GM’s automotive design language is always evolving, and that includes styling language for the Bow Tie brand. Now, it looks as through the latest Chevy design trend is a “shark fin” style C-pillar, as evident by the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse.
Debuting the crossover’s latest third generation, the 2024 Chevy Traverse presents an all-new exterior design that suggests a more truck-like attitude. Interestingly, the profile also shows off a shark fin style C-pillar, which rises sharply just behind the rear door before leveling off and falling back sown to the vehicle’s shoulder line.
While the 2024 Chevy Traverse is currently the only modern Bow Tie-brand vehicle to include this new Chevy design element, the 2025 Chevy Equinox will include it as well, as evidenced by a series of images leaked last year in China. Just like the 2024 Chevy Traverse, the 2025 Chevy Equinox incorporates a body-colored element that rises sharply behind the rear door before leveling off and falling down to the shoulder line, creating a shape similar to a shark fin.
One could argue that this is in fact a “reverse shark fin” shape given it appears to be pointing backwards, rather than towards the front of the vehicle, but either way, the shape is noteworthy all the same. Also noteworthy is the way in which it divides the roof from the pillar with a black section connecting the side glass to the rear glass, creating a sort of “floating” roof design.
While the next-generation Chevy Traverse and Chevy Equinox include a shark fin C-pillar, the current ICE-powered Chevy Blazer does not, nor do the refreshed 2025 Chevy Tahoe or refreshed 2025 Chevy Suburban (although it should be said that the C-pillars on the refreshed full-size SUVs do look relatively close in shape to a shark fin, albeit with a taller layout). The all-electric Blazer EV and Equinox EV don’t include shark fin C-pillars either, suggesting that the design element is specific to Chevy’s ICE models, at least for now.
In a GM Authority poll published last year, 40 percent of GM Authority readers indicated that they liked the shark fin C-pillar design element on the 2024 Chevy Traverse, while 60 percent indicated that they did not like it.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM Design news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Trailblazer has it too.
Yes it does, not sure why the new Traverse is being billed as the “first” Chevy CUV to feature it.
Looks better on the Equinox than the Traverse. Too big on the Verse. Another case of form before function because visibility takes a big hit.
It would probably keep me from purchasing as it blocks third seat visibility
Ew! That designer needs to go. Plus whoever approved it.
Some floating roofs are done much better but this so reminds me of they ran out of material to finish the c pillar
The shark fin is a great place to put the s shaped landau bar, you see on a hearse
What’s next? White teeth on the top and bottom of the black grill?
Eye lashes on headlights.
How about some real change, maybe a vehicle not so ugly as everything offered currently.
I love the new upcoming Traverse, and those pics again make me see why. However that C pillar is just too wide, it looks very good on the Trailblazer and upcoming Equinox because those were tastefully done. This C pillar cuts into outward viewing for the third row passengers.
Meh…reminds of a Nissan.
Gee whiz!
A Shark Fin! Too bad it is facing the wrong way.
Barra needs to go.
I don’t like it.
I like the “shark fin”… I am so sick and tired of seeing the BMW “kink” at rear end of the passenger window…and IMHO Chevy is doing great with their designs lately! Hey it could be worse they GM can bring back the “duster buster” van designs from the early 90s.
Its too large. Not only causing issues with rear visibility, but anyone sitting in those third row seats will feel claustrophobic.
Sure wish the Asian car companies would come up with better designs, as gm always copies them!
I would prefer something more tasteful like vinyl roofs and opera windows instead of this. Also, throw in some opera lamps please.
LouisR…yes opera windows my father’s Cadillac’s that he owned had those and remember my uncle’s 1970s mercury cougar had a vinyl roof I liked both designs…how about opera lights with led technology they would look great as well and some different interior colors other then black and tan and white.
The shark fin started on Silverado Ev which is why most new Chevy is getting it too. I would think G.M.A. would see that before we all do.
The thought occurred to me that maybe Buick should have the “shark fin” C-pillar design, since their front end is supposedly designed like a shark.
I have owned Chevy’s since the 1950’s. This design, the so called C-Pillar, is the most out of place design I’ve ever seen. It’s the first thing you see, and wonder if the manufacturer made a mistake when it was put together. After owning 3 Traverse I won’t be buying another until they change this design.
Christopher I think Buick was going for the wildcat design but I could be wrong I just don’t think designers know what to do anymore.
Agree w/Corelli…it’s backwards.
Good thing it’s not a boat.
As soon as I saw it, I thought: Does this mean the vehicle is moving forward? While the “body is moving Backwards?” Then, I read this: “One could argue that this is in fact a “reverse shark fin” shape given it appears to be pointing backwards, rather than towards the front of the vehicle”. Screwy. NOW, just to “Drive-everyone-NUTS!!!” Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo
Baby Shark…lol
Will be another epic flop
Nah, probably just a mediocre one.
