There’s certainly no shortage of car companies out there, with new startups coming to the forefront all the time. Still, there’s something to be said for a tried and true brand that has been around nearly as long as the auto industry itself, producing countless models that have filled a car lot near you over the years. GMC is one of those brands that is often overlooked and seen merely as a pricier version of the Chevy lineup. In reality, however, what GMC has to offer is becoming increasingly unique, and the brand has some of the most impressive upcoming vehicles out of any brand. Let’s take a look at what GMC is working on, and I’m certain you’ll find something worth getting excited about.
The All-New 2023 GMC Canyon
With the 2023 model year, GMC is launching a new generation for the Canyon, the popular midsize pickup that’s built on the same platform as the Chevy Colorado. For this new generation, the Canyon is getting a massive number of updates and upgrades, making it one of the most impressive midsize trucks on the road. This is a good call on GMC’s part since the smaller-truck market is getting a lot of attention right now. Rather than introduce a compact truck like some other brands are doing, GMC is focusing on making the established model even better.
For starters, GMC is slapping a powerful 2.7L Turbo engine into the Canyon, delivering 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque––this is best-in-class standard gas-engine torque that’s sure to make a lot of truck drivers very happy. All of this power isn’t just for bragging rights either: the 2023 Canyon will be able to tow up to 7,700 lbs of weight behind it when properly equipped, making it best-in-class for midsize towing. GMC models are often thought of as more luxurious than their Chevy cousins, and the new Canyon definitely delivers in that area with an 11.3-inch infotainment display and eight-inch digital driver information display, plus much more.
2023 GMC Canyon AT4X
Although folks like the GMC Canyon for a wide range of reasons, one of its most popular uses is as an off-road truck. The midsize design of the Canyon makes it great for maneuvering through tight quarters and getting through spaces that would prove impractical for a larger pickup. GMC has leaned into this with a host of features designed for the trail. For example, every 2023 Canyon will come with an off-road suspension package and a two-inch factory lift, standard. The new generation of the Canyon goes further than ever before with a new AT4X trim that delivers unsurpassed off-road functionality, even beyond the popular AT4 trim.
For starters, the 2023 Canyon AT4 will have Advanced Hill Descent Control and a Transfer Case Shield to protect its drivetrain and make it easier for you to go down inclines without putting in a ton of work. It features four-wheel drive as you’d expect, with an automatic locking rear differential, plus a Drive Mode Selector that lets you choose from a number of modes like Normal and Off-Road. This is being updated for the coming year with a new Terrain Mode for low-speed precision driving and rock crawling.
Improving upon this, however, is the all-new AT4X trim, which features some exclusive aesthetic details along with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster that’s several inches larger than the standard screen. The AT4X also has available front and rear underbody cameras that are waterproof and shielded, giving you a fantastic view of the area under your truck while going off-road. Multimatic DSSV dampers are standard on the AT4X, plus it has an exclusive Baja Drive Mode designed for high-speed off-road performance. Beyond the standard features, the AT4X also has a three-inch factory lift and 10.7 inches of ground clearance––more than an inch greater than other Canyon models.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X
Not to be left out, the GMC Sierra is also getting some updates for the 2023 model year, including its own version of the AT4X off-road-focused trim. The Sierra AT4X delivers impressive off-road performance you won’t find in other full-size trucks, including Multimatic DSSV dampers and uniquely tuned springs to allow for maximum front and rear suspension travel. It has a specific off-road chassis and front and rear e-locking differentials that ensure both wheels on an axle spin together in order to maintain fantastic traction at all times. This trim also includes the Terrain Mode found on the Canyon that’s ideal for rock crawling, with one-pedal driving enabled so the driver can focus on the trail.
This year, GMC is also working with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to release an AT4X AEV Edition that includes unique AEV badging throughout the exterior and interior, including AEV stamped-steel front and rear bumpers and AEV hot-stamped boron steel skid plates on the underside. With these bumpers, the Sierra gets an approach angle of 32.5 degrees and a departure angle of 23.4 degrees, plus front winch capability. Best of all, this impressive capability doesn’t come at the cost of luxury. The AT4X includes full-grain leather seats, a leather-trimmed instrument panel and door panels with authentic Vanta ash wood trim, and a 12-speaker Bose premium system with CenterPoint Surround Sound.
GMC Hummer EV Pickup
The all-electric future of the auto industry is undeniable at this point, whether some people like it or not. GMC is not about to be left behind, of course, and so it’s been working hard to deliver its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV): the all-new GMC Hummer EV. Rather than trying to decide on whether the rebirth of the Hummer should be a truck or an SUV, GMC has decided, “Por qué no los dos?”
The first offering in this double-threat is the Hummer EV Pickup, which showcases the Ultium battery platform that GM has developed for use across its lineup of brands. With its three-motor drive system, it gets an estimated 1,000 hp and 11,500 lb-ft of torque (though it should be noted there’s a fair amount of debate on these numbers since they weren’t measured the same way as every other vehicle out there). The Hummer EV Pickup gets up to 350 miles of range from a full charge and has a massive 13.4-inch central infotainment display. With innovative features like the CrabWalk mode that lets it drive diagonally, this is one truck that a lot of people are excited about.
GMC Hummer EV SUV
For drivers who prefer an SUV to a truck, and who have a fair amount of patience, GMC will follow up the Hummer EV Pickup with a Hummer EV SUV…eventually. The SUV version is currently set to be a 2024 model, so hopefully, we’ll see it sometime next year, but the potential for delay is not unrealistic. GMC will load the Hummer EV SUV version with a wide range of impressive features, including the same three-motor drive system that will let it go from 0 to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, and it will have CrabWalk functionality. GMC has also teased some brand-new features, including a satellite-rendered trail mapping system for going off-road and a Power Station generator system that will let it act as a generator for various devices and even charge other EVs.
What Else Is on the Horizon?
At the moment, GMC hasn’t announced any other upcoming projects, but it’s hard to imagine there isn’t more in the pipeline. Since the lineup is so closely related to Chevy’s, there’s a good chance that some of the things we’re seeing at Chevy will impact the future of GMC. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a BEV version of the GMC Sierra in the next few years, offering a second option besides the Hummer EV Pickup at a lower starting price. Similarly, since the GMC Acadia shares a platform with the Chevy Blazer, and we’re getting a Blazer EV, we could see an Acadia EV as another BEV SUV in the GMC lineup as a Hummer alternative.
