Ever since Hyundai unveiled the Santa Cruz concept, fans have been clamoring for a production version. Their pleas are about to be answered but, twelve years earlier, GMC introduced the stylish Denali XT concept at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show.
Actually, to be precise, it was the design work of GM’s now defunct Holden brand in Australia and was partially inspired by the Crewman, which was a four-door pickup truck variant of the Commodore. The Denali was considered by some at the time as the spiritual successor to the Caballero (or Chevrolet El Camino).
Like the Santa Cruz and Honda Ridgeline, the Denali XT was a so-called Sport Utility Truck which featured unibody construction rather than a more traditional body-on-frame design.
While the Denali XT wouldn’t have been any competition for ‘proper’ pickups like the Canyon, it featured a futuristic design and the promise of a more comfortable ride. Starting with the former, the truck had a rounded front fascia with a prominent Denali grille which was flanked by slender LED headlights.
Moving further back, there were bulging fender flares and streamlined bodywork. The concept also had flush-mounted door handles, a four-tailpipe exhaust system and massive 23-inch wheels.
While the truck’s bed was relatively short, the concept was equipped with a midgate similar to the one used on the Chevrolet Avalanche. This enabled part of the rear bed to fold down and provide access to the cabin, allowing for the transport of longer items.
Speaking of the four-seat interior, it was a stylish place to be as the cabin was wrapped in brown leather and adorned with metal accents. The concept also featured an old-school infotainment with red displays like something out of a Terminator movie.
While most unibody trucks have modest engines, the Denali XT had 326 hp (243 kW / 331 PS) thanks to its 4.9-liter V8. To help save fuel, the concept used cylinder deactivation technology and a two-mode hybrid system which could power the model exclusively on electricity at speeds up to 30 mph (48 km/h). Despite being a bit of a powerhouse, the model’s unibody architecture limited its towing capacity to just 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg).
While we think the Denali XT is pretty cool, sport utility trucks have been about as popular as the coronavirus. In the United States, Honda Ridgeline sales peaked at 50,193 units in 2006 and have been hovering around the 33,000 mark for the past three years. That being said, GMC also sells about 33,000 Canyons annually.