Chevrolet has announced the return of the TrailBlazer, and confirmed that the SUV will share a body-on-frame platform with the new Chevrolet Colorado pickup. You may recall that we published spy photos of the mid-size ute this past summer.
Like the Colorado, the TrailBlazer will be a global vehicle. We know at least two of its markets: It will go on sale in early 2012 in Thailand after debuting at next month’s Dubai auto show. Even though GM hasn’t yet said it will sell the new TrailBlazer here, we expect that to change: An American-spec Colorado was confirmed earlier this week.
It’s worth noting that Chevy already offers Americans the unibody Equinox in this general size range, which possibly could preclude offering the TrailBlazer here. But towing and hauling aren’t really Equinox strengths—its respective maximums are 3500 and 1190 pounds—and GM says that the TrailBlazer will “combine the hauling and towing capability of an SUV with the ride comfort and efficiency of a crossover.” This could keep shoppers in Chevy showrooms who need more utility but for whom the king-size Tahoe and Suburban are too big. Plus, U.S. sales open up the possibility of a reborn GMC Envoy, which in turn opens up the possibility of a new Envoy XUV. Ficus-transporting aficionados rejoice! (Seriously, though, can we put in a request for another TrailBlazer SS? That thing was awesome.)
Chevy released no further specifics on this SUV, but we do know that the Colorado will be offered—at least overseas—with a choice of two turbo-diesel fours. One is a 2.5-liter making 150 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the other is a 2.8 that churns up 180 horses and as much as 346 lb-ft. Both the pickup and this SUV should also have a couple of gas-fired options, possibly turbocharged. We’ll have more details on the TrailBlazer in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
Thanks to: Car and Driver