2003 GMT 560

EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the past few months, General Motors has been unveiling, both in production and in concept forms, its all-new lineup of Medium Duty trucks.  Since this is a new chapter in the GM Truck story, I felt it only appropriate to designate a separate page to it.

The 2003 GMT 560 is GM's newest generation of medium duty conventionals for its GMC and Chevrolet Truck brands.  The 560 program, which began in 1997, broke convention for GM mediums.  Whereas the last 50 years of medium trucks have been based off of the cabs for the full-size pickups, the 560 employs a cab design utilized by the full-size G Van.

The trucks also revert to their previous namesakes, abandoned by GM in 1997.  For GMC, the TopKick returns, and Kodiak for the Chevrolet.  

The range is slightly modified from before.  Models offered range from the C4500, the C5500, the C6500, the C7500, and the C8500.  

The C4500 and the C5500 are the lightest models in the 560 range, and also replace the C3500 HD and Sierra 3500 HD chassis cabs.  The C4500 and C5500 are easily differentiated from their heavier brethren by their exterior.  The 4500 and 5500 sit much lower to the ground, and their battery boxes and fuel tanks are not immediately below the cab, due to its lower stance.  Their hoods are different as well, being shorter height-wise than the heavier models.  They also feature different styling.  

kod_2.jpg (38721 bytes)    2003 Chevrolet C5500 Conventional    kod_3.jpg (32923 bytes)

The Chevrolet looks like the Bruin concept, as that was essentially a C5500.

03_topkick.jpg (28127 bytes)    2003 GMC C4500 Conventional    03tk.jpg (36575 bytes)

The GMC hood has a recessed top section, and features (ugly) argent headlight surrounds.

  

The heavier models, the C6500, C7500, and C8500, are GM's Class 6, Class 7, and Class 8 trucks, respectively.  They are easily identified as well.  Their cabs sit much higher from the ground than the 4500/5500s do, and they feature battery boxes and gas tanks immediately below the cab.  Their hood height is substantially higher, to accommodate more equipment below the hood.  

kod_1.jpg (31197 bytes)    2003 Chevrolet C8500 Medium Duty

The Chevrolet version is much more conservative in design than the GMC hood is.

tk_1.jpg (29881 bytes)    2003 GMC C8500 Medium Duty

GMC has shown two different versions of the heavier hood.  One is more slab-sided, the other is more conservative, like the Chevrolet's.  No announcement has been made on which hood is entering production.

Powertrain options are similar to those of the last-generation of GM Medium Duties. On the 4500/5500  models,  the Vortec 8.1 L 8100 V8 and the Duramax 6.6L 6600 Diesel are available.  These models with the Allison 1000 automatic will be the first GM light-mediums with a PTO.   For heavier models, the Caterpillar 3126E Turbo Diesel is carried over to this generation, but two new Duramax engines, the 7.0 L 7000 and the 7.4L 7400 are available as well.  Transmissions remain the same as past options, but all Allison Automatic controls have been elevated from the floor, and built into the dashboard, allowing more room on the floor.  This room also allows the option of a two-person passenger seat. 

 Chassis lengths are available in a wide array of choices, with an all new 358" length the longest frame available from GM-ever.  More variety is also available straight from GM's new factory in Flint, MI.  The Crew Cab is now a factory produced option, and an upcoming four-wheel-drive option as well.  The Bruin is being considered as a factory model to compete with Ford's F-650 Super Crewzer.  

The 2002 Chicago Auto Show was the time that GM officially pulled all of the wraps off of the 560 lineup, as well as announcing the return to the TopKick/Kodiak names.  

NOTE: Please keep in mind that these trucks are still under development at this time.  This information is still very recent, and may possibly change as the GMT 560 nears production.  I will try to keep this page as updated as possible.  For now, enjoy the preliminary specifications and GM Press Releases below.

