Sierra 1500

Make
GMC
Segment
Sports Car

General Motors may have been beaten to the punch by Ford's F-150 Lightning, but the automotive giant is fighting back with a slew of electric pickup trucks. A Sierra 1500 EV was already teased late last year, but now it's the turn of the electric Denali variant. GMC has given us a glimpse of the luxury truck in a new video and, while brief, it previews what to expect.

The teased Denali EV retains the bluff, imposing front fascia employed by the ICE-powered Sierra 1500 and the 1500 EV, but has a few upmarket touches of its own. The distinctive headlight treatment remains, but the grille surround lighting is more prominent and sophisticated. The GMC logo itself benefits from illumination. Hopefully, this detail makes it to production.

Of course, the grille isn't really a grille. The blanked-off area is body-colored and flanked by slick-looking headlight clusters. Below, we can see three small vents positioned near the lights. We're not sure what their function is, but we're guessing it's merely an aesthetic flourish. On the lower parts of the front bumper, you'll note what appear to be auxiliary lamps.

As the Denali derivative, this isn't aimed at the F-150 Lightning Pro - that's what the entry-level Silverado EV is for. We anticipate this range-topper will take the fight to the F-150 Lightning Platinum, which currently has a price tag of $96,874. The Chevrolet Silverado EV RST will also play in this costly field, while the GMC Hummer EV will provide buyers with an even more upmarket alternative.

Below, we can see the slim, vertically-positioned LED taillights that look infinitely more modern than the current Sierra's design. On the tailgate, the Denali badge takes pride of place and will denote your status to road users. Of course, that's not the only reason people spring for the range-topper - it may be a truck, but Denali models are seriously luxurious.

The teaser video doesn't give us a glimpse of the cabin, but we do get a peek at the seats. Trimmed in black perforated leather, the pews look plush and should be a treat for the visual and tactile senses. We expect the cabin to mirror that of the Silverado EV, albeit with a few model-specific touches and details.

Based on a description found on GMC's website, it's clear to see the automaker holds the newcomer in high regard. "It's built to tower above everything you thought an electric truck could be. That's why it's the only EV that deserves the name Denali."

While the styling and interior will differ from its Silverado stablemate, we anticipate the pair will share electric setups.

As such, it's safe to assume the plush Denali will utilize the Silverado EV's most powerful configuration. There's up to 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque on tap, so the Denali would be a rapid pickup if equipped with this. Of course, less powerful derivatives will be introduced, with differing ranges and lower price tags.

So when can we expect GMC's electric luxury brute to be unveiled? Rather soon actually: the automaker will lift the lid on October 20, so keep your eyes peeled. Still, it will be some time before we see any traversing American roads. Two models will be introduced, with the First Edition Denali becoming available in early 2024. The regular Denali will arrive in the spring of 2024.

GMC has stressed that the former will only be available to customers who've gone through the reservation process, as it will likely be a limited edition model. We can expect the First Edition to have a host of unique goodies and styling details. Hopefully, it will even ship standard with the brilliant crabwalk feature, first seen on the Hummer pickup SUV.