By this time, you’re probably well aware of GM’s six reveals at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show (CAS). This brings us to a somewhat-new segment here at GM Authority, in which we ask what questions you have about the reveals.
We’re live at the show and have access to the vehicles, executives, and PR staff Thursday (February 11) and Friday (February 12th), so post your questions in the comments and we will do our best to answer them.
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As a reminder, here are GM’s debuts from CAS 2016:
- 2017Â Chevrolet Trax (refresh)
- 2017 Camaro 1LE Handling Package:
- Midnight Edition package for 2016 Chevrolet Z71 pickup trucks, including:
Comments
Why did they refresh the Trax exterior and interior but make no improvements in the drivetrain and driving dynamics, like giving it the new Cruz’s engine?
I don’t think the guys will get an official answer on this… but here is my take: the old 1.4T is ok in this car for now. Plus, the all new model isn’t that far away. Isn’t the G2XX that will underpin Trax 2 already out with the new Corsa, or is that still Gamma 2?
awil428,
The refresh is purely a hold over until an all-new generation debuts. Therefore, the investments were made into design, rather than engineering.
Cheers,
Sean
Buick got the juicier powerplant for the Encore.
Well, not entirely accurate. The 2016 Encore Sport Touring got the new 1.4L Turbo LE2. The rest of the Encore lineup is still powered by the LUV:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/10/2016-buick-encore-sport-touring-is-actually-powered-by-gms-all-new-1-4l-turbo-four-banger/
I have a question for them. They keep forgetting to debut the body-on-frame Blazer, that’s trail ready with a front and rear e-locker, and center diff (tcase) lock. Are they going to make us wait till November or are they waiting for all the GM offroad people to switch brands first?
I’ve never understood why GM has money for investment in low volume products like the ELR but ignores high volume, high profit segments like Jeep and Ford Raptor.
Turbofire,
The PR folks will never talk about future product directly. All we can say is it’s coming eventually.
Cheers,
Sean
Thanks for the reply Sean.
I know they are not going to divulge any info on the trailblazer. But the public demanded the return for the Camaro, and GM gave it to us. I’m just hoping if the public keeps tapping on their shoulder about the Blazer they will finally deliver. The business case is there, it’s the same for the Colorado, They move people out of the thirtsy Tahoes and into seven passenger diesel Trailblazers. The Traverse has it’s place and so does the Equinox, but they must know the Blazer could fill a huge product gap that’s been left.
I’m right there with you. GM Chevy/ GMC need a true 4X4 with an actual 2 speed transfer case and low range in this size or class in the market. Their failure to do one and actually compete is dumbfounding to me.
I agree Elroy, why no Trailblazer or new “Blazer” with BOF construction, 4×4, etc. Or Jeep fighter from GMC, or Granite from GMC…
Loosers!
I second the Question from Turbofire. I would stress the part about a BOF SUV, and ask why they think we all want a FWD (Traverse) vehicle in that size under the Tahoe / Suburban, and not another Trailblazer.
Now hold on a minute. Losers? The segment you’re referring to with a BOF midsizer is all but dead. The only remaining vehicle is the 4Runner. If you want to put the Wrangler in there too, fine. But the segment is still minuscule.
The Granite will be a subcompact GMC… Now there’s a growing and flourishing segment!
The 4Runner is a joke these days compared to what it used to be several makeovers ago. Its off road capability has greatly diminished and been watered down each time they redo it.
The BOF midsize segment is all but dead, but S10 Baja is on to something. Change BOF to unibody, and the midsize 4×4 is anything but dead. Car and Driver lists the Grand Cherokee as THE highest-ranking midsize SUV in its class.
GM needs to go after the class leader and offer a true unibody 4×4 to compete with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. After all, the number of makes offering a true 4×4 (unibody or BOF) has dwindled significantly, but I’m sure those buyers haven’t disappeared.
If GM could make a business case for the Buick Cascada, which is entering a shrinking segment, they can DEFINITELY make a case for a true 4×4.
Come to think of it some more, the market does want a vehicle like the Traverse. Its rivals include:
Ford Explorer
Hyundai Santa-Fe
Mazda CX-9
Toyota Highlander
Honda Pilot
Also, the Traverse is actually much bigger than a proposed TB would be.
Now, there are some exceptions to this. There are a select few who don’t want a crossover. They want capability, meaning BOF. So, the question you should be asking isn’t the stuck up one of “why do they think everyone wants a Traverse”, but rather “can they make a business case for such a vehicle?”
I personally think that they can, given thei size and scale. But I recommend you approach it differently than you just did.
We have way too many Monday morning quarterbacks already clamoring for a manual SS on everything and BOF on the balance. I’m sure you’d be first in line to pick up the new Blazer once it hits the lots. Probably not. I assume you’re the type that has to wait ten years for all the “kinks” to be worked out.
GM is gaining ground and finally focusing on profitable vehicles, not niche items. So check Google periodically for your unicorns and while you’re at it put “loosers” in the search box.
No offense, but I would say the market for a BOF mid sizer is not deadlike the midsize trucks. They did the right thing with the midsize trucks, and have been on a roll lately, but I see the writing on the wall with the full size SUV’s in terms of CAFE requirements in the near future. That will be a tough decision to make in terms of what direction do the full size trucks and SUVs go; lighten up considerably and smaller turbocharged engines like Ford did, or switch to unibody like the previous gen Acadia, or ?
The addition of a midsize Trailblazer replacement with BOF would give GM a unique vehicle in their lineup, and using the mid sizers platform would be relatively easy to do and be cost effective. They could use that for a direct replacement for the Trailblazer, and modify that even further for the elusive Jeep fighter for GMC.
Then GM could delegate the Fullsize BOF SUV’s offerings to only Chevrolet, and ax the BOF Yukon and open up the lineup to a large version of the newest Acadia to replace the Yukon’s.
The Escalade is a money machine for GM so I’m not sure how that would shake out, but it seems like Caddy needs to be exclusive in terms of platforms not shared with any other GM division.
I was waiting for the CAFE argument and it’s probably the answer to why we haven’t yet seen TrailBlazer here while they sell them overseas. Ditto the tiny engine in the Trax.
Bob Lutz stated CAFE is why Impala – excellent as it is in its own right – isn’t RWD. CAFE may explain, at least in part, why the SS performance sedan has never been marketed, nor the Caprice made available beyond police departments.
To Cadillac platform exclusivity: Cadillac, even back in its glory days 60 years ago, shared at least some components of its “C” body with senior Buick and/or Olds models. It’s all in how you differentiate them. Hopefully the mindset is that the platforms are first developed for Cadillac, then those features filter down into the lesser lines. We’re certainly seeing that with Camaro, developed off the architecture originally created for the acclaimed ATS.
I am so bored with GM in particular with all their “mid-year” additions (improvements?). Here, I am referring to their trucks. Nothing really substative; just different paint, hoodscoops, cosmetic designs, but not much else. They have done this with other models also in the past (look at the history of the Malibu). For the most part, we have to wait for a number of years for meaningful upgrades, which seem to only come with a complete redesigns. Case in point, the Equinox and Terrain. These vehicles just received an upgrade primarily on looks (front and rear fascias), but nothing much else; no mileage improvements, no engine improvements, no safety improvements. We have to wait a couple more years for their complete redesign. Meanwhile the overall package is many years old (ten or more) and behind the competition (outdated) in most every way.
Sorta like a fat older person getting a new hair-do, and passing as “so much better now” while ignoring the rest (sorta reminds me of me).