GMC News: GMC Adds More Gears, New Grille for 2018 Yukon Denali

[William Maley]

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Here is some food for thought: over 50 percent of Yukon/Yukon XL models sold are Denalis. A pretty nice number and one that makes a fair amount of profit for GMC. But that also means GMC needs to keep Denali models up to date to keep those sales up.

For 2018, GMC is making some updates to the Denali trim for the Yukon family. First up is a new multidimensional chrome grille featuring grille shutters to improve fuel economy.

"The new grille, which is flanked by HID headlamps and LED Signature Lighting, advances the design legacy established with the very first Yukon Denali in 1999. It’s a more exciting and sophisticated design, while remaining instantly recognizable as part of the GMC Denali family,"  said GMC Global Exterior Design Director Matt Noone.

Under the skin is a new 10-speed automatic transmission featuring wider, 7.39 overall gear ratio spread that will help make the Yukon/XL Denali more efficient. A 6.2L V8 engine offering up 420 horsepower is standard.

The updated Yukon/XL Denali arrives at dealers this fall.

Source: GMC
Press Release is on Page 2

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2018 GMC Yukon Denali Elevates Style, Refinement

• The ultimate expression of Professional Grade gets bold refresh on GMC Yukon models

DETROIT – GMC is elevating the 2018 Yukon Denali lineup with styling and trim enhancements, as well as a new, advanced 10-speed automatic transmission.

A new, sculpted grille design distinguishes the Yukon Denali, while new Mastique Ash real wood trim adds depth and richness to the interior.

The new Hydra-Matic 10-speed transmission — paired with Yukon Denali’s 6.2L V-8 engine — enhances refinement with world-class shift smoothness, responsiveness and quietness.  

“Yukon Denali has always matched style with substance, and the enhancements for 2018 advance that legacy,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global GMC. “The foundational elements of exclusive design, premium touches and uncompromising capability have made Yukon Denali an icon for nearly 20 years.”

Multi-Dimensional Grille Design

GMC designers evolved the iconic Denali grille with a multidimensional, sculpted interpretation that, like other contemporary GMC elements, was designed in a layered manner. It’s a theme seen in other new GMC models such as the Acadia and Terrain.

“The new grille, which is flanked by HID headlamps and LED Signature Lighting, advances the design legacy established with the very first Yukon Denali in 1999,” said Matt Noone, director, Global GMC Exterior Design. “It’s a more exciting and sophisticated design, while remaining instantly recognizable as part of the GMC Denali family.”

In addition to a more sophisticated appearance, the new grille offers greater airflow to the radiator. Active aero shutters behind the grille close in certain conditions on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance efficiency.

10 Speeds, Refined Performance

The Yukon Denali’s new 10-speed automatic leverages the engineering experience of General Motors’ multispeed transmissions to deliver improved performance.

A wider, 7.39 overall gear ratio spread, compared to the Yukon Denali’s previous eight-speed automatic, enables a lower numerical top gear ratio and contributes to greater efficiency.

The transmission’s optimized gearing and proprietary controls allow the 6.2L V-8 engine to deliver a winning combination smooth operation and precise response.

Standard and available features include:

• 420-hp 6.2L V-8 engine with direct injection and Active Fuel Management
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control, tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, auto grade braking and hill start assist
• Magnetic Ride Control for improved body motion control
• Standard 20-inch wheels and available 22-inch wheels
• Automatic locking rear differential
• Four-wheel-disc brakes with Duralife™ brake rotors
• Active Noise Cancellation for a quieter interior
• 8-inch diagonal GMC Infotainment system with Navigation includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability
• Standard 8-inch diagonal customizable driver display with head-up display
• Multiple USB ports and accessory power outlets, including a 110-volt three-prong outlet, to support electronic devices
• OnStar Basic Plan1 is standard for five years and includes access to an in-vehicle 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot2 and select features via the myGMC mobile app3
• Wireless phone charging
• Heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats, heated second-row seats
• Hands-free programmable power liftgate

The Denali trim accounts for well more than half of all Yukon sales. It is offered in Yukon and Yukon XL models, with the XL featuring a 14-inch-longer wheelbase (20 inches longer overall), for increased third-row legroom and more than double the cargo room behind the third-row seat.

The 2018 Yukon Denali goes on sale this fall.

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[Drew Dowdell]

Up next for the 10-speed, Escalade.

There is the possibility that the 10-speed Escalade is here before the 10-speed Navigator is. 

[G. David Felt]

Very Cool  

Why do they not offer pictures of this and only a generic release of the details.

http://www.gm.com/mol/m-2017-may-0524-yukon-denali.html

Motor1 had some pics:

[riviera74]

Wow. A ten-speed automatic.. . . . . with Cadillac and Buick having 8AT in their vehicles.

GM has come A LONG WAY from the 4T65E transmission in my 2008 Lucerne.  Then again, are there ANY GM vehicles with a 6AT left?

[Drew Dowdell]

Yes, lots still have a 6speed. Even the new Acadia has a 6 speed standard.

[loki]

for comparison,

Quote

10-speed automatic transmission featuring wider, 7.39 overall gear ratio spread

8L90 has a *7.015 ratio spread

The 6L80 (and similar 6L90) has a *6.037 ratio spread

The 4L80-E (and similar 4L85-E) has a *3.3 ratio spread

-Ratios were calculated from wikipedia's info.

[Drew Dowdell]

23 minutes ago, loki said:

for comparison,

8L90 has a *7.015 ratio spread

The 6L80 (and similar 6L90) has a *6.037 ratio spread

The 4L80-E (and similar 4L85-E) has a *3.3 ratio spread

-Ratios were calculated from wikipedia's info.

Would you be able to show the gear ratios for those since you found the information already?  I'm curious if there is more than one overdrive gear in the 10-speed.

[loki]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Would you be able to show the gear ratios for those since you found the information already?  I'm curious if there is more than one overdrive gear in the 10-speed.

I found the transmission ratios on wikipedia.   assuming they're right.

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Would you be able to show the gear ratios for those since you found the information already?  I'm curious if there is more than one overdrive gear in the 10-speed.

 

1	2	3	4	R
2.48	1.48	1.00	0.75	2.07

 

1	2	3	4	5	6	R
4.027	2.364	1.532	1.152	0.852	0.667	3.064

 

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R
4.56	2.97	2.08	1.69	1.27	1.00	0 .85	0 .65	3.82

[balthazar]

Hey- I got a 6.40 spread out of my 4-speed!

- - - - - -

>>"I'm curious if there is more than one overdrive gear in the 10-speed."<<

Every auto with 6 gears or more I've seen is at least a double OD.
GM 10Lxx ~
1 : 4.70
2 : 2.99
3 : 2.15
4 : 1.80
5 : 1.52
6 : 1.28
7 : 1.00
8 : .85
9 : .69
10 : .64

10th gear hardly seems worth it. Also seems busy in 4-6, like that should be 2 gears vs. 3. The 8Lxx seems far better spaced, making me think the 10Lxx is more marketing than anything else.

Edited May 26, 2017 by balthazar

[Drew Dowdell]

13 hours ago, balthazar said:

Hey- I got a 6.40 spread out of my 4-speed!

- - - - - -

>>"I'm curious if there is more than one overdrive gear in the 10-speed."<<

Every auto with 6 gears or more I've seen is at least a double OD.
GM 10Lxx ~
1 : 4.70
2 : 2.99
3 : 2.15
4 : 1.80
5 : 1.52
6 : 1.28
7 : 1.00
8 : .85
9 : .69
10 : .64

10th gear hardly seems worth it. Also seems busy in 4-6, like that should be 2 gears vs. 3. The 8Lxx seems far better spaced, making me think the 10Lxx is more marketing than anything else.

