GMC uses luxury and style to set its products apart from the competition, as well as Chevrolet. But every time we look at the Acadia, I see the shape of the classic Typhoon and wonder why a high-performance SUV is missing from the lineup.
The Typhoon is a very rare, very interesting product of GM’s past. It was offered from 1992 to 1993 and was based on the equally famous 1991 GMC Syclone, a tiny sports truck. It’s so cool, in fact, that Doug DeMuro made two separate videos about it. One was in 2016 and got over a million views, and another one got released a few days ago, which you can check out below.
The Typhoon is the only GMC model ever mentioned together with a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Corvette. It was powered by the LB4 4.3L. That’s the V6 same as you’d find in Jimmys or S-series trucks, but turbocharged to deliver 280 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. And for the record, the Ferrari 348 was making 296 hp from a 3.4-liter V8 around that time.
That’s excellent if you want to buy the little box that Doug calls “the original high-performance SUV.” However, GMC doesn’t make anything like that for you to buy brand new, and that’s a problem because a lot of people like the rival Ford Explorer ST. It’s big, has plenty of seats and a similar engine, but the badge is… more desirable.
Will there be another GMC Typhoon?
GMC sadly has no plans for a sports model, but rendering artist c_zr1 decided to fill the void with his fictional Acadia GT model. It’s a fantastic makeover of what’s already in production, taking the look from luxury to sport. For example, our digital Typhoon successor comes with a blacked-out grille in place of the chrome one. You may also notice the little intake added to its good or the tinted lights.
You often see the Typhoon as a two-tone with silver or black on the bottom. And that’s replicated here with a black kit on the lower part of the Acadia GT. Normally, it would be body-colored, but that’s for regular folks.
Engine? Well, the Acadia normally sells with a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder that’s good for 228 horsepower and the higher trims get a 3.6-liter V6 making 310 horsepower. That’s decent, but the Explorer ST comes with a 400 hp 3.0-liter EcoBoost, potentially matching the Bronco Raptor, and that’s cool.
In order to one-up Ford, c_zr1 suggests fitting the Acadia with what’s under the hood of the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing. That spicy can drift and reach 189 mph because it’s putting down 472 hp and 442 lb-ft from its 3.6L twin-turbo V6. Oh, and it’s available with a six-speed manual that would make any GMC instantly cooler.
