Revealed! Your 2015 GM Full Size SUV Lineup

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

September 12, 2013

General Motors has unveiled today its next-generation of full-size SUVs, including the 2015 Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, and the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, and Yukon Denali.

Much like the Silverado and Sierra, the Chevrolet and GMC SUVs have different styling on the front ends with different front clips and headlights. From the A-Pillar back, the SUVs are the same with inlaid doors that tuck into the door sills to provide better aero and refinement. General Motors also used aluminum for the hood and tailgate to help reduce weight.

Inside, the SUVs get massive changes. The second and third-row seats now fold flat and can be be equipped with an optional power-folding feature. The second-row also sees an increase of two-inches in legroom. An eight-inch touchscreen is standard on the Yukon and optional on the Tahoe and Suburban.

Much like the exterior, GM made sure the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban were different. The Yukon is positioned as to be the more luxurious of the two and comes with seats stuffed with dual-firmness foam, Bose Sound System, laminated glass for the windshield and front windows. Denali models takes that further with active noise-cancellation technology, real wood inserts, high-grade leather, and aluminum panels.

Powering GM's full-size SUVs is the 5.3L EcoTec V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Yukon Denali comes with the 6.2L EcoTec V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All engines come paired with a six-speed automatic.

GM's Magnetic Ride Control is standard on the Yukon Denali models and comes as an option the Tahoe and Suburban LTZ models.

Safety-wise, GM's full-size SUVs come packed. Chevrolet and GMC don't say which features will be standard, but they include forward collision alert, front park assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front-center airbag, and GM's Safety Seat Alert.

The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC's Yukon lineup arrives at dealers in the first quarter of 2014.

Source: General Motors

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

Chevrolet Introduces All-New 2015 Tahoe and Suburban

Industry-leading full-size utilities are quieter, more refined and safer

NEW YORK – Chevrolet today introduced the 2015 Tahoe and Suburban – all-new versions of the industry’s best-selling duo of full-size SUVs. They offer more functionality, greater refinement, new safety features and an increased range of advanced technologies to appeal to two distinct customer groups who want the unique combination of features only Tahoe and Suburban provide.

All-new styling advances the Tahoe and Suburban’s design, which contributes to a quieter ride. A more-efficient, direct-injected EcoTec3 powertrain coupled with improved aerodynamics help offer greater estimated highway fuel economy based on GM testing while preserving overall performance and capability. Official EPA estimates are not yet available.

“There are several new features and enhancements at the core of the all-new 2015 Suburban and Tahoe that will extend the legacy Chevrolet has built as the segment leader,” said Tim Mahoney, Chevrolet global chief marketing officer. “Customers will experience greater refinement, efficiency and safety with the same capability that has made Chevrolet the go-to brand for full-size SUVs.”

With more than 117,000 sold in 2012 and sales up more than 16 percent for the first six months of 2013 over last year. Chevrolet’s full-size SUVs continue to play an important role in the brand’s success and General Motors’ profitability. Introduced in 1935, the Suburban is the segment’s founder and the industry’s oldest continuously available nameplate, while Tahoe is the segment’s sales leader.

“The Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban will continue to be dominant forces in the marketplace and provide great value for our customers, Chevrolet and General Motors," said Dan Ammann, GM executive vice president and CFO. "This is an important and profitable segment and we have set the bar high to ensure we provide our customers with great quality and performance they expect and deserve."

The all-new 2015 Suburban represents the 80th anniversary and 12th generation of the original SUV. This generation has been designed for today’s active families needing space for everyone and everything. Suburban continues to offer legendary roominess, unmatched functionality, connectivity and first-class amenities.

New functionality and technology features found on both vehicles for 2015 include:

• Fold-flat second- and third-row seats that enhance cargo convenience – including an available power-folding feature
  
• Approximately two inches greater legroom for second-row passengers, along with easier entry/exit
  
• Available eight-inch color touch screen radio with next-generation MyLink connectivity
  
• Up to six USB ports and six power outlets – including a 110-volt three-prong outlet – to support electronic devices of all kinds (up to 12 charging locations)
  
• Available rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens (Suburban only) and Blu-ray DVD player
  
• Conversation mirror in the overhead console that provides a panoramic view of the rear seats
  
• Keyless entry and push-button start.
  

360 degrees of safety

Tahoe and Suburban incorporate new technologies – including radar – that contributes to 360 degrees of crash avoidance and occupant protection. Standard and available features include forward collision alert, front park assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. Chevrolet’s Safety Alert Seat is available and offers directional vibrations to alert the driver about potential crash threats.

Both vehicles also offer the segment’s only front-seat center air bag (bucket-seat models), which is engineered to provide additional protection for drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes, where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

Chevrolet’s full-size SUVs have also been designed with greater security features to thwart theft attempts, including available window break in or glass-break, vertical-movement and interior movement sensors. Along with triggering the vehicles’ alarm systems, some of the features shut down key control systems to make it almost impossible to start or move them.

