|
FOR RELEASE: March 1, 2003 CONTACT(S):
Chevrolet Kodiak/GMC TopKick Crew Cabs: You Can Take It With You
DETROIT - The new General Motors medium-duty crew cab trucks are so powerful, they can even turn an adage into a myth. "You can't take it with you" no longer applies, at least when it comes to the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick. Now you can take it with you: The whole crew and whatever else is needed at a job site. Four generous doors and comfortable appointments make getting there and coming back easier, too. Available in gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) from 16,500 to 61,000 pounds, a broad selection of wheelbases, a range of powerful gasoline or diesel engines and a variety of automatic and manual transmissions, there's a GM medium-duty crew cab for every budget and purpose. "Everything you need to build your business is right here," said David A. Hansen, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "Now our customers can get all the groundbreaking advantages of the Kodiak/TopKick series, plus the room to accommodate up to six adults comfortably." To get the job done right, professionals need their equipment and crew on hand when and where needed, and that's where the crew cab comes in. Full-length steps and wide doors, front and rear, make cab access easy at all positions. The cab features cupholders and audio speakers all around, attractive trim and a full-length headliner, heat-blocking solar ray tinted glass and extra storage space in the step wells. New cabs provide more room and outstanding comfort and functionality by blending the operator friendly feel and easy-to-use controls of light-duty trucks with the functionality of a true medium-duty design. The cabs are exceptionally quiet with a 50-percent reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Powerful climate control systems keep occupants comfortable in all operating conditions. A range of high-quality Delco audio systems and amenities like large cup holders provide additional comfort and convenience. Available driver and passenger-side frontal air bags enhance safety. The center of the uniquely designed instrument panel (IP) curves out and angles towards the driver, providing a direct view of controls and gauges with a slight turn of the head. The IP also features up to 24 telltale warning lights and gauges and places them within closer view and easier reach of the driver for added safety. A rear-window defogger to improve rear visibility is another option on the crew cab. Crew cabs provide highly flexible storage, including a fold-down rear seat and available seat-delete options. The front passenger seat and rear seat on crew cabs can be deleted to support specific customer needs. The entire two-passenger front seat lower cushion can also be lifted to provide a large storage container. An available floor storage tray is located at the back of the cab and there are storage pockets in both sides of the front doors. Additional storage compartments with hinged doors are available in the front and rear step wells. Additional functionality comes from two 12-volt power points on the instrument panel, along with an available cigarette lighter in the center console. Low step-in heights, generously sized tread plates, and convenient assist handles also provide easy vehicle entry and egress. C4500/C5500 models, for example, facilitate entry with two evenly spaced 36-inch steps. Rear doors on the crew cab open to an exceptionally wide 70 degrees for easy entry and exit. "It's one of the basics of the business: Take care of your people and they'll work hard for you," said David Dunahay, marketing director/medium duty products, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "At every step of designing and engineering the crew cab, we've kept people accommodations in mind." Maneuverability, visibility Parked cars and misplaced trash containers are less of an obstacle for the Kodiak and TopKick because longer front suspension springs and a set-back front axle provide superior maneuverability. The wider front track of the Kodiak/TopKick permits a 53-degree wheel cut and greater stability, allowing a turning diameter as low as 47 feet. Another major factor contributing to safety and cost-savings is increased visibility. Visibility in the Kodiak/TopKick is best in class, thanks to an aerodynamic sloping hood design, a windshield that is some 40 percent larger in area, and new convex outside rearview mirrors that are larger than the old door-mounted mirrors. The state-of-the-art exterior mirrors, attached to the body-side cowl to greatly reduce vibration during operation, can fold forward and backward making them less prone to damage. The net result is the ability to see objects on the ground as close as 13.8 feet in front of the truck (as measured from the front bumper), which gives a 13-foot sight advantage over comparable competitive models (with their average of 26.8 feet). That's even better than the forward visibility measurements of many compact pickup trucks. The Kodiak/TopKick C4500-C5500 Series (Class 4-5) trucks were designed and engineered from the ground up for 2003. Besides the crew cab, the lineup includes regular and commercial cutaway chassis cabs, and vocational packages to cover School Bus, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, Shuttle Bus, Wrecker and Snowplow requirements. Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWRs) ranging from 16,000 to 17,500 pounds for the C4500, and from 18,000 to 19,500 pounds for the C5500, make it easy to find the perfect offering to get the job done right. For even bigger tasks, the new Kodiak/TopKick C6500, C7500 and C8500 Series (Class 6-7-8) trucks offer regular and commercial cutaway chassis cab offerings along with the crew cab. This model range also includes LoPro (low profile) and Tandem axle variants. The Kodiak/TopKick are the most-researched and technically advanced line of commercial vehicles ever developed by General Motors. Besides the all-new crew cabs, the line boasts more-versatile frames and improved powertrains. Frames By using three variations of frame strength, GM's Class 4-5 models optimize weight- and load-carrying capability for their specific applications, without requiring any reinforcement. Variations include:
The C4500/C5500's stronger, longer frames provide wheelbases ranging up to 235 inches, with plenty of rear overhang for upfitter applications. Fuel tanks, available in four different capacities, are mounted cleanly between the frame rails. They include 25-, 40-, and 60-gallon single tanks and 40-gallon capacity, provided by dual tanks. C6500/C7500/C8500 models also use larger-sized frames and offer a wider selection of wheelbases and single and tandem rear axle configurations to accommodate larger-sized bodies. Single-axle models can easily accommodate bodies up to 30 feet in length, without requiring any extra-cost frame extensions. World-class braking The new hydraulic brake systems provide an amazing reduction in the stopping distances of C4500-C5500 models with more linear control with lower pedal effort and quieter operation. And their longer-life, easier-to-service designs reduce maintenance and costs. C4500 models with the lightest front axle utilize low-drag, twin-piston calipers on the front and rear brakes. C4500 and C5500 with the 7,000-pound front axle have an extra high capacity, four-piston caliper front/twin-piston rear design. Brakes on wrecker models are both load- and application-specific. C4500/C5500 models also feature a common, larger-sized 381 mm x 38 mm rotor, which reduces heat and enhances brake life. C6500-C8500 models have a low-drag, four-piston opposed piston, fixed caliper brake design, with diameters sized to particular GVW/load requirements. Premium, high-capacity, 70 mm, four-piston brake systems are now standard on both the front and rear. Twin-piston brakes feature a new pin-sliding design. Heavier models, rated at 19,500-lb. GVWR and up, feature a new "totally fixed mount" caliper design. Both brake designs reduce wear, corrosion and potential caliper binding by separating the function of moving the caliper from that of applying actual clamping force to stop the truck. The new non-asbestos brake linings last up to twice as long. Crew cab models feature the HydroMax brake booster for brake actuation. Both HydroMax and HydroBoost (used on some conventional cab vehicles) operate on the same principle, with the power steering pump supplying the booster power. A tandem (split) master cylinder provides the independent front and rear circuits for the hydraulic brake system. Sensors warn the driver of "low fluid" or secondary brake failure. Electronic Brake Distribution optimizes front-to-rear braking balance and control by detecting minute changes in wheel speed and limiting the amount of rear brake pressure to prevent impending wheel lockup, without activating the ABS. Four-channel ABS minimizes stopping distance under certain conditions and improves control on slippery surfaces. The available traction control system, available for the first time, significantly improves acceleration and vehicle stability on slippery surfaces by minimizing wheel spin. The system uses the ABS brake system to control wheel spin - allowing the driver to retain full engine control and acceleration. Outstanding ride New C4500/C5500 models feature tapered leaf and multileaf spring suspensions that have proven so successful in creating the C-Series' smooth, comfortable ride. A new three-point cab mounting system is specially designed to handle the flexing capability designed into the new frames. The C6500-C8500 also have a three-point cab mounting system, which incorporates a specially designed "bridge support" at the rear for extra isolation. It uses a very large body-mounting bracket, almost like a crossmember, with "legs" that attach to brackets on the front. At the center of the "bridge," a cushion sandwiches each bracket. Newly available uplevel Hystec cab mounts on all models optimize comfort by effectively isolating the cab in all directions and helping dampen the ride. The Hystec mounts attach at the front and are filled with stacked-up