General Motors has revealed a Denali variant of the GMC Acadia, ahead of its live appearance at the North American International Auto Show (Better known as the Detroit Auto Show).
This is the brand’s first Denali crossover. It is available with AWD and FWD, as well as seven- and eight-passenger configurations. The engine it will use is a 3.6L direct-injected V6. It develops 288 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, while getting 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway with FWD, and 16 and 23 respectively with AWD. The only available transmission is a 6-speed automatic.
That’s all available on the normal Acadia though. Actual changes include a mono-colour body, chrome honeycomb grille (Featured on all Denali models), revised lower front and rear fascia, HID headlamps, unique body-side moldings with chrome accents, dual chrome exhaust tips, and, of course, Denali badging. There are also special 20-inch, two-tone, chrome wheels. Five colours are available: Quicksilver Metallic, Summit White, Carbon Black, Red Jewel Tintcoat and White Diamond Tricoat.
There are some changes inside as well. The sound proofing has been improved, there are leather seats with matching door panel trim, heated and cooled front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel with mahogany wood inserts, lighting in the footwells, a sunroof with a fixed rear section, a head-up display, and plenty more. As with the exterior, you’ll find some Denali badging here too.
The only mechanical change is that the suspension has been tuned to go with the new wheels.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, and nor has the date when it will appear in showrooms, but these details should be released during the Detroit Auto Show.
Here’s GM’s press release for more info:
The 2011 Acadia Denali – The First Denali Crossover Ever
- GMC is extending its exclusive Denali line to include the highly successful Acadia brand that defined the crossover segment
- The all-inclusive Acadia Denali is the ultimate combination of space and efficiency with top-of-the-line amenities
- Signature Denali cues include the honeycomb grille, chrome accents, body-color fascias and fender flares, mahogany wood steering wheel and wood accents, and lighted sill plates
DETROIT – Today GMC unveiled the 2011 Acadia Denali in Detroit. The first Denali was launched in 1999 on the Yukon brand and helped define the luxury SUV segment. With nearly half of all Yukon sales being Denali models, expanding the Denali line to include the Acadia was a logical extension. Acadia Denali will provide GMC customers with all the amenities the Denali is known for in a fuel-efficient crossover.
“The GMC Denali models have come to stand for luxury and exclusivity, and that’s just what customers 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 the launch and success of the Acadia.”
The Acadia launched in 2007 as the first crossover from GMC, with segment-leading fuel economy and innovative features. An exclusive SmartSlide System allows easy access to an adult-sized third row with available seven- or eight- passenger seating configurations. Fold-flat second- and third-row seats allow flexible passenger and cargo configurations of the best-in-class interior space. Acadia’s refined styling, impressive fuel efficiency, and confidence-inspiring safety features made it an immediate success and ideal platform to build upon for a Denali model.
The 2011 Acadia Denali goes on sale in the third quarter of 2010. It is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models, as well as seven- and eight-passenger configurations. The standard 3.6L direct injected V-6 contributes to an EPA highway rating of 24 mpg with FWD models.
The Acadia Denali will stand out with its signature Denali design cues highlighted by the mono-color exterior and chrome honeycomb grille, a feature on all GMC Denali models. It also wears a number of specific exterior design cues, including:
- Unique lower front and rear fascias
- High-intensity discharge headlamps
- Body-color lower cladding and rocker moldings
- Body-color rear fascia and fender flares
- Unique body-side moldings with chrome accents and Denali badges
- Dual chrome exhaust tips
Further distinction comes with 20-inch, two-tone chrome-clad wheels. The six-spoke wheels feature black chrome spoke inserts set against bright chrome.
The Acadia Denali is offered in five exterior colors: Quicksilver Metallic, Summit White, Carbon Black, Red Jewel Tintcoat and White Diamond Tricoat.
Luxury amenities
Acadia Denali delivers all the luxury and refinement that are hallmarks of the Denali line. It includes a number of exclusive design, comfort and convenience features including:
- Premium acoustics – laminated glass, triple door seals, and liquid applied sound deadeners
- Perforated leather seats with matching leather door panel trim
- Heated and cooled driver and passenger seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with mahogany wood inserts
- Complementary wood grain finish on the instrument panel and center stack
- Enhanced accent lighting in the footwells
- Chrome, lighted sill plates with the Denali logo
- Dual SkyScape sunroof system, with sliding front sunroof and fixed rear section
- Head-up display (HUD)
Additional content includes:
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Navigation system including XM NavTraffic (available)
- Bluetooth connectivity
- OnStar
- Rear-seat DVD entertainment system, with roof-mounted flip-down screen (available)
- Premium audio system with USB port and Bose 10-speaker sound system
- XM Satellite Radio
- Rearview camera system
- Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
- Remote vehicle start
GMC capability
Acadia Denali is powered by a 3.6L direct injection V-6 engine with VVT that optimizes performance and fuel economy, while also reducing emissions – including a 25-percent reduction in cold-start emissions. Engine performance is enhanced by the advanced six-speed automatic transmission. The maximum towing capacity is a class-leading 5,200 pounds (2,364 kg).
A long, 118.9-inch (3,021 mm) wheelbase and wide 67.28-inch (1,709 mm) front/rear tracks give it a lower center of gravity and enable smooth, stable ride and handling for driving comfort. Independent front and rear suspensions enhance smoothness and deliver a more responsive driving experience. The front suspension features a MacPherson strut design, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and aluminum knuckles, while the rear suspension uses a compact, state-of-the-art linked “H” design. Isolated mounting points help reduce noise and vibration.
