GMC Delivers On Professional Promise With Trucks Exceeding Expectations

DETROIT - GMC is expanding its Professional Grade lineup with a series of uniquely designed and competitively superior trucks for 2002 and beyond.

"Our lineup of professional grade products with superior capabilities is growing year by year," said Lynn Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager. "What began with our light-duty Sierra pickup in 1999 and has continued through to our latest entry, the all-new Envoy, will continue in 2002 and beyond."

This fall, GMC highlights Professional Grade with a new Sierra Denali, featuring the amazing control of the full-size truck industry's first-ever four-wheel-steering system.

"The Denali name has become synonymous with the pinnacle of GMC models," said Myers. This fall, the much-heralded Sierra C3 moves to an unprecedented place in the truck industry with the introduction of four-wheel-steering. With such a phenomenal feature in place, it was only natural for Sierra C3 to evolve to Sierra Denali.

The 2002 model year also brings other new Sierra models to market including: the Sierra Professional, providing the ultimate in work capability with its ability to be turned into a mobile office; and alternative fuel models which can be ordered either with bi-fuel capability or as a dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle.

In sport utility vehicles for 2002, an all-new five-passenger Envoy, with segment-superior performance and comfort, includes the industry's first factory-installed DVD Rear-Seat Entertainment system, and Yukon models powered by the 285-hp 5.3-liter V8 engine are capable of running on any combination of conventional gasoline and ethanol (E85) as a standard feature.

Early 2003 model entries include two, all-new medium-duty truck families with amazing best-in-class ride, handling, comfort and control and sufficient power and strength to compete even in the lower end of the Class 8 heavy-duty truck market.

In the 2004 model year, GMC will introduce yet another environmentally-friendly vehicle in the form of Parallel Hybrid Truck technology on Sierra, dramatically improving fuel economy and increasing the truck's commercial and recreational versatility.

An exclusive midsize sport utility truck is also on the horizon for GMC in a couple of years, with all new and unique capabilities in this important segment.

In addition to the unique capabilities of GMC trucks, consumers will see more design inspiration from the Terradyne Concept Truck - introduced at the 2000 North American International Auto Show -- in new GMC models. The all-new Envoy is a good example of this inspiration with its powerful front end, sharply-defined fenders and broad shoulders.