The Chevrolet TrailBlazer was showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo and will be competing against the top selling Toyota Fortuner in the segment.

2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer front
The TrailBlazer could replace the Captiva in Chevrolet India’s lineup

Showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo last February, General Motors India has imported two units of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer SUV in the country for R&D purpose as the import data suggests. A rival to the best selling Toyota Fortuner in the premium SUV space, the TrailBlazer is a 7-seater full-sized SUV with brawny looks, immense road presence and a potent diesel powertrain that would be a good alternative to current options in the SUV segment.

Even though GM already retails the Chevrolet Captiva in the same segment, the crossover had not managed to captivate buyers as much as the brawny looks on the Fortuner did. The TrailBlazer, on the other hand, is a mammoth of an SUV with an imposing road presence. The full-sized SUV measures 4878 mm in length, 1902 mm in width and 1834 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2870 mm. Launched in 2011, GM India has been contemplating the TrailBlazer’s launch and it now seems the American auto giant is pretty serious about bringing the SUV in the country.

Powering the Chevrolet TrailBlazer for the India spec model will be the 2.8-litre Duramax diesel engine, tuned to produce a whopping 180 BHP of power and 470 Nm of torque, paired to manual and automatic transmission options. Chevrolet has also loaded the TrailBlazer with a host of gadgetry on offer. When launched, the SUV will also compete against the Ford Endeavour and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport that also possess off-road prowess and brawny appeal. The automaker will also have to make changes on the assembly line to accommodate the wide SUV.

If General Motors does give a green light for the launch of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, do not expect the model to hit Indian shores before 2017 as the company has been iterating the fact that it will not launch any new products before the said year. The automaker will be bringing the SUV via CKD route in India from Thailand and given the free-trade agreement between both the countries, a competitive pricing can be expected with prices starting close to Rs. 25 lakhs (ex-showroom).

2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer interior
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is larger than the Fortuner in terms of dimensions
2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer back
The TrailBlazer uses a 2.8-litre 4-cylnder diesel engine producing 180 BHP of power

Source – Zauba.com