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Do we really need the Trailblazer?

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    • #38200
      wbodyfan
      Participant

      Don’t get me wrong — I’m all for new products. But won’t this crowd the Chevy SUV/CUV lineup?

      Compact CUV, Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe/Suburban, and then the Trailblazer?

      I’m just wondering how they’ll position the Blazer… more off road and towing capability? The closest competitor that comes to mind is the 4Runner. Anything else out there in the same segment? Does 4Runner really need competing with? Does it sell that much?

      Not trying to be a downer. Just wondering aloud here.

      PS: W body rules! B-)

    • #38425
      Alex Luft
      Keymaster

      Good question. I think there is room in the lineup for a rugged, capable (towing, off roading) SUV. Something like a 4Runner or the new Grand Cherokee. Competition is relative — and it’s really not that much about competition as it is about serving the customer.

      My personal hope is for the Equinox to gain an optional third row sometimes in the near future, thus offering three rows of seating for under $25,000. GM is being beaten in this segment by the RAV4 and Kia Sorento, both of which are smaller. If the Equinox gains a third row, Chevy will have all the volume they need for something like the Blazer — even if it’s just a low-volume niche vehicle.

    • #38426
      wbodyfan
      Participant

      Just thought of another competitor: the Nissan Pathfinder. Body-on-frame – check; shares platform and underpinnings with a pickup truck – check.

      I’d say that’s fairly analogous to the Colorado.

    • #38430
      Alex Luft
      Keymaster

      Now that reports are surfacing that the Blazer may not be coming to the States, here’s my question: why call it “Global”?

      Even GM calls it their “global midsize SUV”… what gives?

      And @wbodyfan is totally right — this will be the analogue to the Frontier and Pathfinder.

    • #38435
      Vic1212
      Participant

      I think it’s kinda funny since they did some test in America and then next thing they said it might not come here… I call that BS

    • #38437
      Alex Luft
      Keymaster

      Reply to @Vic1212: Yeah, I’m right there with ya. I’m not sure what all the posturing is about. It could be that they simply have not made a decision about the U.S./North America yet, as it was designed by GM Brazil for developing nations first and foremost.

      But to not launch a vehicle, especially an SUV, in SUV-hungry America, would be stupid.

    • #38461
      yabadabadoo
      Participant

      My thoughts are we need something like this, it could be though that this vehicle needs some engineering to get it to American specs. I still think make one model with 2 doors and large dutch doors enough to easily access back.

    • #38472
      Alex Luft
      Keymaster

      Reply to @yabadabadoo: GM is currently talking about bringing this truck/SUV to the U.S.

      As far as we know, it was designed to be sold all over the world, including the U.S./North America. The reservations include:
      1. Overlap with current product CUVs
      2. Positioning
      3. The overall decline of midsized body-on-frame SUVs
      4. Public image of introducing “another gas-guzzling SUV”

      According to our sources, that last one resonates very strongly with some in charge of product planning. Not sure why, since those who think of GM as a manufacturer of gas-guzzlers aren’t going to buy GM in the first place…

    • #38476
      wbodyfan
      Participant

      That’s very interesting, @alex – thanks for sharing!

      GM’s fear of ruining their public image is understandable, but weak – in my eyes. They need to be a strong company out to make awesome products – rather than being concerned about their “green” reputation/credibility. The “greenies” can have the Volt. I still want my Camaro and body on frame SUV. Not that there’s anything wrong with the Volt.

    • #38529
      yabadabadoo
      Participant

      The images presented confirm that this vehicle is a must have, love the pictures. This vehicle is very exciting and its 7 passenger, add a 2 door blazer model with some dutch doors, how cool would that be, hope GM is listening.

    • #38532
      wbodyfan
      Participant

      @yabadabadoo Yea man — I’m right there with you on bringing the 7-passenger to the U.S. (and the rest of the world — then). Not so sure about a 2-door, though. Seems very niche to me.

    • #38542
      lt1george
      Participant

      We don’t need the Traverse, never should have been designed. Trailblazer plateform should have stayed on course. Bean counters won again. Spend a dollar to save a penny. How many Trailblazer customers were lost forever ??? GM will never admit.

    • #38549
      Alex Luft
      Keymaster

      @lt1george The Lambda architecture cost much more to develop than the new Colorado/Blazer platform.

      Conversely, one could ask: “How many new customers did the Traverse bring to Chevrolet that the TrailBlazer could have never hoped to attract?”

      They are completely different vehicles — and each has its own spot in the market. But they’re not interchangeable — meaning that a Traverse customer ≠ TrailBlazer customer, and vice-versa. That’s around 7,000 monthly sales we’re talking about!

    • #39323
      chevtothemax
      Participant

      ^ exactly anyeays if someone decided to buy a trailblazer instead of a traverse the money still goes to gm. anyways thier already bringing the colorado over so my question is why not?

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