GM Gives Peek at Next Generation Medium Duty Trucks

General Motors New Medium Duty Trucks Offer Unprecedented Designs and Innovations

GMT 560: C4500 and C5500 Specs

GMT 560: C6500, C7500, and C8500 Specs

GMT560 = 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak / GMC TopKick: Any Way You Figure It, The Right Medium Duty Trucks For The Job

GMT 560 Concepts

Unlike previous generations of medium duty trucks, the 560 was also featured as the base of two different concept trucks that GM presented at the S(pecialty) E(quipment) M(anufacturers) A(ssociation) show in Las Vegas, NV.

The Chevy Bruin concept at the 2000 SEMA Show.  The Chevy Bruin Concept Truck  

The first time the 560 was exposed publicly was at the 2000 SEMA show. This was one of the first times GM, or anyone, has shown an all-new vehicle at the show, let alone a medium duty truck.

Chevy Bruin Concept at speed...so to speak  The Bruin's wide bed is equipped with both a gian toolbox and a fifth-wheel hitch.  Just for comparison....Almost makes the Sierra look like a compact!  And again for size....in case you're not satisfied yet!

It debuted as the Chevy Bruin, a name previously used on the Chevy version of the GMC Brigadier.  In essence, it was a thinly disguised C5500 truck.  The Bruin was shown as a luxury-hauler, in the same spirit of the Ford F-650 Super Crewzer.  These trucks have become popular with those who need to tow larger trailers that pickups like the GMC Sierra, pictured beside the Bruin, cannot.  The Bruin was shown with uplevel equipment such as aerodynamic ground effects, a leather interior, and a widened Silverado pickup bed with a fifth-wheel trailer hitch.  If not for the tool chest and the hitch, it would be possible to drive a Chevy Tracker into the bed, and still be able to close the tailgate!!

Duramax 6.6L Diesel-Note the swing out electrical component "spice rack" at the left of the engine.

 Power came from the Silverado 3500's Duramax 6600 Turbo Diesel, which is made with Isuzu in Ohio, and was coupled to an Allison 1000 automatic transmission.  As tested, the Bruin could easily tow about 10,000lbs of trailer, and had an 18,000lb. payload capacity.  It was, of course, a medium duty truck.  Under the hood, serviceability was a key design intent with a side-access maintenance panel, with items such as washer fluid fill, and oil and transmission fluid dipsticks.  The transmission dipstick is approximately 6 feet long!  Another feature is the swing out "spice rack", which allows electrical components and computers to be accessed easier by service personnel.

The Bruin's wide-opening tilt hood-removable within 2 minutes!  GMT 560 Instrument Panel-Borrows heavily from G-Van components  Bruin Crew Cab-Rear Foldable Seats  

Those with keen eyes probably already notice the modified G-van cab.  The first modification to it was sawing the front fenders off and welding a new cross-brace firewall, allowing for a tilt hood.  Also, this cab was a crew cab-a feature only available through aftermarket companies on previous GM mediums.  The interior was done in a tasteful style, with leather buckets up front, and a folding leather Suburban bench in rear.  The dash is very much G-Van, save for the wrap-around part, allowing for other medium-duty controls.  

gmc_c7500_concept.jpg (24375 bytes)

At the 2001 SEMA, GM presented yet another version of the 560 medium-duty truck in the form of the GMC C7500 Roll-Back.  This truck incorporates touches of last year's ever-popular Bruin concept, but also adds a dash of functionality with the wrecker body.  Read the full release on the concept truck here.

NOTE: Please keep in mind that these trucks are still under development at this time.  This information is still very recent, and may possibly change as the GMT 560 nears production.  I will try to keep this page as updated as possible.  For now, enjoy the preliminary specifications and GM Press Releases below.

GM Gives Peek at Next Generation Medium Duty Trucks

General Motors New Medium Duty Trucks Offer Unprecedented Designs and Innovations

GMT 560: C4500 and C5500 Specs

GMT 560: C6500, C7500, and C8500 Specs

GMT560 = 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak / GMC TopKick: Any Way You Figure It, The Right Medium Duty Trucks For The Job

(C) 2001, Evan McCausland.  Bruin pictures/info scanned/acquired from March 2001 issue of Truck Trends.  All other photography and information courtesy of GM Media Services.