GMC has announced a new AEV Edition for the Sierra 1500 AT4X pickup truck.

The AEV Edition is said to bolster the already-capable AT4X’s off-road abilities, achieved through a variety of cosmetic and performance upgrades. This package will be available later in the 2023 model year.

To that end, the AT4X AEV Edition will start off with a modified frontend consisting of a winch-capable stamped steel bumper and an updated grille/fascia. The new fascia is said to accommodate the aforementioned bumper and now larger tires: 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT’s wrapping 18-inch AEV Salta wheels in gloss black. Along the side are new off-road rocker panel protectors and an optional bolt-on step assist. Underneath is a five-piece hot-stamped boron skid plate set, protecting the front approach, steering gear, transfer case, fuel tank and rear differential. Speaking of the rear, the back bumper is the same stamped steel as the front.

Special AEV branding can be seen throughout the vehicle; on the outside, there's badging on the rear bumper and on the wheel caps. Inside, the floor mats and embroidered headrests provide evidence to the truck’s heightened status. The AEV Edition is built off of the AT4X, GMC’s premium off-roading pickup truck that we recently had a chance to toss around in the desert. You can expect a 12-speaker Bose sound system, leather-wrapped massaging front seats, and a truck-load of digital real estate.

So, what does this all mean? For off-roaders, it means an increased approach angle of 32.5-degrees (27% more clearance) and a 23.4-degree departure angle (a small upgrade from the AT4X’s 23-degrees). Breakover angle sees a bump from 22.7- to 23-degrees, where ground clearance increases from 10.8-inches to 11.2-inches. These aren’t huge gains, but considering the “standard” AT4X is packed with plenty of trail-ready tech (Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear e-lock diffs, a two-speed transfer case, drive modes, trail cams, etc) we suspect the AEV to already be plenty capable. And with a standard 6.2-liter V8 under the hood, 420-horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque should be plenty.

The GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition will be available later for the 2023 model year. Pricing on the AEV Edition is yet to be confirmed; the standard AT4X starts around $77,000.