2011 GMC Terrain

Power on Earth: 2000 GMC Terradyne Concept

Press Release

Terradyne, the 2000 concept vehicle from GMC, takes the traditional full-size pickup into a new realm of capabilities. The truck’s name derives from “terra,” Latin for “of the earth,” and the Greek “dyne,” meaning “strength and power.” The name fits: Terradyne combines a commanding, dramatic presence with power and versatility that reinterprets the pickup truck for the 21st century. Exciting innovations and an emphasis on industrial precision result in a vehicle that brings exciting new capabilities to both of its roles: as a professional grade tool on the job and as a vehicle for comfortable family transportation. Terradyne builds on GMC’s 98 years of state-of-the-art truck-building expertise, redefining the pickup truck with fresh ideas and innovative capabilities. The result is a well thought-out vehicle that gives users everything they expect from a pickup, plus exciting new features that provide unexpected levels of functionality.

The emphasis on innovation and efficiency doesn’t stop with truck volume. Terradyne’s powerfu 6.6-liter V8 intercooled Turbo-diesel, Duramax 6600, sets new standards for diesel power, performance, durability and quiet operation. The Allison 1000 Series 5-speed automatic transmission features normal and tow/haul modes of operation, and adds engine-grade braking and power take-off capabilities. With Terradyne, GMC also introduces QuadraSteer — a remarkable four-wheel steering system. This innovation provides excellent maneuverability – allowing the driver to turn tightly at low speeds – as well as enhanced stability and towing capabilities at highway speeds.

Many of Terradyne’s capabilities aren’t obvious at first glance, but reveal themselves as the truck is used. For instance, anyone who has driven a pickup is familiar with situations such as “parking lot trap.” Traditional extended cab doors open away from each other, and a vehicle parked close in the next space can prevent them from opening very far. This creates difficulty for the pickup’s occupants in entering, exiting and loading cargo. Terradyne’s four innovative doors are powered to glide forward and back instead of swinging out, providing easy access to the cab and eliminating “parking lot trap.” Traditional crew cabs feature “B” pillars, with the need to walk around the door to access the front and rear seats. Gliding door construction allows the elimination of the “B” pillar – the center support that traditionally divides the front and rear doors. No “B” pillar means a wide-open space for loading and unloading cargo. A door-activated power-assist step automatically lowers to aid entry and exit, then raises to maintain high ground clearance.

Inside, reconfigurable rear seats and steering wheel-mounted controls add convenience and functionality. A mobile office with a console-mounted laptop allows drivers to take the productivity of their office with them when they hit the road. A Rear Video System uses a camera integrated into the tailgate to give the driver a clear view when backing up or while hitching a trailer, as do Terradyne’s power extendable rearview mirrors. Premium materials used throughout the interior, such as aluminium, stainless steel and leather, reflect Terradyne’s goal of meeting practical, work-related needs while providing exceptional occupant comfort.
Another feature that exemplifies Terradyne’s status as both a precision tool and family transportation is the AuraGen 5000 watt on-board, engine-driven generator. 110V and 220V outlets in the tailgate area gives the user access to “power on site,” whether at work on the jobsite or relaxing at a campsite.

2011 GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept

More of GMC Concept

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept Takes Heavy-Duty Capability To New Ground

DETROIT – The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is an exploration of heavy-duty truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility. It is highlighted by a bold exterior design, enhanced all-terrain suspension and premium details expected of a GMC – all designed to enable greater access to off-road destinations.

The new 2011 Sierra HD underpins the All Terrain HD concept, with a modified, production-based 4WD chassis and the Duramax diesel/Allison 1000 six-speed powertrain. The enhanced suspension and unique body dimensions, including increased ground clearance and wider track, as well as greater approach/departure angles, deliver off-road capability while maintaining HD levels of payload and trailering capacity.

"The Sierra All Terrain HD concept takes GMC's outstanding new HD platform to the next level, marries it to the legendary Duramax diesel/Allison transmission, and provides a heavy-duty expression of GMC's premium All Terrain package," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director. "It delivers the exceptional capabilities of the Sierra HD – hauling, towing and performance – and applies them to the toughest driving environments. It's the ultimate professional-grade tool for construction crews, ranchers and adventurers whose activities aren't limited by where the pavement ends."

The Sierra All Terrain HD features a unique five-foot, eight-inch Crew Cab/short box body configuration that supports a wheels-at-the-corners proportion. Shorter in overall length than production Sierra HD models, the concept's dimensions contribute to greater approach/departure angles. Additional off-road elements include:

* Wider, 73-inch (1,853 mm) track for greater stability

* Approximately 3 inches (76 mm) greater ground clearance

* Custom front upper and lower control arms

* Specially constructed Fox off-road shocks with remote fluid reservoirs (integrated in the wheel house liners)

* Front and rear jounce shocks

* Electronic front stabilizer bar disconnection

* 35-inch-tall BFGoodrich KM2 "mud terrain" tires mounted on 20-inch machined aluminum wheels

* Full composite underbody protection.

"The capability-enhancing attributes of the Sierra All Terrain HD build on the already outstanding capabilities offered in the all-new production Sierra HD trucks," said Hutchinson. "Although it is strictly a concept, it is a pretty realistic one."

Purposeful design

From every angle, the All Terrain HD looks the part of a dedicated off-road performer, with bold, accentuated features complemented by a wide stance and tall profile. 

Streamlined bumpers are designed to enhance approach/departure angles and incorporate frame-mounted recovery hooks – with integrated skid plates. A large, airflow-optimized grille maximizes cooling in tough conditions, while a forced-induction hood delivers more air to the Duramax diesel engine.

