Chevrolet Trailblazer makes global debut in Bangkok
General Motors Thailand has taken the veils of its all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer, which is scheduled to go on sale worldwide beginning June 2012. Mechanically based on the Colorado pick-up, the Trailblazer will roll out from GM’s Rayong plant and will joining the ladder-frame SUV market segment currently occupied by the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Ford Everest.
Available in 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrain configurations, the Trailblazer is offered with a choice of two highly-tuned Thai-built Duramax diesel engines, displacing 2.5 and 2.8 litres respectively. The 2.5-litre mill is rated at a competitive 150hp and 350Nm. Meanwhile, the 2.8 is equipped with a variable geometry turbo and is good for 180hp. Its torque output is 440Nm or 470Nm, depending on transmission.
Such high level of tunes for diesel engines designed for use in workhorses inevitably invite questions of long term durability and reliability. Toyota and Isuzu use this line of reasoning to justify the lower state of tunes their engines offer compared to their rivals, and both their pick-up trucks are among the most used in the business. According to GM, components in both Duramax engines are durability-tested to last 240,000km.
A choice of two transmissions will be offered – 5-speed manual and 6-speed auto. A stick shift with five ratios may seem a little out of date when six is becoming the norm, but what was even more surprising for us to learn was that it was engineered to take only 440Nm of torque, which explains why in the 2.8-litre model, we have the automatic model churning out substantially more torque at 470Nm. The 6-speed slushbox was taken from GM’s parts bin, and was originally designed to go with high capacity engines.
The Trailblazer is built on the Colorado’s ladder-frame architecture and shares plenty of components with its pick-up truck sibling. The double wishbone suspension has been retained albeit with revised settings, but the Colorado’s rear leaf springs have now made way for a five-link suspension with coil springs to hold up the solid rear axle. Steering utilizes a rack and pinion setup with hydraulic assist.
Four disc brakes provide stopping power, backed by ABS, EBD, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Panic Brake Assist, and Dynamic Rear Brake Proportioning. In addition, there is also stability control, traction control, engine drag torque control, hill descent control, hill start assist, and dual airbags. Of course, it remains to be seen which of these items will be standard across the range, and which will be exclusive to higher end variants.
On par with its rivals, the Trailblazer’s cabin accommodates in three seating rows. For added flexibility, the second row seats feature 60:40 split folding and the third row has 50:50 split folding. Putting ease of use as top priority, Chevrolet’s cabin designers specified both rows to operate on one-touch tumble folding. The idea is that any user can intuitively reconfigure the seating arrangements without needing to refer to the manual. The approach undoubtedly calls for compromises in outright cargo volume, but GM feels that the trade-off for user-friendliness is one worth making.
GM has yet to make firm commitments of the Trailblazer’s arrival date in Malaysia, but has promised that we will be amongst the first markets in the region to receive it after Thailand in June. There is also no mention of price, but our anticipation is that it would be in the region of RM175k where the higher-end variants of the Fortuner, Everest, and Pajero Sport occupy.
See also:
– Chevrolet unveils truck-based TrailBlazer SUV
Further Details:
– Chevrolet vehicles prices & specifications in Malaysia
– List of Chevrolet official dealers and branches in Malaysia
