2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid & Yukon Denali Hybrid

(from GM Press Release)  2011 GMC YUKON HYBRID LINEUP OFFERS 33 PERCENT GREATER CITY FUEL ECONOMY

Unique in the market, the GMC Yukon Hybrid and Yukon Denali Hybrid deliver exceptional fuel economy – an estimated 20 mpg in the city – with full-size SUV capability. The vehicles seat up to eight and can tow up to 6,200 pounds (2,812 kg). Electric drive is enabled up to 30 mph (45 km/h), saving fuel even when towing a trailer.

Yukon Hybrid models are built on GM’s full-size SUV platform, which incorporates features such as a fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a premium interior that bolsters the vehicle’s comfort, quality and capability. Wide front and rear tracks enhance handling and lower the center of gravity for a more confident road feel.

Standard safety features include StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation technology and front seat-mounted side air bags.

Minimal changes greet the Yukon Hybrid lineup for 2011. For expanded cell phone compatibility and more robust voice recognition, OnStar is upgraded to Generation 9.0, with Automatic Crash Response. There are also two new exterior colors: Mocha Steel Metallic and Carbon Black Metallic.

Yukon Denali Hybrid

The Yukon Denali Hybrid rides on unique, 22-inch, eight-spoke, flangeless chrome wheels that make a stylish Denali appearance statement.

Inside, designers filled the cabin – available in Ebony or Cashmere – with luxurious amenities such as standard 12-way power, heated/cooled leather-appointed perforated front seating and heated, second-row, leather-appointed bench seating. Available options on this fully equipped vehicle are a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment DVD system and side blind zone alert sensing system and a theft-deterrent steering wheel.

Enhanced connectivity includes standard OnStar with Directions & Connections and Turn-by-Turn Navigation, navigation radio with rear camera system, a Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System and three years of real-time XM NavTraffic.

A comprehensive safety package of crashworthiness and crash-avoidance features includes front- and side-impact air bags, anti-lock brakes and StabiliTrak with traction control. The Yukon Denali Hybrid also is equipped with GM’s MagnaRide suspension, the first application of this advanced technology in a Yukon. MagnaRide uses magnetic particles in the shock absorber fluid to adjust the damping rate of the shock absorbers – based on road conditions and vehicle dynamics – to help keep tires in contact with the road.

Patented, industry-leading hybrid technology

The Yukon Hybrid’s fuel-saving performance is derived from GM’s advanced Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) and 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System (ESS), which work with the standard 6.0L V-8 gasoline engine with Active Fuel Management (AFM) and late intake valve closing (LIVC) technology. GM’s hybrid technology system enables the Yukon to launch and drive up to 27 mph (43 km/h) on electricity alone and allows the Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine to operate in its more economical V-4 mode for longer periods.

As part of the vehicle’s emission control system, the ESS is warranted for eight years/100,000 miles as part of the vehicle’s emission control system.

In the Yukon Hybrid and Yukon Denali Hybrid, the hybrid system itself generates the electricity to propel the vehicle. When the brakes are applied or the vehicle is coasting, the electric motors in the hybrid system create electricity and store it in the 300-volt battery. This electricity helps move the vehicle.

First introduced on the 2008 Yukon Hybrid, the two-mode hybrid system provides seamless, dependable power on demand in an efficient package. In fact, its electric motor is less than half the size of those in single-mode hybrid systems. This technology was developed for and is still used in hybrid transit buses in more than 70 North American and European cities. Scaled down for use in passenger vehicles, the two-mode system delivers fuel savings where it is needed most – in vehicles with high levels of capability. The two-mode system is a core part of GM’s energy diversity efforts, centered on reducing dependence on petroleum, improving fuel economy, reducing emissions and minimizing the automobile’s impact on the environment.

Quiet and smooth

Integration of the hybrid system on the Yukon is seamless – the battery pack is beneath the second-row seat – and delivers a quiet driving experience. Contributors to this include: