For the discerning pickup buyer who can’t spend enough, GMC announced Tuesday its 2016 Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate edition complete with 22-inch wheels and chrome all over the place.
According to a GMC spokeswoman, the truck will start in the low $60,000-range when it goes on sale near March next year. Denali sales represent 20 percent of GMC’s light-duty sales.
In addition to bigger wheels and chrome, the truck sports standard automatic steps for passengers and to load the forward section of the bed, magnetic ride control and trailer brake. GMC’s 5.3-liter V-8 paired with its 8-speed automatic transmission is standard; the 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque is optional on the truck, but probably going to be on every single Sierra Denali Ultimate anyway.
The Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate boasts leather inside everywhere, and an 8-inch driver display screen screen that shows important info like navigation, audio, phone and probably speed somewhere too.
The truck will be offered in four-wheel drive only, with either a 5-foot-8-inch or 6-foot-6-inch bed.
The Denali Ultimate will likely compete with other premium-priced pickups such as the Ford F-150 Platinum and Ram 1500 Limited. Chevrolet’s Scrooge McDuck truck hasn’t been announced yet*.
When equipped with the 6.2-liter V-8, the Denali Ultimate will sport active noise cancellation to quiet its interior, a feature lifted from Cadillac models.
*That’s made up.
Pickup trucks have jumped the shark.
That’s been the case for some time. Remember when 20″ wheels was considered fairly large? I do. Trucks are today’s luxury billboard.
I’m super happy my F250 has 18″s.
I mean, it’s not like anyone evidently cares about tire cost OR ride quality, just “how much bling is spinning at each corner”, I guess?
If you’d care to look up the percentages, you’ll find that most pickup trucks are fairly pedestrian models with 18s. But as usual, the data gets ignored because of the “hurr durr DAE luxury trucks thtoopid” circlejerk.
“If you’d care to look up the percentages…”
Unless you work for an automaker where do you find a break out of new trucks sold by wheel size or even by trim level?
IIRC 40% of Ford pickups sold are higher level trim.
Thars gold in dem dare hills.
I’m sure that there will be a Denali HD version soon that will clip the 100k mark.
I just got an XLT…has 18 inch wheels.
Yeah, it’s not like you can still buy a RCLB work truck with 16″ steelies. Oh wait.
They all come with 17s now.
Alack, thou art correct! I ha’e been hoisted by m’ own petard!
I will insist dealer takes 22s off a d puts 24s on with bright, shiny, chrome alloys.
I shall call this the supervisor-in-the-oil-patch-sand-tars-go-bust elegante speciale.
I would love to see residual on this after 60 months of “in-service.’
I wonder how much domestic content this has…
What will GM/Ford/FCA do when pickup truck sales slow considerably?
Oh well, that’s sometime in the future, and it’s an Emminence Front.
Well since this will almost universally be sold as a crew cab, it’ll more than likely be assembled in Mexico. Fort Wayne does make some crew cabs, but most are hencho’d.
When pickup truck sales slow, they’ll just sell you a car from Mexico or Asia. Ford will try to sell you a hybrid F150 though.
Universally, no almost. AFAICR, there are no luxury pickups on the market today with an extended cab (unless you consider Lariat or its equivalents to be luxury). Harley-Davidson was a SuperCab for several years, and King Ranch for its first year, but that’s all I can think of.
I’m surprised that GMC even sells a regular and double cab Sierra. I would think they’d just leave that to Chevy. I can’t remember the last time I saw a current gen, regular cab Sierra.
DeadWeight – I don’t tend to see 1/2 ton trucks used by supervisors. HD’s tend to be the truck of choice since 1/2 tons don’t last too long under hard use. Even with that being said, if it is a fleet vehicle then it will be a fleet spec base trim truck. Contractors on the other hand have no issue with buying 94k HD diesel crew 4×4’s.
Thanks, bros.
bball, thanks for the honesty – I’ve been thrashing Ford (your employer) products/quality pretty hard lately. You’re an objective, non-vindictive, righteous dude.
