GMC Acadia Denali - Goes Upscale

Much of the big news around SUVs will be focused on the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer, but the popular GMC Acadia takes a step out and up with the Denali edition.

“The GMC Denali models have come to stand for luxury and exclusivity, and that’s just what customer will get in the new Acadia Denali,” said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director. “The decision to develop an Acadia Denali was made quickly within the new GM in response to customer and dealer demand for a Denali version ever since launch and success of the Acadia.”
Acadia adopts the usual Denali fare like a honeycomb grille, 20” chrome alloy wheels, and monochrome body treatment. Inset foglamps, dual chrome exhaust tips, and satin silver trim on the bumpers and door handles give the Acadia Denali an elegant appearance.

Inside, the luxury crossover rivals Cadillac’s Escalade for luxury. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, mahogany wood inserts, woodgrain on the instrument panel, and chrome lighted door sills show an attention to detail. Perforated heated/cooled leather seats, matching leather door trim, and enhanced lighting in the footwells coddles passengers. A heads-up display gives drivers the information they need right in front of their faces. Tri-zone automatic climate control, navigation, Bluetooth phone connectivity, available rear-seat DVD entertainment, XM Satellite Radio, and rearview camera finish off a packed cabin.

GMC first launched the Denali package on the Yukon, which became the basis of the first-generation Escalade. Until Cadillac launches a full-size crossover of its own, the Acadia Denali is the closest you can get. Even with increasing competition, Acadia has everything discriminating customers want in their full-size crossovers. Adding a Denali model takes it to a much higher class of competitor like the Mercedes GL, Audi Q7, and Lincoln MKT.
By Casey Williams - MyCarData

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GMC Sierra Denali 2500 Crew Cab

Its up-level accommodations, stump-pulling power and over-all quality notwithstanding, reviewing the 2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD pickup -- or any full-size pickup for that matter -- is a writing assignment undertaken with a degree of dread. As with its traditional competitors, purchasing the Sierra 2500HD requires sifting through a myriad of choices. Offered in multiple configurations, it is available with two V8s, three cab types, rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, and up to four trim levels. 



Edmunds.com lists a base price for 29 separate variations. Distilling all of this into 850 words is a headache-inducing endeavor capable of pushing Gandhi to sucker punch an orphan. To simplify the process, this review will concentrate on the top-of-the-line $46,680 Sierra Denali 2500 that GMC provided for my test drive.

A heavy-duty version of GMC's Sierra 1500 pickup, the 2500HD is designed to tow and haul larger loads than its 1500 sibling. If your heart skipped a beat at the price tag of my test Sierra 2500, there are more affordable versions.

If all you require is a basic work truck, the regular-cab 2500 Work Truck equipped with little more than air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel and four-speaker audio system, is priced at $28,960. Other versions are spread along the price spectrum between it and the Denali. Taking the step to the next trim level, SLE, boosts the price by just $3,600 and adds an array of popular amenities, such as full power accessories, carpet, cloth rather than vinyl seats, CD player, keyless entry and cruise control.

In addition to the re-engineered front suspension and an all-new boxed frame found on all 2011 GMC heavy-duty models, my test truck derived its go from a new optional $7,195 Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 engine. It replaced the standard 360-horsepower 6-liter V8. While the 397 horsepower the turbodiesel generates is impressive, it's the whopping 765 pound-feet of peak torque that will make your heart pound and your ears ring. That's more than twice the torque of the 6-liter V8. Towing limits for 2500HDs are 13,000 pounds with a hitch and as much as 17,200 pounds in a fifth-wheel setup.

Delivering engine output to the wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission. My test GMC had the optional $1,200 Allison six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. Thanks to the 2500HD's Orsen Wells-like weight rating, it escapes EPA mpg testing. But don't expect a Valentine's Day card from the Society of Tree Huggers if you drive one of these battle ships.

The fully boxed frame increased bending stiffness by 92 percent. This adds to both towing capacity and durability. The solid live axle rear suspension uses multi-leaf springs. The front independent suspension is new. Its short-long arm/torsion bar setup has a 25-percent greater front axle weight rating. What this means is that all 4WD models can be equipped with a snow plow with the proper setup package.

On the highway the ride is smooth and hassle free. Bumpy surfaces, though, will send some tremors through the cabin. This is a vehicle engineered for the wide-open spaces. Like other big trucks, if you don't have to have a vehicle this size for pulling a trailer or hauling cargo, the tradeoff of maneuverability around town for the image of driving a colossus probably isn't worth it. Parking in most city lots and garages requires D-Day-level planning. It is 20 feet long and has a turning radius of 50.5 feet compared to, say, the 39-foot turning radius of GMC's Canyon pickup.

Ventilated disc brakes with antilock slow all four wheels. Traction control, stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency braking assist are all standard. The only airbags included in the base price are the driver and front-seat passenger frontal airbags. Extended cab and crew cab models have side-curtain and seat-mounted side airbags available as an option for $395.

Denali is GMC's high-end luxury trim. This year marks its first appearance in the 2500HD lineup. Its exclusivity extends to its configuration. Only available as a 4WD short-bed crew cab, the Denali trim builds on SLE and SLT standard equipment, which includes OnStar, remote starting, leather front seats, an automatic locking rear differential, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated outboard mirrors, redundant steering-wheel-mounted controls for the upgraded Bose-infused six-speaker audio system and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Listed among the Denali-specific standard equipment are power-adjustable pedals, rear-parking sensors, the EZ-Lift and locking tailgate, and more chrome exterior accents. My test 2500HD also had the $2,250 touchscreen navigation system, and $450 rear backup-camera system.

