Perhaps bigger news is that this will be the first Super Cruise application to support significant towing, at least next to the upcoming GMC Hummer. Details were not provided as to what specific engineering enhancements were required to allow incorporation of this technology, but it undoubtedly involves tapping into the stability-control system’s trailer-sway mitigation circuitry, plus sensors that detect trailer length for blind-spot monitoring. This will be especially crucial if, as expected, the system incorporates assisted, computer-executed lane changing as the version in the 2021 Escalade does.
As to why the application is coming to the pickup trucks ahead of the recently renewed full-size 2021 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, which continue to sell with an extremely rich mix of the Cadillac-rivaling Denali trim grade, officials cited program timing, but we expect there was a marketing impetus to allow Cadillac to reserve that feature for the Escalade. They also noted that the fact that 80 percent of Sierra customers tow (fewer full-size SUV owners tow, and less frequently) also made that function more attractive to Sierra buyers.
As in all other applications of the technology, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Super Cruise will rely on a driver attention system involving infrared lights to ensure the driver’s attention remains focused forward, while precision lidar and map data works in conjunction with real-time camera information and input from other, sensors and GPS to provide semi-autonomous driving on more than 200,000 miles of highways across the USA, the vehicle steering, braking, and accelerating on its own.
Pricing will be released closer to production, and we anticipate that it will remain an option.