Contemporary designs

The exterior designs of the 2015 Tahoe and Suburban are more refined and precisely sculpted. Not a single exterior sheet metal panel or lighting element is shared with Chevrolet’s full-size pick-ups.

“The designs of the all-new Tahoe and Suburban reflect their greater functionality, technology and refinement, forging a new presence for Chevrolet SUVs that’s conveyed with unmistakable brand heritage,” said Ken Parkinson, executive director of design.

New inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly improving the quietness of the interior cabin and contributing to improved aerodynamics – an attribute that helps the vehicles slip through the air on the highway with less drag for greater efficiency. Lightweight aluminum hood and lift gate panels also enhance efficiency through reduced overall mass.

Projector-beam headlamps flank the Chevrolet-signature dual-port grille – chrome on all models – and sweep into the front fenders. high-intensity discharge headlamps and light-emitting diode daytime running lamps are included on the up level LTZ model.

Inside, premium materials and enhanced ergonomics demonstrate the Tahoe and Suburban’s blend of sophistication, craftsmanship and function. A new instrument panel houses an available eight-inch color touch screen radio with a secured storage bin behind the motorized screen. The compartmentalized center console is large enough to store a laptop or iPad.

First-class comfort, unmatched capability and rewarding driving experience

The 2015 Tahoe and Suburban are engineered to deliver the customer a quieter, more-controlled ride and improved steering and braking feel. It all starts on a stronger, fully boxed, perimeter frame, which supports payload and trailering capability that body-frame-integral crossovers and SUVs can’t match. The all-new Tahoe will offer today’s customers the capability of a truck and the amenities of a luxury vehicle.

The driving experience of the new SUVs is further enhanced with:

• A stronger frame and a wider rear track that contributes to a more planted stance
  
• LTZ models include third-generation magnetic ride control, a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control by “reading” the road every millisecond and changing damping in just five milliseconds.
  
• Eighteen-inch standard wheels that are a half-inch wider, reducing tire flex for improved cornering performance. Twenty- and 22-inch wheels are available.
  
• New, electric variable-assist power steering system enhances fuel economy and tailors steering assist to vehicle speed.
  
• New four-wheel-disc brake system with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life, along with brake pedal revisions that improve pedal feel for stronger-feeling, more-confident braking performance.
  

EcoTec3 powertrain

Tahoe and Suburban’s standard 5.3L V-8 feature state-of-the-art technologies, including direct injection, cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

Improved engine mounts, electronic throttle control, adaptive exhaust systems, improved aerodynamics and other technologies help the engines operate in four-cylinder mode more often with Active Fuel Management, further increasing efficiency.

The engine is mated to a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission, featuring TapShift control, Tow/Haul mode and Auto Grade Braking.

The new Tahoe and Suburban will be built at GM’s Arlington, Texas assembly plant. Both vehicles are scheduled to arrive in dealerships in the first quarter of 2014.

GMC Introduces All-New, More-Capable 2015 Yukon Family

LOS ANGELES – GMC announced today the all-new 2015 Yukon, Yukon XL and flagship Yukon Denali models will deliver greater capability and refinement, with more power, new fold-flat rear seats and a quieter interior. And thanks to a new family of advanced EcoTec3 engines, the lineup is expected to deliver the segment's best V-8 fuel economy.

Bold styling and advanced technologies – including new safety and security technologies – support Yukon's greater capability, while a more comprehensive list of standard features and enhanced infotainment options are designed to broaden the appeal of one of the industry's most-popular full-size SUV lineups. Combined Yukon/Yukon XL and Denali sales were up 24 percent for the eight months of 2013.

"We've engineered the Yukon and Yukon XL from the ground up, building on a strong legacy of capability to take them to the top of the segment with exceptional refinement and purposeful technology," said Tony DiSalle, vice president of GMC Marketing. "And when it comes to the tasks people rely on a full-size SUV for, they do it better than ever – and with more style."

Yukon and Yukon XL share design, architectural and powertrain elements, but Yukon XL has an approximately 14-inch longer wheelbase and is approximately 20 inches longer overall, providing greater legroom for third-row passengers and almost twice the cargo room behind the third-row seat.

"Although they are based on a similar architecture, Yukon and Yukon XL are distinctive products that appeal to different customers," said DiSalle. "Versatility and spaciousness are valued by customers for both vehicles, but the Yukon XL is the choice for families with more children and those with lifestyles that require its unique combination of passenger- and cargo-hauling capabilities. In fact, Yukon XL owners are more than twice as likely to transport passengers daily in the third-row seat."

