GMC C7500 Pro-Rollback Rescues Stranded Vehicles and Passengers

Your vehicle requires assistance. Not the most pleasant of experiences … at least not prior to the GMC C7500 Pro-Rollback concept vehicle.

“In developing the GMC C7500 Pro-Rollback concept vehicle, our goal was to create the ultimate towing and recovery vehicle, a vehicle that took into account both the stranded vehicle and the passengers," said Mike Eaves, assistant brand manager-product for General Motors' medium-duty commercial vehicles.

Attending to the needs of the stranded vehicle is the C7500 Pro-Rollback's Duramax 7800 diesel engine. The OHC, 6-cylinder powerplant produces 275 horsepower at 2400 rpm and 800 lb-ft of torque at 1450 rpm, more than enough power and torque to rescue any stranded vehicle. And with a 25,950-pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Pro-Rollback can transport nearly anything. Power is transferred to the unique trapezoidal design, 22.5-inch Alcoa aluminum wheels via an Allison 3000 Series 6-speed automatic transmission. A 100-gallon fuel tank provides a projected 900-mile driving range.

"When your vehicle requires assistance, you want help to arrive as soon as possible. We've outfitted the C7500 Pro-Rollback with a couple of systems that enable rapid location and safe recovery of disabled vehicles and stranded passengers," Eaves said.

Assisting the driver in getting to the most remote places quickly, efficiently and safely is the Gearworks etrace mobile work management application (Gearworks). Dispatched from a PC with Internet access and running on the vehicle’s wireless, Palm-powered 1733 PDA from Symbol Technologies, towers and their dispatchers have GPS-based, real-time tracking and messaging – as well as electronic work orders, driving directions to the site, electronic signature capture, receipt printing, and bar code reading of Vehicle Identification Numbers.

Pro-Rollback also features Night Vision – technology that has received numerous awards for its application in the Cadillac DeVille. Night Vision will help the driver to locate stranded vehicles during low-light situations.

Should prompt emergency roadside assistance be required, Pro-Rollback is equipped with a fire extinguisher, a vehicle emergency kit and a first aid kit … all under development by General Motors Service Parts Operations (SPO).

The C7500 Pro-Rollback features a 21-foot aluminum Rollback platform with integrated storage areas. The cab and body are finished in a Dynamite Orange triple-coat paint with brushed aluminum accents, the latter emphasizing GMC's professional grade brand philosophy.

"Although the array of equipment designed to assist stranded vehicles is impressive, what makes the GMC C7500 Pro-Rollback unique are the features designed to make the experience a more pleasurable one for the stranded motorists," Eaves said.

The C7500 Pro-Rollback's four-door crew cab – derived from GMC's all-new 2003 model-year series of medium duty trucks – easily accommodates four passengers. Leather seats provide maximum comfort and create a luxurious environment. The driver and front-passenger seats are equipped with an air suspension system, while the rear seats feature a fold-down center portion that acts as an armrest and features integrated cupholders.

Helping to keep the rear passengers entertained is a full-width rear console with a built-in audio, game-play capability and DVD system. The drop-down screen seamlessly folds into the headliner when not in use. For those who prefer less-interactive entertainment, the rear console also holds magazines and other reading materials.

"A vehicle breakdown – especially when you have your family with you – is about as pleasant as a root canal or an IRS audit," added Eaves. "In the GMC C7500 Pro-Rollback, we've created a vehicle that gets to the stranded vehicle and passengers more quickly, speeds up the documentation process and whisks the passengers away in a lounge-type atmosphere. In other words, we wanted to turn a stressful situation into a pleasurable one.”

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Duramax 7800 OHC 6 cylinder diesel engine 275 hp @ 2400 rpm; 800 lb/ft torque @ 1450 rpm Allison 3000 Series 6-speed automatic transmission 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes 25,950 lb GVWR 22.5" Alcoa aluminum wheels Goodyear 295/75R 22.5 tires 100-gallon fuel supply 4-door crew cab Air suspension driver and front passenger seats Night Vision system Gearworks etrace mobile work management application with GPS-tracking Rear audio and DVD system 21-foot aluminum Rollback platform with integrated storage areas Brushed aluminum design to cab and body Nippon Paint CDSA / Sherwin Williams Dynamite Orange triple-coat paint Front and rear sunroof Mobile office environment GM SPO fire extinguisher GM SPO vehicle safety kit GM SPO first aid kit stored in door-opening storage areas