Back in 2017, the Chevrolet FNR-X concept debuted at Auto Shanghai, showing off a sculpted crossover body and futuristic attitude. Three years later, some are touting the FNR-X concept as the prelude to a production vehicle that remains just over the horizon. In fact, GM Authority has received a few emails and comments from readers asking when to expect the production-ready FNR-X. We’ve also even a few dealer folks claiming that a production version is on the way. We’re here to set the record straight: the Chevrolet FNR-X is not going into production. Instead, it will remain a concept – as was GM’s plan all along.
As a reminder, the Chevrolet FNR-X concept was developed almost entirely by the Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center, or PATAC for short. The facility is GM’s design and engineering center in Pudong, China that was created as part of a joint venture between General Motors and its Chinese joint venture partner, SAIC Motor. It is responsible for preparing or developing vehicles specifically for the Chinese market.
Although the Chevrolet FNR-X did incorporate some input from Global Chevrolet Design, its “homeroom” was in China with PATAC. The purpose behind the concept was to preview the design direction of the Chevrolet Menlo EV. That’s it. According to our sources, there’s currently no production version of the Chevrolet FNR-X outside the Menlo EV, which is not coming to the Americas.
The Chinese-market Chevrolet Menlo EV
It’s also worth noting that the Chevrolet FNR-X has similar design cues as the new Chevy Blazer as a result of the direction that Chevrolet design was headed at the time the vehicles were being conceived.
That said, future Chevy crossovers will be inspired by the design direction seen in the FNR-X and the Blazer. This can be seen in the new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, as well as the recent refreshes of the Equinox and Traverse – the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 Chevrolet Traverse.
So if and/or when someone asks about the FNR-X coming to production, kindly point them toward this article.
We’ll be here to cover anything and everything GM, and invite you to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet FNR-X news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Reminds me of the Saab 9-4X. I like it a lot.
So the tradition continues, build great concepts and build so so production vehicles.
Too Badd it looks better than anything in Chevrolet whole line up of SUV nothing under the brand looks this good. I don’t even see the similarities from this concept on any of the 2021 model vehicles they are selling
The Blazer is almost identical to this from a design standpoint. You just won’t get any of the concept-level details that are on the FNR-X in the real world, especially at the mainstream price points.
Actually you can, Chevy owners might not be able to afford it, but if you brand it as a GMC I’m sure it would make it and eat away at the Mexican blazer
Well yeah no sense spend any money when you can say it was inspired by a concept but is actually just a cheap replica.
This is one of General Motors biggest problems in the past decade as the Advance Concept group has outpaced the production group and this has lead to huge disappointment; a prime example is Cadillac as consumers were extremely disappointed by Cadillac’s CT6 when they were expecting something similar to the Ciel concept car and may have lost a generation of buyers.
Ridiculous!!
Why build concept vehicles in the first place?
It’s like whetting people’s appetite for something really good in the pipeline, and then letting them down.
This concept even has the appearance of a rear wheel drive/4 wheel drive drive train.
It looks better than the BMW X3 / X4 and would give them a real run for their money. I know it would not compete in that range but I can bet that people would cross shop it because of its attractive looks.
It’s like saying that “we are capable of awesome design but you can’t have it”.
No worries GM. There are plenty of manufacturers out there willing to take risks and reap the rewards.
Kinda like GM version of internet dating, allot of hype then disappointment in reality.
What a sad dull future with current bean counter GM Management ,nearly all successful concepts thrown in the dust bin because maybe the Chinese won’t buy it ,risk adverse and stuck in a rut copy cat designs of Kia ,Hyundai ,Honda or Toyota designs that all look the same ,then add on limited mileage ,home owners only ,no renter coverage with all plug in electric motivation ,thus we replicate the new boring GM ,that must have Harley Earl rolling over in this well designed grave ,sadly !
Somewhere along the way people forgot that concept cars are.
GM for a short while did make production concept cars like the Solstice, SSR and Camaro. Once they did then they complain that they are hard to see out of or have no cargo room and ergonomics.
Now GM and most other companies have a long history of concept cars like the ones GM showed at the Motorama’s of the 50’s. While most were never produced we did get hints at some styling.
Based on the China. Erosion and what you got with the Blazer you have nothing to complain about. It is time to embrace reality.
The Chev Equinox far outsells the Blazer and the customer is always right !
GM has a good history of making good concept cars. The Escala and the Avenir are my recent favorites. I really wish that they implemented the pillarless b section from the Avenir into the Camaro. Along with a sportback design to allow a larger cargo area. Yes it’s drawback would be that the chassis would not be as stiff. But the 2 major drawbacks from the current camaro is lack of cargo and bunker like visibility. Granted GM has some of the best engineers out there I’m pretty sure they would have overcame the chassis stiffness.
The Escala concept should have started a new era for Cadillac in a more dynamic way. The CT6 should have became a shorter Escala. Incorporating the headlights and sportback design. The CT6 incorporated the 4.2tt and AWS (all wheel steering). I really hope the CT5 and CT4 V Blackwing add AWS along with AWD as options to them.
For the SUV/CUV I’m not offended by they design theme for any of them. I do wish they’d add more powerful engine options. Maybe the FWD/AWD oriented 3.6tt as an alternative to the larger SUVs like the Traverse. While being the performance option in the smaller models like the Blazer and all of the Cadillac models.