NEW RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL GRADE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPEAL TO DIVERSE, AFFLUENT CUSTOMERS LEAD TO GMC SALES RECORDS 11 OF PAST 12 YEARS

DETROIT – Setting sales records in 11 of the past 12 years, GMC has become GM’s second-largest division in terms of sales. Credit goes to the many innovative new products GMC has recently launched, as well as to the increasingly more diverse and affluent customers who are buying these vehicles.

“GMC’s success is perhaps one of the industry’s best-kept secrets. We own nearly 21 percent of the full-size SUV market in North America and our customers have a higher median income ($85,000) than any other non-luxury truck manufacturer. Additionally, we’re attracting a diverse customer base. These results affirm our continued commitment to exceeding consumers’ expectations for innovative, quality-built, Professional Grade vehicles,” said Jim Bunnell, marketing general manager, Pontiac-GMC.

Envoy/Envoy XL/Envoy XUV and Envoy Denali/Envoy XL Denali

The Envoy lineup receives a host of enhancements for 2005, including the addition of two new models – Envoy Denali and the Envoy XL Denali – in the first quarter of the year. The newest Envoy models will feature interior and exterior styling enhancements that immediately identify them with the rest of GMC’s Denali models. They will be available in two- and four-wheel-drive and will be powered by the Gen IV 300-horsepower Vortec 5300 V-8 engine. The Envoy XL Denali’s V-8 engine will also benefit from GM’s innovative fuel-saving Displacement on Demand technology (DOD), a feature that is already available on Envoy XL and Envoy XUV. Under certain low-demand conditions, DOD offers up to 8 percent fuel savings by automatically disabling half of the engine’s cylinders.

Specific Denali exterior features include a chrome-plated honeycomb grille, new front and rear fascias, integrated body color running boards, body color side moldings and outside rearview mirrors, headlamp washers and a Denali badge on the side of the vehicle. Specific interior features include eight-way adjustable nuance leather heated front seats, leather burl wood grain trim, satin metallic accents, a Bose audio sound system, electric adjustable pedals and a noise reduction package. 

A significant safety enhancement to the Envoy lineup is the availability of roof rail air bags. They act like a protective curtain when deployed, are mounted to the roof rail between the A and C pillars and deploy downward to cover the front and rear door windows and B-pillar. These air bags help protect the heads and chests of outboard occupants in the first and second rows in the event of certain side impacts.

For an additional measure of safety, the Envoy lineup will receive the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system beginning in the 2006 model year. It helps drivers maintain vehicle control during certain difficult driving conditions, such as ice, snow, gravel, wet pavement and uneven road surfaces, as well as in emergency lane changes or avoidance maneuvers.

Sierra

Sierra also added a Denali model in 2005: the Sierra Crew Cab Denali. As with other Denali family members, the Sierra Crew Cab Denali features premium exterior and interior cues, including: a chrome grille; projector-beam headlamps; unique front fascia with fog lamps; a Denali-specific instrument cluster and center console; a power-operated sunroof; tone-on-tone leather seating; and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels will become available this spring. Sierra Crew Cab Denali is powered by the Vortec 6000 6.0L V-8 (LQ9) engine, producing 345 horsepower (257 kW) and 380 lb.-ft. (508 Nm) of torque.

For two-wheel-drive enthusiasts, GMC will introduce nationally a new High Output 1500 Extended Cab Sierra in the first quarter of 2005. It’s powered by the LQ9 version of the Vortec 6000 V-8, delivering 345 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. The Vortec 6000 is mated to a Hydra-Matic 4L60E-HD four-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance chassis package includes a modified frame and suspension, locking rear differential, traction control and a 20-inch tire and wheel combination for exceptional road holding and cornering capability. The High Output Sierra provides exhilarating off-line acceleration and great handling in a well-appointed vehicle that is priced right.

