More Holden Trax details revealed
GM's all-new compact SUV to come with both turbo petrol and diesel enginesGeneral Motors has revealed more details of its all-new Trax city-crossover, which will be sold in Europe as a Chevrolet and available in Australia wearing Holden badges next year.
Holden is yet to reveal the technical make-up of its first small SUV since the Suzuki Ignis-based Cruze was discontinued after just four years in June 2006, but in Europe the Trax will be available with two petrol engines and a diesel.
Opening the range in Europe – but probably not in Australia because it’s not available elsewhere with an automatic transmission – will be a front-wheel drive variant powered by a version of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine seen in the Barina.
Positioned further upstream will be a 1.7-litre turbodiesel that outputs 96kW and 300Nm and, later in 2013, the same 103kW/200Nm turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol four that powers Ti versions of the Australian-made Cruze small car.
Both the 1.4 (turbo) petrol and 1.7 turbodiesel engines will be available with a six-speed automatic transmission in Europe, where both models will also be offered with an on-demand all-wheel drive system, while all manual models will be fitted with a fuel-saving idle-stop system.
Chevrolet has also revealed the Trax rides on a 2555mm wheelbase – 30mm longer than the Barina upon which it’s based – and measures 4248mm long and 1776mm wide overall, while offering a 358-litre boot augmented by a 60/40-split folding rear seat and a flat-folding front passenger seat. Total luggage space is 1372 litres.
It says there is a total of eight seating combinations, while interior storage solutions will also extend to various bins above and on both sides of the centre stack, a tray under the passenger seat and a compartment below the cargo floor (presumably instead of a spare wheel), bringing the total number of storage options to 19.
In Europe, a premium version of the Trax, which Chevrolet says will accommodate five people in a comfortable high seating position, will be equipped with the brand’s MyLink infotainment system, which displays content from smartphones on a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-colour touch-screen display. MyLink will also come with a navigation app that can be downloaded onto compatible smartphones.
GM claims the compact Trax wagon will offer car-like handling dynamics as well as light-duty off-road capability, plus the safety of six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution. Europe’s top-shelf LT variants will add Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC).
“For many decades, Chevrolet has been known for its dependable and capable SUVs,” said Susan Docherty, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe.
“Trax will deliver on all of the traditional Chevrolet values and more. It is a modern, highly versatile yet fuel-efficient small SUV, offering car-like handling and all-wheel drive.
“Trax is the modern expression of one of Chevrolet’s core competencies, which is building and selling great SUVs.”
As we’ve reported, the Trax will make its global public premiere at the Paris Motor Show on September 27, and was snapped by motoring.com.au undergoing public-road testing wearing Holden badges in Melbourne last month.
While Opel Australia is considering the local release of the German brand’s version, dubbed the Mokka, Holden has confirmed the Trax will slot in beneath the Captiva here in the second half of next year. Before then, Holden’s sparse SUV line-up will be topped by the large seven-seat Colorado7, which is due here in early 2013.
If the Mokka is any guide, advanced Trax technologies will include a front camera system that includes Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Traffic Sign Recognition, plus Advanced Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) featuring bi-Xenon headlights with High Beam Assist (HBA).
Expect the Holden Trax to be a direct rival for booming sub-$30,000 sub-compact crossovers like the Hyundai ix35, Jeep Compass and Patriot, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Dualis, Peugeot 4008, Skoda Yeti and Subaru XV, as well as Ford’s all-new EcoSport, which is also due here in about 12 months.
Together, the Trax and Colorado 7 are expected to double Holden’s SUV sales.
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
