GMC expands line-up with first crossover: Acadia On Sale

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Next year will be the breakout year for GMC, General Motors executives predict.

This month, the brand's first crossover, the Acadia, joins two redesigned high-volume, high-profit vehicles - the Yukon full-sized SUV and the Sierra pickup - in a refreshed, expanded GMC lineup.

"Expect to see big things from us this year and really feel like GMC has an all-new portfolio," John Larson, head of Buick-Pontiac-GMC, said at a press event here.

The standard Acadia went on sale this month and starts at $29,990, including shipping. It's one of the first vehicles on GM's new Lambda platform and is meant to drive like a car but provide the utility of an SUV.

Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman of global product development, says, "GMC doesn't do cars; it does trucks only." The Acadia expands GMC's range, says Lutz.

"This is GMC's first crossover vehicle," he says. "It's their first truck-type vehicle that's on a unitized architecture."

The basics: The Acadia is manufactured in the Lansing Delta plant near Lansing, Mich. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine comes standard on the 2007 Acadia. It is rated at 275 hp and 251 pounds-feet of torque. The Acadia can tow as much as 4,500 pounds.

The Acadia's engine is backed by GM's new Hydra-Matic 6T75 six-speed automatic transmission, which will help it compete on fuel economy.

The front-wheel-drive model gets 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive model gets 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

The Acadia has a 118.9-inch wheelbase and 67.28-inch-wide front and rear tracks. That combination lowers the center of gravity and enables a smooth, stable ride.

"Our goal was to balance size, capability and design," said Anna Kretz, GM's vehicle line executive who worked on the Acadia.

The design: The Acadia has sleek lines and a low stance. Because of this, the vehicle did not need running boards, Kretz said.

The design is "traditional GMC," Lutz says. It's "muscular, stable and athletic with beautiful lines."

The Acadia seats seven or eight people with three rows. The rear suspension uses an isolated mounting system to reduce noise and vibration. GM says this enables the sharp handling that comes with an independent suspension, but with minimal floorpan intrusion. That helps the Acadia offer more passenger and cargo space.

The market: GM sees the Acadia competing against the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX crossovers and the Dodge Durango SUV, Lutz says. Larson said it is the first GMC vehicle likely to attract a 50-50 mix of male and female buyers.

Lutz declined to make sales projections. "With the Acadia, we expect a core brand for GMC," he said. "So in rough numbers, 70 to 75 percent of our volume at GMC will come from all-new products."

Compromises and shortcomings: GM chose to sacrifice some performance for space and utility, Kretz said when reporters noted that the MDX has a noticeably firmer suspension that prevents the body from leaning during a fast curve.

The skinny: Lutz says the Acadia is "as good as we know how to do right now. This is as good as it gets." But competitors such as the MDX and Pilot won't be dislodged easily.

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