One thing that we really appreciate from the folks
at carbuzz.com is their recognizing in an article last week that
there truly is an all-out American pickup war going on. Our beloved Silverado HD vs. Ford F-250 and the rest of the Super-Duty
Lineup is really how the stage has been set as of late, and at lots like Jim Butler, every sale counts! The all-new GMC Sierra HD not only has a carbon
fiber bed, but also a six-function MultiPro tailgate, that now comes standard
on the SLT, AT4, and Denali variants. The new Silverado HD will now have the MultiPro feature, as a recent
report from GM Authority detailed spying a camouflaged 2020 Silverado HD
prototype, and the tailgate was clearly situated on board.
The cut lines for the MultiPro were visible behind
the prototype's tarp, and many think that the tailgate will also become
optional for the light-duty Silverado 1500. It makes sense for the Silverado 1500 to get
this upgrade before the HD variant, and we are already positive that a direct
response from the Ford camp is underway. This article from January does a great
job of outlining all of the advanced towing tech put into the GMC Sierra HD,
paving the way a bit for an understanding of just how useful and
future-embracing the features that have been arriving at a breakneck pace are.
Known as being “the segment's most innovative
tailgate ever” aims to be both flexible and functional while minimizing the
effort needed to complete the tougher-laden tasks in your workday. It offers
four new positions that were never before possible in a pickup, including a
standing workstation. There is also enhanced second-tier loading and load-stop
options, easier access to items in the box, and a step entry and egress mode
that offers step and seated functionality.
This tailgate has undergone more validation and
testing than any other in GM's history, and with the primary gate open, the
load stop helps prevent items from unexpectedly sliding out of the box. The
inner gate folds down for easy access when loading and unloading the box, and
the inner gate folds into a large step for easy entry and exit from the box.
The ease of use is enhanced with two buttons on the tailgate handle that allow
convenient inner gate release, and the MultiPro tailgate is operated via a
two-button touchpad, located at the center of the tailgate just above the GMC
logo. The bottom button will drop the entire tailgate, and the top releases the
upper part. This was an idea that originated as a result of a very hefty
internal competition within GM engineers, and one that you'll realize the
practicality-with-a-punch factor on immediately!