CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

GMC JIMMY coming back?

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.
 
"giving the same off road look to folks that are less likely to actually go off road"

You hit the nail on the head right there...but that's where the reality is. Most guys want the off-road look even if they never intend to "off-road". I'm ok with that. I love squarebodys but I'm also angry with what GM did to the blazer name. A modern offering of the GMC Jimmy would be an interesting novelty to see...even if I liked it I doubt I could afford it.
 
Fuel economy standards aside, when fuel prices go nuts like now, owning the gas guzzlers we love starts to sting a bit. The big auto makers won't bet on cheap fuel going forward.
I would love to get one of the early Colorado/Canyons with the V8 and build it big. 42's and tons with a nice interior and AC that isn't another boring JK Wrangler would be sweet.
 
Here's how it works. Market studies and surveys are done. Whatever people say they are willing to spend way too much money on goes to the top of the list to make real. There's no battle to build a super-reliable DD $10k car. But when MSRP is 6 figures and there are people dumb enough to buy it, that makes the business case.
 
Here's how it works. Market studies and surveys are done. Whatever people say they are willing to spend way too much money on goes to the top of the list to make real. There's no battle to build a super-reliable DD $10k car. But when MSRP is 6 figures and there are people dumb enough to buy it, that makes the business case.
I’m still amazed that people spend 6 figures on Yukons, Tahoes and suburban, Escalades too. But those units do not sit on dealers lots at all. GMC dealers I visit do say the Denali ultimate and at4 ultimate versions are usually sold before they get unloaded off the transporter. Most say if they could get more allocated to them they would sell more.

The segment a new jimmy would fit into definitely has the deck stacked against them. Jeep customers are very loyal, same for Toyota customers. Factor in a bronco that is catching up and you can start to see how tight that fight would be. Oh and don’t forget ford is already building another body on frame suv on the ranger platform in the Aussie market that would not be hard to get ready for the us market.
 
What would it look like? Would it be a throwback like the Bronco or would it be in name only?
 
Hopefully it won't look like a lifted Traverse. This is more the direction they should have gone with the new Blazer, since they already have Trax, Equinox, Traverse and Acadia. Who needed another one? I think we all know that today it has to be 4-door. If they really want to target 4-runner, Cherokee, etc., they should give it some real off-road features, like dual selectable lockers, adjustable height suspension and wheel wells ready for big tires. Set them on 35's or even 37's right on the dealer lot with 4.88 gears.

1776083653979.png


https://gmauthority.com/blog/2026/04/exclusive-gm-working-on-gmc-jimmy-suv-again/
 
Top Bottom