plastic discs, sitting in lubrication, which allowed GM engineers to optimally tune the damping of the mount for this product. Powertrains The Duramax 6600 is available with 300 hp at 3,000 rpm and 520 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,800 rpm. A lower-rated version is available with 210 hp at 2,750 rpm and 520 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,800 rpm. The standard Vortec 8100 provides a higher, new best-in-class gasoline V-8 rating of 325 hp at 4,000 rpm and 450 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm. A lower-rated version, with 225 hp at 3,600 rpm and 350 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,200 rpm also is available. The Vortec 8100 is LEV compliant and also provides a low-cost entry for conversion to alternative fuel use. Both the Duramax 6600 and Vortec 8100 mate to high-capacity transmissions, including a standard electronically controlled Allison 1000 five-speed automatic. The Allison automatic provides Power Take Off (PTO) for the first time in a conventional cab GM Class 4-5 truck. The Allison 2200 Series, featuring a parking pawl with up to 26,000-lbs. GVW/GCWR capacity, will also be offered for select vocations with extreme duty cycles. A fully synchronized ZF S6-650 six-speed manual is available as an option. A proprietary new Duramax 7800 six-cylinder diesel joins the premium Caterpillar 3126E in the C6500/7500/8500 in-line diesel lineup. The Duramax engine is designed for outstanding durability and low operating costs. The Duramax 7800 has a best-in-class 410,000-mile B10 durability rating, based on 90 percent of the engines operating at least 410,000 miles, without requiring major servicing. All of its maximum horsepower ratings are available at the same 2,200 rpm and its maximum torque ratings at the same 1450 rpm. The Caterpillar 3126E provides more service-oriented features and benefits, operates more cleanly and offers an expanded range of 10 power ratings. All torque ratings are available at 1440 rpm. The standard Vortec 8100, the segment's unique gasoline V-8, is available at a standard 295 hp at 3,600 rpm and 440 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,200 rpm. Allison 2000 Series transmissions are standard in GM's C6500/7500 Series; the Allison MD 3000 Series is standard in the C8500 single-and tandem-axle models. Optional manual transmissions include a range of Eaton 5-, 6-, 9- and 10-speed models and two TTC 7-speed models. Reduced downtime, easier serviceability Cabs feature a long-lasting, high-gloss exterior finish, provided by GM's high quality basecoat/clearcoat electrocoating paint process, which makes the paint more resistant to fading and chipping and helps prevent corrosion. Key components, such as door hinges, door check links and window regulators, have been upgraded to enhance durability. Exterior mirrors feature a two-way, foldaway design to prevent damage. The upgraded electrical system, while maximizing the power of the onboard computers, increases reliability/durability for operating systems by reducing potential problem sources and providing more diagnostic capability. The system also takes greater advantage of multiplexing technology to improve communication between major truck systems. The integration of components into major modules within the engine compartment allows layers of parts to be removed, providing a major enhancement to serviceability. Four major modules are layered, so a service technician can strip them off in a highly convenient and efficient manner independently or in sequence, depending on the amount of accessibility required. All routine service items are easily accessible with little or no removal of other components. Higher quality, more flexible build New state-of-the-art equipment and machinery and best practices and processes of GM's manufacturing plants are being used to produce the new Kodiak/TopKick with consistently high quality and provide quick customer delivery. Some 80 percent of the operations in Flint's new body shop, for example, are automated, with robotics providing consistently high quality, cab-to-cab applications of welds and sealants. The new trucks also have a high degree of parts commonality, which simplifies assembly and enhances quality. Sales, Service, and Marketing The joint venture, announced in 2001, is designed to better meet dealer and customer needs, ensuring long-term growth and profitability in the medium duty commercial vehicle segment. GMICT takes advantage of the established strengths of both organizations by improving operational efficiencies for the GMC, Chevrolet and Isuzu dealer networks. The GMC, Chevrolet and Isuzu brands remain intact while advertising and sales promotion are developed and implemented jointly. The GM/Isuzu medium duty sales network offers the full range of Kodiak/TopKick models. In addition, all Chevrolet vehicle dealers may distribute the C4500 Kodiak while all GMC dealers may distribute the C4500 TopKick. All product information is based on the latest information at time of production and is subject to change without notice. |