New Trailblazer Manufacturing Underway

[limequat]

Chevy Trailblazer production underway in Thailand
Chevy Trailblazer production underway in Thailand

Jonathon Ramsey RSS feed
Posted Jun 11th 2012 11:29AM

The handsome-and-not-for-us 2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer has begun driving off the lines in Thailand at the General Motors plant in Rayong. Debuted at the Dubai Auto Show last year, the Trailblazer could be seen to squeeze between the Traverse and Tahoe if it were sold here, combining a brawnier version of the unibody Traverse's looks with the body-on-frame off-road capability of the forthcoming Colorado pickup replacement.

Underhood are one of two turbodiesels, either a 2.5-liter with 150 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, or a 2.8-liter with 180 hp and 346 lb-ft, working through either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The seven-seat Trailblazer is earmarked for sale in 50 global markets, but it isn't expected in North American showrooms. Scroll down for a press release on the Job One Trailblazer.

 

[Cable810]

What is GM thinking anymore....

 

[strat81]

What is GM thinking anymore....

They're thinking they'd rather have Toyota (4-Runner) and Nissan (Pathfinder) have the body-on-frame mid-size SUV market.

 

[The_Roadie]

GM marketing staff are idiots who don't think the US market will embrace a competent diesel. I could so lift one of those puppies.

 

[STLtrailbSS]

I would take it, would look great next to ZL1 in the driveway a man can dream

 

[ScarabEpic22]

Just gimme that 2.8L I4 Duramax, make a sweet tow rig that gets 25+ on the highway. Drop it in a GMT360, GMT355, or an old S10. Heck, even drop it in a reg cab Silvy!

 

[strat81]

GM marketing staff are idiots who don't think the US market will embrace a competent diesel. I could so lift one of those puppies.

In GM's defense, most automakers think Americans won't embrace diesels.

Aside from the Germans and heavy duty pickups, what else can you get a diesel in these days?

 

[AV8ER]

All of my friends I talk to about engines agree they need more diesels in the half ton and smaller vehicles. Might help that I'm in Texas though

 

[Mooseman]

I know why we're not getting them... the steering wheel is on the wrong side

 

[AV8ER]

I know why we're not getting them... the steering wheel is on the wrong side

What about the Pontiac G8 and late model GTO (sorry excuse of a GTO) can't be to hard for GM to move the steering wheel.

 

[Mooseman]

View attachment 21343

Hope this explains a bit...

 

[essaycho348]

imo that thing looks hideous in the front, looks like a lifted malibu. Im glad they aren't bringing it here. Thing i like about the TV is that its a sporty truck. Not a Trucky car...

But i do agree that american carmakers need to bring more small diesels into the market. Jeep liberty had a diesel come onto the market for a few years but then discontinued because of rising emissions standards...

 

[UMEXT]

In GM's defense, most automakers think Americans won't embrace diesels.

Aside from the Germans and heavy duty pickups, what else can you get a diesel in these days?

And if you had the slightest idea how unreliable the heavy duty pickups are, you'd know the automakers are absolutely right.

 

[AV8ER]

View attachment 7461

Hope this explains a bit...

Haha yes I saw the rolling Smiley after I posted that and realized you were joking. I sure like the pic you found!

 

[Matt]

What about the Pontiac G8 and late model GTO (sorry excuse of a GTO) can't be to hard for GM to move the steering wheel.

It's even easier when they produce it in the country it was designed in.

 

[Mooseman]

Everybody remembers the Chevette but did you know they had a diesel version? An extremely rare option. And I would guess unpopular even though gas prices were going through the roof during the oil crisis. Just the north American mentality. We do have some here (like the Smart car) but few and far between.

 

[vipergg]

Think people would embrace diesels a lot more if the govt. would tell the oil companies to equalize diesel and gas prices . Around here there is a 40 cent per gallon difference.

 

[lint]

U.S. Government blocks sales of fuel-efficient cars

Some read. I like what it says about less money for roads with better mileage. And There made here but cant be sold here.

 

[strat81]

Think people would embrace diesels a lot more if the govt. would tell the oil companies to equalize diesel and gas prices . Around here there is a 40 cent per gallon difference.

The citizens should tell the government to stop influencing the energy market via taxes and subsidies.

 

[million-miles]

I would take a turbo 4cyl desiel in a TB in a heart beat

 

[TexazReece]

They call that handsome???? It looks like a rav4, some might like it but it stinks to me. That's just on looks but the engine types might be the bright spot but I'll leave this to the Rav4 fans

 

[xj2202009]

[video=youtube;JnKZIep_T7Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JnKZIep_T7Y&feature=endscreen"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JnKZIep_T7Y&feature=endscreen[/video]

 

[northcreek]

imo that thing looks hideous in the front, looks like a lifted malibu....

Maybe a GMC version without the smiley face grille will be forthcoming:wootwoot:
PS that one will also be NA......

 

[UMEXT]

[video=youtube;JnKZIep_T7Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JnKZIep_T7Y&feature=endscreen"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JnKZIep_T7Y&feature=endscreen[/video]

It looks much better in this video than in the still pics we've seen thus far, especially in green.

Which, sadly, doesn't change the fact that it still looks like a less-bloated version of the Traverse sheetmetal which that vehicle gratefully sheds this year. Whoops!

 

[UMEXT]

It looks much better in this video than in the still pics we've seen thus far, especially in green.

Which, sadly, doesn't change the fact that it still looks like a less-bloated version of the Traverse sheetmetal which that vehicle gratefully sheds this year. Whoops!

Oh, and by the way, turbos as a solution to compensate for the underpowering caused by smaller displacement are a really, really bad idea. Ford is already in the process of redesigning the EcoBoost. And Saad, the last time I checked, is still out of business.

 

[rmsg0040]

They're thinking they'd rather have Toyota (4-Runner) and Nissan (Pathfinder) have the body-on-frame mid-size SUV market.

Pathfinder no longer a BOF, unibody when the new version hits

Market is thinning out

 

[xj2202009]

Oh, and by the way, turbos as a solution to compensate for the underpowering caused by smaller displacement are a really, really bad idea. Ford is already in the process of redesigning the EcoBoost. And Saad, the last time I checked, is still out of business.

I think this is to out to make a decent truck with decent towing capacity:
he show vehicle features an all-wheel-drive system and is powered by GM's new 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine, which features a variable-geometry turbocharger for an optimal combination of performance and fuel economy. Specially if we can turn off and on the AWD.

 

[UMEXT]

I think this is to out to make a decent truck with decent towing capacity:
he show vehicle features an all-wheel-drive system and is powered by GM's new 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine, which features a variable-geometry turbocharger for an optimal combination of performance and fuel economy. Specially if we can turn off and on the AWD.

Which will just make them more expensive to replace when they shred themselves 5K miles after the warranty ends. And as a special added bonus, who wants to bet the turbos are covered under the BTB, not the powertrain warranty?

 

[vipergg]

Which will just make them more expensive to replace when they shred themselves 5K miles after the warranty ends. And as a special added bonus, who wants to bet the turbos are covered under the BTB, not the powertrain warranty?

Other than being BOF to me it looks exactly like a Equinox. It's time for chevy to change the front ends so they don't all look exactly the same.