GMC Acadia
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The GMC Acadia (and the similar Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook ) is a crossover SUV which will be launched in late 2006 for the 2007 model year The three vehicles will share the new GM Lambda platform.
The Acadia will augment GMC with an entry level truck-like SUV and will become the first unibody product from the marque. It will also be GMC's first front-wheel drive vehicle. The Acadia will feature seating for eight, generous interior space, and either front or all-wheel drive. The Acadia will fill an entry level nitch, with an amazing 4,500 (2,042 kg) LBS Towing capacity.
Underneath the Acadia
The 2007 Acadia will ride on a 118.9-inch (3020.7 mm) wheelbase and offer a wide 67.28-inch (1709 mm) front/rear tracks that will offer a lower ride height that hopes to make a crossover that is easy to drive with a smooth ride and handeling. The suspension is independent front and rear, the front featuring a MacPherson strut design, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and aluminum knuckles. The rear suspension uses a new "H" Linked design, that is more compact and should result in a better ride.
Steering in the Acadia will be power-assisted rack-and-pinion on standard models, but they can be optioned with a variable-effort system as well. Putting power to the ground will be standard 18-inch wheels and tires, as 19 inch options will be available as well. As with most modern GM vehicles, four wheel disc brakes with ABS will be standard fare, and more standard safety features (not specified) will be included as well.
Powering the Acadia
The GMC Acadia will use the same LY7 V6 that can be seen in the Cadillac, Buick and Saturn lineups. This particular engine has been co-developed by GM engineers in Australia , Germany , Sweden and North America. In the Acadia, the engine will produce 267 horsepower (199 kW) and 247 lb.-ft. of torque (335 Nm). The Acadia will also use the new Hydra-Matic 6T75 6-speed automatic, offering good city and highway fuel economy match with brisk acceleration when needed. According to GMC, the 6T75 will add up to 8 percent improved performance and up to 4 percent improved fuel economy when compared with current front-wheel-drive four-speed automatics offered in various GM models.
Safety in the Acadia
Because of the Acadia's car-like build type, it will offer a lower center of gravity that will reduce the risk of rollover accidents. Much of the Acadia's structure is reinforced with high-strength steel, including a steel cross-car beam welded across the floor between the B-pillars.
The Acadia will have six different airbags equipped in the vehicle; two dual-stage frontal air bags, for the driver and front passenger, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row and two head curtain side impact air bags that cover all three seating rows. Similar to the Volvo XC90, the GMC Acadia will have a detection system on-board that will deploy various airbags if a rollover is detected.
Additionally, the GMC Acadia will have a standard OnStar system, now in its 7th generation. The new OnStar system now packs a feature in which after a crash has been detected, OnStar will be notified so that they can automatically contact necessary emergency services.
Inside the Acadia
The Acadia will feature available 3-row, 7- or 8-passenger seating. Inside, the Acadia features more contemporary trim than the Outlook, including chrome and satin nickel textures and a wider variety of two-toned interior colors. A head-up display similer to those found in the Cadillac XLR, Chevrolet Corvette, and the late Pontiac Bonneville is one of the options exclusive to the Acadia thus far.
Trivia
The Lambda vehicles will be built in the Delta Township Car Assembly plant near Lansing, Michigan.
References
- [Official Acadia Information, Images, and Discussion] at Cheers and Gears
- [GMCAcadia.org] Enthusiast/Future Owner Forum
- [2007 GMC Acadia] Offical Annoucement on Leftlanenews.com
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