GMC rolled out an unlikely concept at the 2010 Detroit auto show: a boxy vehicle similar to the Scion xB. This urban utility vehicle may point the way for GMC to expand beyond big trucks and SUVs.
GMC, long a purveyor of trucks and SUVs, surprised the crowd at the 2010 Detroit auto show by rolling out this small concept. The Granite is about the size of a Scion xB, and is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine. That engine is mated to a six-speed dual clutch transmission, maximizing ease-of-use and efficiency.
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GMC refers to the Granite as an urban utility vehicle, a car young professionals can hit clubs in on weekday evenings, then load up with mountain bikes and surfboards on the weekends.
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GMC kept its rugged design style for the Granite, eschewing any exterior chrome for brushed metal. The exhaust pipe's rectangular tip is integrated with the rear fascia.
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As a concept, it's not surprising the Granite uses what GMC calls cabinet-style doors. Seating is designed for four, and the rear seats fold down, allowing space for the aforementioned mountain bikes.
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The dashboard is inset with a long OLED, showing navigation, climate, audio, and phone, all in a row, keeping each function visible at all times. Instead of a conventional shifter, the Granite uses a knob that the driver clicks into each drive mode.