It’s a put on…it’s a put on…
I am not technically a Ford employee, but I will show income from Ford on my taxes this year (and I will next year too). I’ve done work for GM and Chrysler in the past as well, but not currently.
While I don’t always agree with you, you are often right. The UAW made a bet that the next five years will continue to be all about CUVs and SUVs. They wanted product to keep plants from closing, and Ford wanted cheaper production of small cars. If Ford and the UAW are right, everyone will be happy and Ford will actually increase it’s US production. If gas prices go up, the UAW will be in a bad spot and Ford will still probably make money.
I’ll go on record saying that losing the V6 in the Escape and Fusion did not make them better vehicles. The only thing the loss of the V6 does in either is make me want to buy an Edge, MKX, or MKZ. How the MKC doesn’t have a V6 is baffling.
It’s my assertion that a Tutone (I get to use yesterday’s vocab word of the day!) F150 King Ranch with 18″ wheels is so much more classy than this abomination. That being said, GM have plenty of trucks that don’t look like this thing.
If I’m paying $X0,000 for a pickup, you better believe I’m getting more than one color of paint!
We are lockstep on that point. Heck, if I bought an XLT I’d want the tutone paint.
Also, the old-a$$ Expedition looks so much better than any of the new high end trucks. It will age well in current form too.
Too bad it’s not tu-tone like in the golden age–lower panels, upper panels, top of the cab, etc. When Ford went to the ’97s, they lost the upper body line that served as a delineator for two tone paint. But even before then, on the 9th gens, two tone schemes were getting less popular.
I agree that tutone (if you are looking at a Ford) is worth the money. Ram is the only other company that offers it. Correction – so does Nissan with the new Titan.
GM and Toyota are the only ones that don’t.
Ford only offers tutone with XLT and Lariat. That suites me fine since those are the only trim levels that offer the HD payload package.
They offer it on the King Ranch too. But the King Ranch is like “nice Lariat” with Caribou tutone available and a KR interior. No HD payload package though.
bball40dtw – oh, my bad. Forgot about the King Ranch.
Go find a RC/LB truck. They’re out there, but you have better odds of finding an Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo than one of those trucks!
My local Chevy dealer has two 1500s (one WT and one LT), and three HDs (two WTs and one LT), all 4×4, of course.
How many Tornadoes do they have? Even our commercial Ford dealer only has one that I can think of (Other than cab and chassis trucks)
Out here on the edge of the prairie, we have our fair share of tornadoes. But Toronados–I don’t think I’ve seen more than a handful of the fourth gen, Troféo or otherwise, in my lifetime. I’ve seen a few first gens at car shows.
Unpopular opinion: The fourth gen Toronado is just as attractive as the first gen to me, even if it does look too much like an overpriced Cutlass Calais. It’s so…sheer. In white, it almost reminds me of the new stormtrooper design.
I didn’t see a single new reg cab F150 in stock all year at work. They ordered zero up until I left in September. Fleet must have sold some but I didn’t see them with my own eyes. I miss the reg cab pickups
I’ll just keep my 94 Silverado (Tutone) with 15 inch! wheels. At least I can set a tool box over in the bed without using a step ladder.
22 inch wheels and four wheel drive, it’s like it’s purposely designed to fail.
Looks like the front bumper may just be part of the front clip too. Because bumpers are for p****ies, right?
Orange vests are for p***ies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh1mtPGztWs
I seriously think that was my favorite PSA followed by this one:
youtu.be/8Mgip_7QYYE?t=140
Are you Buzz Lightyear? I love you movies
[muffled yelling]
HAHAHA
youtu.be/8Mgip_7QYYE?t=1m48s
I always liked this one.
Last one there is a pen!s pump!
That’s what we do, that’s what we do!
Holy cow, I’m totally going so fast – AH F*CK!
Get the f*ck off my lawn, you f*cking wankers.
Give him the stick, DON’T GIVE HIM THE STICK!
We’re sorrrryyyy.
Do you know my dad?
OHHHHHHHH!
I also enjoy this one, but the more mindless ones really get me laughing.
