[MUSIC]
When it comes to profits in the car business, trucks are king.
And when it comes to General Motors, its GMC's Denali line that brings home the most bacon.
In fact, your average Denali not only sells for higher than the average price of a Cadillac, it also bests Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.
That means that this 2019 Sierra 1500 Denali isn't just a show pony or a cash cow, it's the whole damn farm.
If you were expecting the new Sierra to look like Chevy's latest Silverado with a little bit more frosting, you're on trend but you're also selling it short.
Plus if you dip beneath the Denali's skin, there's actually a lot more separation going on here than in previous generations.
Options, particularly in terms of tech, but more on that in a minute.
Just look at all that down-home chrome.
I'm not sure I've ever seen more shiny stuff on a pickup truck.
From that massive and surprisingly detailed grill to those bracket-shaped LED running lights, this thing means business.
The Sierra Denali may be a light-duty truck But it's gonna look a lot like a heavy duty rig bearing down on rearview mirrors.
Plus there's plenty of musculature along the body sides to show off a planted stance and wheels that are up to 22 inches.
You know, because those are important on a work truck.
As you'd expect, they'll be both 5.3 and 6.2 liter V8s and they can run on anywhere between 1 and 8 cylinders depending on load condition.
A three-liter diesel is also on the way, and both it and the larger of the two gas V-8's are paired to ten-speed automatics.
Power outputs, towing, and payload rating are all sadly TBD.
But I promised you a lot more tech, right?
So how's this?
Exclusively on the top-trim Denali's the bed is going to be made of, get this Carbon fiber, carbon fiber.
GM says the new box which they're calling Carbon Pro shaves off 62 pounds, while still offering best in class room and durability.
Combined with new aluminum swing panels like the doors, hood and tailgate.
this 2019 is up to 360 pounds lighter than today's model.
And speaking of tailgates let's get a load of this thing.
You've seen them with foldout steps and one set swing from both the bottom and the side.
But you've never seen anything like this.
Standard on the SLT and Denali the multi-Pro tailgate is a freaking Swiss Army knife.
It has six different functions including a backstop for longer cargo.
A full down mode to let you get closer to the bed for easier loading, a swing-down step, and an inner tailgate for enhanced second-tier loading.
Plus, there's even a full down workstation mode.
Did I mention it's also power-actuated from the key fob?
The only thing that's missing is a built-in coffee maker Or maybe a water cooler.
I am guessing we will see those at the mid-cycle refresh.
Look there is a lot going on inside too.
Predictably there is more dead cow inside than Omaha steaks warehouse.
But there is also open format wood with dark finish aluminum trim.
Plus there is available segment first like a multicolored head up display, a rearview camera mirror and a trailing system that includes an app.
Today's Sierra 1500 Denali is already really expensive.
It starts at around 53 grand, and it's easy to option up one right into the 60s.
I'm guessing that, with all this new gear for 2019, GM's going to ask for an even thicker fistful of dollars.
We'll know more as it gets closer to this fall's on sale date.
