GM

GMC shows off refreshed 2016 Sierra pickups

Melissa Burden
The Detroit News

General Motors Co. on Wednesday showed off its refreshed 2016 GMC Sierra pickup through social media, a truck that gets a new front face and grilles and bumpers, plus new LED lighting elements.

GMC said exterior styling is the top reason for purchasing the truck. It adds LED "C-shaped" daytime running lights, LED headlights, LED fog lamps and "C-shaped" LED taillights.

The 2016 Sierra will be available in the fourth quarter and GM said more details and information about the truck will be released "in the coming months."

In a YouTube video released Wednesday, GM shows off three Sierra models for the 2016 model year as they lap around the automaker's Milford Proving Ground. The new faces of the 2016 Sierra Denali, GMC All Terrain and a SLT trimmed truck were shown in the video.

On Monday, Chevrolet showed images of the redesigned 2016 Silverado pickup that also has a new face including new headlamps, grille, hood and back taillights. Chevrolet said the new Silverado also would add more safety technologies, an updated MyLink infotainment system to support Google's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus would expand use of eight-speed automatic transmissions in some 5.3-liter V-8 engines.

GM refreshed its Silverado and Sierra pickups to keep up with competition from Ford Motor Co.'s new F-150 and as Ram has updated some of its trucks.

Sierra sales rose 20.8 percent in June, the truck's best June since 2006, and sales through June this year are up 8.2 percent.

Both the Silverado and Sierra were completely redesigned for the 2014 model year and analysts expect to see new fully redesigned full-size GM pickups for the 2019 model year.

mburden@detroitnews.com