2011 Gmc Yukon Xl 1500 Denali on 2040-cars

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GM considering new powertrain options for large SUVs

Aside from the new General Motors offerings, there's not a whole lot of action going on in the fullsize SUV segment. That doesn't seem to be stopping GM from pushing the envelope in the market as Automotive News is reporting that the automaker is looking to introduce some new powertrain options into the Chevy Tahoe (and Suburban), GMC Yukon (and Yukon XL) and the Cadillac Escalade - all have been redesigned for the 2015 model year.
Now, we already know that GM and Ford are collaborating on nine- and ten-speed transmissions for a broad range of applications (including the big SUVs), but this new report says that GM is also considering other options as a way to one-up the competition and, of course, to optimize fuel economy. AN quotes Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer for GM trucks, as saying that "interesting powertrain technologies" are coming including a return of a hybrid SUV and possibly even a diesel engine. Although it sounds like the latter could come down to how customers respond to the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel.

GMC offers more 2024 Hummer EV SUV details, photos

GMC has shared more details about its 2024 Hummer EV SUV after its debut during the NCAA Final Four tournament. The SUV which follows the Hummer EV pickup, is smaller, more maneuverable and has a few features the truck doesn’t. GM says itÂ’s meant to strike a balance between off-road capability and on-road driving. GM also says Edition 1 reservations are already sold out. Compared to the truck, the Hummer SUV has a wheelbase about 9 inches shorter. With four-wheel steering, its turning circle is just 35.4 feet, which GM emphasizes is tighter than that of the Ford Mustang Mach-E (38.1 feet). ItÂ’s also less than the Hummer pickupÂ’s 37.1-foot turning circle. The SUV, which, at 196.8 inches long, is 20 inches shorter than the truck overall. It also features a much shorter rear overhang, at 35.5 inches. While thatÂ’s all helpful maneuvering through city traffic or suburban parking lots, it also provides advantages off-road. It has an approach angle of 49.6 degrees, a 49.0-degree departure angle and a 34.4-degree breakover angle. Suspension travel is 13 inches front and rear, with 16 inches of maximum ground clearance thanks to its Extract Mode that temporarily raises the vehicle to get out of tricky terrain. It can ford water 32 inches deep. It also features the same CrabWalk mode as the pickup. Available Ultravision provides 17 cameras, including underbody views to help navigate the trail. The Hummer SUV benefits from an enclosed cargo area behind the second row of seats. It still features the Infinity Roof with removable panels above the two seating rows to essentially turn the SUV into a convertible. At the rear is a swing-out tailgate that opens wider than the width of the vehicle. A spare tire rides on the tailgate as well. With the rear seats folded, cargo volume peaks at 81.8 cubic feet.  Additional hidden storage space is found below the recycled rubber floor mat, which features a design inspired by the moonÂ’s Sea of Tranquility (that's where Apollo 11 landed). As for technology, the Hummer SUV gets a 13.4-inch infotainment screen, plus a 12.3-inch instrument display in front of the driver. Fourteen cameras come standard, and the aforementioned Ultravision provides a total of 17 cameras, including a surround view. The MyGMC mobile app offers satellite rendered trail maps that can also help manage energy consumption off-road and make sure you have enough juice to make it to a charger when finished.

GM announces 3 new recalls affecting 1.7M vehicles in North America [w/video]

Still embroiled in the ongoing ignition switch recall, General Motors announced today three more discrete recalls, affecting a grand total of 1,546,900 vehicles in the US. The Detroit News reports that some 1.7 million vehicles are affected overall in North America. The first and largest of the trio of new recalls concerns some 1.18-million Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia crossovers from the 2008-2013 model years, Chevrolet Traverse from 2009-2013 (pictured above) and Saturn Outlook vehicles from 2008-2010. All of the crossover utilities may have an issue with the wiring harness for their seat-mounted side airbags. Apparently, the vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light that, if ignored, "will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints." Those restraints include the side airbags, a front-center airbag if the vehicle is so equipped and seatbelt pretensioners. Dealers of affected vehicles will be instructed to remove driver and passenger side airbag wiring harness connectors, and then "splice and solder the wires together." The second recall affects 303,000 Chevrolet Express (pictured right) and GMC Savana vans from model years 2009-2014, and with gross vehicle weights under 10,000 pounds. Said vehicles do not comply with a head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants, and will need a reworking of the instrument panel material to be sent back on the road. It doesn't sound as though there's a quick fix for this one, as the GM press release states: "Unsold vehicles have been placed on a stop delivery until development of the solution has been completed and parts are available." Finally, the third recall affects 63,900 Cadillac XTS luxury sedans from model years 2013 and 2014. A brake booster pump may be susceptible to corrosion by way of the relay, potentially causing and electrical short, overheating, melting of plastic components and even engine fires. GM says it is aware of two engine fires in unsold XTS models and two cases of melted parts. Repairs for the issues affecting the XTS have not not mentioned by GM in the release. The Detroit News is also reporting that along with news of the triple-recall, GM is taking a $300-million credit to help pay for the repair costs, and to deal with the ongoing costs associated with the ignition switch recall. In an attempt to explain just what GM has been doing in the face of these very serious issues, newly minted CEO Mary Barra has addressed the issues in a new video.