The GMC Syclone render was one of the HotCars Exclusive renderings of the month last December. It’s a beautiful rendering, and it got us thinking: what if GMC made a Syclone version of the Canyon? The Canyon is already an incredibly capable truck, albeit not as capable in the powertrain department. It’s also one of the best-looking trucks on sale today, and we love the futuristic lights and massive grille. But it doesn’t have enough power for most people, and that's a problem.
The 400ish horsepower that comes standard in the 2019 Chevy Silverado 6.2-liter EcoTec3 is good for most people. And if you want to get more performance, you go with a performance package like the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor or 2021 Ram Rebel TRX. The Raptor comes with a beast of an engine, the Ford Predator V8, which hauls it from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. That's supercar speeds from a pickup truck! But what if there was another option? What if there was another pickup with power, comfort, and style?
That’s where this hypothetical GMC Syclone comes into play. They already have the chassis and engines that they would need, and we would all get one of the coolest trucks ever. This wouldn’t be a hardcore off-road BAJA machine like the Raptor or Rebel TRX T6. Instead, it would be an all-around performer that can handle everything from spirited road driving to off-roading and even drag racing. Think of it as sort of like a new trim level or spot model of the current GMC, exactly the Raptor is for Ford.
Is GM Bringing Back The Syclone?
While there has never been any official news from GM about releasing a Syclone for the current truck, we have come up with a hypothetical trim level using the rendering from Adry53customs to see what that would look like. We based the Canyon Syclone trim level on the top-of-the-line Canyon Denali model, but with some modifications that make it look more like the original Syclone. The body has flared arches that let you know it means business, and the Syclone design would really shine on the current Canyon.
If they did make it an option on the Canyon, they would have to make sure it was as fast off-road as the Raptor. Likely upgrades for any future GMC Syclone model would include beefier tires, upgraded shocks, and springs, larger brakes, stronger suspension, and improved cooling systems for both engine and transmission. It could make use of GM’s 6.2-liter LS V8 with an added supercharger to produce 750 horsepower and 865 lb-ft of torque. This would be enough to send it from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds in complete style, and enough to match and take on any Raptor.
What Are The GMC Canyon Trims?
There are three trim levels available for the GMC Canyon, ranging from the base elevation trim to the fully loaded Denali trim level. Each trim level comes with its own set of standard features, and each one offers a different powertrain, from inline four-cylinders to a V6.
The base model starts at $24,995, while the AT4 costs $26,800, and the Denali starts at $41,200. The Denali adds heated leather seats, a gloss black exhaust, great black 20" Low-Gloss wheels and so much more. But we feel that there is space in their lineup for something more, something that could be exciting and iconic and, as we mentioned already, super fast.
How Much Is A GMC Syclone Worth Today?
The Syclone was last produced in 1992 and used a highly under-rated 4.3-liter turbo V6 engine that generated 280 horsepower. This was enough to propel the car from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 124 mph. This made it the fastest pickup truck of its time, and also made it the father of performance pickup trucks. It was often referred to as the original supercar slayer back in the day.
The majority of these trucks were black with red trimming, side skirts, and had a large grille with fog lights mounted below it on the front spoiler. The interior featured bucket seats and a custom shifter, as well as a pressure gauge for the turbo. The exterior styling was actually inspired by the Pontiac Trans Am GTO, with its aggressive styling and low ground clearance.
When you start looking at prices for these vehicles, you'll see that they're not cheap by any means. They usually sell for around $38,000 or more, depending on their condition and mileage. There were only 2,998 units produced, so they are now rare collector cars that are worth quite a bit of money today.
Sources: GM, Chevrolet, Fastest Laps, Get Jerry, Classic