The transmission has the ability to skip shift both up and down... so I expect that in relaxed driving, you'll skip a few gears. 

[G. David Felt]

13 hours ago, balthazar said:

Hey- I got a 6.40 spread out of my 4-speed!

- - - - - -

>>"I'm curious if there is more than one overdrive gear in the 10-speed."<<

Every auto with 6 gears or more I've seen is at least a double OD.
GM 10Lxx ~
1 : 4.70
2 : 2.99
3 : 2.15
4 : 1.80
5 : 1.52
6 : 1.28
7 : 1.00
8 : .85
9 : .69
10 : .64

10th gear hardly seems worth it. Also seems busy in 4-6, like that should be 2 gears vs. 3. The 8Lxx seems far better spaced, making me think the 10Lxx is more marketing than anything else.

In a truck that is hauling stuff, this should do well to have smooth shifting with gas milage. 

[loki]

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

In a truck that is hauling stuff, this should do well to have smooth shifting with gas milage. 

yeah, when going up hills and just need a little more HP... say 200rpm?  this will hardly be noticed.

[balthazar]

When a diesel truck was non-turbo'd and had 300 TRQ, a 10-spd would've been excellent for aiding acceleration.
Now that they have 700-900 TRQ and 400+ HP, there really isn't a measurable benefit of a 10-spd over an 8-spd by looking at the ratios... tho I'd happily take a test drive in both back to back to prove myself wrong.

- - - - -

I have 310 HP and 520 TRQ going thru the Allison 5-spd in my 2500HD :

1 : 3.09
2 : 1.80
3 : 1.40
4 : 1.00
5 : .71

When the Allison gained it's 6th gear in 2006, they merely added a .61 6th gear, but the trucks struggle to ever get into that gear- has to be a feather pedal and @ cruise speed on level ground. TDs geared like these 'power down' relatively quickly when you get off the pedal.

Edited May 26, 2017 by balthazar

[Drew Dowdell]

I'd be interested to see if this let's the Yukon stay in 4 cylinder mode more often. Allowing 1 gear lower while running on 4 cylinders may be better for fuel economy.

[Cmicasa the Great]

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I'd be interested to see if this let's the Yukon stay in 4 cylinder mode more often. Allowing 1 gear lower while running on 4 cylinders may be better for fuel economy.

I'm thinking that this will be the case. The 4cylinder mode even in my 6Speed used to love to come on during Highway cruising until I tuned it out. That being said.. I really haven't considered a change-over for the sake of a new tranny. 

[Drew Dowdell]

I like 4 cylinder mode. I get some amazing fuel economy out of Suburbans with it. Better to have a V8 that shuts half off when not needed than a 6 that I have to spin up a turbo to get any power out of.

[smk4565]

Better to have a lighter weight SUV.  Imagine if the Escalade was built on Omega and lost 1,000 lbs.

Even with a heavy SUV, I think it depends on the V6, some V6s can make a lot of power at low end and if you introduce hybrid powertrain or 48 volt electric systems, then you can get some electric boost of the line and a V6 would not even have to work that hard.

[balthazar]

Imagine if the s-class was built on the e-platform and lost 1500 lbs.

 

Or better yet; the CT6 platform!

Edited May 28, 2017 by balthazar

[riviera74]

16 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Better to have a lighter weight SUV.  Imagine if the Escalade was built on Omega and lost 1,000 lbs.

Even with a heavy SUV, I think it depends on the V6, some V6s can make a lot of power at low end and if you introduce hybrid powertrain or 48 volt electric systems, then you can get some electric boost of the line and a V6 would not even have to work that hard.

Essentially, you want the Escalade to be a Buick Enclave.  Yes Ford (with the Explorer) and Nissan (with the Pathfinder) have switched from BOF to unibody in order to lose 800 pounds at least.   The reason that may not happen is because the Escalade makes more profit on its existing platform as we speak.  Also, have you seen the prices on an Escalade, or even a GMC Yukon?

