2015 Canadian Truck King: Sierra Denali 3500HD

GMC Sierra HD tows and hauls the heaviest load with unmatched comfort and technology

2014-09-29

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Oshawa, Ontario (Monday, September 29, 2014) – After two days of competition and newly added drag strip testing, the 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD was crowned Canada’s Truck King for 2015, outperforming the Ford 350 and Ram 3500.

“Being recognized as the Canadian Truck King demonstrates that Sierra HD trucks are engineered without compromise, to deliver the real world capabilities today’s heavy-duty truck customers demand,” said Mike Speranzini, brand director, GMC in Canada. “The Sierra HDs’ new bold styling and an all-new refined interior provide the comfort and purposeful technology GMC is known for.”

For the 2015 model year, three major HD pickup trucks were tested in a contest of strength and road-ability. Ford, Ram and GMC diesel-powered fifth-wheel equipped trucks competed for the Canadian Truck King crown in and around London, ON. Over two days, five journalist judges drove more than 2,500 test kilometers. The trucks towed 15,000 lbs RV trailers, hauled two tons of shingles as payload, and even ran a timed quarter-mile drag strip, all while their operating systems were evaluated to determine real world capabilities and identify the best overall HD pickup for the coming model year.

The 2015 Sierra Denali 3500 HD matches do-it-all capability with an exclusive package of design and upscale interior amenities and is powered by the Duramax 6.6L turbo-diesel engine and Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission powertrain combination. Highlights of the Duramax diesel include:

397 horsepower (296 kW) at 3,000 rpm
765 lb.-ft. of torque (1,037 Nm) at 1,600 rpm
High-pressure (30,000 psi/2,000 bar) Piezo-actuated fuel system for greater fuel efficiency, improved performance and reduced emissions
Exhaust brake system that enables controlled vehicle slowdown on downhill grades without actuating the brakes
Selective catalytic reduction after-treatment system using diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injection to provide the best overall diesel characteristics and performance.

The Sierra Denali 3500HD also boasts:

Best-in-class maximum payload of 3,508 kilograms (7,374 lbs)
Best-in-class conventional towing capacity of 8,890 kilograms (19,600 lbs)
Fully-boxed, high-strength-steel frame
Smart exhaust brake feature that provides greater control on grades and reduced brake pad wear
Enhanced cooling airflow, which enables the Duramax turbo diesel engine to better maintain full power, even under heavy loads and high ambient temperatures
An array of control features, including trailer sway control, integrated trailer brake control, hill start assist, automatic grade braking, intelligent brake assist and larger brakes.
CornerStep rear bumper, EZ Lift and Lower tailgate, standard upper tie-downs and other features that make cargo handling easier
Latest-generation IntelliLink infotainment system, which offers a variety of connectivity options for devices of all types and available navigation

About Truck King Challenge

The Canadian Truck King Challenge is an annual testing event that was conceived by, and owned solely by, Howard J Elmer, Canadian automotive journalist and truck industry expert. Started in 2006 the mandate of the event was (and is) to be a truly non-partisan truck-only event involving all the brands and evaluated by a knowledgeable, recognizable group of automotive journalists. As such, testing involves real-world challenges, like towing, payload evaluation, timed drag strip, design comments, mechanical review and fuel consumption results. This event is not a beauty contest. It has winners and losers, and its results are presented to the manufacturers and buying public alike – unedited and unvarnished. Over the past eight years the Canadian Truck King Challenge has built significant credibility with Canadian truck consumers and is now a much anticipated fall event.

About GMC in Canada

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry’s healthiest brands. Innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles and the brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. The 2014 Sierra half-ton pickup boasts all-new powertrains and design, and the Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks ever built by GMC. Every retail GMC model, including Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs, is now available in Denali luxury trim. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.gm.ca, on Twitter at @GMCCanada or at http://www.facebook.com/gmccanada.

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