2011 GMC Acadia Denali Introduced

DETROIT — The 2011 GMC Acadia Denali, a high-end trim level usually reserved for GMC SUVs, will arrive in showrooms in the third quarter of 2010, GM announced on Thursday. Pricing has not yet been announced.

"The decision to develop an Acadia Denali [crossover] was made quickly within the new GM in response to customer and dealer demand for a Denali version ever since the launch of the Acadia," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director, in a statement.

The Acadia Denali will be available in front- and all-wheel-drive models, as well as seven- and eight-passenger configurations. It is equipped with a 288-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is estimated at 17 mpg in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive model. Fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg in city driving and 23 mpg on the highway for the all-wheel-drive model, GM said.

Exterior details include unique lower front and rear fascias, high-intensity-discharge headlamps, body-color lower cladding and rocker moldings, body-color rear fascia and fender flares, Denali badges, dual chrome exhaust tips and 20-inch two-tone chrome-clad wheels.

The cabin gets perforated leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mahogany wood inserts, accent lighting, a rearview camera and other amenities.

Inside Line says: A smart move, since Denali has established itself as a strong name in the GMC family in the past 10 years. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent