Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Economy, Crossovers/CUVs, Hatchbacks, Chevrolet
New York Auto Show: Chevy Trax Live Reveal [VIDEO]
UPDATE: Additional live shots added to the high-res gallery
Click on the photo of the Trax concept for a gallery of high-res shots
Of the three GM triplets unveiled in New York today, the Chevy Trax concept goes for the most utilitarian look with a matte-finished lower body (a la the Honda Element), faux skid plates and pronounced fender flares. The 1.0L gas engine provides motivation to the front wheels, while a battery pack and electric motor will drive the rears on an as-needed basis providing a low-cost, efficient all-wheel drive system to this urban cross-over. Unfortunately, like the Groove, this concept also has no interior, but the well finished exterior has a lot of attractive design details for an entry-level vehicle.
What little information is available at this point can be gleaned from the press release after the jump. Many high-res detail shots of the exterior have been added to our gallery, and you can watch the unveiling on video after the jump.
You can view all the debuts and galleries from the New York Auto Show here.
[Source: General Motors]
PRESS RELEASE:
CHEVROLET TRAX: URBAN CROSSOVER
NEW YORK – Active buyers who want to get in touch with their sportier side – or who just want to navigate the urban jungle in a sportier ride – will make tracks to the Chevrolet Trax, an urban front-wheel-drive crossover concept with a twist: This micro SUV has an electric limited-slip differential that features an independent battery pack and an electric motor to drive the rear wheels, providing a low-cost all-wheel-drive system.
The four-door Trax is bathed in a Blaze Orange exterior finish, with rugged Burnt Orange accents on the front and rear corners that reinforce the notion this Chevrolet is all business despite its small size. Simple door lines make getting in and out easier; and fold-flat rear seats add functionality.
Other features that suit its dynamic and off-road character include a voluminous, single-unit bumper and fender in front and rear, a pronounced front wheel arch shape, dynamic side character lines, a rear-mounted spare tire and roof rack. Brake calipers in Flame Yellow infuse additional attitude. The package rides on 16-inch wheels and Kumho tires for precise ride and handling.
The Trax is powered by a 1-liter gasoline engine.
"The Trax is a vehicle that you can show off anywhere, be it off-road or on the road," said Sangyeon Cho, manager of the minicar exterior design team at the GM Design Center in Inchon, South Korea. "It brings a rational combination of SUV design, function, performance and value to the consumer."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike 12:50PM (4/04/2007)
a little too much Jeep in this one...
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100MPG ASAP 1:11PM (4/04/2007)
I hate concept cars. What's the point? Why spend so much money on concepts that never see production?
GM should spend the time on building cars people want.
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CaliberSRT4 1:18PM (4/04/2007)
It looks better in drawing.
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tikirob 1:28PM (4/04/2007)
I think this is what GM needs to do, their is no hip factor in there cars.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
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mr.ed 1:33PM (4/04/2007)
Nice that they dropped the chrome grille bar from the original version. The satin paint is too cute, too copycat and a pain to produce within budget. Being sorta Jeepy is no detriment. It implies a certain solidity.
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Mec Man 1:45PM (4/04/2007)
These are far better than the stuff that the Japanese OEM throw at us. Come on, if you folks don't like it, at least be respectful when you say you don't like it. A lot of effort went into building these concept vehicles.
I hate those arm chair critics!
Thanks.
Mec Man
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Chris 1:53PM (4/04/2007)
Not a big fan of the autos, but you can keep our attention with more photos of the models.
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3cubedminus3squared 1:58PM (4/04/2007)
This is the ugly one of the three. It looks like a submarine or something. The groove is probably the best.
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felipe 1:59PM (4/04/2007)
it looks like a cartoon from the movie cars.
squint at the top pick, it looks like an old wise car with buck teeth about to talk to you.
in fact if not for the silver on the bumper, it'd look more like a mouth.
good effort, thanks for coming, NEXT!
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ES 2:09PM (4/04/2007)
how does a battery and motors cost less than a drive shaft and a rear axel? the hidden expense is in the batteries and the motor brushes.
