New Details Surface About Future Small, Unibody Chevy Pickup
50
Sponsored Links
General Motors continues to further the development of a future small, unibody Chevy pickup, about which GM Authority first reported in late 2018. Now, after GM South America confirmed the project earlier this year as part of its production plans for the 2020-2024 calendar years in Brazil, new details have just emerged about the compact unibody pickup that the company is preparing.
The upcoming small Chevy pickup will be an all-new model that will indirectly replace the Chevrolet Montana that has been sold for more than a decade in Latin American markets, where it’s also known as the Chevy Tornado. In addition to confirming that the vehicle will ride on the GEM platform, sources familiar with the matter have revealed that the pickup will share many elements with the new Chevrolet Tracker subcompact crossover, while also having an aesthetic identity of its own.
According to Brazil’s Autos Segredos, the next-gen compact Chevy pickup will be launched in mid-2022 in Brazil, where it will compete in the growing category of unibody pickups currently dominated by FCA Stellantis and its Fiat Strada and Fiat Toro models. The source claims that the new model will have a four-door cabin as its only available configuration. A single cab option is not planned, at least initially.
Those who claim to have seen the vehicle say that, aesthetically speaking, the new compact Chevy pickup will have a front design inspired by the new Chevrolet Trailblazer, much like GM Authority presented last year in our exclusive renderings. In fact, the new model will utilize a split headlight setup with the slim LED daytime running lights (DRLs) on top followed by the primary headlights lower within the front end.
The upcoming compact Chevy pickup is said to take cues from the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, pictured.
On a mechanical level, GM’s next unibody pickup is expected to use the same powertrain as the range-topping version of the fourth-gen Chevrolet Tracker, but with higher power output and a more robust configuration to enable a healthy payload rating. The engine in question is the 1.2L I-3 turbocharged engine, which in the pickup will offer more than the current 133 horsepower it generates in the subcompact Tracker.
2017 Chevrolet Montana Activ-X
The next-gen compact Chevy pickup will be ready during the first half of the 2022 calendar year for the Brazilian market, where it will strengthen the Bow Tie brand’s product portfolio in the face of intensifying competition for local sales leadership. The vehicle is also expected to be offered in Mexico along with most markets in Central and South America. As of this writing, an introduction in the U.S. or Canada is not expected.
As for its name, the aforementioned publication also reports that the new compact pickup will retain the Chevrolet Montana nameplate.
Want the latest about Chevrolet and General Motors? Then subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Chevrolet Montana news, Chevrolet news and ongoing GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Anyone know how the trailblazer compairs sizewise with the new ford Maverick? Would it be easy to import and sell competitively? It almost sounds like the new Montana is closer to production than the Maverick.
So for kicks, I looked up dimensions. Trailblazer and bronco sport are dimensionally diagonal…. Except the bronco sport has a slight lift and wider wheels. IMHO, I can see this Ving to the states 1 year after the Maverick launches…. Assuming that the Maverick sells well. The only thing this truck could use would be a bigger optional motor. The Maverick will have the motor from the bronco sport which is far more powerful…. Though that may not be a bad thing as this class of vehicle is supposed to be economic and is marketed towards people who don’t participate in the “bro dozer” war.
Problem is, that this next-gen model is on the GEM (global emerging markets) platform. So without some changes, it’s not going to even be sellable in US or Canada. Not saying it’s impossible, but those changes will requiere some investment.
Yes I’d love to test dive one I have. Chevy Colorado. And would love a new truck. I have 2005 never even seen that I had a new one I wouldn’t know what I do if that hapen to me .
The Maverick is based on an Escape C2 platform but that means little.
It is an expandable platform that can be made longer and wider so the Maverick is larger than the a escape and closer to the Bronco sport.
The Maverick is smaller than a Ranger nit that much smaller.
You get these too small then the back seat has no room and the bed is useless.
To convert an CUV platform is not hat but getting the right one to convert is key.
I will keep my Canyon based on what I hear in this story. This is not my old Sonoma.
Regular cab short bed and import it to the US.
