‘08 Chicago: GM Adds Fourth Lambda Variant with 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
Fret not, Chevrolet dealers - you now have a Lambda crossover to sell. The 2009 Traverse, which will be unveiled today at the Chicago auto show, shares its underpinnings with the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave while eventually succeeding the fated Trailblazer..
Replacing the TrailBlazer may be the raison d'etre for the Traverse's existance, but it could be internal competition for Saturn's Outlook. Although pricing for the Traverse is yet to be seen, we think the pricing structures used by both the Chevrolet and Saturn brands may prove to be close to one another, leading the consumer to choose between the two based on styling.
On that end, the Traverse shares the most with the swoopy Enclave; much of the sheetmetal and window forms are carried over from the Buick crossover, not the Acadia/Outlook twins. The Chevrolet version gains unique taillamps and front fascia that supposedly ape those on the 2008 Malibu, although we see too much influence from the ungainly Uplander minivan up front. Inside, the Traverse sports a new dashboard that resembles that of the Malibu, but the remainder of the cabin is carryover Lambda.
(Click through for a gallery and more on the Traverse, including a release from GM.
The Traverse comes standard with the 281-horsepower 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 found in Cadillac's CTS; like its Lambda cousins, it's coupled through a six-speed automatic through either the front wheels or an optional all-wheel-drive system. Unlike the previous three, the Traverse won't be assembled in Lansing, Mich, but at Saturn's former home in Spring Hill, Tenn. Production should begin later this year, with sales beginning in the fall.
We'll bring you more on the Traverse when we see it in person later today, but leave us your impressions. Does it do anything for you, or what styling cue is the dealbreaker? Do Saturn and Chevrolet, two brands with similar pricing and content structures, both need Lambda crossovers, or should one die? Sound off in the comments section below.
CHICAGO – Introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is an expressively styled, well-equipped crossover that gives customers people-hauling and cargo-carrying capability typically found in larger SUVs. With styling cues inspired by the acclaimed ’08 Chevy Malibu, the Traverse delivers refined details with strong proportions and the bold front-end appearance found on all new Chevrolets. Traverse will start production in the third quarter of 2008 at GM’s Spring Hill, Tenn. manufacturing facility. “We think the Traverse is the right vehicle at the right time,
Comments
Cicero
Love the direct injection engine and how it looks different then the other Lamdas
Ken
I'm ready to order one if it doesn't require midgrade or premium fuel and if the heat & AC controls are simple to operate with knobs rather than buttons to repeatedly push (my Audi controls have become an iritation). I'm holding out for better MPG and I hope this has it and yes I'm willing to lose out on performance. Great job on the exterior design.
enthusiast
Not sure about the tail lights but overall the styling looks good.
Cicero
The DI 3.6 liter in the CTS does not require premium fuel
Jeff
And another SUV. We sure don't have enough of those.
mike
I hope the DI is for fuel mileage, because that power number is all of 6 better than the outlook XR.
and the rear end is fuuuugly.
Mike
Very nice in most regards. I think the key to success in this version though will be price to quality realtionship. The interior looks cheaper on this than on other versions but if the price of the vehicle is also a bit less then I have no issue with that.
GM seems to be really be making strides and it will be nice to buy an American car next time. I currently have two imports. One is a Honda Odyssey that I would consider replacing with this new SUV from Chevy.
JHinton
"Do Saturn and Chevrolet, two brands with similar pricing and content structures, both need Lambda crossovers, or should one die?"
No, the Saturn, GMC, Pontiac, and Buick divisions should die. They all compete for the same customers and consist of the same cars with slightly different sheetmetal.
Scratch
Notably absent are the fuel economy numbers. Although that's probably not surprising at this stage since EPA testing has yet to be done for this vehicle.
seeker
They did a great styling job! I love the invisible c-pillar.
phd_engineer
The bumperless look on the Outlook and now the Traverse is not good. I can only imagine the cost of a low speed rear tap.
GM styling is better than the Wayne Cherry era, but am I alone in finding most of the non-Cadillac designs rather ugly?
Also, has anyone noticed the huge print advertising spend that GM has put in publications like Motor Trend and Automobile? The ads look like real content, and I wonder if thats a bit dishonest. Also. if you follow the REAL stories closely, they give GM the pass on some notable negatives. An example of this is the 450 pound weight gain on the CTS-V. That vehicle, a performance CAR, weighs nearly as much as a CROSSOVER Ford Edge. The Edge has been universally panned for being overweight by the same publications.
Something to think about.
seeker
what's with the italics on this page?
seeker
There they are again
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Phil
I would seriously consider buying this SUV......Have to wait to see what the Fuel Eco numbers are first though. Do the other lamba suvs have the DI engine?
Mena
With DI you can have both performance and fuel economy. Considering this car only requires 87 octane, looks as if performance was compromised a bit. Although 280hp is nothing to sneeze at and plenty for this car.
94 taurus owner
should have been called the Tranvercadabu.
94 taurus owner
Or the enclamaltranverse.
94 taurus owner
But looks nice though.
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Steve Borysiak
I think most people buy vehicles for how they look, first and foremost. Most people.
I think GM is finally getting it, as far as building vehicles that are exciting to look at.
I do think they still have a few too many vehicles/brands competing with each other though.
I like the looks of the new Malibu and this Traverse. I think the taillights are slick, actually.
jeffrey miller
The new traverse is a vehicle whose time has come, but should have come before the acadia/enclave. The trailblazer has stayed too long and has become a dinosour among the SUVs. As a sales associate, I see this vehicle outselling the competition, like the malibu has. The styling is contempory and sleek and DOES NOT come close to the Uplander.
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