New and enhanced product highlights of the 2015 Yukon lineup include:

- Fold-flat second- and third-row seats that enhance cargo capability and convenience – including an available power-folding feature

- Approximately two inches more legroom for second-row passengers and easier entry/exit

- All-new cargo management system

- Available power rear liftgate with multiple programmable height settings

- Standard eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen radio with enhanced IntelliLink and available navigation

- Eight-inch-diagonal customizable driver display with three available user themes and available head-up display (Denali models)

- Multiple USB ports, SD slots and accessory power outlets – including a 110-volt three-prong outlet – to support electronic devices of all kinds

- Available Blu-ray/DVD rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens on Yukon XL

- Conversation mirror in the overhead console that provides a panoramic view of the rear seats

- Keyless entry and push-button start.

When it comes to safety, the Yukon lineup incorporates new technologies to help protect the driver and passengers before, during and after a collision. They include a forward radar system and the segment's only front seat center-mounted air bag (models with bucket seats), which is engineered to provide additional protection to drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes, where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

Standard and available safety features, depending on the model, also include forward collision alert, front park assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic braking, and GM's Safety Alert Seat. It offers directional vibrations to alert the driver about potential crash threats.

Bold styling, enhanced refinement

All-new exterior and interior designs advance GMC's professional grade aesthetic with elements designed to be beautiful and functional. The exteriors are sleeker and more aerodynamic, enhancing efficiency on the highway and contributing to the new Yukon's quiet ride.

Bold styling cues include highly detailed, chrome-accented grilles matched with GMC's signature C-shaped light-emitting diode lighting motif, front and rear. Projector-beam headlamps are standard on Yukon and Yukon XL. The distinctive Denali models are instantly identifiable by their signature chrome grille and unique exterior appointments, including exclusive high-intensity discharge headlamps.

Additional exterior features include:

- New inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly reducing wind noise and contributing to improved aerodynamics

- Laminated windshield and front door glass to enhance quietness

- Lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels enhance efficiency through reduced overall mass

- A standard rear spoiler on the liftgate houses a relocated rear window wiper that is hidden when not in use

- New worm screw-style liftgate arms take up less interior space than the previous gooseneck arms

- Illuminated, power-retractable assist steps available on Denali

- New family of 18-, 20- and 22-inch wheels, including standard 20-inch wheels on Denali.

Inside, the all-new 2015 Yukon's precisely crafted interior features a quiet cabin, authentic materials and premium infotainment choices. Examples include soft-touch instrument panel, console and door panel materials with live stitching and purposeful use of ambient lighting in functional areas, including first- and second-row foot wells and the center console. All models have a standard Bose sound system, seats with dual-firmness foam and an ambient air vent designed to enhance comfort for front-seat passengers.

Denali models feature active noise cancelation technology to make the interior quieter.

There are more storage options in the new Yukon lineup, including a compartmentalized center console that's large enough to store a laptop or iPad and has provisions for hanging file folders and other organizational features, especially for customers whose vehicle also serves as a rolling office.

More capable, more comfortable

The 2015 Yukon lineup delivers greater capability and greater refinement through new and enhanced chassis and suspension systems. A fully boxed frame – composed of more than 75 percent high-strength steel – supports a quiet and controlled ride. New shear-style body mounts attached to the frame significantly improve stiffness and contribute to the Yukon's smooth ride.

Compared with previous models, the driving experience of the new SUVs is further enhanced with:

- Wider rear track that contributes to a more planted stance

- Wheels that are a half-inch wider, reducing tire flex for improved cornering performance

- New, electric variable-assist power steering system enhances fuel economy and tailors steering assist to vehicle speed

- New 9.5-inch rear axle and standard automatic locking rear differential

- Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, auto grade braking and hill start assist

- New four-wheel-disc brake system with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life, along with brake pedal revisions that improve pedal feel for stronger-feeling, more confident braking performance

- Denali models include third-generation magnetic ride control, a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control by "reading" the road every millisecond and changing damping in just five milliseconds.

Advanced engine technology

The all-new Yukon family is more powerful and efficient than before, thanks to the new EcoTec3 engine family, which debuted earlier this year in the all-new 2014 Sierra. A 5.3L V-8 is standard in Yukon and Yukon XL models and an exclusive 6.2L engine is standard in Denali models, which is expected to deliver the segment's best horsepower and torque – SAE-certified 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm).

The EcoTec3 engines feature state-of-the-art technologies, including direct injection, cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions. More precisely controlled combustion enables the new engines to run with a higher compression ratio, which delivers greater power and efficiency.

Hydraulic engine mounts, electronic throttle control, adaptive exhaust systems, improved aerodynamics and other technologies help the engines operate in four-cylinder mode for longer periods of time with Active Fuel Management, further increasing efficiency.

Both engines are matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission.

The new Yukon family will be built at GM's Arlington, Texas assembly plant, and scheduled to begin arriving at GMC dealerships in the first quarter of 2014.