The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is an all-new product to come from GM India after ages and will hopefully help the automaker restore its brand image.
Having entered the Indian market in the late 1990s, General Motors has been struggling to gain momentum in the Indian market, mainly due to bad decisions and some bad products as well. With the company rapidly losing market share and losses mounting with every quarter, the automaker finally decided to take some stern action and made some major changes to its plans for India. After deciding not to launch a new product till 2017, GM has now taken that restriction off and is preparing to launch the TrailBlazer premium SUV in the country later this year.
Our eagle-eyed reader Nebu Thomas managed to spot the Chevrolet TrailBlazer doing its test runs on MC Road, Kerala covered completely in camouflaged. Based on a ladder-on-frame chassis, the TrailBlazer was showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi and will be available with two engine options, namely the 2.5-litre four-cylinder, diesel motor producing 163 BHP of power and 380 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. The premium variants will get the 2.8-litre four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine capable of churning out 200 BHP of power and 500 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox with AWD available as standard.
A 7-seater, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer will come with a commanding seating position while offering ample space inside the cabin, especially at the third row. With the recall issues globally, GM is having a hard time keeping up with its brand name in India and the TrailBlazer might just help the automaker win back its audiences before it brings the Spin MPV and a host of other products in the following years.
At present, the premium SUV space is ruled by the Toyota Fortuner in the country courtesy of its massive proportions and road presence, and the GM offering too maintains similar attributes that should go down well with Indian buyers. Apart from the Fortuner, the TrailBlazer will also compete with the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, SsangYong Rexton, Hyundai Santa Fe and the likes in the segment. Prices are expected to start at Rs. 25 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the SUV.
