GMC's Ultimate Yukon, Mini drops manuals, Brabus builds a land yacht

[Hagerty]

Intake: Meet the Yukon Denali Ultimate, the new range-topping version of the brand's biggest SUV. "Denali" traditionally denotes GMC's most lavish offerings, but the brand has recently upped the ante by introducing the Denali Ultimate treatment. Many of the Yukon's new accoutrements come straight from Sierra Denali Ultimate pickup, which was announced last fall.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/the-manifold/2022-05-03-2/

[CitationMan]

Who in their right mind thinks hands free towing is a good idea?
What is the obsession with not having one’s hands on the steering wheel when the car is moving?
This is insanity.
Now I get this is the push for automated vehicles, but they will never ever work in most environments. It’s a totally bad idea that should be outlawed, as it’s going to lead to deaths.
If automated vehicles were safer than non-automated vehicles, we would be badgered ceaselessly about them, but their increased safety is never touted. I wonder why?
Trains still run into other trains, and there’s only the possibility of one train in front and one behind, so that’s not even foolproof. And there are a lot of fools out there, as any drive will confirm.

[9lbhammer]

Have you driven with super cruise? I have in an escalade for an old job; the car kinda drives itself and you can make it act like a total butthead. Unless the lawyers make them neuter it with a trailer it's gonna be a good time seeing suburban dads too proud to ask for help whip that mofo with 8k of RV or boat.

[CitationMan]

Sorry, I just don’t understand the need.

[Tinkerah]

There is no need. Its tech for tech's sake. The hardware is cheap and software engineers need to keep their jobs.

[hyperv6]

I am anti autonomous driving in general. But every mfg and model is going to see it added as the public as a whole are getting sucked into it. 

To be honest with some towing the truck actually may do a better job than some. A lot of people tow that should not be behind the wheel. 

[whatzappening]

I would never say never.

But your point is valid. Personally, when driving to work and back, or long road trips on boring interstates, or even stop and go traffic, having the car do most of the work is great. And is certainly safer. Much better in rain as well.

In twisty mountains, or towing -- that seems insane. But then again, these systems are getting better and better. So.. again, never say never.

[9lbhammer]

I want the hot wheels version of the "put it in reverse terry" video dude

[Maestro1]

When you are discussing idiocy like the GMC whatever it is, the market for it is for people with more money than brains. And absolutely never buy hands free towing. You are in a car,
not your living room. And why anyone would buy an over optioned tank like the Porsche, GM, or other brand is beyond me. I own a long roof, known to you as a station wagon, with
no chips to guide my destiny on the road. The car is in my hands. My responsibility. It's a
domestic with over 200,000 miles on it, everybody in the family drives it, and it gives me no trouble at all. And for computer freaks, it's very mechanical. Very simple instead of the junk being built now.

[Tinkerah]

If I needed to spend that much money on a behemoth I'd get two H1's.

[hyperv6]

Many who can afford these will buy them and it is a companies job to take that money. 

Hey if you can afford it great! If you want to drive a wagon that is fine too. We have a smaller SUV and it fits our needs better as the tall roof has come in very handy for pleasure or my wife’s work. 

People want more utility no matter the size and that is why we see more CUZ models over wagons anymore. 

[Snailish]

My first on the road vehicle was a GMC, I love the brand.

But...

I really don't get why GM hasn't spun Denali into Cadillac

Made all their light duty trucks Chevy (as this would have beat Ford in sales some years and help with that perception)

and at most kept GMC for actual work trucks (if they even care for that market anymore), and perhaps 1 unique vehicle that isn't a corporate clone... like a new Jimmy in the old S10 class size.

[JGeske]

100% agree. I will always remember the 2009 bankruptcy, and when they announced that they were axing Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, etc. I was absolutely floored. I was thinking, "why would they make keep making two of the same under different brands (GMC/Chevy and Buick/Cadillac specifically) while getting rid of the only somewhat unique offerings?" I am sure there is some reasons someone will give regarding cost efficiency, and they are not wrong, but to me a GMC these days is really a fancy trim level of Chevy, and ditto for Cadillac to Buick.

[Snailish]

I believe it was openly admitted at the time that Buick's perception to the Chinese market was the only reason it remains.

[hyperv6]

What happened was this Olds died with the RWD Cutlass. 

Pontiac became a corporate styling exercise after they lost their own V8 as it was the heart of the car. Also the rebellious engineers retired at the end of the Fiero program. After that GM had no clue what to do with Pontiac moving into a CUV market. 

Buick lives due to China. They provide add on sales for GMC. 

Hummer was damaged by poor PR and in the bail out Chevy was more a priority than Hummer. Also it gave them a chance to correct the mistake of making Hummer a brand vs a GMC model. 

The cost efficiency of a GMC truck is high as they can jack up the price with a Denali package and sell a ton of them as they are very popular. They make a ton of money from them vs Chevys High Country that only sees a fraction of Denali volumes. 

Outside Corvette and Mustang the Denali brand has as much name equity as anything sold by any American automaker and most global mfgs models under $100,000

[hyperv6]

Here is the deal. Denali is not a brand it is a trim and is about 60% of GMC sales. 

Here is why we have GMC. It makes a lot of money! The GMC line to be honest supports most Buick and many Cadillac dealers with their sales and profits. 

I have a local former Pontiac dealer that is now a stand alone GMC dealer and they are more profitable now than they had been in years. They rejected an offer by GM for the Buick line. 

The fact you say we sold more trucks than Ford is just a marketing thing as in the end the real win is who is making more money per unit sold. GM is very comfortable with two sales figures as they are taking them to the bank. 

Too many take automotive business as a collage football game but it is really cold hard business today. 

Ford may tout higher sales number the trouble is they went to Aluminum bodies and the cost to build their trucks went up cutting into profits. GM and now Ram are using mixed metals where it is making trucks lighter but not impacting production costs as much. 

The one mistake they did make at GM was not yo make Hummer a GMC model the first time around. Lutz said that was one thing he regretted. This time they did not make the same mistake. 

The Denali thing was a risk years ago but it has paid off big time for GM. It is like printing money. I own two Denali models. I bought both at a good price as I did not set out to buy either at first. But I did notice that people comment oh you drive a Denali and not the model or brand I own.

that is name equity most mfgs would kill for and is rare today. 

The Denali equity harkens back to the age where people would say that is a Dusey or you were a Packard man. You just don’t see anyone claiming that they are a Hyundai or Toyota guy. 

[uweschmidt]

What? only 18 Speakers

[Tinkerah]

I know! What's the 10th passenger going to listen to?

[Gary_Bechtold]

Vader Chrome exterior details? As in Darth Vader? Seriously? This isn't the SUV you are looking for.

[JGeske]

They need to add a "Trooper White" version then too. Shiny white everywhere with black accents and deeply tinted windows.

[JGeske]

Wait, even better! If the offered a Trooper White, they could rename their collision avoidance/SuperCruise system to "Storm Trooper Aiming". I would trust it cause it wouldn't be able to hit anything!

[CitationMan]

I endorse anything that would cause the PC crowd to lose their minds! 

[Gary_Bechtold]

Wouldn't Trooper White + Supercruise be Super Trooper?

[ATLpaul]

So all in, with market adjustment and tax, this will sell for close to $100,000. In 1993 I bought my first home for $110,000. Still own it, my sister lives in it. It now stickers for around $450,000 in Atlanta and still going up. Who thinks this Yukon Denali supreme will be as good an investment?