I believe I knew your mother, son.
youtu.be/8Mgip_7QYYE?t=472
Does your mother still hang out at dockside bars, Johnny? What’s it been, fifteen, sixteen years.
HUH!?
—-
Hey whats that?
I dunno, let’s launch over it.
BODY MASSAGE.
Must….resist…..Fensler films…..
Pork Chop Sandwiches!
Give in.
Sally, you forgot your sandwiches… that I made you.
OH LOOK AT YOUR COLORFUL LITTLE HATS!
You just flip it, stick it, and see ya later bye!
I dunno much about computers my mom put some games on it and I play em..
HGAJNGABAWLEHF!
Isn’t one of the reasons you buy a truck the large tires that can absorb road imperfections? What’s the point of this thing if the sidewall is the same as my Miata, and the ride probably isn’t far off? The tires are probably more than $600 a piece too.
Having ridden in an F-150 Limited with 22s, I’ll say the suspension absorbs most of the bumps that the rubber-band tires don’t, but if it had 18s or even 20s, I wouldn’t have felt much of anything.
I love seeing an crew 1/2 ton 4×4 with 22 inch wheels pulling a 33 ft long 10k trailer with the bed full of gear and a family of 4 in the cab.
Oh.. sarcasm on :)
My F150 has 18’s but came with the universal Wrangler SR/A’s found on GM and Ram. I got a few flats a year with those. 20’s or 22’s in the same ply rating gives me the creeps.
I see the occasional lifted 1/2 ton or HD running stupidly large rims. These trucks are rendered useless for any truck-like purpose.
“Disposable income” – the phrase of the day!
Would it bother you if said owner of the aforementioned Limited has probably done that? :P
Okay, it was a 27′ enclosed trailer.
HDPP comes with 18″ LT tires. HDPP is always best. Ergo, 18s are best.
Drzhivago138 – a guy who uses his truck regularly for towing and hauling is less likely to get in over their heads.
Most of the trucks I see running 20-22 inch rims have poor cargo and tow ratings. A 10k trailer will either exceed those ratings or put the truck at max GCWR.
I do find it interesting that the new GMT K2XX trucks come with 20 inch wheels if you get the max tow 6.2 V8 package.
That threw me off a bit since I’m more used to seeing the heavy tow or haul packages on smaller wheels.
IIRC even Ford has 20’s on the Platinum which can be specced with max tow. You can’t get HD payload.
It makes no sense to have max tow without HD cargo since a heavy trailer eats all of your truck capacity.
I kinda like it, if only for the ridiculousness. All the price of a Yukon Denali, without as much seating area.
But it needs to SAY Ultimate on it. People need to know you’ve selected the highest option. And just put DENALI on the front and get rid of the GMC bit.
Why not Diamond Edition?
If there’s not a Diamond Edition then I’m not buying it.
Denali Ultimate Diamond Brougham Landau ft. Bill Blass ft. Givenchy ft. Cartier Edition Supreme.
Better throw a Biarritz in there just to be safe.
I like John. He understands what is important around here.
That is a brilliant and classy quilted idea.
Quilted leather is IN! GM was ahead of their time!
I would very happily park a Jimmy Diamond next to my Deville.
He’s got to rub it in, doesn’t he?
LOL, it’s not tu-tone though, so they couldn’t match up in 90’s goodness that way.
You’re also missing the carriage roof. Do you have chrome around the lower panels or is it just white?
It’s all white. Monotone build code! I think it looks nice in all white, with the white walls as well.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19luBHuhM1sU-D8bB9EEW3TJFJb4ZI3JFXat8l22q0Jo/edit?usp=sharing
I like how there’s a flaw on the build sheet that indicates a 3.8.
Might look better two tone.
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/07/4-22-2012-009.jpg
The L26 code may just be an error the website you pulled this data from added.
If anything, the monotone and lack of trims brings it closer to the rare DTS of that style. I’m glad mine doesn’t have those wire wheel covers either.
Well if this is the game you want to play, just convert it to the Touring Sedan look. I think it was just grille, wheels, and some badging on those years… since I know you can’t handle the awesome power of E&G and all…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/that_chrysler_guy/6838878338/in/photostream/
Yeah I’d have to:
Redo the trunk lock to get a cloisonne badge on there.
