GMC Denali XT dual-cab ute concept

You may remember our speculation concerning a possible Holden Crewman concept making a splash at this year’s Melbourne Motor Show, part of Holden’s plan to steal the thunder from Ford’s Falcon Orion launch. Well, the pictures you see here are very likely that concept. Designed and built in Australia by Holden the twin-cab ute concept is called the Denali XT and has supposedly been inspired by Holden’s rather forgettable Crewman.

Making its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, the Denali XT features an interesting combination of technologies that combined, see it use 50 percent less fuel than comparable conventional vehicles. The Denali XT is based on GM’s Zeta platform that underpins our VE Commodore and features a two-mode hybrid drivetrain.

Headlining the two-mode hybrid drivetrain is a new 4.9-litre V8 version of GM’s small-block V8 that has been set-up to run on E85 or petrol making the Denali XT GM’s first flex-fuel hybrid. The new V8 features direct fuel injection and Active Fuel Management/cylinder deactivation to help it achieve the claimed 50 percent fuel efficiency gain. The full two-mode hybrid flex fuel, direct injection V8 drivetrain is good for 243kW.

As with the VE Commodore Ute, and being Zeta platform based the Denali XT gets the benefit of independent rear suspension, which will ensure a car like ride at the expense of some load carrying capacity. We may be used to this type of vehicle in Australia but it should be a revelation for Americans who are used to their live rear axle utes/pickups. Some will like it, others would 'tut' 'tut' the reduced load carrying capacity that comes with a sophisticated IRS setup – but that would be losing sight of what the Denali XT is about. It’s designers are calling it a Sports Utility Truck or SUT, and its designed more for those looking for a weekday family car that can tow the boat or carry the trail bikes on the weekend. It’s exactly this style of vehicle that is becoming more and more popular in Australia – witness the record sales of Toyota’s Hilux, the most popular version being the 4x4 dual-cab.

Word is that a production version of the Denali XT is likely, no-doubt minus the 23-inch rims, lashings of chrome, pumped guards, air adjustable suspension and concept interior. Bob Lutz has hinted that a dual-cab ute is a real possibility for GM and Holden, which gets you wondering just how the next Holden Crewman is going to look, if they build it...

For all of the guff on the Denali XT, the press release follows the picture gallery.

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PRESS RELEASE

GMC DENALI XT HYBRID CONCEPT TRUCK DELIVERS 50-PERCENT FUEL ECONOMY IMPROVEMENT

• New, robust design form serves as a test well for GMC's future design direction

• First combination of GM's two-mode hybrid system with E85 ethanol-capable engine

• Height-adjustable suspension and cargo space-enhancing Midgate®

CHICAGO – GMC unveiled the Denali XT concept at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. It offers a 50-percent increase in combined fuel economy over comparable small pickup trucks when running on gasoline, and it incorporates a new, muscular form in a performance-styled, hybrid sport-utility truck (SUT).

The Denali XT has a unibody architecture and rear-wheel drive, enabling its distinctive design and efficient performance. It builds on the equity of the Denali line and its reputation for advanced engineering and refinement, including the first combination of GM's two-mode hybrid system with an E85 ethanol-capable engine. Denali XT's new, more efficient 4.9L version of GM's small-block V-8 features fuel-saving technologies such as direct-injection technology and Active Fuel Management.

The engine is matched with GM's unique two-mode hybrid propulsion system, giving the powerful SUT exceptional fuel economy and uncompromising capability – including all-electric drive at low speeds. It is a powertrain combination that makes the Denali XT perfectly suited to a variety of active lifestyle activities, such as hauling skis and snowboards to the mountain or towing a sport jet boat to the lake.

"Like all GMCs, the Denali XT is functional and capable, but it blends those traits with a more efficient, sporty driving experience," said Jim Bunnell, GMC general manager. "It is a vehicle that exemplifies GMC's engineering excellence, as well as GM's commitment to hybrid and advanced technologies."

With its unibody structure, the Denali XT is lighter than conventional body-on-frame trucks, with great ride-and-handling characteristics. This design enhances fuel economy while giving the vehicle a sporty driving experience. True to its GMC Professional Grade heritage, the Denali XT is filled with technologies and features that maximize its flexibility, including a cargo space-enhancing Midgate® and height-adjustable suspension.

The Denali XT's proportions are framed around a high cowl and 123.4-inch (3,134 mm) wheelbase. This enhances the vehicle's truck functionality, but packages it in an efficient, unibody architecture.

Design and construction were spearheaded by Holden Design, within the Australian arm of GM's global design and engineering network.

"Denali XT is about working hard, playing hard and enjoying an active lifestyle," said Bunnell. "It is the same philosophy that has helped make the GMC Acadia crossover a huge hit with consumers."

Dramatic design statement

A muscular form and wide, firmly planted stance give the Denali XT a confidently capable road presence. Minimal overhangs, large wheels, sleek headlamps and a low roof profile deliver an aggressive, performance-oriented appearance.

"It is a robust yet tailored design statement that is unlike anything else on the road," said Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design. "It has the youthful look of a custom automobile that incorporates the capability customers expect from a truck."

