The all-new Canyon is going to be mega where it matters.
Today, General Motors has teased the next-generation GMC Canyon pickup, specifically in hardcore AT4X trim. This comes at a time when GM is pushing out a number of high-performance trucks including the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which has been instrumental in the conglomerate taking a strong position against the Ford F-Series in the sales charts. The current-generation Canyon has been with us since 2014 and has seen a number of upgrades, including the AT4 trim with off-road upgrades such as a one-inch lift and underbody protection. However, the new ATX4 promises even more capability and general badassery.
GMC’s teaser of the new Canyon ATX4 reveals a few interesting features, including new ATX4 badging, 17-inch wheels with beadlock capability, and a set of rocker protectors. The new truck is based on the 31XX-2 platform which it shares with the upcoming Chevy Colorado ZR2 and is expected to feature hardcore off-road gear such as Multimatic DSSV dampers, chunky 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires visible in the teaser, and aggressive bumper cutouts.
Under the hood, we’re expecting the Canyon AT4X to feature a high-output version of the L3B 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of more than 300 horsepower, which now falls well below the power produced by the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor. However, this remains unconfirmed.
The teaser campaign will likely continue, revealing a few more details on the way before the performance truck is officially unveiled this summer. The Colorado will be the second GMC model to get the AT4X treatment after the 2022 GMC Sierra. GMC hails the AT4X models as ‘premium off-road performance’ and promises uncompromising refinement and mega capability.
The move to introduce another hardcore off-road truck to the GM stable makes sense, as demand for trucks outstrips supply, but with GM still struggling to get production back in top gear due to the ongoing chip shortage, it will be interesting how it deals with the added demand a new model brings.