The suspension is tuned specifically for the Acadia Denali’s 20-inch wheels and the available AWD system enhances dry-road handling and provides increased traction on wet, snow and ice-covered roads. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard, as are the following features:
- StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation technology
- Traction control system
- Tire pressure monitoring system
Acadia Denali is covered by GM’s five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty and three-year/36,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper warranty – the best coverage in America.
About GMC
GMC is one of the industry’s healthiest brands and is evolving to include more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers. The all-new GMC Terrain is a smaller SUV that offers outstanding fuel economy along with the capability, engineering excellence and refinement that have defined GMC for more than a century. Complementing the Terrain is the Acadia eight-passenger crossover, Yukon and Yukon XL and Sierra pickups. Today GMC is the only manufacturer offering three full-size hybrid models. Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com.
2011 GMC ACADIA DENALI SPECIFICATIONS
Overview
Models: GMC Acadia Denali Body style / driveline: crossover SUV / front-engine; front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive Construction: body-frame integral EPA vehicle class: sport utility vehicle Manufacturing location: Lansing Delta Township Assembly, Lansing, Mich. Key competitors: Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9 Engine
3.6L V-6 VVT DI Displacement (cu in / cc): 217 / 3564 Bore & stroke (in / mm): 3.70 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6 Block material: aluminum Cylinder head material: aluminum Valvetrain: dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing Fuel delivery: direct injection Compression ratio: 11.3:1 Horsepower (hp / kW) @ rpm: 288 / 215 @ 6300* Torque (lb-ft / Nm) @ rpm: 270 / 366 @ 3400* Recommended fuel: regular unleaded Max. engine speed (rpm): 6700 Emissions controls: dual close-coupled converters; two pre- and two post-oxygen sensors EPA-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy): 17 / 24 (FWD)
16 / 23 (AWD)Transmission
Hydra-Matic 6T75 6-speed FWD/AWD automatic Gear Ratio (:1) First: 4.48 Second: 2.87 Third: 1.84 Fourth: 1.41 Fifth: 1.0 Sixth: 0.74 Reverse: 2.88 Final drive ratio: 3.16 Chassis / Suspension
Front: coil-over strut; direct acting stabilizer bar; full perimeter isolated cradle Rear: linked H-arm independent suspension; coil springs with twin-tube shock absorbers mounted on isolated sub-frame Steering type: hydraulic rack-and-pinion; straight ratio and variable effort Steering ratio: 16.1 Steer wheel turns, lock-to-lock: 2.89 Turning circle, curb-to-curb
(ft / m):40.4 / 12.3 Brakes
Type: four-wheel disc Rotor diameter (in / mm): front: 12.8 x 1.1 / 325 x 29, ventilated
rear: 13 x 0.8 / 331 x 20, ventilatedAnti-lock braking system (ABS): Bosch 8.0 Chassis Controls: ABS / ETC / ESC w/rollover mitigation Wheels / Tires
Wheel size and type: 20-inch chrome-clad Tire size and type: P255/55R20 H-rated blackwall Dimensions
Exterior
Wheelbase (in / mm): 118.9 / 3020.7 Overall length (in / mm): 201.1 / 5107.9 Overall width (in / mm): 78.9 / 2004.1 Overall height (in / mm): 72.8 / 1846 (w/roof rails); 69.9 / 1775.5 (w/o roof rails) Track Front (in / mm): 67.3 / 1709.4 Rear (in / mm): 67.3 / 1709.4 Curb weight (lb / kg): 4720 / 2141 (FWD)
4925 / 2234 (AWD)Min. ground clearance (in / mm): 7.4 / 189 (FWD and AWD) Interior
Seating capacity: 7 or 8 Headroom First row (in /mm): 40.4 / 1024 (w/o sunroof); 38.5 / 978 (w/ sunroof) Second row (in / mm): 39.3 / 996 (w/o sunroof); 38.3 / 973 (w/ sunroof) Third row (in / mm): 38.4 / 975.3 (w/o sunroof); 38.1 / 968 (w/ sunroof) Legroom First row (in / mm): 41.3 / 1049 Second row (in / mm): 36.9 / 937.2 Third row (in / mm): 33.2 / 843.2 Shoulder room First row (in / mm): 61.9 / 1574 Second row (in / mm): 61.1 / 1551 Third row (in / mm): 57.8 / 1468 Hip room First row (in / mm): 57.8 / 1468.1 Second row (in / mm): 57.9 / 1470.6 Third row (in / mm): 48.3 / 1226.8 Cargo volume Behind first row, with second seat folded and third-row seat and cargo management system removed (cu ft / L): 115.9 / 3282 Behind second row, with third-row seat and cargo management system removed (cu ft / L): 68.7 / 1946 Behind third row (cu ft / L): 24.1 / 683 Capacities
EPA passenger volume
(cu ft / L):154 / 4362 Fuel tank (gal / L): 22.0 / 83.3 Engine oil (qt / L): 5.5 / 5.2 Transmission fluid (qt / L): 9.5 / 9.0 (Dexron VI only) Cooling system (qt / L): 11.8 / 11.18 Max towing capacity (lb / kg): 5200 / 2364 GCWR (lb / kg): 9500 / 4309 (FWD)
9700 / 4400 (AWD)GVWR (lb / kg): 6459 / 2930 *SAE certified
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.
Source: General Motors