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GMC's Denali offerings are going great guns

The Denali trim that GMC uses to denote its top-of-the-line vehicles was introduced back in 1999, partly as a way to challenge the recently introduced Lincoln Navigator. Fifteen years later, and with GMC the tenth-largest US automotive brand by itself Denali has become a sub-brand that keeps the cash registers ringing at the Renaissance Center HQ. While GMC increased sales by 9 percent in 2013, TheDetroitBureau.com reports that that Denali sales rose by 20 percent.
There are currently five Denali models in the GMC line, with the Denali trim available on all but its commercial vans. In 2010, when the now-discontinued Yukon XL Hybrid was also on sale, GMC sold 32,886 units of its top trim. Last year, that number had increased to 75,558, with almost no help from traditional marketing spends. Go to YouTube and search for "GMC Denali commercials" - the few actual commercial results are from years ago. GMC marketing director Roger McCormack tells TheDetroitBureau.com, "It's largely all been organic."
As sales have grown, so has the tide of money GMC rakes in from the additional luxury features on Denali models. The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe starts at $44,600, yet its 2014 Yukon Denali doppelganger starts at $58,320, pricing that includes additional features like the larger 6.2-liter V8, nicer interior, head-up display and magnetic ride control suspension. The Yukon XL Denali starts at $60,965, but the article says the "average customer" likely to spend "up and above $70,000" to take one home. How does that happen? On a top-trim Tahoe LTZ, the top-tier wheel option is a set of 20-inch chrome wheels for $400; on the 'base' Yukon Denali you can swap for a set of 22-inch chrome alloys for $2,995. Add it up, and an analyst at AutoTrends Consulting said that kind of margin "epitomizes the concept of obscene profitability." We say when it comes to Denali, GMC appears to stand for "Grabbing More Cash."

2016 GMC Sierra All Terrain X is cool but no Raptor threat

If you want a brutish off-roader from Ford or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, you're spoiled for choice. There's the F-150 SVT Raptor, the Jeep Wrangler, and the Ram Rebel and Power Wagon. But since General Motors killed the Hummer brand, it's been without any real competitor to those trucks. The new, special edition GMC Sierra All Terrain X is not going to be that vehicle, but it's close enough to be worth a look. The oft-overlooked Sierra All Terrain's off-road suspension and Eaton locking rear differential give it some real trail credentials. The All Terrain X builds on both with cosmetic and performance upgrades. For most owners, the big draw will be the brawnier 5.3-liter V8. Fitted with a performance exhaust, it should deliver a meatier tone, and according to GMC it bumps output up from 355 to 365 horsepower. The other big performance upgrade comes from the tires, knobby Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac MT mud-terrain-rated things. The tires and their accompanying 18-inch black aluminum wheels are nice touches. Cool as the All Terrain X might be, it strikes us as an odd strategy for the GMC brand. For one, the trail-ready tires and performance exhaust of the All Terrain X don't seem to fit into the more premium market position that GMC occupies. Moreover, Chevy already has an off-road-oriented pickup in the new Colorado Z71 Trail Boss. Visual upgrades like the black bed-mounted sport bar, LED off-road lights, blacked-out accents, and the 18-inch wheels, the look of the All Terrain X is more in line with the Colorado Trail Boss theme. It's just our two cents, but it seems like attaching the All Terrain X's aesthetic to the Silverado would have been a stronger strategy, and would give Colorado buyers a larger off-road-focused truck to aspire to. You can look for the special edition All Terrain X in GMC dealers this spring, with prices to be announced closer to the on-sale date. Read on for the official press release from GMC. Related Video: GMC Announces Sierra All Terrain X The News GMC today announced the 2016 Sierra All Terrain X – a special edition of the All Terrain model, featuring exclusive premium content that enhances off-road capability and an aggressive, monochromatic appearance. The All Terrain X's powerful attitude reflects a popular personalization trend among off-road enthusiasts, executed with the top-range refinement GMC has cultivated for years with models such as the Sierra Denali.

Hot air balloons caught in high winds drag fullsize SUV

A sudden storm front whipped up enough wind to send some hot air balloons flying into the air in Wisconsin over the weekend. One ballon proved so energetic that it was able to drag a fullsize SUV across a field and into a stand of tents. The freak accident occurred at Balloonfest in Waterford, Wisconsin. Spectators were horrified as balloons dragged handlers to the ground and launched with terrified pilots clinging to their baskets. Organizers had started packing up the colorful balloons due to ominous storm clouds when the wind kicked up. "Happened just like that; it was crazy," Nathan Fricke, crew member, told Fox 6. Winds were clocked at 40 to 50 miles per hour. A balloon caught in the wind dragged a large SUV (we think a Suburban or Yukon XL) hundreds of feet and into a cluster of tents on the edge of the staging area where balloons were on display for festival goers. Considering that the SUV surely weighs well over 5,000 pounds, it's lucky that no one was injured in the incident. News Source: Fox6Now Weird Car News Chevrolet GM GMC SUV