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GMC Urban Utility Concept 
Efficient. Compact. Fashionable.
Stay tuned for the unveiling of our latest concept truck. We’ve designed a new breed of truck that’s as efficient as it is chic, innovative as it is functional.
Our goal was to create the next generation of urban mobility, fusing a flexible, functional social space with an urban-box design that’s equally at home at the cabin or the club.
Here’s a little hint at what you’ll see when we reveal the concept next week during the North American International Auto Show.
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to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 12:52 amAndrew Scott Kinomoto said:
The front end has a very nice design – very clean and modern feeling, yet distinctive. The soft edges nicely contrast the boxy theme.
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 1:30 am fred said:
Why do you build concept nothing ever comes about? What you need is a coyote call.. Thats call of your tired old engineers. Maybe this will stop the badge engineering you are famous for..
to this comment On January 9, 2010 at 5:13 pm Tom said:
I couldn’t agree more on the many concept models but little results. I had hoped that with the need to prioritize economy we would see a trend from the SUV & crossover down to a sportwagen with go cargo access and capacity. I believe Honda has such a model out now that was aerodynamic and utilitarian. GM has most frequently shown Nomad Concepts from the 1950s right up to most resent 2003 version. Maybe a half a dozen versions that I can only remember seeing the Vega as true Sports wagen production car. Of course Cadillac has a CTS Wagon out but it’s up in the $40K – $50K price range. I would hope a Chevy prototype is in the plans with so many Europeon and Asian models on the horizon to enter the U.S. Market.
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 11:31 am whitmore said:
Will the Orlando be unveiled at the NAIAS as well? I understand they will share the same platform. I am definitely excited to see the rest of this vehicle!
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 4:21 pm Unni said:
Teaser looks good, I like it. Need to see it full. I was thinking of buying orlando when it goes production if it has a better fuel economy ( herd it will have a second generation affordable voltec system ). Now i think i have one more to add in my to list
.
Wondering if you will ever unveil a concept car based on “1984 Chevrolet Citation IV” with a drag less than that
( i read some where the Cd was .13 for that one).
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 5:01 pm Michael Aylward said:
I really need to see the whole thing before judgement but I can already say it needs some changes to the styling for my taste. The grille opening needs to be a little smaller. It’s a large gaping hole on something this small and looks like a wall. The headlight “eyebrows” need shortening. I don’t mind the overall look but do they really need to swoop halfway down the fender line. The vent looking thingys under the headlights should be redressed unless they’re functional. I know it’s just a concept but I also know that it’s a design excersise.
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 5:34 pm tokao said:
Great design!
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 7:57 pm TerryB. said:
For this you’re killing the HHR? Looks like more of the same ole same ole on the front end. Plastic ‘chrome’ does not equal style.
to this comment On January 7, 2010 at 11:05 pm Bill T. said:
Looks like an extremely short hood. Is there room for more than a DI 4? If this is to be a GMC then wouldn’t there be provisions for a high torque motor to take the vehicle from urban chic to urban pro grade? Can it haul a little more than friends and tailgate gear? It may be a reach but I would love to see a 2″ hitch reciever on the back.
Professional grade to me would mean great form following exceptional function. The form looks good here so far. A front wheel drive suv that can really haul would make the GMC a step above the trendy compact boxes.
The Scion could be a toy in comparison.
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 8:26 am Vikingsoftpaw said:
It’s nice to know that even with the pressure to build econoboxes by Obama’s autoczar, GM full realizes that Americans will always have a preference toward larger auto and SUV type vehicles. I’ve said it before quality, quality, quality at a reasonable price. If GM will not supply it the Koreans will.
Small, efficient, turbo diesels is missing from their powertrain stable. Could a mid sized DI injected gas engine will provide good fuel economy to ensure that SportUtes are viable vehicles in the soon to come $4.00+ gallon gas prices?
P.S. I’m 6′6″ tall, please build a vehicle I can actually fit in comfortably.
