Just looking for some basic info...

What model year are they supposed to come out for? Also, is there a target release date?

Are there any pics or other nuggets of info on the GMT-900 program as of yet?

Finally, is a GMT-900 based Avalanche in the works?

 

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums...1613&hl=gmt900

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums...0413&hl=gmt900

 

Spring '06 = SUVs as MY '07
early '07 = trucks as '08

- L92 6.2L V8 will be avalible
- Esclade will get a 7.5L V10 (v series?)
- GM says interiors will be better than the F-150 (which is an awesome interior)

I want to know if it is coming out with the SUVs? or Trucks a year later?

 

I would think with the trucks that would give the SUVs more ramp up time and let suppliers get started also it would position the new avalanche as a truck not an SUV which it really is. It is based on an SUV afterall.

 

I just checked a source, and it says the new Avalanche and Escalade EXT should come out with the SUV's, ahead of the trucks...

 

woohoo, in that second article they talk about the Janesville, WI GM plant. Thats like my home town!

For a long time that plant was in danger of being shut down.

 

I think that GM would have these products out sooner than MY 2007. I have heard that both trucks and SUVs were going to be compeletly redesigned for MY 2006.

 

They do realize that the F150 is getting a major refreshening in 2007, and the Superduties are getting a complete redesign............. right???

It will be interesting to see how much they leapfrog the existing F150 interiors. Of course, with them still being over 2 years away, it will be a while before we know much of anything.

 

I would find that amazing, considering they let the last F150 run from 1997-on without a single significant change from a styling standpoint.

I hope they do, though... while I like the new F150 probably best of all the current full size trucks, I am all for frequent styling freshenings.

 

Ford is putting their trucks on a similar product cycle to the cars. They realize that the days of 10 years between changes is over. By doing this, they can react faster to changes in the marketplace, such as new features ........... and different buying trends.

Look at the Superduty. It got a major refreshening for the 2005 MY, and is getting completely redesigned for the 2007 MY.

Hopefully GM will follow the trend. Otherwise, they will always be a day late (or a few years), and a dollar short (or millions, in this case).

BTW, the 2007 F150 changes is a pretty hush hush thing. My feeling is that they are going to try to trump the new GM trucks, before they even come out. I know I was certainly disappointed in the product cycle length for the current GM trucks.

 

I all fairness... the current GM trucks came out in 1999. Ford was 1997. The new F150 was 2004. The new GM's should be 2007... there's only a 1 year difference, and GM actually DID freshen the styling during the run, where Ford did not.

So, it's a bit unfair to praise Ford, and say you are disappointed in GM here, I'd think.

 

I guess I'm a little curious as to why the SUV's are comming out first instead of the trucks. In previous models it was the trucks first and then the SUVs. I'm in need of a new truck and I think I'm going to hold out for the new style. If the new style is not up to my tastes I'll then pick up a remaining HD and be happy. I'm going to rely on a couple of boards like this to get me a sneak peak or two as to whats comming so I can make up my mind somewhat quickly. I need to do something soon though asmy 2000 Z71 has over 150K on it and is starting to have problems.... ALOT of em...

 

I've wondered the same thing...

My best guess is that the SUV's are spread out over more lineups (Chevy, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer), so doing the SUV's first gets fresh, new product into more showrooms faster than doing the trucks first (Chevy and GMC only).

Also, it may be easier to ramp up production on the SUV's, since the trucks would demand more volume....

 

I was thinking the exact same thing...

 

I'm not praising based on the past, I'm praising based on the future.

Ford redesigned the truck in 2004, and will do a major refreshening in 2007. This is a cycle of 3 years.

GM has seen the same writing on the wall that Ford did. They could have moved up the trucks, due to the additional competition in the marketplace. Yet they did not do that. In typical GM fashion, they took the stance of "we are GM and the world revolves around us.......... so there "

I realize they are a huge corporation............ and huge has a tendency to move slow. Its just that the dynamics of the industry are changing......... and they need to change with it.

Hell, I don't think that Ford is doing everything right, and GM everything wrong. Frankly, as a whole, they both suck at some things and excell at others. I just think that the financial situation that Ford found itself in shook a few of the cobwebs out.

Hey, at least we don't have to worry about Dodge anymore. They are going to hit the Ram with the same ugly stick as the Dakota.............. pity.