GMC is building its All-Terrain 4-wheel drive empire as we speak. The truckmaker made the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 which is scheduled for the 2018 New York Auto Show, but they won’t stop there. No, according to GMC, all pickup trucks and SUVs will get the same treatment shortly.
The refined off-road pickup truck will definitely cut some piece of Raptor’s market cake. The main question is whether the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 is going to be able to cope with Ford’s high-performance off-roader of no. Judging by the specs of GMC’s upcoming truck, the vehicle will be as good as the main rival, so the price could decide what to buy.
The main advantage of the 2019 Sierra 1500 AT4 is different engine options. The truck will use a 5.3-liter V-8 as standard. However, the buyers will be able to get an optional 6.2-liter V8 or even a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 diesel. The Ford Raptor, on the other hand, offers just one option under the hood.
GMC’s full-size AT4-treated pickup truck is lifted two additional inches from the ground and uses a standard 4-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The off-roading will be easier thanks to Rancho monotube shock absorbers, mighty skid plates, and standard locking rear differential, though the potential drivers could make it even better if they choose 20-inch inches instead of 18-inch rims. Plus, the truck can use awesome Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires or standard all-terrain tires. A driving mode selector with a specific model for off-roading is also standard in-the-house, as they are hill descent control and a surround-view camera.
Since it’s based on the totally redesigned Sierra 1500 pickup, the AT4 model is also mated to the new CarbonPro carbon-fiber box, which is corrosion and scratch-resistant. The overall look, however, is a bit different thanks to added black chrome from the outside and some special aluminum inside. The vehicle gets a special leather treatment inside, AT4-badging on the headrests and floor mats, and the latest technologies that have been introduced with the redesigned Sierra 1500.
It’s pretty clear that the awesome truck won’t come cheap, but let’s wait and see what the carmaker has to say on that.
