General Motors continues to reveal details of the next-generation Chevy Montana ahead of its world debut early next year in Brazil, promising that Chevrolet‘s first unibody compact pickup will have class-leading fuel efficiency.
The automaker has just published a new episode of the web series dedicated to the next-generation Chevy Montana’s final development phase, carried out at the GM Cruz Alta Proving Ground. GM says the project’s engineering team focused on creating the best integration between the next Montana’s mechanical and electronic systems to ensure the best efficiency-to-performance ratio in the segment.
“Many are curious to know what most impacts the performance and dynamics of a pickup truck: torque, weight or aerodynamics? The secret lies in harmonizing technologies,” said GM South America Vehicle Development Engineer, Silvio Mariano, in an official press release. “And the end result is what matters to the consumer,” he added.
To deliver best-in-class performance, the next-generation Chevy Montana will include a “high-output” turbocharged engine and an advanced electronic control module with up to three times more calibration variables than the previous model. The next-generation powertrain would allow the Montana to have a higher-than-segment-average acceleration-to-fuel ratio, empty or loaded, according to GM projections.
The company claims that the upcoming Chevy Montana, equipped with an automatic transmission, will be the fuel-efficiency champion in the compact pickup segment in South America. Meanwhile, the manual-transmission variant of the Montana promises the best 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in its segment. However, GM Brazil did not reveal specific powertrain details yet.
The next-generation Chevy Montana will make its world debut in early 2023 in Brazil, the country that’s leading its development and the only manufacturing center of the compact pickup confirmed so far. The model will debut a new concept of Chevrolet pickups with innovations that make it more spacious, comfortable and efficient on a daily basis. Its main rivals in South America will be the Fiat Toro and the Renault Oroch, which are manufactured in that region.
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Comments
Years ago when Pontiac was still with us the Montana was a minvan. If I remember it was not a sales hit and not widely praised by the automotive press
Those were a very good van. Good fuel mileage as well.
The Pontiac Montana van was a fantastic vehicle… it did NOT gain traction in the USA BUT was widely popular in Canada… I had a (bought in) 2006 Montana SV6 (in Stealth Grey paint) that lasted until a few months ago when I traded it in for a new vehicle. 16 years with the same vehicle says something about the quality of the vehicle.
Outstanding Dee Hart.. friend of mine has one of the first year Chevrolet Avalanche trucks with 459,000 miles, he showed me the odometer, looking to get at least 300,000 out of my 4.3 V-6
Holy crap… That’s great miles… money’s worth there!
Finally, competition the Ford Maverick. Hope it come to America and with a 2-door option. Now let’s have something to compete with the Jeep Wrangler from GM! All ICE please!
Agreed …. it
s way past time GM/Chevrolet put attention on a fuel efficient “small” pickup. I’ve felt it was a major screw up changing the Colorado from a small fuel efficient truck to the over priced & bloated vehicle it is now. Like you a 2 door would be welcomed, If you remember the Chevy Luv was a hit w/everyone … and one that needs to come back.
my 2014 silverado 285 horse 4.3 v-6 gets 24 mpg,, not bad for a truck that weighs 5300 lbs.
GM doesn’t need something to go against the Wrangler, that is a niche market that is now saturated with the Bronco. People tend to turn those types of vehicles over often if they don’t off road (which many do not, the wrangler percentage has been dropping steadily for years) as they are horrible daily vehicles and people realize that after the newness and excitement wears off. GM is smart to stay out of it and concentrate on other more profitable and higher selling models that aren’t so siloed.
what you are totally missing is the fact that the Wrangler/Bronco segment is massively hot right now and the only thing they have to sort of play in that sand box is the Colorado Bison. They could very easily cut the roof off the bison, put a removable top on and call one a K5 perhaps, but instead they are axing the Diesel and the V6 variants, and forgetting EV all together.
I calling BS on GM’s statement. Ford’s Maverick is comparable to the Montana, and Ford’s Maverick has a hybrid power train. There is no way GM’s Montana will be more fuel efficient than the Maverick’s hybrid power train.
The question is will the Montana cost thousands less because it doesn’t have a hybrid powertrain? That will buy you a lot of gas and have less maintenance issues in the future.
Maverick hybrid is 20K. Montana being thousands less than that isn’t going to happen.
Production and sales costs in Latin America are very high in the main markets, such as Brazil and Argentina, which are highly closed to foreign trade and their high tax burdens.
In Brazil, for example, the Maverick is sold only in the Lariat FX4 version with a 2.0T engine for the equivalent of US$45,000.
The Toro, in turn, sells for the equivalent of $27,000 to $41,000 depending on the version and engine chosen (1.3T or 2.0 turbodiesel). Oroch is sold with prices between 21,000 dollars to 27,000 dollars depending on the version and engine chosen (1.6 aspirated or 1.3T).
Montana is expected to be positioned right between Oroch and Toro in terms of pricing.
In making this statement that Montana will be more fuel efficient, she did not consider the Maverick, which was developed with the North American market in mind and makes it considered a “premium” and niche vehicle in many Latin American markets. .
