It looks like Ford will be on its own trying to dethrone the Jeep Wrangler in the coming years as recent reports say GMC is no longer pursuing its planned alternative to the new Bronco.
Following a restructuring at General Motors, GMC’s body-on-frame off-roader was apparently cancelled by its parent company.
In a report published by Muscle Car & Trucks, the rugged SUV was part of GMC’s long-term product plan until November 2018. The crossover was projected as the brand’s most distinctive model in decades and was planned to be built as a dedicated off-roader sold exclusively by GMC. It also wasn’t supposed to have a similar model in the portfolio of sibling brand, Chevrolet.
The problem, according to the report, was that GM wanted the model to be built on the 32XX platform that will also underpin the next generation of Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. When it didn’t turn out that way, GM canceled the project altogether to save money. And the updated versions of both pickup trucks will instead be built based on the frame that is already available in the showroom.
And since GMC never confirmed it had plans to build an off-roader that would rival the upcoming Ford Bronco and segment leader Jeep Wrangler, it’s also likely that the brand will not confirm reports it has shelved the off-road SUV that was supposed to revive the Jimmy nameplate.
This is not the first time that a brand from the GM portfolio tried to develop a body-on-frame SUV. Hummer was the first to make the attempt, planning to compete with Jeep with an off-roader based on the 2008 HX concept. However, the project was shut down before Hummer could even begin developing the model.
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