GMC Sierra Crafted To Do Good

The GMC is a brand of vehicles, cars, and trucks that has constantly and continually been described as the “Professional Grade”. At present, this vehicle brand is the truck manufacturing division of the General Motors Corporation, and this brand also manufactures and markets various kinds of trucks. These trucks could actually range from the light duty pickup trucks to sport utility vehicles to medium duty commercial trucks. Some models that are sold under this brand include the GMC Sierra, the GMC Savana, the GMC Safari, the GMC Envoy, and the GMC Yukon.

However, before this brand became a part of the whole General Motors Corporation, GMC has been known as the Grabowski Motor Company. This company is the manufacturer of the earliest commercial trucks in the automotive business. Come 1909, General Motors then purchased this line of vehicles. Later, this then became the basis of the present line of vehicles that we know today. In 1912, the trucks that were manufactured by the General Motors Company was known to be the “GMC Truck”, however come the year 1996, these vehicles then carried the name and brand “GMC”. At present times, this line of vehicles produce and craft medium duty trucks, stylish light duty pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles.

One of the vehicles that run under the GMC brand and mark is the GMC Sierra. The latest vehicle model has been redesigned just for the year 2006. The newest vehicle boasts of new and improved features for its exterior and interior. It also sports a bolder look for its front end. The interior of the GMC Sierra has an improved function and appearance. It also has brakes that received the latest upgrades. This vehicle offers an array of the best and advanced engineering features among its segment, thus also providing a better and quality ride. As per functionality, this vehicle would not want to be left behind in the dust, for it has been given the capacity and capability to do hauling and towing.

This vehicle comes with either as a two wheel drive or a four wheel drive. It has also been manufactured in light duty models and medium duty power capacities. It as short bed and long bed bodies. There is also a choice between fenders or full width beds. The GMC Sierra also has an electronically controlled four wheel steering system, which is known as the Quadrasteer. This enhances the vehicle’s ability to do high speed with great stability. There are many options that come along with this vehicle. The list includes a special full length console with concealed storage for a personal digital assistant or PDA, a cellular phone, a seven quart cooler, as well as a cooled or heated cup holder.

By Terry Brown.

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GMC Sierra Hybrid 2005 Accentuated with GMC Parts from Parts Train

A standard Vortec 5300 5.3-liter V8 engine powers the Sierra Hybrid and a 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission coupled with the full-size truck segment’s first hybrid propulsion technology for improved fuel economy.

The Sierra hybrid uses electric power even less frequently. Its gasoline engine can shut down when the car is stopped (actually, when it's braking to a stop, below 13 mph or so) and-that's it. The batteries (three 14-volt units plus the standard 12-volt) cannot power the truck at low speeds. Nor do they help out the gasoline engine, which therefore can't be any smaller. It's the same 5.3-liter V-8 GM pickup buyers know and love. Because of the limited nature of this hybrid system, the benefits are mild: roughly 2 mpg in city driving and 1 mpg during the EPA's highway cycle.

The system replaces the traditional starter motor and alternator with a compact 14-kw electric induction motor or starter generator integrated between the engine and transmission. The starter generator provides fast, quiet starting power and allows the gasoline engine to automatically start and stop under certain conditions to conserve fuel.

The Sierra Hybrid also offers four 120-volt/20-amp electrical auxiliary power outlets located under the rear seat and in the pickup bed. Because the 5.3-liter V-8 is the same as that in non-hybrid pickups, its power and torque outputs are the same (295 horsepower, 325 pound-feet of torque). Acceleration, towing, and payload are undiminished. The extra hybrid gear takes up very little space-the biggest component, the three extra batteries, is under the rear seat. One interesting feature of the hybrid trucks are its four, 120-volt 20-amp AC power outlets in the cargo bed and the rear seat; but the engine must be running in order to use them.

As in hybrid cars, the gas engine shuts off at stoplights to save fuel, and an electric motor restarts the engine when the gas pedal is pushed. Unlike most hybrids, the electric motor does not help propel the vehicle. The system does include a unique feature aimed at commercial users and picnic tailgaters: a generator that provides 120-volt power for running electrical accessories.

Available in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada and Florida, the Sierra Hybrid delivers up to 10 percent better fuel economy with the same power and performance as the 5.3-liter V8. In fact, that same engine powers the Hybrid, developing the same 295 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque.

GM is not to be outpaced in this hurried race for the development of producing fuel cells. With all these amazing technological breakthroughs in the automotive industry, Partstrain stands by its commitment of delivering excellently engineered GM performance parts, replacement auto parts to go with GM's efforts of sustained production of environment friendly vehicles.

By Jenny McLane.