2004 Gmc Yukon Xl Denali on 2040-cars

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2018 GMC Acadia with 'Christmas Aero' modification gets in the wind tunnel

Tis the season of "Big" - big cheer, big parties, big bowls of eggnog, big decorations, and when it comes to your family hauler, big drag. Festive drivers who festoon their crossovers, minivans, and SUVs with wreaths, Rudolph noses, fuzzy antlers, and rooftop Christmas trees undo the years of work that car engineers devote to fractional gains in fuel economy. To put numbers to such fuel-guzzling madness, GMC started with a 2018 Acadia, optioned it with the Xmas Aero Package - both Standard and Plus versions - put it in Lockheed-Martin's wind tunnel. The resulting dip in fuel economy results probably won't surprise anyone who's used a roof rack - or, for that matter, their car's air conditioning. However, it might surprise you to find out which seemingly substantial decoration had no effect, and which seemingly innocuous decoration was about twice as bad as running the A/C on its Mr. Freeze setting. Check out the brief video above for the results. And consider placement of that bow carefully.

GMC wants to target Jeep with compact crossover

GMC execs might consider adding a Jeep competitor to the range, but rather than new rumors of a Wrangler-fighter, this time the Professional Grade brand could go after the Renegade. Division boss Duncan Aldred would like to broaden the brand's lineup with a subcompact crossover. "I keep telling everyone, 'How can General Motors' truck brand not be in the fastest-growing segment in the industry, an SUV segment," he said to Automotive News but wouldn't confirm whether the model was under development. General Motors already offers small crossovers like the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore, but the CUV segment in general continues to drive auto sales in the US. Adding a similarly sized GMC to the mix might increase the automaker's volume by appealing to different customers. "A GMC buyer is very different from a Buick buyer. This is like comparing the Fiat 500X to the Jeep Renegade. They are very similar but appeal to different people," Dave Sullivan, Product Analysis Manager at AutoPacific, told Autoblog. Aldred started the speculation about a Wrangler-fighting model in an interview in late 2014, and the company reportedly even raised the idea of an offroad-focused vehicle to dealers to see how they reacted. The development process was only in the very early planning stages, but the brand considered using Hummer for a little of the new product's inspiration. Aldred later suggested to journalists the possibility of adding a compact or midsize SUV to the GMC range in the next 10 years to appeal to more buyers. He didn't comment directly on the possibility of the Wrangler-challenger at the time beyond saying: "I can't confirm that ... everything's on the table." Related Video:

2025 GMC Terrain fully revealed in spy photos

A couple of months ago, GMC teased the 2025 Terrain compact SUV and said there'd be a reveal sometime this year. We're still waiting on the official reveal, but in the meantime, a spy photographer caught the GMC out and about without any coverings. So this is an early look at the Terrain, both in AT4 and Denali trim levels. Being a mechanical twin to the recently revised 2025 Chevy Equinox, there are some similarities in the roofline, the prominent C-pillar and the window lines, but beyond that the Terrain continues to be solidly distinguished from the Chevy. The front has GMC's more vertical headlights and tall grille, with the latter getting a unique black surround. The fender flares are given more prominence, particularly from the signature amber marker lights over each wheel, and there are subtle taillight and bumper changes. There are design differences between the AT4 and Denali, too. The AT4 has black contrasting flares and bumpers, whereas the Denali has body color pieces. And the AT4 has tow hooks and smaller wheels with all-terrain tires. The Terrain really differentiates itself from the Equinox inside, though. It trades the more organic, trapezoidal Chevy design for the crisp, rectangular looks of larger GMC models. Complementing the look is the touchscreen in portrait layout compared to the Chevy's landscape unit. We don't know for sure whether this screen will be standard across the lineup (the photo is of a Denali), but considering GM's willingness to include big screens in all its models, we wouldn't be surprised if this is included even on base Terrains.  Underpinning the Terrain will be the same new platform as Equinox, and almost certainly the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive should be on offer, with the former getting a CVT and the latter an eight-speed automatic. The AT4 model clearly has reworked bumpers for better approach and departure angle than the standard Terrain, and probably has some additional light protection. We'll be curious if GMC offers a twin-clutch rear differential for some locking and torque-vectoring functionality to help it stand out and potentially compete with the likes of high-end Bronco Sport. But that's more in the realm of speculation. We should have confirmation of many of these details and much more soon when GMC officially reveals the Terrain itself.