Print

SMP News & Event Calendar

GM Reveals: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD
The first-ever Denali HD truck. 


Early this summer GMC will be launching an all-new 2011 Sierra HD truck lineup. Like its Chevrolet counterpart, the new Sierra HD is riding on the all-new GMT-900 HD platform that sports significant gains in rigidity and strength, as well as heavily revised variants of the Duramax 6.6L Diesel and 6.0L Small Block V8. On GMC's side, the bigger story is that GM is releasing a Denali trim level of the Sierra HD for the first time ever.

The new Denali trim level will be available in only one body configuration, 4WD Crew Cab with a standard box on the 2500HD chassis. Both the 6.0L and 6.6L diesel will be avaliable with the Denali trim.

"The new Sierra Denali HD is the latest expression of GMC's Denali philosophy of blending capability with premium features and styling," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director. "It is a premium tool that offers many comfort and infotainment features, along with a maximum towing capacity of 15,600 pounds with the segment's most powerful diesel - that's enough to tow a 34-foot-long, three-axle travel trailer."

Sierra Denali HD will come with all of the expected Denali goodies, including; Bose sound system, unique design accents, 12-way power seats and several other Denali specialties.

2011 LaCrosse Dropping 3.0L, 3.6L Will Get AWD
LaCrosse will gain the ECOTEC 2.4L in favor of the 3.0L V6.



This morning General Motors announced that the 2011 Buick LaCrosse would incur some engine changes as the company adds the ECOTEC 2.4L four-cylinder mill to the LaCrosse lineup. The changes also include making all-wheel drive optional on the 3.6L V6.

Starting in the 2011 model-year the LaCrosse will no longer offer the 3.0L High Feature V6 that the car debuted with in 2010 model-year. The new GM V6 will be dropped for the addition of the four-cylinder model as the standard engine in LaCrosse.

The ECOTEC 2.4L with direct injection will sport 182 horsepower and churn 172 lb-ft of torque. The LaCrosse CX with the ECOTEC engine will have EPA ratings of 19 city, 30 highway with a starting price of $26,995. Buick expects about 25% of LaCrosse buyers will opt for the ECOTEC engine.

Additionally the 2011 LaCrosse CXL will have optional all-wheel drive mated with the car's 3.6L V6. During the 2010 model year all-wheel drive has only been optional on cars equipped with the 3.0L V6. According to sources here on GMI the 3.6L required some modifications to be fitted with all-wheel drive in the LaCrosse, changes that GM has apparently made for 2011.