ALL-NEW 2017 GMC ACADIA

DETROIT – GMC today introduced the all-new 2017 Acadia – a reimagined crossover aimed at the heart of the midsize segment, designed to offer great versatility and refinement, with more advanced safety technologies.

The new Acadia offers more-efficient powertrains, while continuing to offer three rows of seating on most models. The premium Acadia Denali returns, along with a new All Terrain model offering enhanced off-road capability.

“GMC is a strong, growing premium brand and the Acadia is a cornerstone of our success story,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “The all-new Acadia leverages GMC’s proven SUV experience to take on and shake up one of the largest vehicle segments, with a strong blend of design, technology and capability.”

The new Acadia goes on sale this spring, almost a decade after its original introduction, and coming off of its strongest sales year ever in 2015 with 96,393 deliveries.

“Typically, a vehicle’s sales can be illustrated on a bell curve during its lifecycle, but the Acadia’s success has defied convention with impressive sustainability,” said Aldred. “It’s a shining example of GMC’s momentum and we’re confident it will grow with the new Acadia.”

New size, bigger advantages
The strategic re-scoping of the 2017 Acadia offers customers a midsize crossover positioned between the compact Terrain and full-size Yukon. Depending on the model, it is available with five-, six- or seven-passenger seating, while offering greater maneuverability than the first-generation model.

“The new Acadia captures a greater feeling of refinement, in everything from the responsive feeling behind the wheel to the way passengers interact with its intuitive features,” said Rick Spina, executive chief engineer for compact and crossover SUVs at General Motors. “It’s a vehicle that offers the functionality Acadia is known for, while delivering big advantages and balance to customers’ everyday lives.”

The new Acadia is 700 pounds lighter than the current model, which pays dividends at the gas pump. A new, 2.5L engine is standard, offering an estimated 28 mpg on the highway for FWD models (EPA estimate not yet available; estimate is based on GM testing). City fuel economy offered is GM-estimated at 22 mpg (FWD) and is bolstered by GMC’s first application of Stop/Start technology, which enhances efficiency in stop-and-go driving.

A new, available 3.6L V-6 engine is more powerful and efficient than the current model, while offering 4,000 pounds estimated trailering capability (with the available towing package). It is GM-estimated at 310 horsepower (231 kW) and 25 mpg highway (FWD models – EPA estimate not available).

Both of the Acadia’s new engines feature direct injection and variable valve timing, and both are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions and an electronically controlled drive mode selector.

Legacy of functionality and spaciousness
The 2017 Acadia builds on a legacy of intuitive functionality, with new features such as a split-folding second-row seat that improves on the original Smart Slide feature of the current model. It offers greater flexibility, including the capability of the curbside seat sliding and tilting forward, even with a forward-facing child seat in place, while the driver-side section tips and slides forward for easier access to the third row.

The 50/50-split third-row seat folds flat for a completely flat load floor behind the second row and when the second row is also folded, there’s 79 cubic feet (2,237 liters) of cargo room. Levers at the rear of the vehicle make it easier to fold the second- and third-row seats.

Additional solutions range from simple to technologically advanced. The rear of the center console, for example, features a unique pull-out storage drawer. It is accessible to rear-seat passengers and allows items such as electronic devices and small toys to be stored out of sight, for greater security and reduced clutter.

There’s also a new, standard rear seat alert that can remind the driver when an item may have been left in the second- and third-row seats. Additionally, all three rows offer USB charge ports for compatible electronic devices.

Design evolution
The new Acadia offers a greater emphasis on refinement, while remaining instantly recognizable with an evolution of the vehicle’s signature, professional grade design cues such as a chrome-trimmed grille, squared off and flared wheel arches and wraparound rear side windows with dark D-pillars.

“It’s a confident design influenced by extensive customer input,” said Helen Emsley, executive director, Global GMC Design and User Experience. “The original Acadia was very truck-inspired, but the new model has a decidedly SUV influence conveyed in sculptural details, softened corners and a sleeker windshield angle.”

New dimensional grilles and wraparound headlamps – HID lamps on Denali and halogen projectors on other models – reinforce the confident, refined appearance, while standard LED signature lighting on all models reflect GMC’s premium attributes. Complementing C-shape rear lighting graphics add a cohesive detail to the design.

Premium cues distinguish the Acadia Denali. Like all Denali models, it features a dimensional chrome grille, along with integrated chrome side trim, chrome-accented door handles, a chrome lower-rear fascia and specific six-spoke wheels.

