2012′s GMC Terrain was tested recently at GM’s Climatic Wind Tunnel in Warren, Mich. The environmental chamber reaches temps of minus 40 to 140 degrees F.

Inside Terrain sat Monika, a dummy made from sensors and wire girds. ‘She’ was bombarded with intense hot and cold, providing detailed feedback to engineers.

This odd experiment is the brainchild of Jeff Bozeman: The Iceman. He’s “a high-tech top gun whose team created a way to make vehicle passengers feel much warmer or cooler than the cabin temperature in which they are seated.”

“We can better understand things like skin temperature and perspiration and can get a read on a wide range of shapes and sizes of GMC customers,” Iceman added.

Bozeman utilizes these virtual dummies to focus on where air streams can provide maximum comfort for passengers and driver. Virtual testing also helps speed up development, getting cars to dealers faster.

Source: Marketwatch.com

The GM Futurliners were actually a dozen concept buses built in 1939, based on designs by Harley Earl. Used during GM’s Parade of Progress, in 1940 – ’41 and again in 1953 – ’56, these Jetsons-like vehicles traveled the United States, showing General Motor’s vision of what future travel would look like.

Of the 12 total that were built, only 8 or 9 are believed to still be in existence (as of 2007).

This $400,000 Futurliner, which is also believed to be one of the first three built, is an original and un-restored model. It includes one new set of “Parade of Progress” tires, which were specially made for the remaining buses.

Another restored Futurliner recently sold for $4.2M at an auction. Value of this bus at completion: an estimated (minimum) of $2.8M once completed.

Source: Hemmings

“Trucks would not be a program that we’d move up in a mileage-sensitive market,” he added.

In a recent report by Associated Press, the price for a barrel of oil jumped above $110 for the first time since 2008. In addition, “Americans are paying $247 million more per day at the pump than they were at the start of the year,” the report stated. According to Akerson, GM devised a “contingency plan” to prepare for oil jumping over $120 per barrel, though details were not released.

There is also a V6 Hybrid variant of the 2011 GMC Sierra planned.

Source: automobilemag

“General Motors Co. is recalling 150 permanent workers to its Lansing Delta Township assembly plant to replace about 96 temporary workers,” the American auto maker said Wednesday.

GM spokeswoman Sherrie Childers-Arb said “the move provides jobs for workers who were laid off from GM factories that were closed as the automaker restructured. About 1,200 GM hourly workers are now on layoff.”

“The plant builds the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse, and employs about 3,433 hourly workers.”

From The Detroit News

“Last year was one of foundation-building,” said Daniel F. Akerson GM’s Chief Executive. “Particularly pleasing was that we demonstrated G.M.’s ability to achieve sustainable profitability near the bottom of the U.S. industry cycle, with four consecutive profitable quarters.”

According to Detroit News, “The year has also started off well for GM as Michigan GMC dealers contributed to the 22.7 percent increase in sales from this January to the same time last year. General Motors reported selling 178,896 vehicles. By brand, Cadillac rose 49 percent for the month; Buick went up 32 percent; GMC jumped 30 percent and Chevrolet just up 19 percent.”

On a final positive note, 45,000 union workers at GM may receive profit-sharing checks averaging $4,300. This is the highest amount ever received by union workers.

The A-Team, which I will probably go see opening weekend regardless of this tragedy, will open on June 11th.

Photos via Jalopnik

Superlift is now shipping 8-inch lift kits for 2007-current Chevy/GMC 1500 pickups. Available for 2WD and 4WD Silverados/Sierras, the Superlift 8-inch kit cleanly makes clearance for 35″-tall tires. Minor wheelwell trimming clears 37s. The system is compatible with GM’s StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control (ESC). All load-bearing bracketry is made from laser-cut .25″-thick steel. Full-width control-arm crossmembers incorporate kicker braces for added strength. Major front components include replacement iron knuckles and premium gas-charged struts. The 4WD systems don’t require cutting/modifying the differential, and the OE front axleshafts and driveshaft are retained.

Rear lift blocks ensure that factory ride quality and load-carrying capacity are retained. Premium Superide replacement springpacks are one of many options.

Source: UTV weekly | Superlift

The Silverado “HD” (which doesn’t stand for high definition) and future Sierra includes a 92% stiffer frame, and a sub-frame that is 125% stiffer then previous years. Sierra/Silverado has a 36 gallon fuel tank and a range of 680 miles, leaving around 18.8 MPG on the highway – an 11% improvement over the current truck. Rear suspension has been upgraded, giving more spring behind the axle. It reportedly has between 3000 – 4000 lbs greater (of a towing cap. that is) then Ford’s F-150, 250 & 350 models.

But GM’s mighty truck also has style: “…chrome on the front bumper, a slightly revised hood and “Duramax” hood badge, the end of 16″ wheels at the bottom in favor or 17-inchers and the addition of 20″ wheels at the top. It also gets hydraulic cabin mounts in the back…” Though pickup drivers are not really interested in looking too flashy.

Expect to drop around $20,000 – 28,000 on an all new 2011 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra before taxes and expenses.

The Source: Jalopnik

If brought to market, the Granite would be the smallest GMC ever – but has been optimized to feel much larger. Its length is a full 2 feet (0.6 m) shorter than the new Terrain compact crossover, but its open interior was designed to be spacious and flexible to fit the needs of active people. Generous cargo space and unique flipping/folding seats, for example, enable a mountain bike to be loaded completely inside with the tailgate closed.

“Granite was conceived as a new type of vehicle from GMC – one that could stretch people’s ideas of what a GMC can be,” said Lisa Hutchinson, product marketing director for GMC. “We call it an ‘urban utility vehicle’ and our goal was redefining what the GMC name could mean to a new generation of customers looking for both bold design and functionality.”

Like GMC’s current lineup of trucks, SUVs and crossovers, the Granite delivers style and capability, with advanced features, high-quality materials and exceptional attention to detail. An industrial-influenced exterior is combined with a spacious interior that features precise instruments and leading-edge technology. The climate system, navigation and infotainment technologies, for example, are viewed via an extra-wide, next-generation organic light-emitting diode technology that is more dynamic than the conventional screens used in most production vehicles.

“We think of the Granite as the automotive equivalent of an urban loft apartment,” said Dave Lyon, executive director of North American Interior and Global Cross-Brand Design. “The exterior has an unmistakable industrial look, but the interior is warm and personalized.”

Power for the Granite concept comes from a 1.4L turbocharged engine that is part of GM’s new family of small-displacement, highly efficient four-cylinder engines. It is matched with a six-speed transmission.

via //ryanokeefe