybrid – - Latest News, Reviews, and Auto Show Coverage – Automobile Magazine

GMC has packed a lot into their Denali XT concept, giving us hints at what’s next for the brand. The truck showcases a new take on car-based trucks, a possible future GMC styling direction, and a next-generation powertrain.

Photo Gallery: 2008 GMC Denali XT Concept – Latest News, Reviews, and Auto Show Coverage – Automobile Magazine

America’s environmental chickens have come home to roost. For nearly two decades, we’ve blithely bounded from sea to shining sea in ever porkier sport-utility vehicles fueled by cheap gasoline. Now, many of us face the prospect of personal bankruptcy, not to mention social ostracization, if we continue to indulge in the privilege of carting home our groceries in three-ton trucks. But old habits are hard to break. Isn’t there some way we can have our proverbial cake – lower emissions, less consumption of fossil fuels, Al Gore’s approval – and eat it, too, by still driving big SUVs that can haul our families and tow our toys?

Photo Gallery: Hybrids Versus Diesels – Latest News, Features, and Reviews – Automobile Magazine

Almost as a rule, the logbooks of Automobile Magazine long-term test cars are filled with extremes of opinion. One person can’t stand Feature X? Flip forward a few pages – someone else loves it. Styling too dumpy for Staffer Y? Don’t worry; Staffer Z thinks those curves are the bee’s knees.

Photo Gallery: 2007 GMC Acadia – Four Seasons Wrap-up – Latest News, Features, and Reviews – Automobile Magazine

New Arrival
GMC Acadia
GM’s big crossovers carry a big burden. We’ll see how they handle it.The new, seven-seat crossover utility vehicles from General Motors are arguably even more important than the company’s recent crop of full-size SUVs, which made their debut last year. After all, sales of traditional SUVs are declining, while the crossover segment is booming. The GMC Acadia, the Saturn Outlook, and the Buick Enclave must not only net people defecting from big SUVs, they also must pick up shoppers looking for a mid-size three-row utility vehicle, and, once the company drops its minivans, they’ll need to capture those buyers as well. With so much riding on this trio, we had to get one in our fleet for a closer look. We went for the GMC, currently the top offering (the Buick won’t be out until this summer). Our Acadia SL2 AWD is loaded with $7460 worth of options, including dual sunroofs, a DVD player, navigation, HID headlamps, nineteen-inch wheels, a towing package, and a head-up display. All those options are nice, but when the Acadia landed on our doorstep in the midst of a midwinter deep freeze, we were most grateful for two of its standard features: heated seats and remote start.

Photo Gallery: New GMC Acadia Review – Automobile Magazine