The new 2016 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate, which debuted today at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, will go on sale in the first quarter of next year.
A 5.3L V8 engine with the new 8-speed Hydra-Matic 8L90 automatic transmission is the standard powertrain. More interestingly, Sierra’s optional 6.2L V8/8-speed autobox combination offers the light-duty segment’s highest output – 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm).
The GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate, offered exclusively on 1500 4x4 crew cab models with either a 5’8” or 6’6” cargo bed, is distinguished with 22” wheels with chrome or black insert, a standard sunroof, chrome tow hooks, and Tri-Mode Power Steps that move rearward to serve as a step into the forward section of the cargo bed. Lane Keep Assist and IntelliBeam automatic headlamp control are also standard.
Meanwhile, thanks to GM’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension, sensors “read” the road and trigger damping changes in as little as five milliseconds in electronically controlled shock absorbers to improve ride quality.
Redesigned in 2014, the Sierra Denali has helped GMC earn 15.5% of the premium full-size truck segment, which has grown tenfold since 2013.