Eliminating the base trim aligns with GMC’s strategy to prioritize its premium subbrands. The AT4 off-road trim already makes up about a third of Canyon volume, and the Denali luxury trim accounts for 20 to 25 percent, GMC said. The brand expects the AT4X trim to grab a large share of deliveries when it launches on the Canyon.
“GMC is flexing the might of our off-road muscle,” said GMC Global Vice President Duncan Aldred. “Canyon benefits from key learnings gained from our AT4 strategy to bring customers the most advanced off-road midsize truck.”
The Canyon comes with one standard engine — a 2.7-liter turbo with a General Motors-estimated 430 pound-feet of torque — and one cab configuration — a short bed crew cab.
With the previous generation, “we had multiple engine lineups, multiple cab lineups, but every truck had the same interior,” said Nick Katcherian, chief engineer. “We want to put the premium content where the customers see it and feel it the most. That’s what drove us into having the overall architecture approach.”
