I’d love to see it but I’m highly skeptical. #1 the source. Those guys toss crap at the wall and see what sticks for clicks. Until I see it from the general itself I’m not holding my breath.
Second, trump rolling back fuel economy requirements only work as long as he’s in office. Just like he rolled back Biden era policies, the next regime that holds the White House may swing that pendulum back the other way and roll back all that Trump did as far as auto policy goes (with everything else).
That’s precisely why they haven’t just done away with diesel emissions equipment for the ‘26 model year. Nor have I seen any plans to omit the garbage in 2027 or later. In the world of auto design they are years down the road. The new 2027 1500 trucks have been in the works for a while and didn’t get started last year to come out 12 months later. Part of it is knowing or forecasting what the regulatory requirements will be.
I’m all for a new body on frame suv to come out over all the unibody cross overs. But let’s be real, if they bet on black thinking the won’t have a fuel economy standard to meet and then that ball lands on red instead and the jimmy is up against new CAFE regulations GM is screwed. Worse if the stuff a v8 in it. Millions invested in design and tooling to pull the plug on it or they go to production sit on dealers lots rotting because majority of the public don’t want gas guzzling suvs and in typical fashion they won’t do any flashy marketing blitz because the optics of a gas guzzling suv is bad for the corporate image.
Let’s take a hard look at the current Tahoe and Yukon. Both can be had as an off road esq variant between the Z71 and AT4 trim levels. Got the 6.2L v8, body on frame and sitting on independent suspension at all 4 corners. The Yukon having the option for magnetic ride control shocks or air suspension on an ultimate. The air does have a setting to “lift” the unit 2” over normal ride height for better off road ability. I’ve yet to see a $80 AT4 or an AT4 ultimate pushing 100k anywhere near dirt road much less a mild off road trail. They are mall crawlers. Period. Nobody in their right mind would take a loaded AT4 ultimate and run any trails with it. Besides traction control they could have a good ol’ G80 auto locking diff out back and an open unit up front. Matched up with 3 ply sidewall street based tires it screams off road capability to me, how about you?
GM is not the only one doing it. Ford is charging a premium for its tremor trim levels giving the same off road look to folks that are less likely to actually go off road.
Sorry for the rant.