autoevolution
 

NAIAS: GMC Granite Concept

American manufacturer GMC will unveil a new concept dubbed Granite at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. The concept is, GMC says, inspired by industrial design and "packs functionality aimed at young professionals".

"Granite was conceived as a new type of vehicle from GMC – one that could stretch people’s ideas of what a GMC can be,” Lisa Hutchinson, product marketing director for GMC said in a release. “We call it an ‘urban utility vehicle’ and our goal was redefining what the GMC name could mean to a new generation of customers looking for both bold design and functionality.

The concept has a 103.6-inch (2,631 mm) wheelbase and is 161.3-inch (4,097 mm) long. The four doors on the vehicle are hinged on each side to open like a set of French doors, with no pillar dividing the front and rear ones.

On the interior, GMC designers thought to give the car aircraft-type mechanical instruments and precision tools, with the instrument cluster
featuring gauges modified to give them a timepiece appearance. The speedometer also features a compass, allowing for directional information.

The seats of the Granite are designed to be reconfigured as the owner sees fit. The front passenger and right rear seats flip up and fold in toward the center console, creating a long, unobstructed storage space.

GMC did not provide any information on what may power the concept, but it said should the GMC Granite ever see production, it would become the smallest GMC ever.

The Design team leveraged the best attributes from different segments: SUV, minivan and crossover, and mixed them with a commercial chic aesthetic. We feel this redefines the premium class of vehicles we call urban utility vehicles,” Dave Lyon, executive director of North American Interior and Global Cross-Brand Design concluded.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Daniel Patrascu
Daniel Patrascu profile photo

Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories