This is it. It's called the GMC Denali XT Hybrid Concept Truck, and this unibody rear-wheel drive Australian professional grade car-truck action set to be unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show is making us excited in a way we haven't been since we saw the first episode of My Name Is Earl. And why shouldn't we be? Everyone knows the El Camino had a GMC version called the Sprint Caballero! GM, knowing of our love of all things car with a truck-bed allowed us, along with the fellow lovers of all things El Camino at PickupTruck.com, the opportunity to go behind the scenes in sunny Southern California for an exclusive with the design team and some one-of-a-kind photos of this unique Aussie import. When we accepted the invite to attend (at our own expense of course) we were expecting to see nothing more than a re-badged four-door Holden Crewman updated to the current VE architecture. Cool, but nothing more than what you'd expect from a leader in re-badging. Instead what we got was stunning, jaw-dropping and mind-blowing. So grab a shrimp off the Barbie above and settle in for the full story below the jump, mate!

Depending upon which automotive deity you worship before, you may have called it "Ranchero," "Caballero," "Sprint," "El Camino" or even the Flying Spaghetti Monster of truck-cars, "Justy." But whatever the name, they all hold a very special place in our heart. But until now our feverish hunger for a return to glory for this most unique automotive form factor was fed only by rumors and the occasional Honda Ridgeline. But while the U.S. market has seen a low tide of V8-powered, rear-wheel-dive, pickup-cars since the '60s, it's only because Australia has had wave upon wave holding the high tide of hoonage down under. While not wearing the proud badges of "El Camino" or "Ranchero," the Aussie truck-cars have still held fast to their roots, merging the fuel efficiencies and ride characteristics of a car platform with the utility of a truck bed — and then providing a high-powered V8 version just for the hoons.

But the history is just that — history. To start with, the Denali XT's design includes a new take on the standard GMC grille, adding a prominent, four-bar element to the large, red GMC logo and the Denali black-mesh background. Flared fenders accentuate a wide road stance, enhanced when the Denali XT is lowered on its air-adjustable suspension to improve aerodynamics. The 123.4-inch frame is accentuated by the ginormous 23-inch wheels and custom Kuhmo tires. But this concept isn't just a Commodore with fender flares, a pickup bed, and a new grille; it's a totally new shape, unlike anything else on the road — in Australia, this country or anywhere else in the world. True, when you first glance at it, you swear you're looking at something straight from the trash basket of Ralph Gilles. And yes, there's some styling in the head- and taillights that appears stolen directly from the R8 design studio. But would you complain if your girlfriend had eyes that looked like Natalie Portman's?

And the interior — meh — who cares about the interior, what about the truck bed? The Denali XT has a 4 1/2 foot long by 4 foot wide bed that can be extended to 6 feet with the Midgate dropped, and we're pretty sure makes it all the way to 8 feet with the dropped rear liftgate. As long as there's room for a thin twin-size mattress and a tattered Zarape blanket, we're happy.

Matching the tailgate "party" potential in back, and befitting the "professional grade" GMC moniker, the Denali XT is meant to be all business in the front — It has a two-mode Hybrid drivetrain with a direct-injection 4.9-liter V8 rated at 326 HP. It'll run on E85 and it has the neat little cylinder-deactivating Active Fuel Management doohickey found on the new GMT-900's. All of which is making GM claim this concept gets 50% greater fuel economy than any other small pickup trucks. This then, is not a reincarnation of the Caballero of old. This new concept can appeal to a slightly more cultured hoon; one who grills not just burgers 'n dogs, but fine seafood as well. Which overall, makes the Denail XT less Billy-Ray in a jean jacket and more Paul Hogan— in a tuxedo. We're thinking it's GM's way of putting the "business" of the truck-car out front first as a stark contrast to the production Pontiac G8 ST we're expecting next month at the New York Auto Show. Yeah, you know — the one that's currently excitingly driving the party in our pants. You knew we'd have to try to get that mullet joke in twice. Full press release below and then head on over to PickupTruck.com for the full ins-and-outs from a professional lover of trucks on the GMC Denali XT.

GMC DENALI XT HYBRID CONCEPT TRUCK DELIVERS 50-PERCENT FUEL ECONOMY IMPROVEMENT

* New, robust design form serves as a test well for GMC's future design direction
* First combination of GM's two-mode hybrid system with E85 ethanol-capable engine
* Height-adjustable suspension and cargo space-enhancing Midgate®

CHICAGO - GMC unveiled the Denali XT concept at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. It offers a 50-percent increase in combined fuel economy over comparable small pickup trucks when running on gasoline, and it incorporates a new, muscular form in a performance-styled, hybrid sport-utility truck (SUT).

The Denali XT has a unibody architecture and rear-wheel drive, enabling its distinctive design and efficient performance. It builds on the equity of the Denali line and its reputation for advanced engineering and refinement, including the first combination of GM's two-mode hybrid system with an E85 ethanol-capable engine. Denali XT's new, more efficient 4.9L version of GM's small-block V-8 features fuel-saving technologies such as direct-injection technology and Active Fuel Management.

The engine is matched with GM's unique two-mode hybrid propulsion system, giving the powerful SUT exceptional fuel economy and uncompromising capability - including all-electric drive at low speeds. It is a powertrain combination that makes the Denali XT perfectly suited to a variety of active lifestyle activities, such as hauling skis and snowboards to the mountain or towing a sport jet boat to the lake.

