SIERRA
PRO PLUS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE By:
Michael LevineLast
Edited: 11-05-01 00:00
GMC continues
to refine its series of Sierra Professional trucks, which first
appeared at SEMA in 1999, with the debut of the all new Sierra Pro
Plus concept pickup.
The Sierra
Professional, given the greenlight for production as a 2002 option package
on the GMC Sierra, forms the foundation for the Sierra Pro Plus concept
and shares much in common with this truck. Many of its components are
either available today or seem destined for production in the near future.
We spoke
with GMC Sierra Assistant Brand Manager Lorraine Babiar about this latest
"Professional Grade" iteration. Babiar began work with her team
on the Sierra Pro Plus back in January of this year.
Incorporating
many of the best ideas to date, the Pro Plus most notably introduces quarter
side storage, a removable split rear seat and Magna Steyr supercharger.
Quarter side
storage is very similar to a product we came across at SEMA two years
ago called Hide-N-Side. The Sierra's
rear quarter panels have been transformed into a very convenient storage
area complete with customizable racks and bins. Created out of the same
SRIM material used in the Chevrolet Silverado's composite bed, the Sierra
Pro's quarter side storage panels easily fold down and are locked in place
when the tailgate is up. This is also a feature that will be showing up
in another GMC concept, the Terra4,
expected to debut in January at Detroit's North American International
Auto Show. Given these two massive hints, we expect to see quarter side
storage offered as an option in production Sierra's by 2005.
GMC
Sierra Pro Plus Concept Truck
The 60/40
removable split bench seat in the rear of the cab is also another feature
that will likely find its way to production in the not too distant future.
Owners can remove the "40" portion during the day for work related
purposes, substituting the seat for more rack space to hang toolboxes
from. At night the seat can be quickly reinstalled to accomodate the entire
family. Under the rear seating is the same large storage bin currently
offered in the production Sierra Professional.
Magna Steyr
has supplied the the supercharger under the Pro Plus's hood. With this
blower the Vortec 6600, already a powerful engine, gains an additional
20% bump in horsepower to 328 hp and 23% more torque for a total of 356
ft-lbs. GM's Service Parts Organization is working closely with Magna
Steyr to potentially offer this supercharger as a dealer installed option.
Magna Steyr already does a similar package for Toyota's Tacoma compact
pickup and will soon add a dealer installed supercharger for the Tundra.
One other
item likely to find its way into production on a GMC truck is the Magna
reconfigurable tailgate module that quickly changes from a bed extender
to cargo loading ramps. This same system was featured last year at SEMA
on GMC's Sonoma Recon
concept.
Other items
of note sure to be enjoyed by contractors and others who might purchase
this truck are the Grammer Air Ride front driver and passenger seats.
These seats offer plenty of comfort and even include a massage lumbar
system for winding down after a tough day at work. A Panasonic Toughbook
laptop pops out of the driver's side rear door panel. The perfect computer
built to take a beating at the construction site.
GMC
Sierra Professional Pro Plus Pickup
GMC
SIERRA PROFESSIONAL PRO PLUS SPECS
Highlights
- Heavy Duty 4WD extended cab with 6½-foot composite pickup
box
- 6.0L Vortec 6000 V8 with Magnuson supercharger package (under
consideration for future models by GM Performance Parts) increases
maximum hp by 20 percent to 328 hp @ 5250 rpm, and increases maximum
torque 23 percent to 356 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
- Automatic 4-speed transmission with overdrive
- 4.10 rear axle ratio
- Handling/trailering suspension and trailering equipment
- Electronic shift transfer case
Exterior
Features
- Magna Reconfigurable Tailgate Module acts as bed extender or extendable
ramp
- Delbar/PowerVision power extendable trailering mirrors
- Dura power rear sliding window (under development by GM Accessories
as a future accessory)
- Quarter side storage with tool box, tool trays, tool kits, storage
buckets, portable snake lights, blueprint clips and interchangeable
bins designed for specific trades
- TracRac Bed Rack System (GM Accessories) modified on this vehicle
to hold ladders, wood, pipe or other construction materials
- Accent rear lighting to illuminate bed area of the truck
- Tone-on-tone roof marker lamps
- Webasto dual power sunroofs
- Adjustable cargo bed
- Peragon brushed aluminum hard sliding cargo cover with lock
- Reese dual port hitch system for pulling trailer or attaching
carrying rack
- Optimum Charcoal paint styled by Nippon - Paint - Color Design
Studio of America (CDSA) and formulated in Sherwin-Williams paint
- Custom wheel flares with industrial fastener accents in body color
- Tone-on-tone front fascia with integrated driving lamps and grille
- Custom body-color molded hood protector
Bodyside molding with protective brushed accents with rubberized
“Sierra PRO PLUS” badging
- CustomTow hooks with brushed accent finish
Rocker step shield and running board system, wheel-to-wheel in body
color with brushed accents and Pro-Tech rubberized/glass accent
paint (acrylic-based urethane produced from recycled materials)
- Panther 17” x 8” machined aluminum six-spoke wheels
with eight lugs
- 17-inch blackwall on-road/off-road tires
Dual exhaust with brushed tips
Interior
Features
- Magna lockable floor console including Palm Pilot and cell
phone storage station with always-on charging outlets, thermo-electric
hot/cold cupholder and removable thermo-electric hot/cold cooler
- Lockable, reconfigurable storage box under rear seat
- 60/40 split bench rear seat with 40-percent portion removable
- Portable multi-bin tool box/organizer that installs in place of
the removable 40-percent portion of 60/40 rear bench seat
- Rear driver door panel with removable Panasonic Toughbook laptop
computer in magnesium case
- Rear passenger door panel removable tool kit bag
- Front seat back storage hook system with storage tube and matching
interior accents for holding drawings
- Instrument panel cluster with electro-luminescent white gauges
and brushed aluminum gauge bezels
- Custom steering wheel leather wrap and brushed aluminum accents
- Professional grade seat covering with woven vinyl seat inserts
(front and rear)
- Door panels with matching woven vinyl inserts on trim bolsters
- L.L. Bean Waterhog front and rear floor mats
- Driver and passenger Grammer Air Ride seats including massage
lumbar system
- Sunshade mounted 12-Disc CD holder (GM Accessories)
Functional
Features
- VSL 4200 Security System (GM Accessories) with digital tilt/motion
sensor concepts added to this vehicle
- ACDelco Professional Platinum Battery (GM Accessories)
- Porter-Cable cordless Professional Power Tools including 19.2
Volt Quad Pack with 6-inch Sawboss circular saw, Tiger saw, ½-inch
keyless-chuck hammer drill and flashlight
Last
Edited: 11-05-01 00:00
