Chevrolet TrailBlazer unveiled – Colorado’s SUV cousin

by autoindustrie | November 13, 2011 10:42 pm

• Full 7-seater SUV, body-on-frame chassis
• SUV variation of the Colorado truck.
• First country to receive it will be Thailand, in early 2012.
• Only one engine option announced so far – 2.8-liter Duramax variable geometry turbo-diesel
• LED lighting for the front and rear
• 20″ wheels
• 50:50 flat folding 3rd row seat
• Integrated overhead console for HVAC and onboard infotainment controls

At the opening of this year’s Dubai International Motor Show, GM revealed its latest midsize SUV, the all-new TrailBlazer. Although the new TrailBlazer shares the same name with a US market SUV from the 90s era (discontinued in 2008), it has little to do with the TrailBlazer that many Americans have came to know. The new TrailBlazer is targeted mainly at developing market overseas, and is an SUV variation of the recently launched Colorado truck[1].

Like the Colorado, the TrailBlazer is developed by GM’s development center in Brazil; GM do Brasil. The vehicle’s design is done by GM South America Design Center in São Caetano do Sul, Brazil.

Construction type is a body-on-frame chassis, meaning that it is categorized as a PPV (passenger pick-up vehicle) under Thailand’s vehicle regulations, thus qualifying it for lower taxes in Thailand. Official details are limited at this point of time. GM’s press release only mentions a single engine option for the TrailBlazer – the 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel featuring variable geometry turbo. However, we believe the lower range 2.5-liter Duramax turbo-diesel version currently offered in the Colorado truck will be made available to the TrailBlazer at a later stage.

The TrailBlazer will compete directly against other pick-up truck derived SUVs like Toyota’s ultra successful Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Ford Everest and Isuzu Mu-7.

The display model shown at the Dubai International Motor Show seems to suggest that the TrailBlazer is aimed at the higher-end of the PPV market, and thus might have a higher price point.

Premium features includes LED accents lighting for the front and rear, massive 20-inch aluminum wheels.

Interior includes dual-zone climate control and polished aluminum decor trims. The third row seat tumbles and fold flat into the floor, something which none of the other competitors has. All other PPVs in the market right now require Herculean effort to stow away their third row seats. Users need fiddle with hard to reach knobs, needing to fold, flip, push them sideways and then upwards to keep, and yet they still continues to take up precious cargo space in the rear. And remember that you need to do all these while squatting or bending your back over inside the car. So we think a simple tumble and flat folding feature is a highly welcomed feature.

Another party piece is a roof-mounted integrated air-conditioning and infotainment control panel with cool looking ambient lighting. GM’s press release refers to the model shown in the Dubai International Motor Show as a “display model” so we are unsure if this unusual looking ambient lighting feature will make it to the series production vehicle.

Despite the many premium items included, GM may pull some surprises with a very competitive pricing. In Thailand, a Colorado 2.5 4×4 Double cab undercuts a similarly specified Hilux 2.5E VN turbo by 2,000 Baht. So, there is a chance that the TrailBlazer will give its Japanese competitors a very serious run for their money.

Official promo video the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.

For more related news on the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, go here[2].

Source URL: http://www.motorindustry.org/2011/11/13/chevrolet-trailblazer-unveiled-colorados-suv-cousin/

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