GM may divorce trucks and full-size SUVs

[Jim]

When the current GMT900 SUVs hit the market in 2006, gas prices were already near $3.00 per gallon, but the super-sized transports sold in prodigious numbers anyway. The reasoning from the General and its customers was that there were still people with big boats or trailers to tow, and unibody CUVs just aren't up to the task. In the two years that followed, gas prices have gone from pesky to pandemic, and buyers are leaving their body-on-frame SUVs by the thousands.

The General isn't blind to the trend, and a report from Bloomberg says that GM may be ready to take the drastic step of separating the platforms of its trucks and full-size SUVs by 2012. The move is extreme because SUVs and trucks have saved development time and money by sharing a platform for many decades, but with such a dramatic shift away from the handy but fuel-thirsty rigs, GM has little choice but to think of alternatives. A unibody Tahoe or Escalade wouldn't be able to tow quite like its predecessor, but they would be lighter and have better fuel economy.

Our first thought was that GM already has eight-passenger unibody CUVs like the Enclave, Acadia, Outlook and upcoming Traverse, but without more utilitarian SUVs like the Tahoe, there should be room for a more purpose-built CUV in the lineup. While this news isn't exactly earth-shattering, we're thinking it very accurately illustrates just how fast these times they are-a-changing, and how far automakers will go to stay viable.

[Source: Autoblog.com]

[F4MOU$]

OMG! the first member does exist!!! ALWAYS wondered who it was....


n e ways, thats crazy. but makes sens, there are a lot of changes that HAVE to happen to accomodate these BS gas prices and how there are bending us and telling us to grab our toes and bring the KY to the gas station nowadays. but hey. some people dont mind it! lol. whatever helps them with their business, good. but it is getting a little rediculous that this is what it is coming too. I remember when gas was 99 cents and people were freaking out cuz it went over a dollar, granite that was before I could even drive, but damn how I wish that were today. damn.

[uncchevy]

Originally Posted by F4MOU$

I remember when gas was 99 cents and people were freaking out cuz it went over a dollar, granite that was before I could even drive, but damn how I wish that were today. damn.

I remember when gas was under a dollar a gallon, my dad had an 85 toyota truck with the 22r 4cyl and mom had a 4 cyl accord.
Now that gas is 3.53 a gallon we have 2 6.0 denalis, a civic, and a 22' boat.

[F4MOU$]

yeah it is rediculous how it is now. how is it going to be in another 10 years?

[idriveanxj]

If it makes you feel any better, I'm paying $5.28 a gallon here in Northern BC. We have the highest gas prices in Western Canada.....

[F4MOU$]

damn. this is rediculous

[Larry B]

Unfortunatly I remember the week I got my license gas went up to 45 cents and I said now that I can drive I won't be able to afford it.

[uncchevy]

Originally Posted by Larry B

Unfortunatly I remember the week I got my license gas went up to 45 cents and I said now that I can drive I won't be able to afford it.

Wow at that price it would cost $11.70 to fill my truck, if it was completely empty. Compare that to $91.52 @ 3.52.

[KBacon]

Yep... that's one of the reasons that swayed us away from the new GMC Sierra or Tahoe/Yukon. We opted for the '08 GMC Acadia in FWD. It averages 22-23mpg so far.. and has more room than my cousin's '07 Tahoe.. esp in the 3rd row. Very happy w/ our decision.