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Rick Lyon 3:04PM (4/04/2007)
I like this one. But honestly. THe mirrors will change, the door handles will change, the tires will be fat air bubbles, and the overall look will be softened like the rest of Chevy's lineup. So, this sweet concept will look quote different and possibly ugly when / if it hits production.
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Cheezedog 3:23PM (4/04/2007)
I like this one the best of the three auto so far shown by GM. First off, It makes the most sence to me for urban living. I rairly have 4 people in my car, or carry 4 people and cargo. If I do need to do something like that, I can just rent a car to suit my needs to do so.
Also, in the city, one rairly drive beyound a speed where wind resistance makes a diffrence in gasoline efficency. So having a tall wagon like this does not make a lick of diffrence over a short sedan. Making this a Hybrid with engine shut off at stop lights, was a smart dissition on GMs part.
Speaking of the Hybrid system, its a rather nifty idea how its exicuted. First off this spreads out the wieght of the engine accross the whole lower section of the car, (where it needs it most.) Secound it reduces rotating innerta. Thats great because to get up and go, Ever pound you take off the drive systems spinning parts is like taking ten pounds off the rest of the car. This can only leads to better responces, and fuel efficency.
Assticaly speaking, it does not have any bad nagging details that the Groove has. (Nore is a flat out speed poser like the Beat.) Its much cleaner, and uniform of a design that sugjests utility. The headlights repeat, it's design with the taillights. (not nessarly copy it right down to the using the same bolt patterns, but mimmic its styaling Qs.) The handles on the door, are shrunk down, and repeated on the hood latches. I also love how the side signal is intigraded into the rear view mirror, (but I do hope they go to a full circle for better practicality if this auto goes to production...)
The monocromatic color choose on this particular auto is nice, but I wonder is they will be able to repeat this just as nicely 13 more times in shades of Red, blue, white, black, silver, and so forth.
If I do have one complaint about the design, its on the B piller where the door frames meet the door's main body... It should be more smoothly champered so to not leave a noticeable crease.
Hopefully this design's elements will make it to production.
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DPC car videos 3:28PM (4/04/2007)
Figures, out of the three body styles they where offering and I didn't vote for gets displayed.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
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SherbornSean 6:08PM (4/04/2007)
I tried to vote for the Chevy, but Sanjaya keeps winning.
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AMcA 11:27PM (4/04/2007)
More presence than any tiny car I've ever seen. Even in production trim, this pugnacious little shape will stand out.
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GOT 1:18AM (4/05/2007)
This is a great small car... opps, I mean concept. I want to throw a lot of praise towards this car because it's a great design. But there are hundreds of thousands of fabulous concepts that simply remain concepts and or they are neutered and produced with only hints of the original concept.
The car has a lot of style that speaks of ability and fulfillment. It looks capable and enjoyable. I'd buy the production version looks just like the concept, is reliable, performs relatively well and is modable.
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Bob L. 1:37PM (4/05/2007)
Please read this article in the Detroit news. We need these cars here in the U.S. It does not look like G.M will sell them here.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070404/AUTO04/704040451/1364
From article "In an interview with reporters after revealing the three concept cars, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said it currently was unlikely that GM will build any of the triplet concepts for sale in the United States, unless there was a dramatic prolonged increase in fuel prices or an "unforeseen" change in fashion for small cars here. He also said the vehicles could be priced starting at $10,000 and could be built in either China or India. All of the triplets would get in the high 40 or 50 mile per gallon fuel economy range.
Lutz noted that the vehicles aren't currently being designed to meet rigorous U.S. safety requirements, another sign the company isn't likely to bring any of the three vehicles designed at GM's South Korean design studio to the U.S. market."
For G.M. to change its image these are exactly the cars they need to sell in the U.S. Please help publicize this.
You can also vote here:
http://info.detnews.com/autostalk/lettersindex.cfm?topic=Mini_Chevys&forum=autostalk
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