Holden confirms Trailblazer

Last week Holden revealed its facelifted Colorado ute in the form of the MY17 Chevrolet Colorado one-tonner and now it has announced that the wagon version, currently known as the Colorado 7, will arrive later this year with similar upgrades -- and a Trailblazer badge.

The adoption of the Chevrolet nameplate, as we predicted when both models were previewed by Holden-designed concept vehicles at the Bangkok motor show in March, will be accompanied by the same design, technology and locally-engineered chassis updates as seen in the MY17 Colorado.

Both the MY17 Trailblazer and Colorado, which share the same ladder frame and diesel engine, will go on sale in August following their world debuts as Chevrolets in Brazil, where they were developed. Both vehicles will continue to be produced in Thailand for Australia.

As with the ute, the seven-seat SUV will bring a new front-end design and a new-look dashboard with new 8.0-inch colour touch-screen incorporating GM’s latest MyLink infotainment system including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

There will also be a redesigned centre console, new seat trims, more soft-touch surfaces, extra equipment and upgraded ride, handling and NVH-suppression.

“Trailblazer will be used by customers in a variety of ways so we had to ensure its performance was versatile and capable but also refined," said Holden’s Lead Dynamics Engineer, Rob Trubiani.

“We also understand the vehicle will be mostly used by families and those expecting a more premium experience so, when working with the Brazilian homeroom, we’ve focused on reducing noise and vibration as well as ride isolation, to give customers a comfortable cabin environment."

Just as the MY17 Colorado faces stiff competition in Australia's lucrative pick-up market from the new Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and the facelifted Ford Territory, Mazda BT-50, Isuzu D-MAX, Volkswagen Amarok and Toyota 70 Series, Holden hopes the Trailblazer will prove more popular than the outgoing Colorado 7 despite a host of new or upgraded rivals.

Last year in Australia, GM's large SUV was outsold by the Toyota Prado and Kluger, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Subaru Outback, Holden Captiva 7, Ford Territory, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Pathfinder, Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Pajero, Mazda CX-9 and Kia Sorento. Just 3000 Colorado 7s found homes in 2015 -- a fifth the volume of the dominant Prado.

This year it will face even more competition from direct new ute-based full-chassis SUV competitors like the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Holden’s Executive Director of Marketing, Geraldine Davys, said customer feedback and a midlife makeover were important factors in the decision to change the name from Colorado 7 to Trailblazer.

“With the redesigned 2017 Trailblazer, we have dialled up the luxury and ride comfort to offer a more premium SUV that’s comfortable and confident in urban areas, but remains just as capable for weekend adventures,” said Davys.

“The move to adopt the Trailblazer name emphasises the vehicle’s new direction into a more luxurious and premium space."

Holden’s Executive Director of Sales, Peter Keley, said the newly named Trailblazer wagon caters to a different audience than the Colorado pick-up.

“Colorado has always been associated with exceptional off-road performance and Trailblazer shares that 4x4 heritage, however, we expect it will be used in a very different way," he said.

"Trailblazer is a 4x4, seven-seat, family adventure vehicle that is refined and smooth on the road during the school run, but still able to head off the beaten track while searching for that perfect camping spot or hidden fishing hole.

“Trailblazer also delivers on customer expectations of comfort, luxury and advanced technology, with the use of premium cabin materials and new Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection technology,” said Keley.