Get a new hood to get rid of the ornament.
New grille with badge.
Find a set of intact wheels.
Remove c-pillar emblems.
Different seats entirely.
Different steering wheel.
Find white color keyed door handles (hard).
Too much work!
You’re overthinking this. Just get the grille and emblems and if you really want to source the wheels. Nobody will know or care if the dash is not digital (touring), if the steering wheel is correct, if it has dual zone climate control (touring), if the suspension is upgraded (touring), if the leather is missing the crest (which the Touring Sedan was missing although said seat crest was dropped for MY93 IIRC) or if you have the incorrect hood. If somehow this was akin to a matching numbers Chevelle/Nova etc and thus valuable, I would be more concerned. No one outside of a handful would even know what a Deville Touring Sedan was or is supposed to have.
Oh c’mon, I can’t half-arse build something! I’m not some Chrysler engineer.
I would probably only do the wheels, cause I love those and the STS ones.
Personally, I would simply change the grille to put my mark on it as it were. I would go E&G of course but I wouldn’t say no to the touring grille. Everything else is annoying to source and install.
Gotta keep it as Laverne intended!
Laverne couldn’t even spring for the Full Vinyl Roof ($925) let alone the Phaeton Roof ($1095) it deserved. I bet she didn’t even get the Firemist Paint ($190). She didn’t know what she was doing.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1990/cad93d.htm
I suspect Laverne didn’t want Firemist paint, as she ordered a 93 Deville which was as close as possible to her 90 Deville.
The chances of me buying a white Deville with white landau are slim, as it would surely look dirty and nasty by now. Just like I’m glad it doesn’t have the last-year-offered white leather.
She paid for the leather, security package, lace wheels, and exterior light package, and traction control.
Oooooo early traction control.
Also her name was Thelma I remembered. I recalled it was a two-woman duo name, but thought of the wrong one. LOL.
This competes with the new F150 Limited. The F150 Platinum/King Ranch competes with the regular Denali trim. King Ranch or Silverado High Country is the right answer to luxo truck needs.
I would say it’s more like:
XL=Work Truck/Sierra=Tradesman
XL with options (former STX)=LS=Express
XLT=LT/SLE=SLT
FX4 package=Z71 package=Outdoorsman
Lariat=LTZ/SLT=Laramie
King Ranch=High Country=Laramie Longhorn
Platinum=Denali=Laramie Limited
Limited=Denali Ultimate=Limited
IMO, King Ranch-level is the highest in “tasteful luxury” (think an old Buick vs. a Cadillac), but I won’t give anyone grief if they wanna go into the “tasteless” categories (to their face, at least).
I’ll buy it and agree that King Ranch, High Country, or Laramie Longhorn is the way to go when it comes to luxo trucks.
Wow I only understood the xl = tradesman so I guess I am not the customers for these things, but I am sure I will see some of them in metro NY because we need our pickup trucks in Short Hills.
XLT (or equivalent) with certain options is the best value IMO. Any fancier and you start to feel bad getting it dirty.
SEE MY HUGE TRUCK. KNOW FROM THIS THAT I HAVE A HUGE GARAGE ATTACHED TO A HUGE HOUSE FOR MY HUGE FAMILY PRODUCED BY MY HUGE D1CK AND SUPPORTED BY MY HUGE WORTH. WE ONLY GO HUGE PLACES.
THIS IS AN AMERICAN LUXURY SEDAN AND WE DON’T DO UNDERSTATEMENT.
See, I speak ‘Murican.
How is this ‘Murican? Where are your NFL tags around each sentence?
*fuh?*
Rosetta Stone says “‘Murican” on the discs!
That’s actually “merkin”. Common mistake.
*sigh*..
Book learnin’ is never like being among native speakers.
President Merkin Muffley: General Turgidson! When you instituted the human reliability tests, you *assured* me there was *no* possibility of such a thing *ever* occurring!
General “Buck” Turgidson: Well, I, uh, don’t think it’s quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up, sir.
