Sam Krahn 
The off-road SUV segment is hotter now than it’s ever been. With the Jeep Wrangler pumping out exciting new models like the V8 Rubicon 392 and 4xe, and the Ford Bronco looking like the anticipated vehicle of this year, the segments has never been so exciting, and therefore profitable. Yet, FCA and Ford’s cross town rival, General Motors, is notably absent from the segment. The obvious answer is a new Blazer, but Chevrolet blew that opportunity when they put the iconic nameplate on a Camaro inspired family crossover. If GM is to enter this segment, they’ll need something entirely new, and their SUV and truck brand GMC is the best candidate to introduce it. And this design rendering, called the GMC Boulder, seems like a great place to start.
The design, made by College for Creative Studies student Ryan Schlotthauer, is a creative take on what an off-road GMC SUV could look like. The Boulder is very obviously a concept car, but its unique proportions are what makes it so fun. It’s a surprisingly small two door SUV, and has a very rounded roofline with a slanted rear tailgate that houses a spare wheel at the top. Along with the lack of rear glass, this makes it look a lot like a real boulder, as the name suggests.
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Overall, it’s far less retro than the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, but that may be just what GMC needs to make a name for themselves in the segment.
The GMC Boulder’s details are great, too. Being a futuristic concept, it appears to be electric. This creates room for a front trunk, which has a tinted, translucent hood with a shovel mounted underneath. There’s also a roof rack, tie down attachment points integrated into the headlights, and a three-way opening tailgate for any situation. There are even steps integrated into the bumpers to allow for easy access to the roof rack. Our favorite detail is the terrain projector that shows the elevation of the ground ahead.
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The render even includes a detailed interior. It’s pretty spartan inside, but in the best way possible, as it’s not overloaded with tech. There’s a sensibly sized center screen, and that’s it. The interior is minimalist, so passengers can focus on the off-roading and landscape around them.
GM needs a Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler competitor, plain and simple. The fan base for these vehicles is huge, and Ford recognized Jeep has had it all to themselves for way too long. Even if this design leans a little to far into the concept side of things to realistically make production any time soon, some of its ideas could easily make for a great GMC off-road SUV. GMC was considering a midsize body-on-frame SUV that could have taken the fight to the Bronco, but plans were scrapped back in 2018, along with a proposed sixth-generation Camaro Z/28.
Be sure to check out Ryan’s Instagram to see all the rad images of the GMC Boulder.