Inside, all Acadia trim levels feature unique interior color and trim combinations and incorporate authentic aluminum trim.

Latest safety and connectivity technologies
As a contemporary crossover designed for families on the go, the 2017 Acadia offers the latest active safety features to protect them, as well as the latest technologies to keep them connected.

The active safety features are designed to help make drivers more aware of their surroundings and potential crash situations. They are available depending on the model and include:

• New Front Pedestrian Braking
• New Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking (standard on SLT-2 and Denali)
• New Forward Automatic Braking (available on Denali)
• New Following Distance Indicator
• New IntelliBeam automatic headlamp high-beam control
• New Surround Vision camera system
• New Safety Alert Seat
• Forward Collision Alert
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• Front and Rear Parking Assist.

An available Tow Vision Trailering system helps make hitching easier by employing a rear-vision camera, with dynamic guidelines, to help line up the Acadia’s hitch with the trailer, as well as offering views of the trailer while driving.

And when it comes to connectivity, the Acadia is plugged in with available phone integration technology through GMC’s available IntelliLink system. It offers support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to connect to some of the features smartphone users rely on most. (Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple and Google and require a compatible smartphone and adherence to data plan rates, terms and privacy statements.)

Additionally, an available OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.

New foundation and driving dynamics
Built on a new, lighter body structure, the 2017 Acadia’s driving dynamics are more responsive, while its shorter length and narrower width enable greater maneuverability, for easier turning in parking decks and easier parking in home garages.

	Wheelbase (in / mm)	Length (in / mm)	Width (in / mm)	Height (in / mm)	Turning radius (ft / M)	Curb weight (lb / kg)
2017 Acadia	112.5 / 2857	193.6 / 4917	75.4 / 1916	68.7 / 1745 (w/o mast, w/ roof rack)	38.7 / 11.8	3956 / 1794 (est. – FWD)
2016 Acadia	118.9 / 3021	200.8 / 5101	78.9 / 2003	72.6 / 1844 (w/o mast, w/ roof rack)	40.4 / 12.3	4656 / 2112 (FWD)

The body structure incorporates press-hardened, high-strength steels, which allowed thinner components in some areas offering comparable or better crash performance than conventional materials. They also help reduce the base curb weight by 700 pounds (318 kg), compared to the current model.

New splayed front frame rails also contribute to crashworthiness. They flare outward to provide effective folding and crushing performance during small overlap frontal crash situations.

The new Acadia retains a front-drive layout with available all-wheel drive. All models feature a new drive mode selector, which allows the driver to alter chassis and powertrain attributes to suit a variety of driving conditions. Front-drive models offer Normal (2×4), Snow, Sport and Trailer/Tow modes, while AWD models offer 2×4 (AWD disconnect), 4×4, Sport, Off Road and Trailer/Tow modes.

The AWD disconnect mode effectively disconnects the rear axle from the drive system to save fuel. On-demand AWD capability can be reapplied on the go by switching the drive mode selector to 4×4 mode.

Additional chassis and driving dynamics features include:

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Five-link rear suspension
• Rack-mounted electric power steering system
• Four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife rotors
• Electronic park brake
• Available electronically controlled continuous damping system.

All Terrain
The new All Terrain model matches distinctive design elements with enhanced off-road-driving ability.

At the heart of the Acadia All Terrain’s capability is an advanced AWD system with Active Twin Clutch, which optimizes traction for every condition it encounters. And while it is engineered for optimal performance in wet, snowy and icy conditions, it also provides enhanced stability in dry conditions.

It also has a specific All Terrain mode in place of the Off Road mode on the drive mode selector, which works with the model’s exclusive AWD system to offer enhanced hill-climb capability.

All Terrain models are distinguished from the rest of the Acadia lineup with a body-color grille surround, black chrome trim and unique wheels. Inside is exclusive five-passenger seating, dynamic All Terrain interior accents and covered storage bins in the rear cargo floor in place of a third-row seat.

Manufacturing
The 2017 GMC Acadia will be produced at General Motors’ Spring Hill (Tenn.) assembly facility, with globally sourced parts.

2017 GMC ACADIA STARTING AT $29,995

DETROIT – GMC announced today pricing for the all-new 2017 Acadia will start at $29,995 when it goes on sale this spring.

The base price is $1,905 less than the 2016 base model and the new Acadia offers more standard equipment, including a new IntelliLink system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (User interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone and data plan rates apply.)

