It’s no shocker GMC is readying a Canyon Denali, seeing that every model in the brand’s lineup offers a Denali trim. The Denali sub-brand has proved to be very popular (read: profitable), even outselling entire luxury brands such as Jaguar and Porsche — not that they exactly compete, but the GMC marketing guys love that stat. The concrete proof that a Canyon Denali is coming comes from spy shots from Autoblog, showing the mid-size pick-up testing out in the open, with nothing but a mask.
The test mule may have camouflage over the front end, but that can’t hide the Denali’s chrome-mesh grille, rather than the barred unit equipped on regular Canyons. Carrying on with the chrome, a staple for any Denali vehicle, the lower air intake is now in company with a totally chromed out trim piece.
From the spy shots, the sides and the rear of the truck are identical to the current Canyon, at least for the prototype. The photographers weren’t able to capture in shots of the interior, but anticipate a standard issue usage of higher end materials for the cabin and additional tech features.
What we envision, as you can see in the accompanied rendering, the chrome-mesh grille is accompanied by LED accent lighting and chrome mirror caps. The Denali appearance elements extend to the side of the truck, with shiny chromed (or polished aluminum) wheels and running boards.
Unlike other Denali badged vehicles, we hope the Canyon takes it a little further in terms of included features. We’d love to see GM’s 8-speed automatic arrive in place of the current 6-speed unit, and even the inclusion of Magnetic Ride Control shocks would be a welcome addition for a 2016 GMC Canyon Denali. We’ll see, though. Because while the likes of the Sierra and Yukon Denali models offer powertrain, suspension and material improvements over their standard brethren, the Acadia and Terrain Denali crossovers hardly pushed any envelopes aside from some styling differences and a few options.
The likely 2016 GMC Canyon Denali prototype seems to be coming along quite well in any case, but we’d like to ask you: what do you think makes a Denali? Give us your thoughts in the comments down below.
Comments
One thing i still don’t understand is why they never offer rear coil spring suspension in the midsize segment. If it helps with the ride and it’s good enough for a half ton why not go that route? Obviously these trucks are more geared towards daily drivers who would probably appreciate the ride comforts. Magnetic ride control would be cool, even simple things like parking sensors with cross traffic alert, or LED bed lighting, or wireless charging pad for devices would be welcome additions.
The reason why is it cuts load and towing capacity. GM offered it years ago in their full size and it was not a big seller with the public then and not now in the Dodge.
But on the other hand our new 2015 rides pretty good as it is even with the old leafs. I am a fan of the old coil spring trucks but they just ever really worked out well in the public. The only thing that came from them is NASCAR teams used the rear control arms on the cars in the late 60’s when they dumped leafs and they are fabricated today but are still called truck arms.
As for magnetic ride control it is still too expensive. This system is getting cheaper and I would expect Cadillac SUV models and the Denali to be the first to see it at some point.
The other things you list will be here very soon.
You do realize the magnetic ride was available in all the Cadillac truck products last generation and is now available in all the GMC Denali half ton truck/SUV products plus the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban LTZ models.
And you realize how much more they cost over a Canyon?
How much more do you think people will pay before the move in truck size?
I want to see the test with the baby duramax
Make the Denali Canyon and I will add it to my Yukon Denali sitting in the garage.
I think a starting price of $60k would be fair. Of course, more for the 4×4 model.
by the pricing out now on an SLT Crew 4×4 LWB I would say the Denali will be around 45k… add the Duramax and I’ll see maybe 48k
I am afraid you may be close!
But God bless the Denali buyers as they still buy and this is pure profi.
As for me a loaded SLT2 is fine as I can do with out the chrome.
Wow! the truck is awesome and people will buy it .
I have to agree with Scott. Rear coils are not the way to go as they would cut both payload and towing capacities to below the Taco and Frontier. Ram even had to offer up an airbag suspension system in order to get their half tons up to par with GM and Ford, for a $1500 cost.
As for Magnetic Ride Control, even the Tahoe LTZ has it but that is an $80,000 vehicle (in Canada) but that system is too expensive to have in a $40-50,000 truck (Canadian). Push the price too high and people will just opt for either a cheaper Canyon/Colorado or move up in size to a 1500.
As for upgraded powertrain options, I doubt we will see the 8-speed as they are having enough trouble supplying it for the half tons (that is why it is only available with the 6.2L this year). Plus the only other engine options ready for these twins is the diesel, which will be in both the Canyon and Colorado in 2016.
What makes a Denali? Slapping a Denali badge, exterior chrome trim, and interior wood trim just doesn’t cut it. I’d love to see multiple new options that aren’t available on the SLE and SLT versions. This could include:
-Specialty Exterior Colors (Cayenne Metallic, Steel Blue, Plum Purple, etc.)
-Specialty Interior Colors (Brandy, Light Platinum, etc.)
-Heads Up Display
-UltraView Moonroof
-Partial Digital Gauge Cluster
-Bullet-Hole Chrome Grill
-Extended XM Radio, OnStar, and Warranty Services
-New Engine (2.8t V6 with 330HP and 345LB-FT)
-*VVT, SIDI, IVVL, and Stop/Start
-*8 Speed Automatic
I agree but as long a people continue to buy the chrome package why push it.
The original Denali pick up was AWD, Sun roof and larger engine you could not get in any other half ton. But they cheapened up the offerings but people still buy.
It still comes down to how much would it cost if you add all this stuff. It would be a great truck but would you pay $45K -50K for a Canyon?
By the way I believe they already have a part digital dash. Most GM cars do anymore.
You can add all the neat things but you still have to set a price and make the money in the end. If that price it too much then you kill the hen laying the golden eggs.
Pricing a car for the market segment is difficult in anything under $60K.
Maybe also adding some hide away running boards like the F150, then you really have my attention
GM simply MUST change from a keyed ignition switch to pushbutton, at least for the Denali series.
5.3L with cyl deactivation and start/stop (the 4.3L does not have significantly more power than the 3.6L… give us something with similar separation as the 1500… i.e. 6.2L vs. 5.3L), 8,000lb+ tow rating, 8 speed, 4hi/low & awd, push button start… something GM seems afraid of for some unknown reason, magnetic ride suspension, ride height control (auto drop at speed and 3″ lift for off-road), power running boards, power folding and extending mirrors, upgraded stereo with subwoofer, heated and ventilated seats and a real lane departure system vs. a lame seat vibration system. For all this, I’ll pay 99% of the price of a 1500 Denali and enjoy driving it 300% more!
All that and additional info in the HUD. I have that in my Acdia and love it.
I think the 5.3L engine with 8-speed automatic, 20 “wheels with Magnetic Ride Control, tail lights would be good choices for Denali version.
On the engine would 50hp more and 114 foot pounds of torque more given the lower weight of the Canyon would be a very good power increase.