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GMC announced the all-new 2007 Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali full-size SUVs today. The line is led by the Yukon XL Denali, with unique styling and features - including a 6.2L V-8 engine that delivers the most horsepower in its class, with variable valve timing and a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission.
Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali models deliver more power and better fuel economy than the vehicles they replace, enhancing GMC's "more than expected" reputation. The vehicles are based on GM's all-new full-size SUV family, which features distinctive styling, spacious and refined interiors, exceptional driving characteristics and enhanced safety features. They complement the recently introduced 2007 Yukon and Yukon Denali models to round out GMC's full-size SUV lineup - offering the broadest and most capable lineup of SUVs in GMC's more than 100 years of building trucks.
"The Yukon XL Denali is the ultimate expression of GMC's professional grade ethic," said John Larson, GMC general manager. "With enhanced safety, performance and refinement, the all-new 2007 Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali highlight our commitment to providing customers more than they expect."
Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali become available in the second quarter of 2006. The XL models have exterior dimensions similar to the regular models, but are about 14 inches (355.6 mm) longer in wheelbase and 20 inches (508 mm) longer in overall length. Yukon XL is available in SLE (cloth trim) and SLT trim (leather appointments), as well as 2WD and 4WD configurations and a heavy-duty model. A third-row seat is standard. A 5.3L V-8 with Active Fuel Management™ displacement on demand fuel-saving technology is standard. Later in the model year, a new 6.0L all-aluminum V-8 with Active Fuel Management and variable valve timing (VVT) becomes available; a 6.0L V-8 with VVT is offered in heavy-duty models.
The distinctive Yukon XL Denali is the flagship of GMC's family of professional grade vehicles. It has exclusive exterior design and interior features, as well as an exclusive 6.2L all-aluminum small-block V-8 engine with variable valve timing and a new six-speed automatic transmission. The 6.2L engine is rated at 380 horsepower (283 kw), the most horsepower in its class.
All-new, sleeker design
Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali have a sleek, taut form. Wraparound front and rear fascias, styled mirrors and integrated running boards provide a seamless, contemporary appearance. Craftsmanship is found in elements such as tight tolerances between exterior components and a tuned, wheels-to-the-corners proportion. The toned look on all models is created with faster windshield angle of 57 degrees, which flows gracefully into the roofline. This improves aerodynamic performance, which bolsters fuel economy and helps reduce wind noise.
Jewel-look lighting elements and doors that extend over the rockers accent the vehicles' precise and refined design elements. The headlamps are larger, using bright halogen bulbs that deliver improved lighting spread. Rear-end styling also is distinct, with unique treatments above the beltline and around the glass, including taillamps and integrated license plate pockets.
Yukon XL Denali is distinguished with exterior appointments that elevate the exclusivity of its appearance. In addition to its iconic honeycomb chrome grille, the '07 Yukon XL Denali also features enhanced exterior bright work, unique headlamps, taillamps and rear fascia treatment, as well as unique 18-inch standard polished wheels. Twenty-inch factory-installed chrome wheels are available. Denali-exclusive headlamps and taillamps further the jeweled look of Yukon XL models with detailed lighting elements and clear lenses - with etched GMC logos on the headlamp bezels - that provide a crystalline appearance and distinctive lighting patterns.
GMC Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali offer features such as power retractable running boards (available mid-year) and a power liftgate. Yukon XL models not equipped with the power liftgate feature an easy-to-operate liftgate that is specially designed with a micro-switch that assists the operator by using the mass of the tailgate to almost open or close itself once the liftgate is past the halfway-open position. An ergonomically designed, recessed cup with pull handle makes closing the liftgate an easy, one-handed operation.
Refined, spacious interiors
Yukon XL Interior space is roomier and has a spacious, refined environment, thanks to a premium two-tone color scheme and a lower-positioned instrument panel. New thinner, sculpted seat designs and detailed trim affirm Yukon XL's craftsmanship, which is bolstered by optional amenities such as heated seats for first- and second-row passengers. Also, the front seats offer more fore/aft and recline travel, and the second-row seats have an increased seatback recline angle for added comfort.
The upscale styling is complemented by new, softer and low-gloss materials for the instrument panel and other trim pieces. The harmonious color and grain of the materials were carefully selected to provide a premium feel as well as durability. Flush-mounted controls and radios, with almost imperceptible gaps, convey precision and integration. Chrome accents are used on instrument surrounds, vents and other trim.
Craftsmanship also is revealed in unexpected areas, such as distinctive sill plates with no visible hardware to greet occupants when the doors are opened, as well as no exposed fasteners or hardware on the pillars, seats or seat tracks. The seats have "close-outs" that surround the seat bottoms and seat tracks, creating a more finished appearance. Fasteners and hardware are covered, too, when the seats are folded.
As with the exterior, Yukon XL Denali is distinguished with exclusive, premium features, including sophisticated Nuance leather seating surfaces, unique center console, enhanced interior bright work and detailed, highly finished embossed sill plates that greet passengers when they open any of the Yukon XL Denali's doors. The unique center console has wood trim that conceals the lid and cupholder pockets, creating a more finished and refined appearance.
