- The production Chevrolet Orlando makes its official debut in Paris.
- The compact crossover/minivan goes on sale in Europe in early 2011.
- GM has dropped its plan to bring the seven-passenger Orlando to the U.S.
DETROIT — General Motors has announced that it will present the production version of its 2011 Orlando crossover as a world premiere at the 2010 Paris Auto Show this fall.
The Orlando will go on sale in Europe in early 2011. GM announced earlier this year that it won't sell the Orlando in the U.S.
The automaker says the Orlando is one of four world premieres from Chevrolet to take place at Paris, and GM targets launching seven new Chevrolet products in Europe in the next 15 months. The Orlando concept debuted in Paris back in 2008.
The compact, seven-passenger MPV is based on the Chevrolet Cruze. Its design is notable for its sweeping low roof line and elevated second and third rows of seating. The interior has a "Corvette style" twin instrument panel, as well as a hidden storage compartment with a USB port behind the audio's front fascia that can be accessed by both driver and front passenger.
The Orlando has three engine choices: a 1.8-liter gasoline engine that makes 141 horsepower and a pair of 2.0-liter diesels making 131 and 163 hp, respectively.
The crossover goes into production in October.
Inside Line says: Chevrolet continues its European expansion. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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billytrez says:
09:37 AM, 08/29/2010
The Orlando has all of the lines of the GMC Granite, which, the last I heard, has been given the go for production in the US. The Orlando goes to Canada.
The chassis may also go into production for Chevy as the Volt MPV5, I can only hope!!
orbit9090 says:
05:08 AM, 08/26/2010
I saw the pics and thought, "If the Orlando is built in America, there's my new vehicle!"
So yeah...HUGE mistake not building and selling this in N. America.
A decent, domestic (American-built), tall & comfy, fuel-efficient compact-crossover based on the Cruse? I'm in! Especially if available with an extra-efficient diesel.
But then, alas, GM fails us again - thinking we'll just settle for the lumbering, over-bloated, over-priced, limo-length Chevy Equinox. No thanks.
I guess we're back to looking at the imports.
jscion says:
05:23 PM, 08/25/2010
BIG BIG mistake not bringing this stateside! There is such a lack of decent small, American cars. The Cruze and the HHR aren't going to cut it for everyone GM. Hopefully we will see the GMC Granite at the very least.
compressor says:
04:28 PM, 08/25/2010
bankerdanny - I think all people mover type vehicles (minivans and cross-overs) should have at least 1 sliding door.
I think we all know its only a matter of time before someone "reinvents" the automobile and installs a hidden track sliding door on a "cross-over" styled vehicle. Then everyone can get what they wanted to drive in the first place - a minivan, but feel cool in doing so. All marketer really need to do is start removing the association between sliding door and minivan.
The GMC Terrain & Ford Flex would seem to be the obvious choices as their styling fits the requirements for an external track. Or, Chrysler may pull one out of the hat and reinvent its own creation.
leokbelo says:
04:08 PM, 08/25/2010
Ok, so GM is not bringing it to the US (which in my opinion is a mistake), so why still call it ORLANDO?!!
Really?
ed124c says:
03:53 PM, 08/25/2010
VW can't make enough diesels for the US market. If GM has a 163 horse 2 liter diesel, I suppose the reason they aren't importing it to the US is because they don't want to spend the money to clean it up, emissions-wise. Or they simply don't know how to do it. Or they just don't care.
I agree this Orlando would not be my first choice for a small minivan like the Mazda5. The body of the new Mazda5 seems to have been designed by the Fiesta designers, (which is a good thing, of course) while the Orlando does look like an old Hyundai or Kia.
windsor5 says:
03:03 PM, 08/25/2010
Both this and the cruze look so bland what are they taking old styling cues from kia and toyota???
cardesigner82 says:
02:57 PM, 08/25/2010
@dagmar3
Pontiac is no mas! They killed off Pontiac...no replacement for Vibe or any of the Pontiacs for that matter.
bankerdanny says:
01:26 PM, 08/25/2010
"The compact crossover/minivan goes on sale in Europe in early 2011. "
Compact crossover fine. Minivan, not so much. For me (and yes, I am in charge of this rule) a minivan must have at least 1 sliding door.
The Mazda 5 is a compact minivan, the Kia Rondo is not.
dagmar3 says:
01:07 PM, 08/25/2010
I guess this will replace the Pontiac Vibe. But what will replace the rest of Pontiac?