A couple of months ago, a Jeep Wrangler was spotted undergoing testing at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. That naturally led to speculation that the company was considering a competitor for the Wrangler and the upcoming Ford Bronco.
While that still remains unconfirmed, a report from Automotive News suggests it’s possible. According to the publication, the company could launch a rugged SUV based on the next-generation of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
If the report is correct, it might be a while before we see the vehicle as the mid-sized pickups aren’t expected to be redesigned until 2022 or later. This suggests the SUV is still several years away – assuming it’s green lighted in the first place.
However, that seems likely as GM is reportedly eyeing a $1 billion (£818 / €897) investment in its Wentzville plant which currently builds the Colorado and Canyon. When reports about the investment first popped up in May, there was speculation that some of the funds could be used to build a new mid-sized SUV at the plant. Like the Colorado and Canyon, the SUV would be a body-on-frame vehicle and this would make it much more rugged and capable than crossovers such as the Acadia and Terrain.
Virtually nothing is known about the SUV, but it could potentially follow in the footsteps of the Bronco and Wrangler by featuring a removable roof. That remains unconfirmed, but older full-size Jimmys had a removable hardtop and so did the 2008 Hummer HX concept.
Also Read: GM Testing The Jeep Wrangler; Is It Working On A Competitor?
The SUV doesn’t seem to be the only new model GMC is considering either. The report also mentions a possible sub-compact crossover which could adopt the Granite name that was used on a concept in 2010. The model could arrive in 2022 or 2023, but there’s speculation it could get pushed back if GMC decides to focus the rumored SUV instead.
That could be a potentially bad move as crossovers are a hit with consumers and GMC’s smallest entry is currently the Terrain which starts at $25,000.
