25 April 2008
JEDDAH -- GMC's first sport utility vehicle (SUV), the all-new Terrain, was launched at a major ride and drive event along the scenic Jeddah-Taif route yesterday.
"With the Terrain compact SUV, GMC is well set to meet Middle East customer demand in the fast growing compact SUV segment by combining the versatility of an SUV with the driving dynamism of a sedan," a senior GMC executive said in his presentation at Jeddah InterContinental Hotel before the media was offered a test drive of the vehicle from Jeddah to Taif.
"The dynamic five-seat Terrain blends roominess and comfort with elegance and practicality. It challenges the traditional compromise of vehicle choice faced by demanding modern lifestyles, offering space and comfort in an elegant, dynamic exterior," Karim Corm, GMC's Marketing Manager for the Middle East, said.
A long wheelbase, reduced front and rear overhangs, and a wide stance enable increased interior comfort and loading capacity without compromising the fundamental proportions inherent to an SUV, he added.
The five-seater Terrain is the latest in a long line of SUV offering a "stylish and practical" package. "It will be available with all-wheel drive five seats and with a 2.4-liter engine or with a V6 3.2-liter engine. A five-speed automatic transmission is common to both models with two trim levels.
GM sales in the Saudi Arabia rose by 20 percent to reach 6,138 units in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period last year. The achievement was mainly determined by a 47 percent growth of the Yukon and Yukon XL sales reaching 4,700 units across the Kingdom.
GMC has an increasingly strong presence in the Middle East in 2008, with sales of 10,745 in the first quarter, up 41 percent on 2007. This growth has been driven primarily by demand for the new Acadia luxury Crossover SUV, with almost 1,700 units sold, as well as for the Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs. Combined sales of these models have risen by 43 percent to 6,553, he added.
With a third of General Motors' sales in the Middle East coming from GM?, the Terrain will add yet another professional grade SUV to GMC's existing line-up of Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Denali models.
A year after the launch of the widely successful Acadia, GMC's first entry in the crossover segment, the Terrain is now available at showrooms of all four GM dealers in the Kingdom -- Aljomaih Automotive Company, Universal Motors Agencies, Omar A. Balubaid Company and Abdullatif Alissa Automotive Company.
JEDDAH -- GMC's first sport utility vehicle (SUV), the all-new Terrain, was launched at a major ride and drive event along the scenic Jeddah-Taif route yesterday.
"With the Terrain compact SUV, GMC is well set to meet Middle East customer demand in the fast growing compact SUV segment by combining the versatility of an SUV with the driving dynamism of a sedan," a senior GMC executive said in his presentation at Jeddah InterContinental Hotel before the media was offered a test drive of the vehicle from Jeddah to Taif.
"The dynamic five-seat Terrain blends roominess and comfort with elegance and practicality. It challenges the traditional compromise of vehicle choice faced by demanding modern lifestyles, offering space and comfort in an elegant, dynamic exterior," Karim Corm, GMC's Marketing Manager for the Middle East, said.
A long wheelbase, reduced front and rear overhangs, and a wide stance enable increased interior comfort and loading capacity without compromising the fundamental proportions inherent to an SUV, he added.
The five-seater Terrain is the latest in a long line of SUV offering a "stylish and practical" package. "It will be available with all-wheel drive five seats and with a 2.4-liter engine or with a V6 3.2-liter engine. A five-speed automatic transmission is common to both models with two trim levels.
GM sales in the Saudi Arabia rose by 20 percent to reach 6,138 units in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period last year. The achievement was mainly determined by a 47 percent growth of the Yukon and Yukon XL sales reaching 4,700 units across the Kingdom.
GMC has an increasingly strong presence in the Middle East in 2008, with sales of 10,745 in the first quarter, up 41 percent on 2007. This growth has been driven primarily by demand for the new Acadia luxury Crossover SUV, with almost 1,700 units sold, as well as for the Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs. Combined sales of these models have risen by 43 percent to 6,553, he added.
With a third of General Motors' sales in the Middle East coming from GM?, the Terrain will add yet another professional grade SUV to GMC's existing line-up of Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Denali models.
A year after the launch of the widely successful Acadia, GMC's first entry in the crossover segment, the Terrain is now available at showrooms of all four GM dealers in the Kingdom -- Aljomaih Automotive Company, Universal Motors Agencies, Omar A. Balubaid Company and Abdullatif Alissa Automotive Company.
By K.S. Ramkumar
Arab News 2008
