DETROIT — A secret photo of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has just emerged from within from GM, showing the face of the new, five-passenger crossover utility vehicle expected to come to market late in 2009 as a competitor for the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is based on the mid-size sedan architecture that underlies such cars as the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura. The mechanical package will be shared with the 2010 Cadillac SRX and 2010 Saab 9-4X.
Presumably the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will also be used to further develop GM's hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which is just reaching the street in a small fleet of 2008 Equinox utilities.
It's likely that the Equinox's position in the market will emphasize fuel economy, so we expect to see the 169-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4 as the primary power plant, and E85 capability will be part of the program. Though front-wheel drive versions will form the bulk of the model mix, an all-wheel-drive system from the Opel-based Saab 9-3 will be available.
The boom in crossovers is the biggest product story in the U.S. auto market these days. Sales increased to more than 2.8 million last year, extending a seven-year surge, and now more than 50 separate models of utility vehicles are offered on car-based platforms.
What this means to you: With its new architecture based on GM's midsize sedan, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will combine the impressive fuel economy of an inline-4 engine with a passenger package slightly larger than its CUV competition. — Michael Jordan, Executive Editor
Get the inside story about these other future GM vehicles:
2010 Buick Sedan
2010 Cadillac SRX
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
2010 Saab 9-4X
The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is based on the mid-size sedan architecture that underlies such cars as the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura. The mechanical package will be shared with the 2010 Cadillac SRX and 2010 Saab 9-4X.
Presumably the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will also be used to further develop GM's hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which is just reaching the street in a small fleet of 2008 Equinox utilities.
It's likely that the Equinox's position in the market will emphasize fuel economy, so we expect to see the 169-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4 as the primary power plant, and E85 capability will be part of the program. Though front-wheel drive versions will form the bulk of the model mix, an all-wheel-drive system from the Opel-based Saab 9-3 will be available.
The boom in crossovers is the biggest product story in the U.S. auto market these days. Sales increased to more than 2.8 million last year, extending a seven-year surge, and now more than 50 separate models of utility vehicles are offered on car-based platforms.
What this means to you: With its new architecture based on GM's midsize sedan, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will combine the impressive fuel economy of an inline-4 engine with a passenger package slightly larger than its CUV competition. — Michael Jordan, Executive Editor
Get the inside story about these other future GM vehicles:
2010 Buick Sedan
2010 Cadillac SRX
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
2010 Saab 9-4X
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