"Like all GMCs, the Denali XT is functional and capable, but it blends those traits with a more efficient, sporty driving experience," said Jim Bunnell, GMC general manager. "It is a vehicle that exemplifies GMC's engineering excellence, as well as GM's commitment to hybrid and advanced technologies."

With its unibody structure, the Denali XT is lighter than conventional body-on-frame trucks, with great ride-and-handling characteristics. This design enhances fuel economy while giving the vehicle a sporty driving experience. True to its GMC Professional Grade heritage, the Denali XT is filled with technologies and features that maximize its flexibility, including a cargo space-enhancing Midgate® and height-adjustable suspension.

The Denali XT's proportions are framed around a high cowl and 123.4-inch (3,134 mm) wheelbase. This enhances the vehicle's truck functionality, but packages it in an efficient, unibody architecture.

Design and construction were spearheaded by Holden Design, within the Australian arm of GM's global design and engineering network.

"Denali XT is about working hard, playing hard and enjoying an active lifestyle," said Bunnell. "It is the same philosophy that has helped make the GMC Acadia crossover a huge hit with consumers."

Dramatic design statement

A muscular form and wide, firmly planted stance give the Denali XT a confidently capable road presence. Minimal overhangs, large wheels, sleek headlamps and a low roof profile deliver an aggressive, performance-oriented appearance.

"It is a robust yet tailored design statement that is unlike anything else on the road," said Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design. "It has the youthful look of a custom automobile that incorporates the capability customers expect from a truck."

The Denali XT's design includes a new take on GMC's iconic grille, with a prominent, four-bar element in addition to the large, red GMC logo and signature Denali background. Flared fenders accentuate the wide road stance. The stance is also enhanced when the Denali XT is lowered on its air-adjustable suspension, which creates a sleeker appearance that simultaneously improves aerodynamics. Large, bold 23-inch wheels and custom Kuhmo tires complement the Denali XT's stance.

Inside, the Denali XT blends mechanical functionality with leather-trimmed comfort.

Billet-metal surrounds, controls and instruments convey the cold precision of an aircraft cockpit. This is balanced by the warmth of bespoke saddle-leather trimmed seats and other contact surfaces.

"The form language is smooth and structured to characterize GMC's power. The details have a deliberately contrasting mechanical aesthetic to mark GMC's engineering sophistication," said Warrack Leach, lead designer.

The interior features innovative instrumentation with "floating" red-illuminated numerals backed by surface chaplets in the clusters and a large integrated vehicle interface screen. The interior illumination was supplied by Osram.

The Denali XT seats four. The high-cowl vehicle architecture enables higher seating positions, allowing the couple distance between front and rear occupants to be reduced without compromising knee room. This packaging efficiency creates generous interior and cargo bed dimensions within a more compact package.

Truck capability

With stiffness that is greater than most conventional, body-on-frame trucks, the Denali XT's unibody structure supports a very capable truck platform. It also serves as the mounting point for a four-wheel independent suspension that gives the vehicle its performance feel on the road. The multilink front suspension features a forward-mounted steering rack and dual lower links with ball joints at the outer ends, providing sharp responses to driver input. At the rear, a four-link suspension design uses coil-over shocks and a decoupled stabilizer bar to enhance cornering control, reduce body roll and optimize longitudinal compliance. In short, it's a truck that hauls more than cargo on twisting roads.

The rear cargo area is wide, deep and flat, with no suspension or wheelhouse protrusions; the cargo floor measures 55 inches long (1,397 mm) by 47.5 inches wide (1,206 mm). It all adds up to the space to haul a wide variety of lifestyle accessories.

The easy-to-operate Midgate can be lowered to extend the cargo-carrying capacity inside the vehicle. The rear seats fold flat to provide a longer floor for carrying items such as skis, surfboards or wood from the home improvement store. A fixed rear window allowed engineers to retain the vehicle's structure, reducing mass and complexity.

The Denali XT has an estimated payload capacity of 1,100 pounds (499 kg) and a towing capacity of an estimated 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg). This capability is delivered through unique vehicle and powertrain integration, where the multiple modes of GM's two-mode hybrid system provide towing capability.

New 4.9L SIDI V-8 and two-mode hybrid system

For the first time, GM's rear-wheel-drive two-mode hybrid transmission is paired with a smaller-displacement version of the small-block engine. The new V-8 4.9L E85-capable engine powers the Denali XT with an estimated 326 horsepower (243 kW). It uses direct-injection technology to produce the power of a larger engine, but consumes less fuel and produces lower emissions.

Also, the functionality of GM's Active Fuel Management system has been expanded through the use of hybrid technologies, enhancing the cylinder-deactivating feature to further improve fuel efficiency.

The Denali XT's two-mode hybrid system is partnered with the 4.9L engine and uses an electrically variable transmission to enhance fuel efficiency in city and highway driving. In city driving, all-electric propulsion is used at low speeds; on the highway, fixed-gear operation enables efficient performance even when towing a trailer.

The specific characteristics of the Denali XT allowed the synergistic evolution of GM's small-block V-8 and two-mode hybrid beyond the recently introduced in GM two-mode hybrid products, such as the GMC Yukon Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid. During this optimization process, additional powertrain technologies have been integrated, including Active Thermal Management, which transfers thermal energy from one driveline component to another to improve efficiency; and a high-efficiency axle configuration, which fundamentally reduces the losses normally associated with conventional axle configurations.

The integration of the advanced internal combustion engine technologies and two-mode hybrid system on the Denali XT reinforces GMC's Professional Grade position as a brand that continues to exceed customer expectations.

# # #