The Denali XT's design includes a new take on GMC's iconic grille, with a prominent, four-bar element in addition to the large, red GMC logo and signature Denali background. Flared fenders accentuate the wide road stance. The stance is also enhanced when the Denali XT is lowered on its air-adjustable suspension, which creates a sleeker appearance that simultaneously improves aerodynamics. Large, bold 23-inch wheels and custom Kuhmo tires complement the Denali XT's stance.

Inside, the Denali XT blends mechanical functionality with leather-trimmed comfort.

Billet-metal surrounds, controls and instruments convey the cold precision of an aircraft cockpit. This is balanced by the warmth of bespoke saddle-leather trimmed seats and other contact surfaces.

"The form language is smooth and structured to characterize GMC's power. The details have a deliberately contrasting mechanical aesthetic to mark GMC's engineering sophistication," said Warrack Leach, lead designer.

The interior features innovative instrumentation with "floating" red-illuminated numerals backed by surface chaplets in the clusters and a large integrated vehicle interface screen. The interior illumination was supplied by Osram.

The Denali XT seats four. The high-cowl vehicle architecture enables higher seating positions, allowing the couple distance between front and rear occupants to be reduced without compromising knee room. This packaging efficiency creates generous interior and cargo bed dimensions within a more compact package.

Truck capability

With stiffness that is greater than most conventional, body-on-frame trucks, the Denali XT's unibody structure supports a very capable truck platform. It also serves as the mounting point for a four-wheel independent suspension that gives the vehicle its performance feel on the road. The multilink front suspension features a forward-mounted steering rack and dual lower links with ball joints at the outer ends, providing sharp responses to driver input. At the rear, a four-link suspension design uses coil-over shocks and a decoupled stabilizer bar to enhance cornering control, reduce body roll and optimize longitudinal compliance. In short, it's a truck that hauls more than cargo on twisting roads.

The rear cargo area is wide, deep and flat, with no suspension or wheelhouse protrusions; the cargo floor measures 55 inches long (1,397 mm) by 47.5 inches wide (1,206 mm). It all adds up to the space to haul a wide variety of lifestyle accessories.

The easy-to-operate Midgate can be lowered to extend the cargo-carrying capacity inside the vehicle. The rear seats fold flat to provide a longer floor for carrying items such as skis, surfboards or wood from the home improvement store. A fixed rear window allowed engineers to retain the vehicle's structure, reducing mass and complexity.

The Denali XT has an estimated payload capacity of 1,100 pounds (499 kg) and a towing capacity of an estimated 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg). This capability is delivered through unique vehicle and powertrain integration, where the multiple modes of GM's two-mode hybrid system provide towing capability.

New 4.9L SIDI V-8 and two-mode hybrid system

For the first time, GM's rear-wheel-drive two-mode hybrid transmission is paired with a smaller-displacement version of the small-block engine. The new V-8 4.9L E85-capable engine powers the Denali XT with an estimated 326 horsepower (243 kW). It uses direct-injection technology to produce the power of a larger engine, but consumes less fuel and produces lower emissions.

Also, the functionality of GM's Active Fuel Management system has been expanded through the use of hybrid technologies, enhancing the cylinder-deactivating feature to further improve fuel efficiency.

The Denali XT's two-mode hybrid system is partnered with the 4.9L engine and uses an electrically variable transmission to enhance fuel efficiency in city and highway driving. In city driving, all-electric propulsion is used at low speeds; on the highway, fixed-gear operation enables efficient performance even when towing a trailer.

The specific characteristics of the Denali XT allowed the synergistic evolution of GM's small-block V-8 and two-mode hybrid beyond the recently introduced in GM two-mode hybrid products, such as the GMC Yukon Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid. During this optimization process, additional powertrain technologies have been integrated, including Active Thermal Management, which transfers thermal energy from one driveline component to another to improve efficiency; and a high-efficiency axle configuration, which fundamentally reduces the losses normally associated with conventional axle configurations.

The integration of the advanced internal combustion engine technologies and two-mode hybrid system on the Denali XT reinforces GMC's Professional Grade position as a brand that continues to exceed customer expectations.

GMC DENALI XT CONCEPT SPECIFICATIONS

Body style / driveline: four-door, four-seat; rear-wheel drive sport-utility truck

Construction: body-frame integral

Engine type: 4.9L SIDI V-8 with Active Fuel Management

Horsepower (hp / kW): 326 / 243 (est)

Fuel type: unleaded regular or E85 ethanol

Transmission: two-mode hybrid

Suspension: front: independent SLA; rear: independent SLA

Brakes four-wheel disc

Wheel size & type: 23-inch aluminum; split 5-spoke

Tires: front: Kuhmo 255/35/R23

rear: Kuhmo 285/35/R23

Wheelbase (in / mm): 125.4 / 3134

Overall length: 205 / 5207

Overall width (in / mm): 76.3 / 1938

Overall height (in / mm): 62.5 / 1587

Track (in / mm): 65 / 1651

Cargo floor length (in / mm): 55 / 1397

Cargo floor width (in / mm): 47.5 / 1206

Payload (lb / kg): 1100 / 499 (est)

Towing capacity (lb / kg): 3500 / 1587 (est)