GMC Granite Concept at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

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• Looks like: A traditional GMC grille floating in a design student’s final exam
• Defining characteristics: Flat-nosed grille, flip-up front and rear passenger seats, 20-inch wheels and a notable absence of chrome for a GMC
• Ridiculous features: None, really; a majority of these features have potential in the real world
• Chance of being mass-produced: Possible, but what’s tough about a GMC micro-van?

Measuring in 2 feet shorter in length than a 2010 GMC Terrain, the Granite concept is based on the Chevrolet Orlando and would be GMC’s smallest crossover if greenlighted for production.

You won’t find traditional GMC off-road ruggedness or boat-pulling towing capacity in this concept. GMC is aiming its sights in a new direction with the Granite, calling it an “urban utility vehicle” for active people that need a small package with a flexible interior.

Features aimed to exploit the Granite’s urban-ticity include a unique seating configuration: The front and rear passenger seats flip inward toward the center console to create a long, unobstructed storage space. There are also large storage spaces that GMC says can fit a laptop, plus a center console running between the front and rear seats with ports for portable electronic devices.

On the inside, GMC goes for a mechanical motif that takes its inspiration from aircraft-type mechanical instruments and precision tools, according to the automaker. The gear selector doesn’t have a traditional lever — instead it’s a rotating dial.

Powering the Granite concept is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. We just wonder if a high-efficiency engine in a vehicle that can haul four people and not much else is something any GMC buyer would consider.