|
GMC Sierra C3 looks serious as a big truck souped with power
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
PISMO BEACH, Calif. -- Four big Michelin tires of a hunky new truck claw the tide-packed sand on a flat beach crowded with surfboards, campers and scooters.
A sophisticated all-wheel-drive mechanism applies the muscle of a massive engine to any wheel so it's easy to maintain traction on the slick sand.
But we'd rather pop the pedal and shoot some sand off those treads, just to feel the rush of a whopper powerplant.
Imagine: A humongous 6.0-liter V8 engine sits beneath that scored hood and it carries the strength of 325 horses, plus as much as 370 lb-ft of torque spread between the range of 1600 and 5200 rpm.
That's the tip of the power pyramid for a full-size pickup in half-ton series.
Maximum horsepower, a heavy-duty automatic transmission to handle all of that muscle, the all-wheel-drive system to channel power to every wheel, a heavy-duty trailering kit to maximize towing capability, and a tough package design with distinctive decorative effects that signify that this truck conducts serious business: That's a nutshell description of the new powerhouse variation for a Sierra 1500 full-size truck by GMC.
It's classified under the exclusive C-Series line that integrates powertrain and chassis components to maximize performance, but bears the simple badge of C3.
Score C3 as the Incredible Hulk among powerful pickups.
Besides the slant to strong muscle and heavy-duty hardware, C3 supports a four-door passenger compartment stuffed with luxurious comforts and sophisticated electronic devices that include high-tech communications equipment. The standard package brings a driver information center mounted on the dashboard, an advanced stereo system with six-disc CD changer in the front console, and the hands-free OnStar telecommunications link with 24-hour availability for in-vehicle safety, security and information services.
Starting on that sandy beach, we logged time behind the wheel in a prototype edition of the C3 for a drive up the California Coast. The route included a diverse assortment of paved roads with grid-block streets in urban areas like San Luis Obispo and narrow two-lane back roads winding through the Santa Lucia Mountains, then a cut to the 101 freeway for quick spurts on a multi-lane slab.
That raw power available with a tap to the accelerator ranks as the most exciting aspect of this truck.
You'll find it first with a goose to the pedal following the pause at a stoplight. It lunges ahead, far faster than you would expect for a full-size truck that tips the scales at a hefty 5000 pounds. And it rushes to illicit speed so quickly that brakes must be applied immediately after launch until you get used to the surge.
Then all that muscle awaits on command like so much pent up emotion. It breaks free only when you move into the fast lane to flash past some slow poke.
The C3 feels substantial and solid.
Its stiff chassis benefits from an innovative modular frame in three sections with the front segment constructed from hydroformed steel that reduces vibrations and squeaks due to inherent strength and the good fit of front suspension components.
Front and rear track widths, stretched wide when the Sierra was redesigned two years ago, forge a broad and stable platform. Interestingly, the cabin floor height drops down for easy step-in by riders yet the chassis remains generously high for superior ground clearance.
The beefed up C3 suspension system (labeled by GMC as "Increased Capacity/Firm Ride") is independent up front with a torsion bar applied for the all-wheel-drive system. In the rear, a two-stage multi-leaf spring arrangement appears, along with special shock damping to counter body roll, which keeps the platform stable when towing a trailer.
Ride quality feels smooth and comfortable during normal driving maneuvers. However, when you push the truck with aggressive acceleration or tight-cut turns, the suspension automatically adjusts calibrations for a firm feel that accommodates hard cornering by checking excess roll.
Due to that heavy-duty suspension hardware, the GVW rating of 6700 pounds elevates C3 above the mark typical for a half-ton truck.
Further, the trailer rating runs to 8800 pounds with standard equipment. Specify the Z82 heavy-duty trailering package -- with a 12000-pound platform trailer hitch and seven-pin trailer harness connector -- and the GCWR skyrockets to 14000 pounds.
The C3 also carries bigger and stronger disc brakes.
These high-capacity brakes employ large rear calipers lifted from the three-quarter-ton Sierra 2500 truck to counterbalance C3's increased acceleration and cornering ability. Also, the system includes four-wheel ABS for straight brake tracking, plus a dynamic rear proportioning device designed to modulate brake pressure evenly.
A heavy-duty automatic transmission with four forward gears also comes with C3's standard kit. The GM 4L60-E system increases the maximum torque capacity to correspond with output of the big engine, and a powertrain control module manages all shift timing, the shift firmness and torque-converter clutch operation.
A button on the shift lever may be used to increase the time between gear shifts and quicken the shift sequence to assist in pulling a trailer.
Sierra C3 looks as serious as it behaves.
The forceful front is dominated by a bold black grille ringed in chrome and flanked by new halogen headlamps with round lens elements and projector-type low beams. A flashy chrome bumper underscores the prow above a body-colored fascia that contains round foglamps, two tow hooks and a four-bar low grille.
Two types of running boards may be added below the flat side doors. One looks like an extension of the body and is tinted to the same color, while the other is a chrome-clad tube with protective flaps trailing.
On the cargo box, a receiver hitch is integrated with the step bumper below the tailgate. The box is covered by a vinyl tonneau lid shaded to match the truck's paint.
Standard seating for the extended cab includes front buckets and a back bench wide enough for three riders with broad bottom cushion and a padded back tilted for comfort.
Instruments encompass vivid backlit analog gauges and LCD display for the driver information center with data for fuel economy and trip or fuel mileage.
Base tab for a Sierra C3 runs to $38,995 including a $690 delivery fee.
|
| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 GMC SIERRA C3 Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Model Options: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Wheelbase: |
143.5 inches |
| Overall Length: |
227.7 inches |
| Engine Size: |
OHV 6.0-L V8 |
| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
AWD |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) |
| Gross Weight: |
6700 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
8800 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
11/14 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 38,995 |
|
|
