General Motors unveils new premium GMC Sierra Denali and AT4X pickups

DETROIT – General Motors is rolling out two new high-end GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, including one called Denali Ultimate that will start at over $ 80,000 – making it the most expensive half-ton full-size pickup of the market.

The new models aim to take advantage of the Sierra’s already high profit margins and average transaction prices of $ 53,342. That includes $ 61,695 for the current Denali 1500 pickup, which starts at around $ 57,700.

The other new pickup is the AT4X, a more luxurious and off-road capable pickup than the brand’s current AT4, starting at $ 74,995. It features a lot of tech upgrades, but not all of them, like the Denali Ultimate with off-road parts and accessories. It also features less chrome on the exterior, opting for blacker features and tires.

“There is an opportunity to add even more luxury and even more capability. We believe there is a market for that. There are people who are willing to pay an even higher price,” said Duncan Aldred, Global Director of GMC, at a press conference. interview earlier this year.

The new models are part of an updated full-size pickup lineup for the 2022 model year that includes a refreshed exterior and a redesigned, more technologically advanced interior on most models. The trucks make their debut Thursday night online and in a Thursday Night Football commercial between the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns.

Updated models offer more than 40-inch diagonal digital display, including a new 13.4-inch diagonal color touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and 15-inch head-up display . The AT4X and Denali Ultimate both come with a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.

While the GMC Sierra shares its bones with the Chevrolet Silverado, the automaker has deliberately differentiated pickup trucks as well as brands in recent years. Differentiation has allowed GM to push the GMC brand even higher in the range, despite the fact that many vehicles share platforms and features with Chevrolet vehicles.

The vehicles are expected to go on sale in the spring of next year, according to GM. The automaker is taking refundable reservation deposits of $ 100 for 2022 Sierra models on GMC’s website.

The starting price for the 2022 GMC Sierra lineup will range from $ 32,495 for a work-oriented pickup to $ 80,395 for the Denali Ultimate. Price includes a mandatory destination charge of $ 1,695.

GMC isn’t the first to offer a truck with a starting price of over $ 80,000. Ford Motor has a handful of pickup trucks at this price point, but they’re bigger Super Duty trucks than the GMC Sierra 1500.

GM executives have touted Denali as one of its profit gems for many years now. It started in 1999 as a small trim on the Yukon SUV, but has expanded in recent years to all vehicles in the brand’s lineup.

The Sierra Denali Ultimate is a fully loaded vehicle, featuring GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway driving system, which the company has announced will expand to 22 models by 2023. The technology will be available on the regular Denali but no series.

“The first-ever Sierra Denali Ultimate finish is the most advanced and luxurious pickup in its class, taking the popular Denali sub-brand to an even higher threshold of luxury,” GM said in a statement Thursday.

Other features include a carbon fiber composite body, premium suspension and ride components, massive 22-inch wheels, full-grain leather trim, and open-pore Paldao wood trim on the interior. .

GM calls the AT4X “a balanced run that delivers advanced off-road capability” without compromising on-road comfort.

Like many other automakers, GMC wants to capitalize on increased SUV sales and demand for all-terrain vehicles. The appearance and features of these vehicles have become more popular with mainstream consumers in recent years.

The vehicle has an upgraded suspension system and other off-road parts and accessories such as a two-speed transfer case for crawling through rocks.

Last month, GM’s Chevrolet marque also offered a new all-terrain model for the Silverado 1500 called the ZR2.