It is likely that it only considered Fiat Toro and Renault Oroch as competitors.
It won’t come here. I can tell a story about seeing a 4 door S10 truck at a location long ago. This was far before there was any intent to ever sell them here in the states. Talked with those associated with the truck and the sum of the conversation was, “It would never sell here in the states”. Years later when a similar product became part of the mix and was a huge success, guess those that said it would work were wrong. Same goes with the Montana, Tornado, etc. There are those that make the choices that often baffle the rest. On this site or other similar sites that over time when seeing the earlier Montana immediately declared it would be a failure. It wasn’t HUGE enough or couldn’t be lifted or drag a 5 ton trailer so nobody would want it. Now Ford and the Maverick is an item. And GM is sitting on the side.
Until GM brings some personality back into more of it’s products it’s going to have a tough time unless the product is exceptional. This segment is begging for that “personality”.
it is already non-competitive because of the all ICE nature of the description in this article. now if they leap frogged Ford and made a PLug in Hybrid of this with let’s say the easy to replicate last gen Volt, but offer it with no frills for under 21K, that would surely be something to steal the maverick thunder.
watch… GMC will put a turbo 1.5 or 2.0-liter motor in this vehicle… If they do, it will go the way of the underpowered “Orlando” van.
It is virtually certain that GM does not see Maverick as a competitor for Montana, as Ford has given its model a “premium” positioning in many Latin American markets, making it a niche vehicle and has low sales in this segment.
If it is interested in entering the North American segment, it will likely make a specific model, considering local needs.
Bring it to North America, call it the S-10
or better yet – (GMC) Jimmy
Why not both, Jimmy for the GMC variant and S-10 for the Chevy model?
Do we need both at all?
Looking at its overall shape from the camo… I don’t like it, looks kinda frumpy. That said as it nears release and sheds it’s camo I may change my opinion on its design.
It needs to be sporty and zippy with a turbo ICE with manual transmission and AWD options. I could use it as my utility commuter.
the 3.6 liter could be a good and peppy motor for this one…
Ford is eating GM’s lunch in the states w the Maverick. As usual, late to the North American market. American don’t care about new product thy can’t purchase. Used to be the other way around. Now China gets priority. US market share slowly dropping.
Yet Ford had to lay off 8,000 workers to pay for their electric vehicles.
Ford is not eating anyones lunch.
With so many Mavericks burning to a crisp, are you sure that they aren’t COOKING GMs lunch?
Bet it’s going to have a 1.0 liter, two cylinder and an electric turbo. To achieve that class-leading fuel economy.
The only way the Montana truck would pick up speed with a little motor is if it is rolling downhill.
What are the chances of seeing it in the USA?? There are many small PU world wide that are to say the least SWEET but there is no chance of seeing them here!!
Weather it is good or not I expect GM is looking to the new EV Colorado that is coming. It is only Colorado in name and will be smaller and cheaper. Could be on a Blaze or Nox EV platform.
Let’s just see after the initial sales how the Maverick does.
GM have made it’s mind up. Every new fuel efficient ICE vehicle , of interest will be sold or produced in China or Brazil and in the US will be force to to purchase an Overpriced EV
Regulations have made the call not GM.
Why is it all Chevy vehicles sporting the “Squinty Eye” lights? Did they get a discounts on these lights from their supplier?
GM needs to understand that small good looking trucks with 4×4 are the future. They have priced the full sized out of most peoples abilities to purchase.
My son and his wife have good jobs but are looking at the Ford Maverick for its great fuel efficiency.
GM has nothing that evens comes close. With inflation driving costs of everything through the roof there is less and less money available for an expensive truck.
Wake up GM.
Get rid of Mary…..
Traded my 2nd Colorado for a Ridgeline…will never go back!
I own a ‘22 Maverick Lariat Hybrid since early March. A great truck if your priorities are fuel economy over extensive towing capability. If not, the Ranger pickup is a better fit. I have been seeing anywhere from low 40’s to up to 52 mpg in real world town driving. Makes the pain of $5/gallon gasoline a lot more tolerable.
My son has a ‘16 Malibu Hybrid that was rated something like 47/47/47 mpg. Can anyone tell me why the 1.8L Hybrid engine in this car was discontinued for the ‘20 model year? Would have making’s of a great small GM truck engine. However, GM is not paying me to make such decisions. Ha! Ha!
You’d think GM would come up with an original idea one of these days rather than copying Ford all the time.
I will add, that I traded in a ‘16 Duramax Colorado to buy the Maverick. With today’s high used truck prices, it was practically a straight up trade cost, dollar for dollar!
Wow, pictures are out now of the Chevy Montana and geezz. I could cry, I’ve always been a chevy guy. I had a S10 and a Ford Ranger, I like the new maverick but the Montana makes me want to puke. I can’t believe anybody actually thought the design looked good…. It doesn’t. Looks horrible. Sorry Chevy. I’ll go maverick all day over the Montana even if it gets better MPG.