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 9:56 am ed said:
This makes me think of the Hyundai i10 EV
http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13776#p94875
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 10:18 am ed said:
GM Unveils Chevrolet Aveo RS Show Car
http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13776&start=15
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 10:52 am ed said:
Chevrolet debuts India’s first four-door all-electric vehicle
http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13776&start=15#p94881
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 11:18 am ed said:
Tata sets up “Cost Challenge’s” for it’s suppliers.
http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13776&start=15#p94883
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 3:06 pm Joshua Edwards said:
IS that the Aveo in GMC clothing? Wheels out at the corners, small size… The lines of the hood and front end….. Hmmm
to this comment On January 8, 2010 at 9:24 pm Jeff Warg said:
Think of it as GMC’s version of a Scion. I saw this vehicle at the Product Technology Event, then it was a full size clay. It was amazing how realistic it looked.
to this comment On January 9, 2010 at 12:21 pm MikesZ said:
To Joshua: no, this would be the GMC version of the Chevy Orlando. The GMC teaser looks very promising. I am looking forward to seeing pictures of this GMC Granite concept at the Detroit Auto Show this coming week. I hope it is more square/rugged/truckish than the Chevy version. Hint: allow AWD option, Backup Camera, and All-Terrain tires on the GMC version.
to this comment On January 9, 2010 at 4:55 pm Ryan said:
It looks great, I just hope it has 4WD.
to this comment On January 11, 2010 at 4:13 am Bill said:
Please make the rear seats fold away, or optional. Give me a two seater to match my vette.
to this comment On January 11, 2010 at 12:44 pm Dave said:
I don’t think this is a GMC version of the Orlando. The Orlando is supposed to seat 7. Looks like this only has enough room for 4 or 5. I can’t imagine the Orlando would be smaller than a Scion xB, which itself is a small car.
to this comment On January 11, 2010 at 2:06 pm Bhavin Lad said:
I love this small premium idea. I love the interior of this car too, and if there were to be a production version i think only way it would do great in market if the seat concept stays with the car; perhaps a 3 people seating in the back would help. I really hope they make little changes to in the interior thats the only way i see car doing good. Small, yet functional for those outdoors kinda people. One thing I ask GM not to do is, please dont make the taillights in the following way (Brake lights- turn signal in one). I hate that so much. At least 3 individual “bulbs” or housing.
to this comment On January 11, 2010 at 3:38 pm Mark R said:
Love the looks, but really hope for a couple of things. If it’s gas, please offer a manual trans! Better yet, make it a full electric (like the Volt). And of course, any GMC should run on a full frame. I guess I’m really looking for something to replace my ‘01 Chevy Tracker ZR2 – but as of now you have nothing
to this comment On January 12, 2010 at 10:00 am BrianCastillo said:
I have to say, I rather like it. I’ve seen some comments where some folks have endorsed the idea of making this a body-on-frame vehicle, but I’d prefer to see it as a unit-body construction; I think that if it’s done properly, the unit-body construction would be just fine for my use. (The old Jeep Cherokees, for example, were unit-body, but seemed plenty durable for my tastes.)
I’m interested to understand how other folks feel about the lack of a B-pillar between the doors – on one hand, it seems to make loading stuff like infant seats easier, but on the other hand, I don’t particularly fancy the idea of needing to open the front doors in order to open the rear doors.
Comments? Rear-hinged doors good or bad?
to this comment On January 12, 2010 at 4:51 pm chrismr said:
I could go either way on the rear-hinged doors. I think it would be great for loading gear. Opening the one door to get to the back reminds me of the conversion van my family had in ‘85.
to this comment On January 12, 2010 at 4:45 pm chrismr said:
I currently drive a Subaru Impreza Outback Sport because of the good MPG (70 miles per day), AWD (midwest snowstorms) and the utility (bikes, skis, dog).
It appears the Granite would provide the things I need in a car. While I realize the Granite would ideally attract younger buyers, I have to say I would consider this vehicle. I’m 36, and live in the suburbs of a large city. I really hope GMC makes this vehicle a reality. The looks and functionality are stunning!! Great job!!
to this comment On January 13, 2010 at 3:07 am Jean-Paul Beaugrand said:
The prototype for this kind of vehicle already exists, and has been in production for decades: it’s more practical and more economic than a CUV or compact SUV. It’s called a “minivan.”
Make it PT Cruiser- size and give it sliding rear doors…
to this comment On January 15, 2010 at 10:56 am Bruce Campbell said:
Are you eliminating the HHR and replacing it with this? It looks a lot like a Scion which I don’t like at all. (Too boxy) Not bad but we already have the HHR which is too smal for my needs. I would like to see a replacement for the extended minivans that were eliminated. The CUVs Lamda plateform vehicles are similar in pass/cargo combination to the original short minivans. I had a 99 Montana replaced by an 04 Rendevous. The Lamda CUVs are no bigger than the Rendevous I own, and I miss the extra capacity I lost in the Montana. I would like to see maybe the GMC Acadia made into an extended version with the optional availablity of 4WD and towing capability of the Envoy it has replaced. The current Acadia doesn’t replace the minivan or Envoy well, it doesn’t have the cargo space behind the 2nd row seats or towing ablility.
