2019 GMC Sierra gets high-tech tailgate, bed

The 2019 GMC Sierra Denali with its MultiPro Tailgate in a work-surface configuration.

DETROIT — General Motors has created the Swiss army knife of tailgates along with a carbon fiber pickup bed to help differentiate the 2019 GMC Sierra from rivals — and from its Chevrolet Silverado sibling.

Both industry-first features on the redesigned full-size pickup are in addition to bolder styling, more luxury amenities and weight savings up to 360 pounds compared with the current model.

"The 2019 GMC Sierra is full of innovative engineering and smart technology that represent a giant leap forward for the segment and, for some cases, the entire industry," General Motors product boss Mark Reuss said last week during the unveiling of the Sierra SLT and Denali.

The dual tailgate, which GMC calls the MultiPro Tailgate, will be standard on the high-end SLT and Denali trims. It offers an inner tailgate as part of the main gate that can fold vertically down for easier loading or turn into a step, among other uses.

Both gates, which have six functions and positions, are released by two buttons in the tailgate handle.

"Being premium, it's not just about technology in terms of information and electric technology. It's about usability and real innovation," said Duncan Aldred, vice president of global Buick and GMC. "Anybody who uses a pickup truck bed, it's going to make their lives much easier."

In the back, the next-gen pickup appears to have all of the additional features of the Silverado, including a roll-formed, high-strength steel bed and more tie-downs. It's also nearly 7 inches wider than the current model.

Later in the model year, the 2019 Sierra Denali will be available with a carbon fiber composite bed that GM calls the "CarbonPro." It replaces the standard steel inner panels and floor with a lightweight carbon fiber composite that is 62 pounds lighter than the steel version.

Other additions to the high-end Sierra models include a new trailering system that features an app for remote monitoring and testing, customizable head-up display and rear camera mirror.

The Sierra SLT and Denali trims will come standard with a 5.3-liter, V-8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. As with the Silverado, available 6.2-liter V-8 and 3.0-liter inline-six turbodiesel engines will be paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The V-8 engines, as in the Silverado, have Dynamic Fuel Management technology that can shut off cylinders in a variety of combinations to optimize performance and fuel economy.

GMC provided no engine performance details. It also declined to provide information about trims other than the SLT and Denali, which make up 87 percent of the brand's crew cab sales.

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