Upcoming Chevrolet Trailblazer spotted testing in Pune

Despite its earlier stint in India dating back to 1926 and the fact that it was amongst the first brands to set shop after liberalization in the early nineties, General Motors is an almost-forgotten automotive manufacturer in the country. Opel came and went and Chevrolet, despite a successful launch and a few hits, could not sustain its positivism in this part of the world. The press conference that the company held last week previewing the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) Trailblazer and Multi Utility Vehicle (MPV) Spin for India then was timely, bringing the 'bow-tie' brand back in contention in the minds of the Indian car-buying public.

Slated for launch in the fourth quarter of this year, the Trailblazer is the next Chevy model headed to the showrooms. Testing of the upcoming premium SUV seems to be going on in full swing as evident from these clear spy-shots. Caught yesterday on a busy thoroughfare in Pune by our alert reader and ardent fan Guru, the Trailblazer sure does look imposing. In each of these shots, you could actually see passers-by craning their necks to have a look at this camouflaged SUV. 

Imparting a bold stance up front is the tall bumper and the trademark split grille that adorns all Chevrolets. The clam-shell hood and the beefed up wheel arches add muscle too. Other interesting aspects of the Trailblazer include the unique C-pillar design, the wraparound rear windshield and the smaller yet attractive taillights. Doing duty under the hood would be a 2.8-litre Duramax diesel engine that churns out 200 horsepower at 3600 rpm and a whopping 500 Nm of torque at 2000 rpm. Being a premium SUV, plush interiors with an array of safety features and creature comforts should be part of the standard kit. 

The premium SUV segment is set for a lot of action in the next few months. In addition to the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the new Ford Endeavour is also expected to make its debut in India shortly. With the all-new Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport unveiled within weeks of each other, their Indian debuts within the next year or two cannot be ruled out either. Its imposing stance notwithstanding, the new Trailblazer really has its work cut out. Let's see how The General fares!