The Yukon XL family also offers a new, industry-exclusive power fold-and-tumble second-row seat feature that eases access to the third-row seat. The power fold-and-tumble second-row seats feature release buttons accessible by the driver or on the interior C-pillar to provide an easy, immediate release of the seat to create an access path to the third-row seat or cargo area.
Tri-Zone climate control is standard on all models. Automatic climate control is standard on Yukon XL Denali and Yukon XL SLT; it is available on Yukon XL SLE. A remote start system, standard on SLT/Denali models and available on SLE, allows the climate system to heat or cool the vehicle's interior. An enhanced array of audio, infotainment and safety options also is available and includes an available touch-screen navigation system, as well as a DVD system with larger flip-down screen positioned in front of the second-row seats.
There is more space inside the SUVs, as well. More fore/aft front seat travel provides the segment's leading legroom for front-seat passengers. Second-row seat legroom and knee room, and third-row seat headroom are increased over the previous models. The second- and third-row seats also have more shoulder room - a feat accomplished while also offering available roof-mounted head curtain side air bags. The third-row seats fold flat and are easily tumbled forward or removed for maximum cargo area. Also, the center console storage compartment, at 20.1 liters of capacity, is the segment's largest. The glove box offers 25 percent more storage space than previous models and features damped opening operation that bolsters quietness and refinement.
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Responsive suspension, solid chassis
The '07 Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali are built on GM's new full-size SUV platform, which incorporates features such as a new, fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. The frame supports wider front and rear tracks - approximately 3 inches (76.2 mm) wider in front and 1 inch (25.4 mm) wider in the rear - that enhance stability and driving confidence through a more secure road feel and a lower center of gravity.
The front suspension consists of an all-new coil-over-shock design that delivers linear, solid and unwavering ride and handling characteristics on all road surfaces. Also new is a rack-and-pinion steering system that provides precise and responsive control and enhanced on-center feel. A highly-refined five-link rear suspension provides superior isolation and ride, with larger, firmer brackets that also contribute to the vehicles' precise driving manners.
Larger, four-wheel disc brakes and an all-new ABS system ensure braking performance at the top of the segment. Larger vented front and rear brake rotors, 50-percent stiffer dual-piston calipers, longer-life brake pads and a new, robust tie-rod-type apply system contribute to enhanced pedal feel, reduced brake noise, predictable, linear brake response and shorter braking distances. A new, Bosch 8.0 next-generation four-channel ABS system also is standard. The ABS system works with the standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control system. In the new SUVs, StabiliTrak incorporates the first-time GM application of rollover mitigation, software algorithm technology that uses sensors to proactively predict vehicle "tip-up" and applies appropriate brake forces to prevent such events.
Enhanced driving control and ride smoothness is offered with the available Autoride real-time damping system (standard on Yukon XL Denali), which uses electronically controlled shock absorbers to make nearly instantaneous damping adjustments. The system "reads" the road and anticipates the best damping rates.
Seventeen-inch wheels are standard on Yukon XL, with 18-inch wheels standard on Yukon XL Denali. Twenty-inch wheels are available on Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali. The wheels are designed with premium-appearance faces, including available chrome or polished finish. Yukon XL Denali wheels are exclusive. New tires are tailored to the vehicles to provide excellent balance of handling, quietness and safety.
New small-block V-8 family
A new Gen IV small-block V-8 family powers the new Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali. Standard at start of production in Yukon XL models is a Vortec 5.3L V-8 with 320 horsepower (238 kw) and 335 lb.-ft. of torque (463 Nm), which offers Active Fuel Management displacement on demand fuel-saving technology. Active Fuel Management displacement on demand technology seamlessly switches between eight- and four-cylinder power to save fuel. Two versions of the Vortec 5.3L Gen IV V-8 - including an aluminum-block version that is standard on 4WD models - are compatible with E85 ethanol-based fuel, an alternative to gasoline. The engines can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85 fuel.
Coming later in the year for is a powerful, new all-aluminum 6.0L V-8 with variable valve timing, as well as Active Fuel Management displacement on demand technology. The engine is rated at 355 horsepower (264 kw). VVT helps optimize camshaft timing to improve low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. The system is enabled by a unique dual-equal cam phaser - the industry's first application of VVT on a mass-produced V-8 cam-in-block engine. The unique dual-equal phaser adjusts the camshaft timing at the same rate for both the intake and exhaust valves. A Hydra-Matic 4L70 electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission is paired with the engine.
Heavy-duty models offer a 6.0L V-8 with VVT. It features an iron cylinder block and is rated at 350 horsepower (261 kw) and 360 lb.-ft. of torque (497 Nm). It is matched with a robust Hydra-Matic 4L80 four-speed automatic transmission.
The 6.2L engine of the Yukon XL Denali is all-new, too, with advanced technologies and lightweight materials, including VVT and an aluminum cylinder block, which helps the Yukon XL Denali delivering outstanding performance. The 6.2L engine is rated at 380 horsepower (283 kw), the most horsepower in its class, and 415 lb.-ft. of torque (564 Nm).