The Traverse and the Acadia are both beautiful, minus the shark fin. What engineer thought this makes the Traverse look better? Probably the same engineer that thinks 2.5 turbo is going to make them go. The Traverse is sold as an eight passenger vehicle, assuming everyone weighs 150 lbs. that’s 1200 lbs plus modest cargo. Does anyone think this is going to be adequate power to get on an interstate, hold your breath. GM’s top management needs to take a vacation for awhile the stress is getting to them. I’m a loyal GM buyer but, I’ll wait before buying either the Traverse or Acadia.
JAC…the new TURBO engines makes more power then the the outdated V6 plus we own a Buick enclave while I love the car but that V6 gets thirsty and it even sometimes has trouble moving the big car…and no there is nothing wrong with the engine. I think GM is also being forced to do this because of ever more forceful emotions laws they to the EPA or government are still trying to phase out ICE engines even though nobody wants EVs…lets wait and see the the turbo 4 does. Also I own an equinox with the 2.0t engine and I previously owned a V6 equinox the 2.0t is a much better then the V6 IMO give the traverse a chance.
Goes with “Baby Shark doo doo” front end of the Encore.
At least IT is headed in the right direction .
Looks stupid. I was going to buy a new Equinox but I guess now I will NOT!!
I hate it.
The whole “floating roof” nonsense NEEDS to end.
It’s SO gimmick-y.
We have been driving one on the job lately. The headlights are down where the fog lights should be which ruins any idea of illumination. Bright and dim are really dim. My grade overall is D-.
I can’t say what’s under the hood but it’s impressive for a car like this.
Not a fan of the fin look on any of them. Probably wouldn’t stop me from buying one if that was the SUV I wanted. But I like to do some minor ‘this is mine’ customizing to my vehicles anyway, so I think I’d get some black ‘wrap’ material that matched the black plastic around the windows and follow the bottom of the window lines and block out the fin look.
GM needs to provide optical/vision insurance for their designers so they can see how bad some of their vehicles look. They designed a nice looking Traverse cross over in general and screw it up with a C Pillar that doesn’t fit in with the rest of the vehicle, not to mention that looks horrible. The New Equinox C Piller looks equally as horrible. Come on GM; you can do better. So happy I bought a 2023 Traverse while I could still get one.
Eric Larson congrats on your 2023 traverse while it’s a good looking vehicle to me it was always to soft styled for Chevy leave that to Buick with the enclave and maybe it’s just me but I like the shark fin and floating roof design… it’s like I said everyone made fun of the new Buick encore GX front end then I saw one in person it’s a really nice looking car in person to that’s why half the time pictures done do justice for car design! Meanwhile people love that God awful looking Hyundai palisades and Santa Fe which they ruined.
I agree, it does look soft. More car like than an SUV or crossover. But I prefer the look over the new model coming out, that’s why I jumped last summer while I could still get something I liked. The 2018 upgrade was a nice departure from the original Traverse and the slight upgrade of the 2022 pushed me to think this is as good as it’s going to get, especially after seeing spy photos of the new model Traverse. Never was a fan of the original Traverse. I had a 2011 GMC Acadia and jumped to a 2016 Acadia when I saw the new smaller 3/4 sized Acadia. I really need a full size vehicle for traveling and really didn’t want a Tahoe or Burb. Had to go back to a Chevrolet anyway (not a big deal) because GMC still had the smaller crossover and the family owned dealer group where I’ve done both Chevrolet and GMC business with the last 31 years sold their Buick GMC store in the city to a mega dealer leaving them with only a Chevy store in my small town and I refuse to do business with the crooks at the mega dealer. Judging by the number of nice preowned Buick’s and GMC’s on their lot, I’m not their only customer who has switched to a Chevrolet.
If I bought a Traverse, I’d find a good ‘wrap’ installer that could match the black window surround plastics and cut it to follow the bottom edges of the windows. Just cover that dumb thing up. With all-around cameras, etc, sight lines aren’t big deal and my kids in the 3rd row never look up from their screens to look outside anyway.
Can that shark fin be turned into a side air scoop? At least it would look sporty instead of ugly.
It would be just as useful as an air scoop as it currently is for helping the car swim straight.
Not a fan of the design what so ever. I currently have a 2018 Traverse and I love it. Looking at these designs for the new models…….yeah, HARD PASS, I’ll be holding on to my current Traverse. Very very very disappointed Chevy
My 2022 Chevy Tahoe has something very similar to the “shark fin”
How about a modern rear power “clamshell” liftgate opener of the 1970’s? The window slides up into the roof and the rest slides down under the vehicle. Very class act and different.
The 2025 Equinox Looks Great!! I’m Kind Of Up In The Air On The Traverse Though. There’s Something About It That I Don’t Like!
Chevy needs to concentrate on :
What did we do (or not do) to make Camaro go away
How fast can we get Camaro back
How do we get out of Biden’s insane Electric Future and go back to building ICE
How do we ask Ms Bara to leave, politely
I miss the Camaro for sure…but I think Ford is trying to kill the new mustang it I know it’s a performance machine but it looks absolutely hideous…to me it looks a bloated fish from the front with everything rounded off I much prefer the previous generation mustang l….?
Great design idea! Another way to reduce outward visibility!