GMC’s Sierra Denali Ultimate adds more bling

By Stephen Edelstein Published December 19, 2017

GMC gave its Sierra pickup truck a refresh for 2016, but while the model year is already underway, the General Motors truck brand has one more thing to add. Meet the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, which just dropped at the 2015 LA Auto Show.

Denali is the upscale trim level GMC offers on most of its trucks and SUVs, but because there’s apparently no limit to how much buyers will pay for a truck provided it has enough bling, the carmaker is taking things further. In addition to a longer name, the Denali Ultimate gets even more glitz than the regular Sierra Denali.

Like the non-Ultimate 2016 Denali, the new model is distinguished by a massive chrome grille, LED headlights, body-color bumpers, and a polished stainless-steel exhaust tip. The Ultimate also gets model-specific 22-inch alloy wheels, chrome tow hooks, and a standard sunroof. Also standard are GMC’s clever Tri-Mode Power Steps, which slide out to serve as standard running boards, and slide back to provide a cargo-bed step.

The interior doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade over what GMC previously offered on the Denali. There’s leather seating with contrast stitching, and aluminum and soft-touch trim on areas that aren’t covered by leather. A Bose premium audio system, wireless phone charging, and GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system are all standard. Apple CarPlay will be available at launch, followed by Android Auto. GM’s OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot are standard as well, although data must be purchased separately.

Powertrains for the Denali Ultimate mirror those of the regular Denali. The standard offering is a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. There’s also a 6.2-liter V8, producing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions, and GMC’s magnetic ride control adaptive suspension is standard. The Denali Ultimate trim is only offered in four-wheel drive Sierra 1500 models with the four-door crew cab.

If you’re interested in the latest version of the Sierra line, the 2018 Sierra 1500 is a beautiful update with a variety of improvements that may make it well worth its price tag.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.