Automotive Design and Production

MAY 2014

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cruise control, rear cross-trafc alert, and more. Luke points out full-size SUVs are targets of the criminal element. (Perhaps there is an awareness of the high-income demographic for the vehicles.) So they've deployed sensors on the inside of the vehicles as part of an available security system. There are sensors in the overhead console that detect interior motion. There are glass breakage sensors. There is a vertical movement sensor (e.g., should the system be armed and some miscreants jack up the car to steal the 18-, 20- or 22-in. wheels; the alarm is activated). Because sensors can be defeated by having their power source eliminated (as in the battery being disconnected), this system uses a separate battery to power the sensors and the alarms. And on a more mechanical front, they've installed door shields in the driver's door to prevent the use of a "slim jim" device to open it. Although these vehicles are sizeable, Luke says that one of the issues they determined that people had with them was getting into and out of the rear doors, especially in instances when they are accessing the third row. So they've reduced the front doors in size and increased the size of the rear doors; they moved the B-pillar forward and the C-pillar rearward. Consequently, there is improved ingress and egress. Another part of the SUV functionality is that of cargo carrying. The Suburban and Yukon XL ofer 121.1-ft 3 behind the frst row and the Tahoe and the Yukon 94.7-ft 3 . But again, the issue, like that of the doors, is ease of use. So to facilitate the cargo capacity, no longer is the third row seat removed from the vehicle, but it (and the second row) simply fold fat. Roger McCormack, GMC marketing director, makes a salient point about the full-size SUV segment: the average age of one on the road right now is 11 years old. Which means that now is probably a good time for GM to be launching a suite of new SUVs. p The SUVs feature an aluminum liftgate that is fabricated from two panels. A brazing process is used to join the two pieces. AD&P; > May 2014 > FEATURE > Chevy & GMC & the Continuing Relevance of Full-Size SUVs > Gary S. Vasilash > gsv@autofeldguide.com 40 0514ADP FEATURE SUV.indd 40 4/22/14 2:35 PM

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