Or long box, and call it El Camino.
Hell yeah
Did you read the article? Importing trucks to the US is essentially not feasible pricewise. The “Chicken tax” would automatically slap a 25% tariff onto the price of any pickup truck imported from anywhere not in North America. And building this model in North America would require a massive retooling of an existing plant in the US, Mexico or Canada, which would be massively expensive, not to mention the hassle of federalizing a car meant to be sold in developing markets.
Also, this thing was designed and will be built in Brazil, which is…not good. Anyone remember the Volkswagen Fox? Build quality is not a top priority in countries where people can’t flush their toilet paper. Low cost is the priority.
A small unibody pickup that could be Internal Combustion or EV would work for a lot of families. Not everybody has $50K to $100K to spent on a pickup to haul their trash cans to the dump or pick up some grass seed at Home Depot.
Single cab 6.5 “ box one can use
I totally agree. SCSB…why won’t GM give us a 2 dr? They make a WT size here but won’t sell it in the US. Why? They should offer it as a Silverado so we could option it as desired.
Corporate stupidity is what I call it. Not everyone wants or needs a 4 door pickup. GM get your head outta your arse’s.
Bring the New MONTANA Small Pickup to the US Markets Now! We need a cool UTE for our market!
At this point a North American re: USA version is not planned. But with the other makers introducing their own little trucks like Hyundai and Ford. GM would once again be caught in their stupidity mode to not have one.
Bring the design language of the Holden Ute with the v8 powertrain.
El Camino, baby!!!
Is it just me or is it every continent gets a better version of a gm product and at lower cost !
Not just you. Post on GMA late last night that the Chinese malibues are getting multi colored sued interior trims.
IMO, till this day, the best Montana truck was the 1st gen, based on the Corsa C.
The 2nd gen (shown above as the Activ-X) not only looks hideous but it’s also a downgrade in terms of engineering. While the 1st gen was based on the Corsa C (which was launched in Europe in 2000 and in Brazil, with some differences, in 2002), the 2nd gen was actually based on the Agile, which itself was based on the Corsa B underneath, an older project, from 1994 (1993 in Europe).
I like the looks. A little longer cargo box would be welcome. A truck that fits through my single bay garage door is a good thing. Not everyone needs/wants a bro dozer truck.
If this was available in the U.S. I buy it.
Here you go GM, import this in limited numbers and it will sell.
her you go GM, import this in limited number and it will sell.
I think once they get this done you will find it will not be a good fit for American sales. Also it will fall short of your expectations.
Most trucks overseas are not anything that would do well here.
Also for the price they will charge you can get a base extra cab Colorado 2WD for a similar price.
Even the Colorado is too big for many. I thing a modern version of unibody pickup (like the old El Camino) would fill a current gap, and sell well.
The El Camino died due to the S10. I know as I was a Camino fan.
Even when Pontiac looked to bring it back it was going to cost as much or more than a loaded Colorado and only sell around 10k planned imported units.
Even now the Maverick is not a sure thing, it is not that much smaller based on photos with the Ranger and if it cost similar to the Bronco Sport it is not going to be much cheaper.
No FWD based truck really has worked. Even the Honda sells just half what the Colorado sells.
The automakers are trying this as based on the FWD CUV platform there is more built in profits as the mid size trucks now are limited in profits.
I know lots of enthusiast on the web say it is a no brainer and they would buy one but that is not enough anymore as companies no longer just want to make money they need to get the largest return on investment they can.
The days of the standard cab short bed S10 at $9,999 are long over. The Colorado can get down to $19k in base form.
The Maverick is the first to really try to look like a truck so will see how that goes.
What I would love to see is a Blazer based truck but again that would not come cheap.
Either way this deal in South America would leave many disappointed. It is not the second coming of the S10.
GM is missing the mark again. I would much prefer this type of truck to either the Colorado or the Silverado. The new one from Hyundai is looking pretty good.
Cute little bugger. Maybe if you are lucky can carry two people and three luggage?
Would like to see a new El Camino type vehicle
El Camino, Schmel Schmamino. Nothing personal.