Chevrolet News:Chevrolet Introduces Their New Global Crossover, The Trax

[William Maley]

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William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

May 14, 2012

Chevrolet is introducing a new global-market crossover called the Trax. The Trax will serve as the brand's only global crossover.

The Trax appears to be closely related to the Opel Mokka and Buick Encore crossover. The only change appears to be the Trax getting its own fascia.

Chevrolet is being quiet on specific details about the new Trax. Our guess that it will likely share the same engine lineup as the Mokka and Encore, and come in front-wheel and all-wheel-drive.

Chevrolet says the the Trax will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, with sales beginning in the forth quarter in Mexico and Canada. The U.S. won't be getting the Trax "because of the strong position of the Equinox."

Press Release is on Page 2

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Chevrolet Will Add New Small SUV to Global Lineup

Trax will debut at Paris Motor Show and be sold in more than 140 countries

DETROIT – The Chevrolet Trax, an all-new small sport utility vehicle, will join the Chevrolet global portfolio and make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

With room for five passengers and class-leading cargo space, Trax will meet the needs of customers in more than 140 markets. Mexico and Canada will be the first markets to launch the crossover in the fourth quarter of this year. Because of the strong position of the Equinox, there are no plans to introduce the Trax in the U.S. market.

“The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require,” said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Product Development. “After a record sales year in 2011 and a record first quarter, Chevrolet continues to meet customer needs by expanding its portfolio with strong new entries.”

Chevrolet has recently introduced a new Malibu mid-sized sedan, Colorado pickup, TrailBlazer mid-sized SUV and Cruze station wagon. When it joins its siblings in the showroom, Trax will possess the same pioneering spirit and expressive design that defines each new Chevrolet.

Trax exhibits its SUV toughness and capability in a small package through a muscular exterior design and wide athletic stance. While its contemporary form evolves the global Chevrolet design aesthetic, Trax’s interior and details will be executed to standards usually found in more expensive vehicles.

View full article

[Drew Dowdell]

Chevy, if you don't sell it in the largest automotive market in the world you cannot call it a global vehicle.

There is a substantial size difference between the Trax and the Equinox. Not selling it here is highly short sighted. There are people out there who don't want something as large as the 'Nox... and straddling either side of the size of the CR-V could be very good for sales.

[z28luvr01]

All that, plus "Where is the HHR replacement?"

[G. David Felt]

This should be the HHR replacement.

[ocnblu]

From the article: "Colorado pickup, Trailblazer SUV, and Cruze station wagon"... they're just trying to hinder enthusiasm in the US for the brand, aren't they? The mere mention of those "strong entries" makes me sick that they are not given to us.

Every one of the vehicles mentioned in the article needs to be sold in the USA... NOW.

The Trax fits in the Chevy lineup much better than it does at Buick's... Buick needs an Alpha Riviera and a Verano coupe/2-door hatch sooner than they do the Encore. Besides that, the Trax, after seeing the patent drawings posted here a while back, is sufficiently differentiated from the Encore exteriorwise, and would be sold in separate showrooms.

Don't make no sense.

Edited May 14, 2012 by ocnblu

[Robert Hall]

Interesting that Canada is getting it and the US isn't....Chevy seems afraid to launch a small CUV here.

[ocnblu]

Yeah, they already have the homely Orlando, don't they? I've not heard a peep about that one from our Canadian contingent.

[Intrepidation]

I really like the way it looks, at least based on the initial photo. I like it better than the Encore. I understand why they don't want to sell both here, its just a shame that Chevy's got the better looking one it appears, and the one we won't get.

[Z-06]

I share all the sentiments above. GM just gives the perception it does not want to commit to US market 100%.

[hyperv6]

GM is in a fix here till they gain more room for Buick.

Cadillac still needs to move up scale to give Buick more room to expand here and they will do so with each coming model like the new CTS and flagship. Once they move up it will give Buick room to become the American Lexus. There is no Buick in Europe so this would be an easy edition as Opel will also move upscale with Buick in time but they have no Cadillac at this time and will have the more upscale models once they do.

The only thing that would make it worse here is is Pontiac and Olds were here and then they would be so layered up they would not have any room for original models.

I do agree though after seeing the Buick in person this should be a Chevy.

But as it is just because they say no here does not mean much. In time it just may find it's way here at some point. When we here these not here comments it often just mean not here now or it means we have plans in mind that you have not seen or heard about yet too.

Best to let them play their cards out and see what happens.

As far as I am concerned we have the Buick here so it will be a global car no matter how you put the emblem on.

[regfootball]

I am appalled they would not sell it here. It would sell huge.

[Robert Hall]

I am appalled they would not sell it here. It would sell huge.

I guess they are afraid of competing w/ Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, etc in the subcompact CUV niche.

[ocnblu]

I am appalled they would not sell it here. It would sell huge.

Am I speaking to the ever-elusive Sheridan Bucket? Are you finally home from University?

[vonVeezelsnider]

Yeah, they already have the homely Orlando, don't they? I've not heard a peep about that one from our Canadian contingent.