Canyon

Canyon represents Professional Grade in a package all its own. Featuring the first use of the powerful yet efficient inline-four- and inline-five-cylinder engines – Vortec 2800 and Vortec 3500 – 2005 Canyon models provide a higher level of safety, convenience and comfort. On the safety front, an enhanced seat belt reminder has been added and the locking differential is now included with traction control on 2WD models and available on 4WD models. For added convenience, OnStar-equipped Canyon models now feature new sixth generation hardware with digital and analog coverage. Canyon’s comfort level increases thanks to an available leather seating package for extended cab models, cloth door trim panel inserts on the leather packages and an available sunroof. Additionally, 2005 Canyon models offer available MP3 playback capability on the AM/FM CD radio.

Yukon/Yukon XL and Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali

The Yukon family delivers added safety features, improved fuel economy and more wheel choices for 2005. StabiliTrak is now standard on all half-ton Yukon models, as is an enhanced passenger safety belt reminder system. It provides a repetitive, progressively strident message to any unbuckled front seat occupant.

All Yukon models also feature a standard liftgate with lift-up glass for 2005, along with an available DVD-based touch-screen navigation radio. For the first time, 17-inch wheels are now stand-alone options and 20-inch wheels are available on Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali. The Vortec 6000 V-8 (LQ4) engine receives an increase in both horsepower and torque, to 335 horsepower (257 kW) and 375 lb.-ft. (508 Nm); the power increases come from improved-flow cylinder heads, optimized fuel and spark calibrations and the addition of electric fans that replace the previous engine-driven fan, thereby reducing engine drag.

The electric fan also contributes to Yukon’s class-leading fuel economy, which improves by about one mpg in 2005. Other enhancements that have contributed to greater fuel economy include regulated voltage control and front-end aerodynamic improvements.

The growth of the Denali brand continues to attract more affluent and loyal customers to GMC and has been a major contributor to the division’s sales success. The annual household income for the average Yukon XL Denali owner is $158,000. These owners return to purchase or lease another GMC product more than 65 percent of the time.

Savana

Savana, the segment’s ultimate people- and cargo-carrier, delivers added safety for 2005 in the form of standard StabiliTrak on extended-wheelbase 12- and 15-passenger models. Whether it’s carrying passengers or cargo, Savana owners have four engine choices and two transmission choices at their disposal. These vehicles are available in half-ton, three-quarter-ton and one-ton configurations, in two- and four-wheel drive.

Safari

The 2005 GMC Safari continues to deliver more of what midsize van customers demand from their vehicle: standard safety features and excellent versatility for hauling people or cargo, making Safari one of the best values in its class. Safari can comfortably carry up to eight passengers, while towing trailers weighing up to 5,800 pounds (2,631 kg).  Safari is more than capable of handling diverse and demanding family needs. Safari’s power is derived from its standard Vortec 4300 4.3L V-6 engine delivering 190 horsepower (142 kW) and 250 lb.-ft. (339 Nm) of torque. That’s the most torque and one of the highest horsepower ratings in Safari’s class. Safari’s all-wheel-drive and world-class braking system combine to provide outstanding performance, safety and control.

Graphyte Hybrid Concept Vehicle

Making its debut at the 2005 North American International Auto Show is the GMC Graphyte Concept Vehicle, a refined SUV with all the capability expected in a four-wheel-drive truck, but with 25 percent improved fuel economy enabled by GM’s advanced hybrid propulsion system. A tailored design, including an elegant, metal-framed grille, gives the Graphyte an urban flair. It was designed and built at the GM Advanced Studio in Coventry, England.

The midsize Graphyte uses the Advanced Hybrid System II (AHS II), combined with a Vortec 5300 V-8 with Displacement on Demand (DOD) technology, to deliver strong, continuous power in all driving conditions. It is similar to the hybrid system that will be available on GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe full-size SUVs in 2007 and that is currently powering GM Hybrid Transit Buses.

Graphyte’s premium design incorporates strong truck cues such as minimal overhangs, tight wheel-to-fender openings and an upright grille, with a sleeker, more aerodynamic appearance. The Graphyte pushes SUV styling in a more refined direction, while reinforcing GMC’s authentic performance attributes.