2011 GMC Acadia Denali
2010 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) Preview – 2011 GMC Acadia Denali: GMC will add the Denali treatment to the 2011 GMC Acadia. The GMC Acadia introduced in 2007 as an entry level crossover for the “professional grade” brand will be getting the anything but entry level treatment as GMC pulls all the stops on the features that make the Denali line so popular.
Exterior features making the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali stand out from the entry level Acadia include: Denali specific front and rear fascias, side body cladding, Denali badges and chrome exhaust tips. The 2011 GMC Acadia Denali will ride on six-spoke 20” dual tone chrome wheels. The Acadia Denali will be available in five colors: Quicksilver Metallic, Summit White, Carbon Black, Red Jewel Tintcoat and White Diamond Tricoat.
Inside, the Denali experience is conveyed through temperature controlled leather seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, wood grain finish on the dash and center console, dual sunroof, and an upscale sound system.
Available options available on the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali are driver, and front and rear passenger climate control, a nav system, Bluetooth capability, rear DVD entertainment system, a backup camera, enhanced sound system, XM radio, eight-way power adjustable driver seat with memory feature, premium sound system with USB connection and remote start.
Powering the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali is the same 3.6-L direct injection V-6 with fuel saving variable valve timing (VVT) that powers the rest of the Denali line. Getting the power to the front wheels (FWD) is the standard six-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) model is available as well. The 3.6-L V-6 puts out 288 hp @ 6,300 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm helping to give the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali a class leading 5,200-lb towing capacity, yet allows the Acadia Denali to achieve 17 mpg city and 24 mpg hwy in FWD models and 16 mpg and 24 mpg in AWD packages.
The Acadia is a unibody crossover based on the Lambda platform shared with the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Travers and is designed with third row seating allowing it to accommodate up to 8 passengers, however the third row is best left to smaller passengers and children.
The GMC Denali competes with the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9 as well as its GM siblings the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse.
-by Vernon Heywood
Photo courtesy of GM
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