to this comment On January 15, 2010 at 5:07 pm Chance4000 said:
I currently drive a Honda Element. I feel like Gm could definitely make this car. I feel like the brand is more about being the “macho” professional grade brand than just large cars. I feel like a lot of guys my age would consider this. I also feel like it could be a premium car as well. The Element sells for around 23 grand and Honda used to sell tons before the design got stale. I also feel like the box cars of this generation have had the most influential designs of any cars on the market. Therefore people are more willing to take risk on driving a “quirky” car. I really like my Element, but I feel sometimes it is too similar to a minivan coupe. This car would be perfect if it handled well, got good gas mileage and had good design. Speaking of design, another thing I hate most about my Element is the fact that it only seats 4. Make it seat 5 and make ingress and egress easier in the back seat. Put it on the Cruze platform, 2.0 litre turbocharged, and you would have one sweet ride.
to this comment On January 18, 2010 at 1:50 am Jean-Paul Beaugrand said:
I think that eventually designers will come up with a truly practical vehicle that will appeal to all demographics: a vehicle with the efficient utilization of space and practicality of a minivan, the rugged, macho styling of a serious off-road SUV, the economy of FWD and the security of 4WD-on-demand. It should have seats that fold into the floor to make a flat cargo space, be sized to carry 4′ X 8′ sheets of material with previously-mentioned seats folded, be roomy enough to carry 5-6 adults comfortably, and stylish enough to go to the opera or the dance club.
My Trans Sport almost fits the bill, but can’t carry 4′ X 8′ sheets, the seats don’t fold into the floor, it doesn’t have 4WD, and it wasn’t “stylish” even when it was new.
to this comment On January 18, 2010 at 2:13 pm Steve Bluhm said:
hard to categorize this thing. Need to see how well the seats fold down before calling this a great “urban utility” vehcile, specs on cargo and storage flexibility are critical. Looks like a lot of wasted space in the rear floors and not sure how useful the overall width really is. I’d be claustrophobic for sure, maybe go after the young no-children urban types.
to this comment On January 20, 2010 at 8:28 am thegriffon said:
The later videos make it clear the Granite is unrelated to the Orlando. Like most concepts the Granite has no real connection with any production model. If you ask a different question, “If GM builds the Granite, what vehicles will it be related to?”, you get a different answer.
GM will have four basic fwd car families, each with different generations in production at the same time.
At the base is the M-body Spark/Matiz/Beat, currently up to its third generation, although the previous two are still in production in different markets. This platform is known as the Global Minicar Architecture, covering A0 and A-segment models (minicompacts in US parlance), although the Spark/Beat/Matiz is creeping into what was formerly the B-segment. Wheelbase is 93.5″.
One size up from the M-body is the T-body Global Small Car Architecture. This encompasses replacements for several disparate platforms (T-body, S-body and X-body) in the B-segment (subcompact) as well as some new smaller C-segment (compact) models. The archetype model is the next-gen Aveo, longer and wider than the current model to match European benchmarks such as the Punto, 207 and Clio. GM is not revealing dimensions yet, but you can expect a wheelbase of about 99″ and overall length about 160″. This platform is stretched to form the basis of 5-seat B-MPV and C-MPVs such as the new Meriva, and planned C-segment crossovers. If GM builds the Granite it will use a stretched version of the Small Car architecture—either a version of the new Aveo architecture or the platform of the new Meriva (from which it gets its door concept). For comparison the Granite concept is 161.3″ long (close to what you can expect for the new Aveo) but has a longer 103.6″ wheelbase. The earlier Meriva concept had a slightly longer 103.9″ wheelbase and an overall length of 166.3″, and the production model should be fairly close to that—the same size as a Scion xB but with a longer wheelbase.
Above the Global Small Car is Global Compact Car. This replaces three different platforms, the Korean J-body Lacetti/Optra and American A-body Cobalt and the European A-body Astra and Zafira. The basic platform is longer than even the stretched version of Global Small Car (a wheelbase of 105.7″) and underpins the new Opel Astra/Buick Excelle, Chevrolet Cruze/Daewoo Lacetti, Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera. A stretched version will underpin the Orlando and a later replacement for the Zafira, so there is a very big difference in size between the 5-seat Granite and the 7 seat Orlando. The Orlando concept had a reported wheelbase of 108.7″ and overall length could surpass 181″—20″ longer than the Granite concept.
Above Global Compact is Global Midsize, the base version of which underpins the Opel Insignia and Buick Regal (107.8″ wheelbase). A lwb version (111.7″ wheelbase) underpins the Buick LaCrosse and Saab 9-5.