Automotive Design and Production

MAY 2014

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37 p The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. q The 2015 GMC Yukon Denali and Yukon XL. When you're engineering an all-new full-size SUV and you pretty much own the market, you want to make sure that the new one is solid and appealing. This is the situation that Jef Luke, executive chief engineer, Full and Mid-Size Trucks, General Motors, and his team faced when developing the all new Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. So speaking to the strength of the SUVs, he points to the extensive use of high- and ultra-high-strength steels that are used to construct the vehicles: • 19% <140 MPa • 29% 180-300 MPa • 20% 300-400 MPa • 10% 400-500 MPa • 17% 500-1,000 MPa • 5% 1,000+ MPa Does this mean that the SUVs are all- steel, something that is now thought to be not so au courant? No, Luke points out that the hood and tailgate are aluminum, as are suspension components including the forged upper and cast lower control arms and steering knuckles. He says that the liftgate is a particularly interesting component. It is actually two pieces that are robotically brazed with the seam running horizon- tally across the back, appearing to be more of a design element than a joint. 37 0514ADP FEATURE SUV.indd 37 4/22/14 2:32 PM

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