Facelifted GMC Sierra Spied: Details Change, the Shape Remains the Same
Prepping a pickup truck for on-road testing must be a thankless task, so you might as well have some fun with it. Take these spy shots of the upcoming GMC Sierra. Wise to the fact the truck’s black fabric camouflage only confirms that changes are coming to the Sierra, the team nonetheless took the time to affix to the grille an oval badge that is a dead-ringer for the iconic emblem of a crosstown competitor whose name begins with “F.” Never mind the clearly visible “Sierra” logo on the sides and tailgate—you gotta get your yuks where you can, right?
As is generally the case with midcycle facelifts, the plastic bits are first to get overhauled. It’s clear from these photos that the grille will be updated—sans the blue oval badge, we trust—and the headlights will be revised, as well. It’s not fully obvious, but it looks like the shape of the headlamp binnacle stays the same, while the makeup of the illumination elements gets rearranged and possibly upgraded. Judged by the placement of camo on the rear corners, similar updates are in store for the taillamps.
As is generally the case with midcycle facelifts, the plastic bits are first to get overhauled. It’s clear from these photos that the grille will be updated—sans the blue oval badge, we trust—and the headlights will be revised, as well. It’s not fully obvious, but it looks like the shape of the headlamp binnacle stays the same, while the makeup of the illumination elements gets rearranged and possibly upgraded. Judged by the placement of camo on the rear corners, similar updates are in store for the taillamps.
It is interesting, however, that GM went to the trouble of covering the entire front clip. While the expensive-to-change hard bits from the A-pillar to the tailgate (doors and windows, bed and wheel-arch creases, fuel-filler location) appear to be unchanged, it’s not out of the question that the maker might spring for the tooling to update the hood and front fenders. Unfortunately, this set of images doesn’t reveal much to support this theory—camo one, spy photos zero.
Although mechanical specs have yet to be confirmed, we fully expect the eight-speed automatic transmission to break off its exclusive arrangement with the 6.2-liter V-8 and take up with the 5.3-liter V-8, as well. Rumors peg GM’s new 10-speed box to arrive in 2017. (As a side note, may we suggest that GM name the 10-speed box “Ratio-King,” in homage to its glory days of hyperbolic product naming?)
A timeline for the on-sale date of the updated Sierra is not yet nailed down, but we are expecting the freshened truck to launch late in 2015 as a 2016 model; but if the timing slips until after the first of the year, it could be a 2017.
Although mechanical specs have yet to be confirmed, we fully expect the eight-speed automatic transmission to break off its exclusive arrangement with the 6.2-liter V-8 and take up with the 5.3-liter V-8, as well. Rumors peg GM’s new 10-speed box to arrive in 2017. (As a side note, may we suggest that GM name the 10-speed box “Ratio-King,” in homage to its glory days of hyperbolic product naming?)
A timeline for the on-sale date of the updated Sierra is not yet nailed down, but we are expecting the freshened truck to launch late in 2015 as a 2016 model; but if the timing slips until after the first of the year, it could be a 2017.
By Car and Driver