VW Vortex - Volkswagen Forum banner

GMC Head Speaks of Wrangler-Fighter and Flagship SUV

23K views 195 replies 61 participants last post by  Tbonez3858 
#1 ·
A Wrangler competitor from GMC seems long overdue.
A flagship SUV over the Yukon Denali seems unnecessary, but it might be a necessary platform mate for an even grander Caddy above the Escalade (XT8?).

http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/gmc-boss-vows-to-change-the-face-of-the-brand.html
SAN DIEGO — GMC is taking the first steps to strengthen the brand as part of an effort to boost sales, a strategy that could lead to the addition of a Jeep Wrangler-inspired SUV and a luxury SUV flagship positioned above the GMC Yukon Denali SUV.

Buick-GMC Vice President Duncan Aldred told Edmunds: "I have come here to do a job and change the face of the brand."

Aldred was named to the post earlier this year and is responsible for sales, marketing and service.

During an interview with Edmunds, Aldred said he has high ambitions for the GMC brand.

"We are looking at everything," Aldred said. "What segments will grow? What segments will not? We are evaluating all possibilities that could really turbocharge the brand and the growth."

He said GMC currently is in the brainstorming stage and there are no plans to add additional models to the GMC line. However, he said "There is room throughout the range if you really start segmenting it. There is plenty of room everywhere in the hierarchy."

He added: "You could consider a real flagship over Yukon."

A possible price point was not suggested.

A subcompact crossover that is about the size of the Buick Encore is another possibility, as well as an "active all-road, Wrangler-esque type of vehicle," Aldred said. "There are definitely more big segments we could play in if we want to."

The GMC brand currently offers the GMC Canyon and Sierra pickup trucks, Terrain and Acadia crossovers, Yukon SUV and Savana van.
 
#4 ·
A Colorado based 2 door SUV would be neat, although unprofitable:(
 
#6 ·
Why unprofitable? Trucks are very good profit centers. They would pretty much have to make it Colorado based to make it affordable, durable, and off-road able as a Jeep. The Colorado would be the volume model that would pay for the main chuck of engineering. The GMC Jeep would be the low volume beneficiary. The Hummer H3 was previous model Colorado based... so why not.
 
#15 ·
Not a bad idea. Its a relatively unchallenged market especially since the FJ Cruiser is gone. Really just the Wrangler, 4Runner?, and Xterra.

Besides, I see Wranglers absolutely everywhere in the city. With a hard top they are pretty great city cars. Maneuverable, compact, durable, and can survive getting bumped while parallel parking.
 
#16 ·
I cant believe no one has put forward a serious challenger for the Jeep for the wrangler market....The wrangler is a massive seller and the rest of the manufacturers seem content to let Jeep have the entire market. There have been a few manufacture that have tried but they have completely missed the point. It isnt a Wrangler challenger unless its got straight axles and focuses on minimalism. Most attempts at competition have been IRS SUV hybrids....
 
#21 ·
For over a decade, the traditional SUV and minivan markets were on a steady decline, to make way for CUV's. It was an obvious decision for executives to abort any plan for a future BOF SUV or similar, considering everyone is telling them that today's market for such vehicles would be half as big 5 years from today. Then the Wrangler came out with the 4 door Unlimited and sales took off, as well as resale values, defying the market trend. Counter trends are always unexpected, and it's possible that we're seeing a base forming in the traditional SUV market. The fact that oil is getting cheap again, and will likely continue to get cheaper in the foreseeable future is an additional incentive for such vehicles to exist. This is partially offset by increasing fuel economy demands from both regulators and consumers. Therefore, I think it'll continue to be a niche market, but a market that will continue to exist for a long time.
 
#18 ·
Concept photo found:



Here is the flagship concept photo:

 
#20 ·
Unless they're going to drastically change the way they make their "offroad" models, it's not going to be a wrangler competitor. Just look at the ZR2 for one example of many. If it doesn't embrace the potential for aftermarket modifications, then it's not a competitor.
 
#23 ·
The frustrating thing is while GMC has displayed some really cool conceptual thinking (another example will be making the rounds this year on the AS circuit) those concepts go the way of the Granite. The ROI is too great to justify something really cool. An alignment with another brand within the portfolio does have potential however.
 
#25 ·
The frustrating thing is while GMC has displayed some really cool conceptual thinking (another example will be making the rounds this year on the AS circuit) those concepts go the way of the Granite. The ROI is too great to justify something really cool. An alignment with another brand within the portfolio does have potential however.
A GMC version of the Buick Encore and Chevy Trax seems like a no-brainer.
Give it Granite styling, and it will fly off of showroom floors.
 
#39 ·
The real comparison is the Land Rover Defender (which fills the wrangler spot outside North America). But limited amount imported and US safety regulations (with unwillingness on Land Rover to update the Defender to meet) didn't allow this to pan out.

 
This post has been deleted
#47 ·
Fron the article: 'Aldred was named to the post earlier this year and is responsible for sales, marketing and service."

When this "news" comes from someone in charge of either Engineering or Product Development, then I'll give it some credance. Until then, this is just a few suits in a conference room throwing darts.
 
#67 ·
This got me thinking why on Earth Nissan was so determined to give us that abomination of a van, when they should have offered that Renault/Nissan one, what market is there left for V8 low roof RWD work vans? Everyone is going with Sprinter-style vans now..
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top