Sales of the Orlando have been steadily gathering steam. In Canada it's now the best selling car in its class, outselling the Kia Rondo and the Mazda 5, as well as the Honda Odyssey and a couple other full-size minivans too. Still can't touch the nearly 4500 Grand Caravans that are sold in Canada every month though. Adjusted for population the Caravan's sales dominance in Canada is about analogous to the dominance of the Ford F-150 in the USA.

[Z-06]

GM is in a fix here till they gain more room for Buick.

Cadillac still needs to move up scale to give Buick more room to expand here and they will do so with each coming model like the new CTS and flagship. Once they move up it will give Buick room to become the American Lexus. There is no Buick in Europe so this would be an easy edition as Opel will also move upscale with Buick in time but they have no Cadillac at this time and will have the more upscale models once they do.

Let them compete. No matter how much GM tries to avoid, it cannot prevent that. Case in point, Lamda quadruplets. Look how much sales Chevy had compared to Acadia and Outlook, but it virtually kept itself away luxury-wise against Enclave. GM should have had the Chevy to leverage sales before the Saturn and GMC. Alas, Jill wanted Saturn to be "Upmarket" and volume maker. Kia and Hyundai compete also, yet together they are doing company good.

100,000 of one vehicle is worse than 75,000 and 45,000 of two vehicles, for a similar sized market.

GM's strategy with Buick/Opel and GMC should be simple. Design as a Chevy platform, and then do the design magic on the mid-brands. Anything extra from those mid-brands will be gravy. As far as Caddy and Buick are concerned it should be converse, by charging more premium on Caddy for same platform vehicle, it forgoes volume but leaves huge margin for Buick to operate in.

[daves87rs]

It's too bad, as if it's priced around the Cruze, I'd think it would do quite well here....

[regfootball]

I am appalled they would not sell it here. It would sell huge.

Am I speaking to the ever-elusive Sheridan Bucket? Are you finally home from University?

i had to look that up to figure out exactly what you were smoking.......lol

[hyperv6]

GM is in a fix here till they gain more room for Buick.

Cadillac still needs to move up scale to give Buick more room to expand here and they will do so with each coming model like the new CTS and flagship. Once they move up it will give Buick room to become the American Lexus. There is no Buick in Europe so this would be an easy edition as Opel will also move upscale with Buick in time but they have no Cadillac at this time and will have the more upscale models once they do.

Let them compete. No matter how much GM tries to avoid, it cannot prevent that. Case in point, Lamda quadruplets. Look how much sales Chevy had compared to Acadia and Outlook, but it virtually kept itself away luxury-wise against Enclave. GM should have had the Chevy to leverage sales before the Saturn and GMC. Alas, Jill wanted Saturn to be "Upmarket" and volume maker. Kia and Hyundai compete also, yet together they are doing company good.

100,000 of one vehicle is worse than 75,000 and 45,000 of two vehicles, for a similar sized market.

GM's strategy with Buick/Opel and GMC should be simple. Design as a Chevy platform, and then do the design magic on the mid-brands. Anything extra from those mid-brands will be gravy. As far as Caddy and Buick are concerned it should be converse, by charging more premium on Caddy for same platform vehicle, it forgoes volume but leaves huge margin for Buick to operate in.

That is one slipperly slope. Going back to overlapping lines is like Lohan needed Rehab again.

I expect t be some overlap yet but as time goes on and as Cadillac and Buick move up it will get to where they need to be.

The only mistake here is this should have been a Chevy and not a Buick.

It may have impacked the Nox a little but at lease it kept the custmer in house at Chevy,. Lord knows I see enough people on the Nox Forum complaining about MPG. I just do not understand what they do not understand about a two ton vehicle and the MPG. The Nox does well but if you hammer the 4 in it the MPG will drop. This vehicle should be lite enough to be able to be driven hard and still get good MPG.

[Z-06]

How do you explain Hyundai and Kia with the slippery slope argument, considering both companies have been massively increasing their shares in this country?

[G. David Felt]

My son always points to how great the performance is in a WRX, Why can Chevy not seem to figure out how to build a fun to drive small AWD CUV that can get crazy 30+ gasemileage when driven resonably and drop into the mid to high 20's under agressive driving?

Chevy needs this little CUV to help out their numbers. Someone is smoking some very weird weed indeed.

[hyperv6]

Now for all those who have said they want a perfomance Nox the Trax is the better option. The Nox is just too heavy for any real performance to be worth while and still get MPG. The Trax is lighter smaller and a 2.0 Turbo with a tuned suspension would be interesting.

Some how I feel this deal is a major over reaction here for now. The Nox and Terrain will need to be changed in the next couple years and I suspect from what we have hard the Nox will shrink and I am betting we will see another small SUV to take the place of the present Nox and a Trax in the use market.

The key here is what we do not know as there is more going on than is shown here. We have so many new models coming that we have no clue about since GM seldom speaks of any new product till it is well along anymore. Lets face it we are about a year and a half from a new Alpha Camaro and as of now we know so little. The 5 gen we knew pretty much what to expect 5-6 years out.

[ZL-1]

I like it more than the Mokka. Hope it's cheap, because Opel has no breathing room to up prices and Chevy is making a dent in Opel's market share.

[thedriver]

I have seen that the vehicle will be badged as either Trax or Tracker.