"The design of the All Terrain HD is an expression of its capabilities – strong, functional and absolutely professional grade," said Carl Zipfel, design manager. "We're excited about the design elements and exploring how they could apply to future GMCs."

Large fender flares stretch away from the body to cover the 35-inch-tall BFGoodrich tires. At the rear, the cargo box features lockable, lighted storage compartments, along with a number of tie-down cleats, including a pair in the bed floor and two on each side of the bed. A non-slip rubber pad is used on the tailgate, while two special compartments inside the cargo box provide access to a 110-volt power outlet and air compressor. A composite bed liner with a unique "circuit board" pattern provides a protective cover for the bed.

Motorized, deployable assist steps for the cab and cargo bed make it easier to enter and exit the All Terrain HD, while maximizing ground clearance during off-road driving. It also incorporates a number of industrial-grade lighting elements to provide greater visibility for safer driving where stars may be the only other source of illumination. The lighting details include:

* High-intensity LED headlamp, taillamp and fog lamp lighting mounted in impact-resistant composite housings and featuring edge-lit illumination

* High-intensity LED park and turn signal lamps

* Smooth-appearance front marker lamps integrated behind the top edge of the windshield glass

* Integrated center high-mounted stop lamp and rear marker lights mounted at the top edge of the rear window glass

* LED floodlights for the cargo bed and assist steps.

The All Terrain HD is painted Iridium Metallic – a dark charcoal color that reveals a reddish, anodized inflection when viewed from certain angles. It complements other anodized and satin-metal finishes on the exterior, which give the truck a more precise and functional appearance.

The interior matches the exterior aesthetic, with premium appointments and increased functionality, including enhanced lighting. It conveys solidity and precision, blending accent details such as stainless steel mesh and satin chrome with an amplified expression of the All Terrain's premium features. Two-tone dark gray leather seats, matched with embossed carbon fiber-style leather on the seating surfaces, have red contrast stitching. Additional leather-wrapped interior features include the steering wheel, instrument panel and center console.

A new navigation radio is also featured on the Sierra All Terrain HD concept and previews future radios to be offered in GMC vehicles. An integrated 80-gig hard drive contains map data for the navigation system. It eliminates the need for a map disc and provides greater storage of music from portable devices. It also features DVR-style "time lapse playback," which allows up to 20 minutes of recording/playback from the AM/FM/XM radio stations.

All Terrain chassis and suspension

Based on the chassis of the 2011 Sierra HD trucks, the All Terrain HD features a fully boxed steel frame with exceptional strength and torsional stiffness. It incorporates the production models' new independent front suspension and asymmetrical rear leaf-spring suspensions, but with a wider 73-inch (1,853 mm) track (front and rear) that enhances stability during off-road and highway driving. A production Sierra 2500HD has front and rear tracks of 68.8 inches (1,748 mm) and 67.3 inches (1,709 mm), respectively.

An increased ride height provides greater ground clearance of 21.1 inches (536 mm) at the rockers and 11.8 inches (300 mm) at the skid plates, while specialized Fox off-road shocks deliver exceptional damping on tough terrain. They were created specially for the All Terrain HD, with specific valving. The shocks feature visible, remote fluid reservoirs – connected to the shock bodies via custom hoses – mounted in the wheel house liners and are matched with front and rear jounce shocks. They add additional compression damping and more controlled rebound, which helps increase control, stability and handling.

The All Terrain HD also features electronic disconnection of the front stabilizer bar, which enables greater crawling capability on rocky terrain. The driver simply pushes a button inside the cab to disconnect it from the front suspension.

Custom upper and lower control arms for the front suspension are designed to work with the Fox off-road shocks and jounce shocks, while supporting the greater ground clearance and ride height. They contribute to the wider track, as do the aggressive 20-inch machined aluminum all-terrain wheels. The wheels are deep, with six split-spoke elements, and are constructed in a reverse drop-flange method that ensures optimal strength. They also feature a mix of satin chrome and anodized aluminum finishes, which provide durability and a premium appearance that complements the body's Iridium Metallic color.

A full composite underbody protection system shields the All Terrain HD's transmission, drivetrain, fuel tank, exhaust system and axle differentials. It starts with the front bumper, which rolls beneath the truck and leads to a composite, integral belly pan that covers a front suspension skid plate. Protective covers are also mounted beneath the driveline components, while the front and rear differentials feature direct-mounted skid plates. The rear bumper is integrated with the rear skid plate.

Powertrain details

The Sierra All Terrain HD concept is propelled by the new, production 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 and Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission powertrain combination offered in the 2011 Sierra HD trucks. The Duramax is rated at 397 horsepower (296 kW) and 765 lb.-ft. of torque (1,037 Nm).

The powerful 6.6L Duramax is more fuel-efficient – with up to 11-percent greater fuel economy than previous versions – and reduces NOx emissions by up to 63 percent. The powertrain's efficiency is assisted by the Allison 1000 transmission, which requires less engine power to funnel torque to the axles. It also incorporates a "smart" exhaust brake feature that helps save wear on the brakes on downhill grades, a feature available on production Sierra HDs.

With the same proven powertrain as production Sierra HD trucks, the All Terrain HD delivers comparable hauling and towing capabilities, including:

* Estimated payload capacity of 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg)

* Estimated conventional towing capacity of 13,000 pounds (5,896 kg)

* Estimated fifth-wheel towing capacity of 15,600 pounds (7,076 kg).

The Sierra All Terrain HD also features four-wheel drive, with automatic locking front and rear differentials, while the 14-inch, four-wheel disc brake system from the production Sierra HD provides the stopping power for this unique off-roader.