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2008 GMC Denali XT Concept

For being quite literally on the opposite side of the world, and for driving on

It's been a while since GMC's last concept vehicle. (Photo: GMC)

the opposite side of the road, Australia and America have pretty similar ideas when it comes to making cars. Check out Ford of Australia or Holden, and the domestically designed and built stuff, the vehicles that drip with the big-block, easy-going charm of the land Down Under would be perfectly at home here. Take the Holden Monaro, which translated with ease into the Pontiac GTO. Likewise, the Holden Commodore SS V-Series equates to the Pontiac G8.

And then there's the Ute thing, which is as much an Australian fixture as shrimp on the barbi. Part muscle car, part pickup truck, these vehicles are proof that the Chevrolet El Camino, GMC Caballero and Ford Ranchero lived on despite being killed off here in North America. Though half-ton pickups are the lifeblood of the light truck segment here, there's always room for diversity. And that's where GM's Australian connection ties in with the new GMC Denali XT Concept.

The Denali XT is based on the Zeta platform, which was developed by GM

Denali isn't so much a model as a statement of luxury in GMC's range. Its most iconic feature is the grill. (Photo: GMC)

of Australia. It is a true car-based vehicle with a unibody frame and a multi-link rear suspension, and the structure is shared with the Pontiac G8 and the upcoming Camaro. The Denali XT is yet another take on the lifestyle pickup truck, a segment that's devoted to working and playing hard, mixing car and SUV together without neglecting the need for a pickup bed. Two of the most prominent players in the segment are the Honda Ridgeline and Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Compared to these vehicles, the Denali XT has the added dimension of sportiness, thanks to its high cowl, low ride height and aggressively sleek appearance.

GMC does not sell vehicles in Australia, and so, for Warrack Leach of Holden's design studios it was an interesting task to design the Denali XT. Leach is familiar with designing Utes, as he was the one to style Holden's version, but to work with a brand identity like the Denali is completely different.

Although there's the big, chromed Denali grille that

The windshield of the XT is quite upright and vertical. It looks like nothing else on the road. (Photo: GMC)

dominates the front end of the truck, it's the proportions that define what the Denali XT is. Leach says that the combination of the extra wide track and the low chopped roof create a vehicle that's unlike anything else on the road – and that's before considering the pickup's bed. Being based around GMC's premium brand, there's a lot of higher-end detail that is absent from the division's production models such as the highly detailed headlamps, and the mechanical look of the 23-inch wheels, and who could deny the hot-rod coolness of the rear side tailpipes that are integrated into the bodywork. Depending on the angle, I also can't help but spy a little bit of Chevrolet SSR in the front fenders ... but maybe that's just me.

GMC's image of producing professional grade trucks works as an excellent marketing tool, and while the Denali name has a strong enough image – the chromed grille, the big wheels, the toys – what it doesn't have is an interior image theme. In fact, GMC trucks don't have anything special when it comes to interior treatment, no special leathers, woods, or accent trims. That's going to change with the XT; leach speaks of a new ergonomic layout

The Denali XT could be the future of GMC interiors. (Photo: GMC)

that places things right within reach of the steering wheel. Mirroring the attitude of precision is a lot of metal in the cabin, in trim and knobs and shifters which adds a cold and industrial look and feel to interior. Balance is achieved by the warm look of the saddle leather and the hand-crafted appearance of the stitched seats. It looks good and sounds good, so let's hope that a new interior theme gets green-lighted for GMC.

Compared to other pickup trucks, the XT does not have much of a bed. It's neither particularly long nor wide (5 ft x 4 ft), and was designed to accommodate recreational items like bicycles and surf boards rather than sheets of building material. Much like the Avalanche and the Hummer H2 SUT, the divider between the box and the cab can be flipped down to extend longer items into the interior, which means a sheet of drywall or plywood can be carried home without difficulty. Because of its unibody structure and the fold-down midgate, the Denali XT has a fixed rear window.

At 4 ft x 5 ft, the bed isn't big, but it's more than enough for lifestyle activities and the occasional home improvement job, plus the rear divider folds down for longer items. (Photo: GMC)

So, about that engine. With the Denali XT taking the position of a low-down muscle truck, GM has made the executive decision to give it responsible firepower. It'll still have a V8 – the attitude of the concept just wouldn't be the same without one – but it's going to be smart. First and foremost, the engine is a brand new design based on the traditional small block, but it's been significantly downsized. At 4.9 liters it's far from small by V8 standards, but it isn't big by GM's standards, especially when it's placed next to the 6- and 7-liter engines that are fitted to sports cars, sport utilities and sport trucks. The XT's engine also gets a boost from a gasoline direct injection system and like most new GM concepts, it'll run on either regular unleaded or E85. Under light loads, the V8 transforms itself into a four-cylinder in an effort to further reduce fuel consumption.

The smaller displacement engine isn't at a disadvantage in terms of output and power, especially considering that it's being mated to the General's 2-Mode hybrid drivetrain system, like the Tahoe/Yukon and Silverado/Sierra. As with its application in trucks, the 2-Mode system, unlike others, is designed to deal

With a hybrid V8 engine, the Denali XT is a muscle truck with a conscience. (Photo: GMC)

well with the things that pickups and SUVs do – tow, haul, and lug lots of stuff around. Because it is a full and proper hybrid, the 2-Mode-powered Denali XT can sneak around in urban areas on electric power alone, and GM says that it uses half the fuel of a comparable small pickup (we're thinking it was benchmarked against the V8-powered Dakota). The 326 horsepower that the engine makes (but no torque figures yet) will have no trouble liquefying the 285-width 23-inch Kumho tires, nor will it have difficulties with the projected payload of 1,100 pounds or towing 3,500 pounds.

From a practical standpoint, the Denali XT makes a lot of sense. It caters to a niche, but that niche is larger than a lot of people might expect. The demand for lighter, more efficient trucks is growing, and combining the car-based structure with a solid hybrid drivetrain gives the Denali XT an appeal to urban truck owners. But looking beyond the XT is the fact that General Motors is integrating 2-Mode into the Zeta platform. If it can make good on installing this hybrid technology into this platform, then perhaps there is hope for more Zeta-based vehicles such as the replacement to the Impala, or a rear-wheel drive Buick down the road.

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