The pickup truck war is hotter than it's ever been in the U.S. right now. While Ford has an all-aluminum F-150, GM just launched a brand-new GMC Sierra with an industry-first carbon-fiber bed. Ram is also going strong with a fresh 1500 model. Attracting more and more customers into dealerships is not an easy task, and this is where special models and limited editions come in handy sometimes. With a brand new Sierra 1500 on its way to dealerships, GMC just unveiled a new model. It's called the Sierra AT4 and combines enhanced off-road ability with extra standard features and more premium appointments.

Designed for the customer "who wants an elevated presence on the road and the capability to venture off life's beaten path," the Sierra AT4 also marks the debut of a new trim that will be offered on every GMC model in the next two years. Whether specs will be similar, it remains to be seen, but all we know is that the Sierra AT4 rides higher than the standard pickup truck and comes with an extended list of standard features. But despite boasting more luxury and sitting higher above the ground, the AT4 isn't GMC's highly anticipated response to the Ford F-150 Raptor. But let's find out more about this trim in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the GMC Sierra AT4.

What makes the GMC Sierra AT4 special?

The AT4 comes with a suite of extra standard features to give it a unique appearance. The first thing that catches the eye is the blacked-out look of the exterior, which no longer features the massive amount of chrome seen on the regular Sierra 1500. The chrome on the foglamp bezels, fender surround, and grille inserts has been blackened, while the grille, the door handles, and the bumper are now finished in the same color as the body. Yes, it looks a bit like the Midnight Edition models we usually see from General Motors, but add-on don't stop here.

The AT4 also gets an exclusive wheel design with a machined-face, dark-tinted appearance. The standard wheels measure 18 inches, but you can get larger, 20-inch rims off the options list. It also gets standard skid plates, red tow hooks in the front bumper, and the MultiPro Tailgate. The latter is an industry-first feature that has six unique functions and position that enhance loading and turn the bed into a workstation. The innovative carbon-fiber bed is also available to replace the standard steel box.

The dark-tinted accents seen on the outside continue inside the cabin with dark aluminum trim on the on the steering wheel, center stack, and sill plates. The Jet Black/Kalahari accents on the seats are also unique on this model, as are the "AT4" embroidered badges on the headrests. Leather seats, all-weather floor mats, Hill Descent Control, and the Traction Select System complete the list of standard features. The latter allows the driver to choose from preset drive modes that have been tailored for different terrain or weather conditions. Selecting one of these modes adjusts Sierra’s transmission shift points, throttle mapping and StabiliTrak to optimize performance for the situation at hand.

Optional features include a multi-colored head-up display, a segment-first gadget that projects key, customizable vehicle data, including an off-road inclinometer, on the windshield in a 3x7-inch display. The off-road inclinometer shows the fore-and-aft tilt, front tire angle and left-and-right tilt. You can also opt for a full suite of advanced safety features, including Surround Vision, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, and Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking.

The Sierra AT4 isn't only about extra premium features and a darkened exterior. GMC also made sure that the truck's off-roading capabilities are better than the standard model by fitting a two-inch suspension lift kit and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. It also uses a locking rear differential and off-road-tuned, Rancho monotube shocks absorbers. All-terrain tires are standard, as is the 5.3-liter V-8 engine. GMC has yet to publish power figures for the revised V-8, but it's expected to deliver more than the outgoing 355 horsepower.

The options list isn't as exciting here, but you can opt for mud-terrain Goodyear Wrangler Duratec tires if you want to take the AT4 climbing. Both the 6.2-liter V-8 and the 3.0-liter Duramax six-cylinder diesel are offered as options, alongside GMC's new 10-speed automatic transmission.

No word on pricing yet, but more info should become available before the Sierra AT4 goes on sale later this year.

References

Read our full review on the 2019 GMC Sierra.

Read more GMC News.

Read more New York Auto Show news.