GMC's U.S.-Built Bronco Fighter Will Bring Back Classic Jimmy Design

For years, the automotive world has been wondering if GMC would ever revive the Jimmy, giving General Motors something that can go toe-to-toe with the immensely successful Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. With Nissan bringing back the Xterra and Hyundai planning to produce the Boulder, the body-on-frame SUV is certainly seeing a resurgence in interest, and a recent report claims that GMC is working on making a new Jimmy finally happen. The same outlet that broke the news of a new Jimmy, GM Authority, now reports that the new SUV will draw design inspiration from a classic period of Jimmy design.

New Jimmy Will Be Square, Not Sporty

Unlike the revival of the Blazer, which was far too car-like for fans of the original SUV, the new Jimmy will reportedly take its styling cues from the 1973-1991 "Square Body" GMC and Chevrolet C/K trucks. That means angular, box-like body panels, a tall stance, and a nearly square footprint. We can also expect "heritage-inspired" styling cues, says the publication, potentially meaning two-tone bodywork, a removable roof, a swing gate, an external spare tire, and possibly stacked headlights and taillights. Retro styling has worked well for the Bronco, the Toyota Land Cruiser and 4Runner, and of course, the Wrangler. And the aforementioned Hyundai Boulder concept also looks like it was inspired by something designed 50 years ago. This sort of aesthetic gives buyers confidence that the product underneath is rugged, dependable, and capable of lasting for years, even if most buyers rarely venture off the beaten path.

Related: GMC Hummer X Concepts Hint At A Smaller, Smarter Hummer EV

The new Jimmy is expected to be built on the same architecture as the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which is effectively a shortened version of the Silverado/Sierra platform. As such, it's likely to be powered by a 2.7-liter four-cylinder TurboMax engine with 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, but don't count out a V8 option, too. As the Bronco shows, the right mix of engines combined with nostalgic styling can be a winning recipe, with plenty of potential for more hardcore variants down the line. It would make sense to offer two- and four-door iterations from the beginning, though.

New GMC Jimmy Expected to Be Built in the USA

The sources behind this new report also claim that the new GMC Jimmy will be built in the U.S. alongside the Colorado and Canyon at GM's Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri, so it will dodge at least most tariffs and thus be relatively well-priced. It has to be if it wants a piece of the ladder-frame SUV pie, and reviving such a beloved American icon on American soil creates plenty of patriotic publicity, which will be needed in such a hotly contested segment. Of course, GM has yet to confirm any of this, but with more and more anonymous claims about the Jimmy emerging, it seems like only a matter of time before an official announcement is made.

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