GMC Syclone
The Syclone looked like a small black pickup, but a turbocharger, liquid intercooler and all-wheel drive let it launch like a sports car. Its cargo rating was modest because speed—not hauling—was the mission.
1991 GMC Syclone cover · Charles from Port Chester, New York · CC0 1.0
More than a set of wheels.
GMC turned its compact pickup into a focused road-performance machine for 1991. A turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 sent power through a four-speed automatic to all four wheels, while a lowered sport suspension, four-wheel anti-lock braking and a rear limited-slip differential helped manage the speed. Period testers famously compared it with a Ferrari 348ts; the truck won the measured sprint to 60 mph. Fewer than 3,000 were built, and the 1991 trucks wore black paint rather than a broad regular-pickup color palette.
Look a little closer.
In Car and Driver's period comparison, the Syclone reached 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and covered the quarter mile in 14.1 seconds at 93 mph—quicker to both marks than the Ferrari in the same test.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A launch system hiding in a pickup
The full-time all-wheel-drive system used a center differential and viscous coupling to send 35 percent of torque forward and 65 percent rearward. A rear limited-slip differential helped keep the back tires working together. That rear-biased split preserved a lively feel while the front tires added valuable traction when the turbo came on boost.
Source: Car and Driver — 1991 GMC Syclone vs. Ferrari 348ts ↗Why the automatic made sense
A conventional manual gearbox sounds sportier, but the four-speed automatic's torque converter let the V6 move quickly into its strongest boost range without abusing a clutch during hard all-wheel-drive launches. GMC's brochure also specified lock-up overdrive, which reduced engine speed during steady cruising.
Source: GMC Truck — 1991 Syclone sales brochure ↗Fast truck, small payload
The Syclone was not a standard Sonoma with an engine upgrade. Its lowered chassis, performance tires and 500-lb payload ceiling signaled that GMC had traded traditional truck work for road performance. That boundary matters: spectacular acceleration did not make it a heavy-hauling pickup.
Source: Car and Driver — An Illustrated History of the Pickup Truck ↗Where these facts come from
- GMC Truck — 1991 Syclone sales brochure
- Car and Driver — 1991 GMC Syclone vs. Ferrari 348ts
- Car and Driver — An Illustrated History of the Pickup Truck
- Edmunds — 1991 GMC Syclone Regular Cab specifications
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.