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Explaining The Differences In Track And Wheelbase Of The GM C1 Platform

As we reported last month, the GM C1 platform delivers massive scale for The General. By the first quarter of next year, the architecture will underpin no less than eight different vehicles around the world. But among the vehicles that C1, or “Chi,” underpins, there are a number of inconsistencies in terms of front and rear track, as well as wheelbase measurements.

Specifically, the Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia, Cadillac XT6, and Chevrolet Blazer all run on the GM C1 platform. However, the XT6 and Blazer both offer wider tracks and a longer wheelbase when compared to the XT5 and Acadia. So we’ve dug deep to find out why.

In this case, it all comes down to styling and packaging.

Cadillac XT6

As it stands, the GM C1 platform launched with the second-gen Acadia and first-gen XT5. Those models ride on the “regular” version of the platform, which features a “regular” wheelbase length and “regular” track widths. Then came the new Cadillac XT6 and Chevrolet Blazer, and it’s here that most industry observers go wrong in thinking that the XT6 and Blazer are reskinned versions of the Acadia and XT5, respectively. If they were, it wouldn’t have taken another 30 months for GM to bring them to market.

Instead, the automaker made some changes to the C1 architecture to underpin both the Blazer and XT6, and the changes will soon propagate to the upcoming “baby” Buick Enclave and three-row Chevy Blazer.

Cadillac XT5

What The General did was widen the track roughly 21 mm per side for the Blazer and XT6. It did so for a reason: without the extra track width, the crossovers’ wider bodies would look too bulky in relation to the stance. Essentially, a wider body over the same narrow track would have made the XT6 and Blazer look like their wheels were “inside” the body, rather than the surefooted stance that was desired. Think of it as someone who spends all of their time working out their upper bodies at the gym, resulting in a big, chiseled torso, while neglecting the lower body. The end result is commonly referred to as “chicken legs,” and it’s far from desirable.

GM C1 Platform - Wheelbase And Track Width Differences
Vehicle Wheelbase (in) Front Track Width (in) Rear Track Width (in) Overall Length (in) Overall Width (in)
Cadillac XT5 112.5 64.8 64.8 189.6 75
GMC Acadia 112.5 64.5 64.5 193.6 75.4
Chevrolet Blazer 112.7 66.1 66 191.4 76.7
Cadillac XT6* 112.7 66.4 66.2 198.8 77.3
Chevrolet Traverse 120.9 67.3 67 204.3 78.6
Buick Enclave 120.9 67.3 67 204.3 78.8
  • * The three-row Chevrolet Blazer and “baby” Buick Enclave destined for the Chinese market will feature identical wheelbase and track measurements as the Cadillac XT6

GMC Acadia

As a result of the widened tracks, the packaging for the hubs and various other components no longer lined up, which meant that the wheelbase needed to be lengthened. Besides the obvious final product changes, these modifications resulted in a different version of the GM C1 platform, with as many as three different adaptations in use today.

It’s also worth nothing that the upcoming “baby” Buick Enclave and three-row Chevrolet Blazer, both of which are destined solely for the Chinese market (at least as of this writing), will use the regular wheelbase/wide track version of the GM C1 platform used by the Cadillac XT6 and standard two-row Blazer.

C1 Platform Version Vehicle Applications
Regular Wheelbase / Regular Track Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia
Regular Wheelbase / Wide Track Chevrolet Blazer, Cadillac XT6, three-row Chevrolet Blazer, baby Buick Enclave
Extended Wheelbase / Wide Track Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Could you please also include the measures for Enclave and Traverse?

    Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Ask and you shall receive. Traverse and Enclave both added.

      Reply
  2. Actually the width and wheel base is minor changes. The geometry of the suspension is basically the same in how it works.

    You may want to feature the rear suspension as it is very well done on all models and GM says so little about it. The multi link set up is very well designed and does it’s job well.

    Reply
    1. Actually, it’s not that “minor”. It’s more major than minor.

      If it were minor, the Blazer and XT6 would just have worn different top hats on top of C1/1 (Acadia and XT5) and would have taken 12 months to develop and put into production after the XT5 and Acadia were already in production. Instead they were ACTUALLY developed over twice that period of time on C1/2 for specific reasons.

      Those in the know can feel free to shove this article in the face of anyone who says that all of GM’s C1-based CUVs are just rebadged versions of one another. They’re not. Far from it, actually. And hey, did I already say “actually”? 😉

      PS: yes, the rear suspension is well-done, indeed. No actually there.

      Reply
      1. You may want to add that there were other factors invovled too that added to the time for their development. they also got the new engine and 9 speed transmission where that early models lacked. Some of the time was used there till they had production up too.

        None of these were badged engineered as with each one new and added content has come with them.

        Reply
        1. The 9T transmission was already validated and in production on the Malibu and XT4 half a cycle before it even hit C1. The 9 speed took an adaptation cycle in the Blazer and XT6, but it was definitely not something that added any time to their development.

          Alex is right, the additional structural and architectural changes are what necessitated the additional development time for the C1 phase 2 models – Blazer and XT6. The width and wheelbase changes are no small feats… that thinking is not accurate.

          Reply
          1. Yet it was still not ready when the first C1 hit the market.

            I am not understating additional work but you also have factors like engineering man power and cash flow to factor in. That is why GM often has not introduced all models at one time.

            Development cost really adds to scheduling factors and time.

            The chassis alone was just one of many factors. But hard points and geometry do carry over to adaptability. It’s not like a total clean sheet.

            Reply
      2. This is a good read and really helps with the technical bits. So, how does GM shed the perception of badge engineering? Something has to be done in this regard…

        Reply
        1. I think the products themselves will ultimately change the popular perception/opinion.

          Reply
  3. This is a potential reason why Cadillac’s XT5 sales are slowing because there’s little diversity between the XT5 and other GM crossovers and why Cadillac needs to adopt the LGW Twin-Turbo 3.0L DOHC-4v V6 making 375 hp for the XT5.

    Reply
    1. XT5 sales slowed because it was becoming less competitive and needed a refresh, which it now got. Also slowed because of internal competition from the XT4. It will all even out after the third quarter and be back to normal.

      Reply
      1. The XT5 is losing sales to the XT4 because the XT4 is now the “Baby Cadillac”. This is also done with other brands, especially imports. I have seen “baby” models of Mercedes-Benz (my sister-in-law has one) , BMW, Infinity, and Lexus. For the two Japanese brands, they are just rebadged versions of their cheaper models (Nissan = Infinity, Toyota = Lexus) but customers buy them anyway.

        I wonder what the proposed XT3 and CT3 will look like as they will later become the new “Baby Cadillacs”.

        Reply
        1. There currently is noting planned under the CT4 and XT4, according to what we know.

          Reply
  4. Alex,
    As I read this article, I can’t help but wonder why the lack of GMC models available or being developed. With the these segments being so popular, how can GMC account for only one out of six models, (eight if you count China market models)? With the Denali line being so profitable, why aren’t there GMC models for every variance of this platform? One might opine that body on frame models are coming, but the news this week would contradict that.

    Reply
  5. will the Blazer offer magnetic ride control in 2020?

    Reply
    1. No. No vehicle on this architecture offers Magnetic Ride Control. The closest you will come on this architecture is Continuously Variable Dampers, like offered on the Acadia, XT5 and XT6… but not on the Blazer… at least not for 2019 or 2020 MY.

      Reply

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