Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. This week: GMC unveils all-new Canyon, Ford celebrates original Bronco with dealer markup bait, Porsche claims EV sedan record on the Nürburgring, and other coverage from the week.

2023 GMC Canyon

With the new Chevy Colorado still fresh in our minds from a few weeks ago, GMC has introduced their own version as expected. The GMC Canyon gets a new generation with many of the same enhancements as found on its cheaper sibling. But being a GMC means it gets nicer looks, fancier interior materials, and more tech. It also takes after the Colorado in that it elevates its off road game as well.

Exterior design between the Chevy and GMC differs the most at the front, where the GMC’s face features all LED lighting and chrome accents on its grille. They use keywords like “bold” and “aggressive” when talking about it, so you know it’s legit. There’s certainly no denying it’s a GMC truck with enough similarities with its larger stablemates to fit in. High ground clearance, trimmed corners, and all-new sheet metal create a unique look for the truck. Each Canyon, regardless of trim, sits higher and wider than the previous generation. This helps with improved approach, departure, and breakover angles, as does the removal of the front air dam.

One benefit to stepping up to the GMC is that all trims receive the more powerful version of the Colorado’s 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. In this guise it produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque.

The general layout of the interior is the same but basic things like air vents and trim pieces are changed. The Denali gets laser etched wood décor and leather appointments while the AT4X gets a Ceramic White and Obsidian Rush-themed cabin. An 11″ digital gauge cluster on the Denali and AT4X, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, a 6.3″ heads-up display, 7-speaker Bose sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a segment-exclusive sunroof. Another exclusive feature are the available front and rear underbody cameras to assist with off-roading – they even have a built-in wash function.

Those looking for serious off-road performance in a more luxurious truck might be interested in the AT4X trim. It’s almost like a Colorado ZR2 with more leather. It comes with a factory lift for 10.7″ of ground clearance and a 36.9-degree approach angle, Multimatic DSSV shocks, front and rear e-lockers, underbody skid plates, and 33″ MT tires. It will be available in limited numbers with the Edition 1 package which adds those optional underbody cameras, an off road front bumper with a safari bar, a COMEUP winch, and a 30″ grille light bar.

No word on pricing or a timeline for availability. But it should be on sale later this year. Good luck getting one for MSRP.

[Source: GMC]

Ford Bronco Heritage Editions

To celebrate the original 1966 Bronco, every 2023 Bronco body style will be available with a limited-run Heritage Edition that resurrects the classic styling of the original. The Bronco 2-door, 4-door, and Sport models will each have a “normal” Heritage Edition as well as Heritage Limited Edition models that are restricted to 1,966 units per model. Those currently waiting for a Bronco order get first dibs with deliveries beginning later this year.

The Bronco Heritage Edition and Heritage Limited Edition models feature a two-tone paint job that includes Oxford White accents all around, particularly the grille, roof, wheels, and the side stripe (not on the Bronco Sport). Providing contrast on the white grille is the Race Red “BRONCO” lettering. The paint options depend on which model you’re working with and whether you choose the limited or regular heritage option. The Heritage Limited Edition for all models is painted exclusively in Robin’s Egg Blue with Yellowstone Metallic and Peak Blue planned later on. If you just get the Heritage Edition, you’ve got five colors to choose from on the Bronco and seven on the Bronco Sport. Ford did not disclose what those options were.

The (big) Bronco models ride on 17″ aluminum dog dish-style wheels that are painted Oxford White on the Heritage Edition or black with an Oxford White lip on the Heritage Limited Edition. The Limited models also get metal Bronco script badging on the fender. 1966 vibes continue inside with plaid cloth seats, an Oxford White instrument panel with Race Red lettering, center console badging, and exclusive floor liners. The Heritage Limited Edition gets all this too but with leather-trimmed seats.

Heritage Edition Broncos are equipped as Big Bend trims with the Sasquatch package, meaning they get just about every piece of off-road equipment you can get. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is the only engine available on the non-limited Heritage Model. Step up to the Heritage Limited Model and you get the Badlands series equipment and features and a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. They don’t specifically mention it, but it looks like this one gets Sasquatch too. You may notice I did not go into great detail regarding the Bronco Sport models. You’re right.

MSRP was published for these but there are few words more meaningless than “Ford Bronco’s MSRP”. Nevertheless, the Bronco Sport Heritage Edition starts at $34,245 and $44,655 for the Heritage Limited Edition. The Bronco Heritage Edition starts at $44,305 and goes all the way up to $66,895 for the Heritage Limited Edition. Add about $100k to each of those numbers and you’ll have your local dealer’s price.

[Source: Ford]

Porsche Taycan Turbo S claims Nürburging record

Porsche once again owns the series production electric car record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Taycan Turbo S has posted a time of 7:33, a little over two seconds faster than the more powerful Tesla Model S Plaid did it last year – albeit controversially.

The lap time Tesla posted was legitimate, but it seemed the car was not quite production-spec. Test mules had been spotted around the track for weeks leading up to the record that showed some modifications had been applied which are not currently available on any Model S Plaid, namely aero improvements and tires that looked more aggressive than what the factory would later supply. But this Taycan Turbo S was all stock, excluding the racing seat and roll cage for safety measures (as is standard practice on all record attempts). TÜV Rheinland was on hand to verify that it was a standard production model.

It did, however, have a few upgrades applied at the factory since the last time it ran here. This Taycan was equipped with a new performance kit available through Porsche Tequipment and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (already available). The performance kit includes 21-inch RS-Spyder-design wheels with road legal Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires which are newly available on the Taycan. Another element of the performance kit is a software update to the Porsche 4D Chassis Control to account for the added grip of the new tires and get the most out of them.

Owners who wish to save their P Zero Coras for track days can revert back to a less aggressive tire without needing to roll back the software update. However, this package is currently exclusive to Germany. If this package was able to turn the tables on a much more powerful car (1,020 hp on the Tesla vs 616 hp on the Porsche) with added aero using nothing more than factory-available tires and software, it’s gonna be worth the additional cost.

[Source: Porsche]

The Meyers Manx returns

In case you missed it from earlier in the week, this adorable little bastard is coming back. You can read more about it here.

What’s your automotive news?

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.

Have a good weekend.