[smk4565]

17 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

Essentially, you want the Escalade to be a Buick Enclave.  Yes Ford (with the Explorer) and Nissan (with the Pathfinder) have switched from BOF to unibody in order to lose 800 pounds at least.   The reason that may not happen is because the Escalade makes more profit on its existing platform as we speak.  Also, have you seen the prices on an Escalade, or even a GMC Yukon?

I think the Escalade should stay where it is for now, but I would like to see an Omega platform Cadillac crossover.  Nothing like a front drive V6 Enclave.  I was thinking more 600 hp V8 in 3 row crossover weighing 5,000 lbs.  They could probably sell that at $150,000 and make way more profit than an Escalade does.    

[Cmicasa the Great]

On 5/27/2017 at 7:13 PM, balthazar said:

Imagine if the s-class was built on the e-platform and lost 1500 lbs.

 

Or better yet; the CT6 platform!

Classic..  The Sclass on Omega? GM should license it to Benz..  their far superior platform. Some person i kno would be found the next day after the announcement, with a bottle of pills next  to there rotting corpse. 

[Cmicasa the Great]

22 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I think the Escalade should stay where it is for now, but I would like to see an Omega platform Cadillac crossover.  Nothing like a front drive V6 Enclave.  I was thinking more 600 hp V8 in 3 row crossover weighing 5,000 lbs.  They could probably sell that at $150,000 and make way more profit than an Escalade does.    

i hope U mean an optional 600hp V8. One of the  reasons i hate coming to forums these days are the ludicrous comments made by "enthusiasts " pertaining to HP and consumer products. I agree that a XT8 should exist on Omega, but i think a base engine should be around 400-450hp with optional engine in the 500s and 600s, tge latter being a orderable option built at direct customer request thru dealership

[Drew Dowdell]

1 hour ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

i hope U mean an optional 600hp V8. One of the  reasons i hate coming to forums these days are the ludicrous comments made by "enthusiasts " pertaining to HP and consumer products. I agree that a XT8 should exist on Omega, but i think a base engine should be around 400-450hp with optional engine in the 500s and 600s, tge latter being a orderable option built at direct customer request thru dealership

Agreed.  No one would buy such a vehicle.  What he's really doing is setting the bar in such a ridiculous way that Cadillac could never succeed in his eyes. Cadillac could match Benz vehicle for vehicle except skip the GLE Coupe AMG and @smk4565 would roast them for not building a useless tall hatchback with poor handling and 550hp..... point to it and say "See!? Cadillac can't compete!"

Sometimes the choice is to not compete with a niche that is really quite dumb. 

[balthazar]

^ and Mercedes is loaded with those 'dumb niches'.

[Guest AsianPersuasian]

Very slight difference, but it looks tight. I don't think this competes with the new 10 speed Navigator though.  This is much closer to new 10 speed Expedition.

[Drew Dowdell]

47 minutes ago, Guest AsianPersuasian said:

Very slight difference, but it looks tight. I don't think this competes with the new 10 speed Navigator though.  This is much closer to new 10 speed Expedition.

The Denali version competes on price.

[smk4565]

14 hours ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

i hope U mean an optional 600hp V8. One of the  reasons i hate coming to forums these days are the ludicrous comments made by "enthusiasts " pertaining to HP and consumer products. I agree that a XT8 should exist on Omega, but i think a base engine should be around 400-450hp with optional engine in the 500s and 600s, tge latter being a orderable option built at direct customer request thru dealership

Of course optional, an Omega SUV should use the 400 hp 3 liter turbo V6 as the base engine, you can throw a plug-in hybrid to the mix, and then your V-series would be 600 hp.   You could even do a V-sport at 500 hp.  

This Omega SUV would no doubt be faster, better gas mileage, better handling, better riding, and potentially better interior than the Escalade.  So then the question is does XT8 get priced above Escalade, or does the current Escalade become the XT8 and the Omega SUV gets named Escalade.  This is also why you can't have a vehicle with a name in an alpha numeric name scheme.  Unless they keep Escalade and call the Omega SUV a word name also.

