At Pontiac-GMC Division, the deuce is wild. And at GMC’s end of the business, its Sierra full-sized pickup show truck is a wild Deuce.
In today’s sportside pickup game, the GMC Sierra Deuce can be used for anything, work, fun, image, or whatever fits your personal desire.
As a full-sized pickup truck, GMC has built the Deuce to give the public a peek at what lies in the future in the way of product form.
Unlike a lot of show vehicles, the Sierra Deuce is a real operating truck that embraces a coupe expression in a pickup, while retaining the functionality of a truck.
The Deuce name comes from the pickup having a coupe configuration with a center console. I’m not sure that is ever going to see the light of day on a truck production line. Maybe, however, as an option.
There is a lot about this vehicle that will see production. Power, size, and a styling heritage that dwells back into the history of General Motors are the hallmarks of the Deuce.
The pickup benefits from GM’s ever ongoing efforts in research and development.
The front end is a prime example of the pickup’s styling character.
It employs a lamp configuration that is deeper, wider, and taller than those used on previous Sierra sportside pickups.
In addition, lighting engineers have created a new lens for accurate low beam focusing, and reflector optics for superior high beam illumination.
Both modes produce a highway-friendly lighting pattern that provides a 30 percent increase in forward lighting range.
The low beams of the headlights yield 120 percent more left-hand driving light for better left-side visibility. The high beams have 25 percent more illumination than previous Sierra headlights.
Front end styling is accentuated by a wide grille that denotes the Deuce’s on-road stance and is designed to increase underhood air flow.
For a bit of show biz, the chrome-accented bumper and chrome-plated tow hooks are designed to attract buyers of full- sized pickup.
Back end styling features custom dual exhaust tips, body-colored aero cladding, and a unique treatment of the rear fascia. The fascia contains a custom roll pan, and large, round backup lights on each side of the license plate well.
Functional facets of the rear of the truck lie in rear fender/body panels made of a durable RRIM (reinforced reaction injection molding) polymer. The rustproof panel paints like steel but is lighter and more heat tolerant.
For easier access to the cargo bed, integral side steps are molded into the panel.
Interior-wise, appointments are designed for function as well as comfort.
Amenities include suede-accented seats, with hip room being 1.3 inches greater than that of the current Sierra. The seat track is 34 percent longer to accommodate drivers of all sizes, and you can look for that in the future.
Instrumentation consists of a user-friendly instrument cluster that monitors 19 functions, has an electronic odometer with trip meter, and an engine hour meter.
Driver’ s will be interested in the frame, which has new dimensional specifications that improve ride quality and stability over the current generation Sierra.
The wheelbase is extended two inches to 119.5 inches. The rear track is widened 2.5 inches, the front track nine-tenths of an inch. Overall length is 203.3 inches.
Structurally the frame is stronger, stiffer, and lighter than the present Sierra.
By hydroforming the front rail section, metal fit, dimensional control of brackets, crush performance and serviceability has been improved.
While the frame is the backbone of the Deuce, it’s new generation Vortec 5300 Series V-8 is the guts. The 5.3-liter engine produces 265-horsepower and 320 foot-pounds of torque.
When coupled to a four- speed automatic that has a Tow/Haul mode, and standing on 18-inch wheels, the Deuce is in the heavy hauler category.
This really comes into play via GMC’s AutoTrac active transfer case that can automatically transfer power to the front wheels when slippage occurs at the rear wheels.
The Deuce has a sibling in a truck called the Sierra ACE, an extended cab version of the pickup.
The vehicles are forerunners of what GMC has in mind for the next century.