It also offers an expanded range of active safety features, including Front Pedestrian Braking, Safety Alert Seat and the Surround Vision camera system.

“Acadia takes GMC’s proven SUV experience to the heart of the midsize crossover segment with a compelling package of great design, the latest technologies and the brand’s signature capability,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “Building on the momentum of 2015’s record sales, it will introduce Acadia to a new generation of customers.”

The new Acadia is 700 pounds lighter than the 2016 model and offers three rows of seating on most models. The premium Acadia Denali returns, along with a new All Terrain model offering enhanced off-road capability.

The lineup and starting at MSRPs include:

• Acadia SL FWD – $29,995
• Acadia SLE FWD – $33,375
• Acadia SLE AWD – $35,375
• Acadia SLT FWD – $39,275
• Acadia SLT AWD – $42,375
• Acadia All Terrain AWD – $40,040
• Acadia Denali FWD – $45,845
• Acadia Denali AWD – $47,845

The All Terrain model features an advanced AWD system with Active Twin Clutch. An SLE-based All Terrain model will be offered Spring 2016.

A new, 2.5L engine is standard and expected to offer an estimated 28 mpg highway for FWD models (Official EPA estimates not yet available. Fuel economy estimate based on GM testing.). City fuel economy offered is GM-estimated at 22 mpg (FWD) and is bolstered with Stop/Start technology, which enhances efficiency in stop-and-go driving.

There’s also an available 3.6L V-6 engine that is more powerful and efficient than the 2016 model, while offering 4,000 pounds estimated trailering capability (with the available towing package). It is GM-estimated at 310 horsepower (231 kW) and expected to offer 25 mpg highway (FWD models – EPA estimates not yet available).

As a contemporary crossover designed for families on the go, the 2017 Acadia offers the latest active safety features. They’re designed to help drivers avoid potential crash situations. They are available depending on the model and include:

• New Front Pedestrian Braking
• New Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking (standard on SLT-2 and Denali)
• New Forward Automatic Braking (available on Denali)
• New Following Distance Indicator
• New IntelliBeam automatic headlamp high-beam control
• New Surround Vision camera system
• New Safety Alert Seat
• New Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• New Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• New Front and Rear Parking Assist
• Forward Collision Alert

There’s also a new, standard rear seat alert on all models that can remind drivers about items left in the second- and third-row seats.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices include the destination charge of $925, but tax, title, license, dealer fees, and optional equipment are extra.

 

ACADIA’S REAR SEAT REMINDER CAN HELP REMIND PARENTS TO CHECK THE BACK SEAT

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, heatstroke was the leading cause of non-crash vehicle-related fatalities for children age 14 and younger.

That tragic fact wasn’t lost on the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia development team. Under certain conditions, the new Rear Seat Reminder1 feature, which is standard on the all-new 2017 Acadia, can help remind parents to check the back seat before leaving the vehicle.

“Acadia’s Rear Seat Reminder is a simple feature designed to do exactly what its name suggests,” says John Capp, director of General Motors’ Global Vehicle Safety Group. “While it does not detect the presence of rear-seat passengers or child seats, under certain conditions it can provide a simple, extra reminder to drivers to take another look inside their vehicle.”

The Rear Seat Reminder does not actually detect objects in the rear seat. It works by monitoring Acadia’s rear doors. If either rear door is opened and closed within ten minutes before the vehicle is started, or if they are opened and closed while the vehicle is running, the feature is intended to activate.

Once the vehicle is switched off, Acadia is designed to sound five audible chimes and display a visual message within the instrument cluster’s Driver Information Center, which can help remind the driver to take a look at the rear seat before departing.

The feature is active only once each time the vehicle is turned on and off, and would require re-activation on a second trip. Additionally, under some circumstances, the system may activate even though nothing is in the rear seat. For example, if a child were dropped off at school without the vehicle being turned off, the Rear Seat Reminder would still be activated.

It is very important that the driver always checks the rear seat before exiting the vehicle.

Rear Seat Reminder is one of several new features incorporated into the all-new 2017 Acadia that were designed with families in mind.

“Many members of Acadia’s development and engineering team are also parents,” Capp says. “Our experiences, along with feedback from customers with children of their own, pushed us to think of ways we could make the new Acadia even more family-focused.”

The all-new 2017 GMC Acadia goes on sale in Spring of 2016. For more information on the all-new Acadia,

The 2017 Acadia Limited does not feature Rear Seat Reminder.