Frend”
Sometimes, when I go to over on a Web-site and I make the little graham error like as so, people say “Oh Grango, why do you not go to the country of site for the person where you are from to get your information as such?”
I always tell them as thus: “When you are from a Country like mine, sometimes you can have to find a source of reading outside of your own. ;” I say, it’s a limited knowledge of progress inside Intranet of my Country (get it, intra-net, internally network ha ha!). So the Americans (Merican’is, right?) have more info…
Please, do not do the Judgment Day for all of them, if they are to come and help provide info on an Extra-net way outside of their selfs.
Sincere=-
Grango Relago
It’s so hard to pick a favorite actor from Strangelove!
I guess it has to be Sellers but Scott and Pickens were outrageoulsy good, too.
Oh darn I missed Grango.
Go for the Ferd Fteenthousand. Just put your house, garage, and this wimpy GMC in the bed!
‘Merica
So, did I get it right?
RideHeight -forgot to add VIAGRA to boost HUGE DICK……. and HUGE DEBT LOAD
Nice enough interior, but am I seeing things? Is the steering wheel offset to the right about 2″. Sure looks like it from the picture.
*Sigh*
Yes, the K2XX pickups and SUVs have had a slight offset on the steering wheel (about 1.5″) since 2014. But here’s the thing–it doesn’t affect driveability in the slightest. I used to use this as an example of “yet another GM failure”–until I actually drove one for several days. It’s unnoticeable when you’re in the driver’s seat.
It bugs the hell out of me after a couple hundred miles if we are towing a boat and I’m actually driving 10-2… I much prefer the F250 to our 2500HDs for that reason, and because I’m short, the seating position of the GM trucks makes it super hard to see out of. The dashboard is way too tall and the hood is hard to see over.
For us shorties, it’s a lot easier to drive with the bottom half of the steering wheel.
“It bugs the hell out of me after a couple hundred miles if we are towing a boat and I’m actually driving 10-2… I much prefer the F250 to our 2500HDs for that reason, ”
It’s never bothered me one bit. In fact I never even noticed it until someone on this website pointed it out.
Every HD Ford I’ve driven always felt like the steering wheel was attached to the chassis with a rubber band. Sloppy, sloppy sloppy. Now THAT bothered me.
And as usual, lots of hatred. This is what customers want. Why let the after market guys get the cash for 22″ or 24″ wheels on a pickup when you can get them OEM covered in chrome for rolling with the hommies.
This is no different than the top top top top trim levels offered by every maker of fullsize trucks on the market.
I’m surprised the 6.2 isn’t standard – I doubt there are many options to check off the list as it is, as the Denali is basically loaded out of the box.
If you buy these type trucks and tow a boat or trailer fairly regularly and want an illusion of luxury, I say “Enjoy”. If you buy these type trucks and use it to go to work and the mall and then recoil in horror if the inside of the bed gets scratched or dirty, I say “Sorry about your penis”.
Or we could just not focus on anyone’s genitals and let them buy as they please.
I don’t think getting all bent about a scratched/filthy bed comes from male genitalia.
When I threw hissy fits about mine I felt more Suzy Homemaker. But throw them I did!
@ Drzhivago: I must have hit a nerve. You’ve revealed yourself as precisely the type of poser I was referring to. The guy who buys one of these gargantuan luxury trucks. Then the biggest load ever hauled is taking one kid to soccer practice in it. But it looks good on you though!
I’m sorry, did you have something constructive to add?
Agroal, you’re already in a moral hole from inflicting your avatar on us. I don’t see how name calling is going to get you out of it.
I wonder what sort of activities one is into when one feels the need to say sorry to one’s penis for box scratches?
Oh by the way, a pickup box just like a penis needs protection………
like my son said in his sex ed class – don’t be a fool, wrap your tool.
Ever hear of a box liner?
“The guy who buys one of these gargantuan luxury trucks. Then the biggest load ever hauled is taking one kid to soccer practice in it. But it looks good on you though!”
