UPDATE: GM has contacted us and refuted this report. General Motors is hosting its first annual Global Business conference today at its Warren, Mich., technical center, where its senior leadership is outlining the near-term strategy for GM’s worldwide operations. One of the biggest product tidbits from the conference came from GM North America VP Tom Stephens, who confirmed the existence of a production intent vehicle based on the GMC Granite concept while outlining GM's future product portfolio for financial analysts.
Introduced at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, the Granite “urban utility vehicle” is reportedly underpinned by a version of GM's global Delta architecture also used by the Orlando small crossover. At 161.3 inches long, by 70.3 inches wide by 60.5 inches tall, the Granite concept is too wide, squat and short in length to be a minivan; too short in the nose and close to the ground to be an SUV.
The best bet at this point to propel the new vehicle is GM's new 1.4-liter turbo mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. We suspect the Granite concept’s B-pillarless coach-style "carriage doors" are not likely to survive, but the overall size and shape of the vehicle should remain fairly close to that of the concept.
No word yet on when to expect a production version of the vehicle. In other product news from the event, GM also reportedly showed off an image of its new Impala and offered further confirmation of its coming new small Buick crossover. It also revealed that the next Chevy Traverse crossover will have a "Camaro inspired" grille.
Thanks to: Motor Trend
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