Generally the cabin is roomy and intelligently arranged. The controls are intuitive and well placed. Arguably capable of swallowing a small child, the front center console is large. Getting into the cabin is a bit of an alley-oop, but once inside, the seats are nicely cushioned and supportive.

In terms of utility, the Sierra 2500HD is about as good as it gets. It is capable and comfortable. And if you want to pull your fifth wheel into the trailer park in style and luxury, the 2500 Denali is the way to do it. It is, however, a beast. Negotiating narrow downtown streets or trying to pull into a slot in a parking garage could stroke out drivers of lesser fortitude.
By Russ Heaps - MyCarData

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New GMC Terrain SUV to Hit the Road Priced from $24,995

The Chevy Equinox's spinoff, the "squary" looking 2010 GMC Terrain SUV will arrive at GM's showrooms in September priced from $24,995 for the front-wheel drive model and $26,745 for the all-wheel drive variant. Both prices include a $745 destination and freight charge. The base SLE1 model is powered by a 182HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine linked to a 6-speed automatic delivering an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 32 miles per gallon.

Standard features on the SLE1 include an integrated rear-view camera system and six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with USB connectivity and XM satellite radio service, along six airbags, StabiliTrak vehicle stability control, and OnStar.

The better equipped SLT2 trim level that features leather seating, a premium Pioneer sound system, a power liftgate, sunroof and a special chrome appearance package, starts at $29,995 (including DFC).

Aside from the 2.4L engine, the Terrain is also offered with a 3.0-liter direct injection V6 engine producing 265HP that returns an estimated 25 mpg highway, 18 mpg city. The V6 model comes with additional standard equipment such as integrated navigation system and a rear-seat DVD infotainment system. Detailed pricing will be revealed closer to the launch date.

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GM Recalling More than 26,000 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC SUVs and Trucks

General Motors is expanding a previous recall concerning a faulty rear-axle cross pin to include another 26,751 SUVs and trucks from the 2011 model year. The first recall was issued in late December and concerned approximately 1,260 Cadillac Escalades, Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500s, and GMC Sierra 1500s, all from the 2011MY.

The updated recall now covers certain 2011MY Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; and GMC Canyon, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles.

The Detroit automaker said the rear axle cross pins were not properly heat treated and could fracture and become displaced within the rear axle.

"Should the pin shift out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning," said GM in a statement on NHTSA's website.

As expected, GM's dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge, with the safety recall to begin before the end of the month

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GMC Shows More of its Detroit-Bound Sierra All Terrain HD Concept

We first reported on the new GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept in mid-December, but since then, General Motors has released a slew of new photos. The updated gallery includes the first photos of the design study's interior that has been spruced up with higher quality and more luxurious materials than the standard Sierra, upon which it is based.

Set to debut at next week's North American International Auto Show, GMC says the concept model is an exploration of heavy-duty truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility. Even if the Sierra All Terrain HD Concept doesn't make it as is onto the road, chances are that it will inspire a future production version. Full HD gallery after the break.

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GM Introduces Cell Phone Charging Mats at CES, Production Begins in 2012

Thanks to induction technology, mobile electronic devices, such as phones, can be wirelessly charged, just by placing them on special pads. At the 2011 CES in Las Vegas, General Motors announced plans to introduce the wireless charging technology in many future Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac products, beginning from the second half of 2012.

The Detroit automaker revealed that is has signed a commercial agreement with an Israeli company called Powermat that specializes on the new technology. GM Ventures, the company’s venture capital subsidiary, will invest a total of $5 million in Powermat to help accelerate its development and support efforts to grow Powermat’s business globally, the company said in a statement.

The new technology is said not only to eliminate the need for charging cords, but, according to Powermat CEO Ran Poliakine, it’s also safer and more efficient.

The Chevrolet Volt will be one of the first cars to benefit from the new equipment.

“Imagine a mat or shelf where you could put your iPhone, your Droid or other personal device and charge it automatically while you commute to work, run errands or as you’re driving on a family vacation”, said Micky Bly, GM’s lead electronics executive. “The Chevy Volt will be one of the first applications, but we intend to expand it across our vehicle portfolio”, Bly added.

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GM Issues Separate Recalls on Cadillac CTS and Escalade, and Chevy and GMC Trucks

General Motors is recalling close to 100,000 vehicles in two separate campaigns. In a posting with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], GM said the first recall affects almost 96,000 Cadillac CTS sedans from the 2005-2007 model years over concerns that some of the vehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the passenger seat may break the connection. The company said that if this occurs, the sensor may not detect the presence of a front seat passenger and will disable the air bag.

Dealers will replace the passenger sensing system free of charge, however, GM has yet to provide an owner notification schedule for the CTS recall.

The second recall from GM concerns approximately 1,260 Cadillac Escalades, Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500s, and GMC Sierra 1500s, all from the 2011 model year. These trucks may have a faulty rear-axle cross pin, which could fracture and become displaced within the axle.

GM said that if the pin shifts out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock, in which case, the driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning.

The company added that this safety recall is expected to begin during January 2011.

READ MORE - GM Issues Separate Recalls on Cadillac CTS and Escalade, and Chevy and GMC Trucks