- There are no plans to sell the 2013 Chevrolet TrailBlazer in the U.S., GM told Inside Line on Thursday, following the SUV concept's global debut Wednesday at the 2011 Dubai Auto Show.
- The redesigned TrailBlazer will be sold in other global markets, starting with Thailand in early 2012.
- The TrailBlazer is based on the new Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — There are no plans to sell the 2013 Chevrolet TrailBlazer in the U.S., GM told Inside Line on Thursday, following the SUV concept's global debut Wednesday at the 2011 Dubai Auto Show.
"There are no plans to bring the TrailBlazer to the U.S." wrote Chevrolet spokesman Tom Wilkinson in response to an e-mailed query from Inside Line. "That segment is largely served by crossovers here."
In a subsequent phone conversation, Chevrolet spokesman Mike Albano added: "We've got (Chevrolet) Traverse and Equinox. We're content with our lineup."
The new TrailBlazer will be sold in other global markets, starting with Thailand in early 2012. It will be sold in the Middle East as well. Pricing has not been announced.
The show vehicle is virtually production-ready, according to GM.
"Although this is a show vehicle, the overall design is faithful to the production version that will arrive in Chevrolet showrooms next year," said John Stadwick, GM Middle East Operations president and managing director, in a statement.
The TrailBlazer show vehicle gets a power dome in the hood, high-mounted dual projector headlamps and tri-coat pearlescent white paint. Polished 20-inch aluminum wheels round out the package. The seven-passenger cabin gets flexible seating and a third row, along with dual-zone digital climate control and lots of storage.
The show vehicle is equipped with all-wheel drive and GM's 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine. It is the product of GM's South America Design Center in Brazil.
The previous-generation TrailBlazer was last sold in the U.S. in model year 2009.
Inside Line says: U.S. consumers will have to admire the Chevrolet TrailBlazer from afar.
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illoxyill says:
07:58 AM, 11/29/2011
The interior looks like the starship voyager. I own a 2003 trailblazer and would have loved to replace that with a new Trailblazer like this; a good, reliable, American mid-sized truck. Now im forced to go to Toyota or Nissan for that option. What a shame.
mbukukanyau says:
07:32 AM, 11/13/2011
Well, GM probably knows it cannot compete with Toyota and Nissan in this segment
ianzoe1 says:
08:03 PM, 11/12/2011
If we can't get this vehicle in the states, can we at least get this color combo for our interiors over here?
That Navy/Grey combo is sweet!
openeyes1 says:
06:08 PM, 11/12/2011
@autoadviseorg; I'm well familiar with New England roads in the winter, and the huge number of SUV jerks that constantly try to defy the laws of physics. The winter roads are littered with rolled AWD SUV's and, Pickups who drive too fast for conditions (higher center of gravity does not mean you stop shorter on ice). Bigger is not better on New England winter roads, any large SUV's on the roadway in bad conditions, alert those in smaller vehicles to 'watch out for the maniacs in their out-of-control overweight vehicles'.
While a diesel engine can help these vehicles, it still has to come to down-sizing, and weight reduction, then you will get real fuel savings.
@rayzor; US Auto companies can still sell global SUV's here, they just have to be smaller and more fuel efficient, and that does not mean that they can't be rugged. Take a look at the Jeep Wrangler, its been neglected by Chrysler over the years by giving it lousy engines, but its shorter height, width and length (30''s less than a Yukon/Tahoe), allows it to go more places than almost any SUV. Now if Chrysler gave it a modern Diesel engine, it would make it the ideal off-road vehicle.
gregbird says:
10:42 PM, 11/11/2011
I don't really care if they bring the Trailblazer back here, all though it would be nice to have some more rear wheel drive SUVs, again, that are not full-size. That said, I do think they should incorporate some of the looks onto the next Traverse (or it's replacement)... That thing is neither feminine or masculine, it just is. The Acadia still kinda looks like an SUV, the Enclave looks good in it's own way, but the Traverse just looks like a minivan that was designed by someone who forgot about the sliding doors.
hotrodw says:
05:40 AM, 11/11/2011
This looks pretty good, but then again it is a show vehicle. The production version will undoubtedly be tamed down. Exactly how tame remains to be seen. The decision not to bring it here probably has as much to do with fuel mileage as anything else. Plus it has to pass the media comparison tests. Being body-on-frame, unibody vehicles will probably blow this away in comfort, performance and efficiency. The Pathfinder and 4Runner both remain solid BOF vehicles, but they don't sell in big numbers.
autoadviseorg says:
05:26 AM, 11/11/2011
This is all about market demographics. In other parts of the world where roads are not as smooth (read more pot holes than New England roads even after snow season!), vehicles built on truck frames last longer and therefore good ROI.
Who ever says we are lagging behind China needs to know that China had a policy to promote car sales. When we had the Cash for Clunker program, Auto companies boosted sales as well, plus vehicles here are getting more reliable and last longer thanks to several after market product and services. Try that in developing nations where vehicle resale values drop pretty bad due to road conditions.
For the quote "Lets face it, the US market is no longer the dominating force it once was, we are just a part of the much larger global market.". The only reason why a truck based SUV still live in other countries is because their drivetrain uses a near 2 liter diesel with manual that gives more mpg than our midsize cars! It is market demographics and requirements nothing to do with why they wont sell us. Plus they have to pay a fine for not meeting CAFE!
Even if this vehicle is still not production ready, I like the design language. Unfortunately a redesigned Traverse may very well dwarf this soon.
gam2 says:
05:20 AM, 11/11/2011
If anyone with half a brain at GM is reading this, please bring this here. If this is a RWD based SUV with a real low range transfer case, you have my attention. I am looking for a replacement for my '03 Envoy, something that I can tow with and go off road with. The Traverse or Equinox DO NOT cut it for that, and a Tahoe is just to big. So please reconsider, this market has been abandoned by both you and Ford. There are the Chrysler twins (GC and Durango), but they have become bloated whales. Pretty much leaves the 4Runner and Pathfinder as our only choices. And if you put a diesel in it, you will sell every one!
jscion says:
02:40 AM, 11/11/2011
@mustang5507
I guess it depends on what part of the country you live in but I live along the U.S./Canandian border where it snows 6 months out of the year, a Tahoe or Denali is almost every fifth vehicle on the road. The truck/SUV market is certainly alive and well here.
mk40 says:
08:12 PM, 11/10/2011
CAFE