GMC Canyon AT4 Turns Heads With OVRLANDX Off-Road Concept

GMC introduced its AT4 OVRLANDX Off-Road concept to the perfect crowd at the Overland Expo Mountain West event this weekend in Loveland, Colorado.

If there’s ever a place to see all the latest and greatest toys for off-road, vehicle-based exploration, it’s an Overland Expo. Hosted three times this year — in Colorado, Arizona, and Virginia — the expo boasts thousands of built vehicles ready to tackle every environment.

And in the middle of the sea of quarter-million-dollar expedition vehicles, a midsize pickup from GMC was turning heads. Its clean, approachable build looks primed for dealer lots (sans extras like rooftop tents and racks).

GMC AT4 OVRLANDX Concept

GMC announced its Canyon AT4 concept, calling it “GMC’s vision for its growing lineup of premium yet capable trucks and SUVs.” And if that doesn’t sound like a tease for a new package offering, similar to the Chevy Colorado ZR2, I’m not sure what is.

With over 20 off-roading features, GMC designed the Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX concept to be everything an overlanding enthusiast needs.

The truck has a heavy-duty front bumper with a winch, as well as front and rear electronic locking differentials. It has 33-inch BFGoodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain tires on 17-inch AEV Crestone wheels, enabling a 27.7-degree approach angle and 10 inches of ground clearance. All these could very well provide the driver confident capability.

For longer adventures, drivers could enjoy features like a camp kitchen, a topper-mounted tent, and a truck bed storage system.

Duncan Aldred, global VP for Buick and GMC, said, “We wanted to showcase GMC Canyon with this concept and punctuate GMC’s commitment to premium, off-road-capable vehicles. Consumer reaction to this concept’s design will help us further serve the growing market of buyers leading authentic outdoor lifestyles.”

Many of the modifications on the AT4 OVRLANDX concept are easy factory add-ons. The list includes:

• Factory-lifted, wide off-road chassis with enhanced underbody coverage
• Off-road rocker panel protectors
• Cast-iron control arms
• Heavy-duty front bumper with winch
• Integrated front recovery points
• Front and rear electronic locking differentials
• Wheel flares with integrated task lamps
• Multimatic DSSV dampers
• Spare tire swivel mount (so a spare tire can be kept on the back of the truck and swivel out of the way of the tailgate)
• Guy lines for protecting the windshield from low-hanging branches
• GMC’s 3.6L V6 engine mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission

The vehicle could engage in water fording up to 32.1 inches. Its custom-tailored snorkel could allow for filtered and cooler air intake. (Sounds a lot like the Chevy Bison, doesn’t it?)

GMC Canyon Overlanding Pickup

Additional features on the custom build include the following:

• AEV rear off-road bumper
• Stainless steel truck bed cap
• Roof-mounted tent
• 270-degree awning
• Jerry cans for gasoline and water
• Traction boards
• Off-road jack and mount
• Cooler and kitchenette
• Truck bed storage with drawer system
• Solar panel

“The Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX concept truck was designed to balance functionality with aesthetics. When you’re overlanding, capability is an important factor. But doing it with premium style and comfort elevates the experience even further for customers who truly want zero compromises,” said John Owens, lead creative designer for the concept truck.

GMC first introduced AT4 in its Sierra light-duty pickup truck in 2019. It has since expanded across the entire GMC lineup and continues to gain popularity, with over 30% of Canyon buyers choosing AT4 this year.

GMC noted in a press release that “the Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX is the perfect concept vehicle to show how GMC envisions the future of Canyon.”

Does that mean we’ll see an OVRLANDX model on showroom floors soon? Time will tell. But from the head-turning attention at the Overland Expo, GMC may have an easy win by offering consumers the keys to this plug-and-play overlander.