[smk4565]

13 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Agreed.  No one would buy such a vehicle.  What he's really doing is setting the bar in such a ridiculous way that Cadillac could never succeed in his eyes. Cadillac could match Benz vehicle for vehicle except skip the GLE Coupe AMG and @smk4565 would roast them for not building a useless tall hatchback with poor handling and 550hp..... point to it and say "See!? Cadillac can't compete!"

Sometimes the choice is to not compete with a niche that is really quite dumb. 

No one buys Bentley SUVs that probably make about $40,000 per unit profit?  No on buys $150,000 Cayenne Turbos?  Audi is building a Q8 so they can go up the price ladder.  Tesla is selling a $130k SUV.   BMW is building an X7 V12 because they are sick of watching Mercedes-AMG sell GLS's for $120k or $200k G-wagens.   And Rolls thinks people really want to spend $300,000+ on an SUV so they are going to give it to them.

There is room up in the $150k range for SUVs.  SUV is the most popular body style there is, and there are lots of $100k+ sedans and sports cars, not as many SUVs, which is why all these luxury brands, and even Lamborghini are rushing into that segment.  Cadillac's mistake was thinking Escalade is the top.  You'll have about 10 SUVs more expensive and more prestigious by 2020.  So they have to go up there and challenge.

[Drew Dowdell]

or it's why Euro naming schemes are dumb

[balthazar]

Escalade remains at the top and moves up. XT8 would slot below it.

As far as performance/roadability- it's the same scenario over at MB with the GLwhatever / G-wagon; the GLw is better than the G at all those things mentioned above, but is priced much cheaper.

[G. David Felt]

Wonder when GMC performance will offer a Twin Turbo Kit for the Yukon Denali? That would really set it apart from the Escalade which should have a V edition Escalade with the Supercharged V8 engine.

[cp-the-nerd]

6 hours ago, dfelt said:

Wonder when GMC performance will offer a Twin Turbo Kit for the Yukon Denali? That would really set it apart from the Escalade which should have a V edition Escalade with the Supercharged V8 engine.

You say that like it's not a totally random idea. If GMC does a wild turbocharged sport truck, the clear choice is to shoehorn the LF4 3.6TT from the ATS-V under the hood of a 4x4 Canyon and call it a Syclone!

[G. David Felt]

11 hours ago, cp-the-nerd said:

You say that like it's not a totally random idea. If GMC does a wild turbocharged sport truck, the clear choice is to shoehorn the LF4 3.6TT from the ATS-V under the hood of a 4x4 Canyon and call it a Syclone!

I have posted that already in other GMC threads about bringing back the Syclone and Typhoon. But for me they should do a TT V8 for the Yukon Denali. Making it differant than the Escalade which should have the V with the Supercharged V8.

[smk4565]

22 hours ago, balthazar said:

Escalade remains at the top and moves up. XT8 would slot below it.

As far as performance/roadability- it's the same scenario over at MB with the GLwhatever / G-wagon; the GLw is better than the G at all those things mentioned above, but is priced much cheaper.

GLS is better in just about every way to a G-wagen, except off road (which 90% of G-wagen buyers in the USA aren't doing and I imagine don't know what a locking differential is, let alone how it works).  The G65 has a V12 though, so that gives it a special cache, but the G-wagen sells on being an icon, Cadillac could potentially move the Escalade up to $125-175,000 and get away with it too.

There is a new G-wagen coming next year, with new engines, new chassis, new interior, huge weight loss, etc.  So that will fist some of the issues now with the G-wagen not being a very good vehicle to drive.  

GMC isn't putting a twin turbo V6 in anything, much less a twin turbo V8.  Because CAFE for one and cost for two.  The price point would be crazy and you have to get to 54 mpg in a time when people are not buying cars.  Cadillac however can charge high prices and should do performance SUVs and crossovers.