DETROIT – In the aftermath of July wildfires that burned 97,000 acres in the Western United States, disaster relief volunteer Dave Fagan traversed 3,500 miles of bulldozed fire lines and mountain trails across Colorado and Wyoming in a GMC Terrain. He experienced first-hand the small SUV’s capability.
“The Terrain really performed,” said Fagan. “When other vehicles seemed to have lost traction, the Terrain didn’t, and it had great maneuverability compared to what I saw from the vehicles I drove alongside. Plus, I was impressed by the fuel economy out there where there aren’t many gas stations.”
The Terrain 4-cylinder gets an EPA-estimated 22 city and 32 highway mpg. All-wheel drive models get an estimated 20 city and 29 highway mpg.
Fagan was also pleasantly surprised by some of Terrain’s features, including a standard Rear Vision Camera.
“On some narrow trails, there was only one way in and out. With tight space to turn around, the camera was very helpful. The Terrain also handled my many chargers, which made it a great mobile office.”
“I found it outstanding,” Fagan said of the Terrain provided by his organization. “It may be my next vehicle.”
He won’t be alone. The Terrain is on track for its best sales year ever in 2012. Year to date through August, sales are up more than 10 percent versus the same period a year ago.
Terrain was developed to deliver great on-road performance without sacrificing versatility, For the 2013 model year, the Terrain adds an optional new 301-horsepower, 3.6L V-6 engine for added performance to go along with its all-wheel drive and a 3,500-pound tow rating.
“Terrain’s smaller footprint that helps save weight and fuel also makes it more maneuverable on tight trails where adventurous customers might take their vehicles,” said GMC lead development engineer Essy Ipakchian. “We also developed Terrain’s standard StabiliTrak and optional all-wheel drive with different road conditions – rain, snow, rocks and mud – in mind.”
Every Terrain is equipped with technology designed for the steep grades Fagan encountered across the Rockies. Hill Start Assist holds brake pressure for 1.5 seconds to allow drivers time to press the accelerator without rolling back, while Automatic Grade Braking manages the transmission gear selection on declines, holding a lower gear to preserve the vehicle’s brakes.
Courtesy of media.gm.com
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