General Motors is planning to offer a factory-engineered 4-wheel drive option for its Chevrolet Kodiak and the GMC TopKick medium-duty trucks starting in July of this year.
“The GM-installed 4-wheel-drive option is something commercial customers and dealers have been asking for,” said Elliott Benson, product manager for the TopKick and Kodiak C4500 and C5500 models, at NTEA's annual convention last month.
According to Benson, GM expects the 4WD option to hold special appeal to forestry, snowplowing, landscaping, agriculture, tree trimming, and utility work applications. He explained that many of those commercial users operate their vehicles off-road, where traction is critical. Being stuck at a work site — or not being able to reach the site — can carry tremendous costs for owners.
The 4-wheel-drive TopKick and Kodiak models will be available in a variety of wheelbases, ranging from 152 to 235 in., in both regular cab and crew cab configurations.
www.chevrolet.com or www.gmc.com