I agree complete waste of a truck if your not towing or hauling with it on a regular basis. But WTF, if that’s what they wanna buy and drive it’s their money. Life’s much to short to spend it pissed-off about what others can afford to drive.
Don’t know him personally, but would have to say you couldn’t be any farther from the truth about Drzhivago.
In theory, I don’t give two bits what you drive (though I reserve the right to laugh at you about it). In practice, I really don’t enjoy driving my 1900lb Triumph Spitfire in traffic with distracted tools driving 6000lb monster trucks. Inevitably slowly and in my way. Or waiting in a parking lot while you attempt to park the Lusitania.
CoreyDL is keeping me in stitches at the moment – driving a Caddy my 92yo Granddad would think is too much of an old man’s car.
Hey, it rides nice, and I like it! All you can hear in there is a low rumble of the far-away engine, and some leather rustling.
“my 1900lb Triumph Spitfire in traffic with distracted tools driving 6000lb monster trucks.”
Well, if you can’t control how hostiles arm themselves and yet refuse to match them when you could easily afford to, complaining about it is petulant.
It ain’t the ’70s out there anymore.
” I really don’t enjoy driving my 1900lb Triumph Spitfire in traffic with distracted tools driving 6000lb monster trucks. ”
Funny but my experience is that most of the “tools” I run into in traffic aren’t in trucks but “wanna be” racers in their german imports trying to use the public roads as their own race track.
Even funnier is when I’m going over the posted speed limit but that still isn’t fast enough(“Inevitably slowly and in my way.”) for their “ultimate” driving machine so they try and intimidate me by parking their front bumper on the back of my truck. That’s when I laugh!
I am in Denali denial.
5.3 standard?
You’re getting the “Ultimate” trim with the “base” V-8?
Same fake wood as the lower trim levels.
Same gauge cluster as well? (At least Chrysler puts a different looking cluster for the Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited models.)
I agree, should come standard with the 6.2. I think real wood on the interior of a truck is a waste. Just give me the plastic stuff, it looks just as nice and will wear forever.
Lower trim models? Sure the cheap stuff is fine. $60+K and you’re trying to turn around the image of making substandard vehicles…..toss some open pore wood trim in there.
BTW have they fixed the B-pillar assist handles? Last time I sat in one of these trucks the handle had some nasty parting lines on the molding.
“BTW have they fixed the B-pillar assist handles? Last time I sat in one of these trucks the handle had some nasty parting lines on the molding.”
Don’t know. Have to say mold lines on grab handles are something I didn’t pay any attention to when I bought my ’04 Sierra HD.
Things like styling, how it drove, dedicated transmission temp gage on the dash, SS exhaust and the fact that it was all wired up for the an electric brake controller right from the factory were some of the things that were important to me.
I think you buy a truck for different reasons than me….LOL
It drives me crazy that GM won’t offer the 6.2 on lower trim levels.
“Meh, Ford offers a V10. 8 isn’t enough cylinders. Maybe we need 12.”
If you are suggesting that GM make a 9.3L (567 CI) LT V12, then I am totally on board.
Why settle? Demand the return of the Twin-Six: 702 or bust!
I prefer to use the 12V-71.
I prefer to have a sense of hearing. :p
This vehicle in the link is far better than a Denali. Maybe TTAC can do some articles relating to the funny side of life on the “road” or BBQ.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/police-searching-for-mates-driving-a-motorised-picnic-table/news-story/6b71381e86ee244512669f10b11a9c3e
No mention of chickens, small trucks, diesels, or aluminum blunders…………. you feeling okay?
I wonder if those wheels are real aluminum or GM’s crappy chrome plastic covered steel wheels?
This probably could’ve been part 2 of the Cadillac Xt6 article from a few weeks ago. Everyone complaining about the 4 cylinder in a $50k Cadillac? If you want lots of leather, column shifters, spacious seating, and a torquey rumbling V8, GM still has a vehicle for you. Wouldn’t surprise me if the profit margins on this are higher than an XT6 as well. This is what the market, in all its foolishness, has determined is the luxury vehicle of choice. Carmakers are happy to oblige and laughing all the way to the bank.