A new 6L80 six-speed is matched with the 6.2L engine. The six-speed automatic has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio - including two overdrive gears - that helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy. Also, the 6L80 has a "tap up/tap down" capability that allows the driver to manually select upshifts and downshifts with a button on the column shifter.
Safety and security
The '07 Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali offer security in the form of a 360-degree perimeter safety system of occupant protection and crash avoidance technologies. New features include roof-mounted head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows and front-seat safety belt pretensioners that are linked to the vehicle's sensing system to provide segment-exclusive deployment in rear-end crashes. These features are integrated into a stronger vehicle structure that is also designed for improved compatibility with other vehicles.
The roof-mounted head curtain air bags include design features that provide increased rollover protection and occupant containment. Sensors located at the front of the vehicle, in the side doors, and within the occupant compartment provide increased and more immediate crash detection. The vehicle's sensing system provides segment-exclusive capability to deploy front seat safety belt pretensioners during certain rear-end collisions, enhancing the belt system's ability to hold the occupants firmly in place.
The roof-mounted head curtain side air bag system incorporates one of the segment's first rollover indication sensors, which is located on the vehicle's center tunnel in the occupant compartment. The sensor monitors the vehicle's accelerations and roll rate. If these signals indicate an impending rollover, the roof-mounted head curtain side air bags deploy to provide an extra measure of occupant protection and containment. These rollover-capable head curtain side air bags stay inflated longer than air bags developed only for side impacts because rollover incidents can last longer. The deployment duration and other design features of the rollover capable air bags combine to provide increased occupant protection and the ability to help keep occupants inside the vehicle.
Crash avoidance is bolstered through enhanced design and driver control dynamics, such as wider front and rear tracks, as well as more responsive suspensions - including a new coil-over-shock front suspension design and new rack-and-pinion steering. The vehicles are built on a stronger and stiffer, fully-boxed frame that contributes to enhanced crash energy management. The front frame section has been designed to optimize crush progression resulting in improved energy absorption efficiency. The improved crush performance, enabled by hydroformed frame rails and efficient chassis component packaging, also comprehends design provisions for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility in the event of a frontal impact with a smaller vehicle.
Additional safety features include:
+ Standard StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation technology
+ Standard dual-stage driver's front air bag
+ Standard dual-stage outboard-front passenger air bag with Passenger Sensing System
+ Available roof-mounted head curtain side air bags for all three seating rows (standard on Yukon XL Denali)
+ Standard front seat safety belt pretensioners with rear-impact deployment capability
+ Standard tire pressure monitoring system
+ Available rain-sensing wiper system (standard on Yukon XL Denali)
+ Available Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist that can detect certain stationary objects in the rearward path of the vehicle and send an audible warning sound and display via three LEDs on the right D-pillar (standard on Yukon XL Denali)
+ Available rear-view camera system designed to provide the driver witha view of people or objects in the rearward path of the vehicle
+ Standard pull-up/push-down power window switches
+ Available voice-assisted navigation system.
All Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali models come with the OnStar system (with a one-year Safe and Sound service plan). The system includes the General Motors Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) system, making crash data available to emergency services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. If the vehicle is in a crash that activates an air bag, the OnStar system automatically notifies an OnStar Advisor, who will check on the occupants or summon emergency help if necessary. OnStar also can assist authorities in locating a vehicle if it is reported stolen (ability to locate stolen vehicles varies with conditions).
Denali details
The '07 Yukon XL Denali remains instantly identifiable, with its iconic honeycomb chrome grille. Exterior enhancements on the new model also include chrome-accented side molding, roof rack trim and other bright work treatments. Additionally, the headlamps and taillamps are unique and feature a premium, crystalline appearance and distinctive lighting patterns.
Yukon XL Denali delivers a unique combination of interior style and luxury, including standard Nuance leather-covered seating with heated first- and second-row captain's seats, as well as leather trim throughout - including a Denali-exclusive leather-wrapped steering wheel, which also features real wood accents and a host of auxiliary controls. Yukon XL Denali also is the only model in the Yukon XL family to offer an available heated steering wheel.
Other standard features include power liftgate, power release second-row fold-and-tumble bucket seat, roof-mounted side curtain air bags, power-adjustable pedals, heated windshield washer system, electrochromic (auto-dimming) inside mirror, RainSense automatic windshield wipers, remote start system and Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist. From an entertainment standpoint, Yukon XL Denali comes standard with an AM/FM MP3-capable radio with a six-disc in-dash CD changer, Bose premium nine-speaker sound system and XM Satellite Radio. Eighteen-inch polished aluminum wheels are standard and unique 20-inch factory installed chrome-finish aluminum wheels are available - the wheel designs are not shared with other Yukon XL models.
Like other Yukon XL models, the Yukon XL Denali offers several helpful and convenient options, including a navigation radio system, rear-view camera system, power sunroof, power-retractable assist steps (available mid-year) and a rear-seat, DVD-based entertainment system.
Yukon XL Denali represents the pinnacle of GMC's range of professional grade vehicles.
