2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV production in Thailand: Indian auto market sees model year Cruze sedan and Captiva SUV
Production of the humble looking muscular 2013 Chevy Trailblazer has begun in Thailand. The beefy mid-sized SUV will begin to roll out from General Motors…
If you let your mind take over, the Trailblazer comes off as the love child of Chevrolet’s Tahoe and Traverse. The 2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer is expected to be equipped with a 2.8 liter engine delivering 180hp and producing 346 pound-ft torque, or a 2.5 liter engine delivering 150hp and producing 258 pound-ft torque. Expect a 5- speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Trailblazer produced at the Rayong plant will be headed to local markets initially, and later to 50 global markets. However, North American customers may have to wait a while before for the 2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer makes its way. Production has begun since May and Chevrolet may well and likely increase unit production in accordance with demand.
This week General Motors introduced the Chevrolet Cruze sedan in the Indian auto market for Rs 13.85 lakhs. Price upto Rs.15.67 lakhs ex-showroom New Delhi for variants. The new Chevrolet Captiva SUV in India comes at a starting price of Rs 18.74 lacs (Ex-showroom, New Delhi). The Xtreme variant of Captiva 2.0 MT is priced at Rs 19.48 lacs while the top of the line, Captiva 2.2L AT is priced at Rs 24.59 lacs.
News release: Trailblazer Blazes the Roads of Thailand
Thai media invited to test the Trailblazer on the roads of Thailand for the first time
Various activities held to demonstrate the versatility and performance of the new SUV
New presenter for the Trailblazer introduced
The Chevrolet Trailblazer was recently handed to a few groups of Thai media, for an opportunity to test-drive the all-new SUV on a 500km ride-and-drive program.
Launched globally in March 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Trailblazer is powered by GM’s renowned Duramax turbo-diesel engine which features superior power and torque outputs in addition to being fuel-efficient. Due to durability-enhancing technologies in the engine, the Trailblazer has a service interval of 20,000 km. In fact, Chevrolet will be announcing details of a maintenance guarantee for the Trailblazer, similar to the one announced for the Colorado, soon.
The Trailblazer also comes with premium SUV functionality and features – including four coil springs and a five-link rear suspension for superior ride and handling, and had disc brakes all round for superior stopping performance.
In the recent ride-and-drive program, journalists were taken on a route that consisted of Bangkok’s highways, to the back-roads of Nakhon Ratchasima and finally to the famous Farm Chok Chai, where they were given more opportunities to experience the Trailblazer’s performance and versatility.
“The Trailblazer is strong and capable. Ready for rugged off-road conditions but equally well-mannered for city and long distance road trips. It will be built in Thailand for Thailand, and soon also make its way into the rest of the world. It is yet another world-class Chevrolet product that demonstrates the capability, commitment and attention to detail of our dedicated Thai workforce. And delivery of the Trailblazer to our customers starts right now,” Martin Apfel, President of GM Thailand/SEA and Chevrolet Sales Thailand, said.
Activity stations were organized at Farm Chok Chai to allow the media to witness and experience for themselves specific capabilities of the Trailblazer. The stations included the ‘Towing and Passenger Capacity’ station, ‘Off the Road’ station and an uphill-downhill course. The latter demonstrated the Trailblazer’s HDC (Hill Descend Control) and HSA (Hill Start Assist) systems, both of which work in conjunction with, and provide dynamic support to the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system.
The activities provided the media with a balanced perspective of the Trailblazer’s versatility after a two-hour drive from Bangkok where they were able to experience the superior power, performance, handling, comfort and refinement of the Trailblazer on long highway drives and quick winding stretches.
In addition to activities at Farm Chok Chai, the first group of media (the ride-and-drive was conducted over a span of more than two weeks, with five media groups) also had the opportunity to meet the new presenter for the Trailblazer, Mr. Chokchai Bulakul, Group Managing Director and CEO of Farm Chok Chai, when he made a surprise appearance during the journalists’ visit to his farm.
On Chevrolet’s decision to appoint Mr. Bulakul as the Trailblazer’s presenter, Mr. Antonio Zara, Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, GM Thailand/SEA and Chevrolet Sales Thailand said, “Mr. Bulakul is the perfect representation of a typical Trailblazer owner – a successful entrepreneur who knows what he wants and works hard and intelligently to achieve his goals. Performance, versatility and refinement are his requirements, and these are also the Trailblazer’s qualities, in line with our tagline and theme, ‘I believe I can’.”
“His motto ‘Win Small but Win Often’ is the perfect description of how we do things at Chevrolet, which has grown consistently month-on-month, year-on-year, and in a sustainable manner supported by a strong portfolio of exciting products,” Zara added.
Mr. Bulakul said, “The reason why I decided to be Trailblazer’s presenter is because I like a real vehicle with real performance. I have to use a vehicle that is tough and rugged in my work, but the same vehicle must also be refined enough for me to drive it to a party and meet my friends. I also like to drive it to Farm Chok Chai on my day off from work.”
“I think the Chevrolet Trailblazer is ready to meet the requirements of my daily life. I can travel in this vehicle and indulge in sports and adventure activities too. It is safe, tough, versatile, convenient and at the same time gives me a feeling of luxury and refinement. I think it’s the best vehicle in Thailand,” he remarked.
According to Mr. Laurent Berthet, Communications Director, GM Thailand/SEA and Chevrolet Sales Thailand, the other reason why Farm Chok Chai was chosen as the destination for the media ride-and-drive was because it put the Trailblazer in its ‘natural environment’.
He explained, “In addition to Mr. Bulakul being our presenter. Farm Chok Chai also allows us to demonstrate the versatility and performance of the Trailblazer. It is also located at a reasonable distance from Bangkok, and allows us to plot a route so our media friends can experience the power, handling, comfort and refinement of the Trailblazer on the highway and winding roads.”
“The Trailblazer will be used by people – successful entrepreneurs such as Mr. Bulakul, who would like to take their families on weekend trips, and Farm Chok Chai is a very popular destination for this type of trips. The Trailblazer is in its element here,” he added.
The Trailblazer goes on sale in June 2012, and will be available in seven exterior colors: Summit White, Black Sapphire, Sizzle Red – which will especially please the fans of our new sports partner Manchester United, Auburn Brown, Blue Mountain, Royal Gray and Switchblade Silver. Prices for the Trailblazer in Thailand are as follows:
Trailblazer 2.5 LT 2WD M/T: THB 1,059,000
Trailblazer 2.8 LT 2WD/4WD: THB 1,249,000/THB 1,299,000
Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ 4WD: THB 1,389,000
Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ1 4WD: THB 1,489,000
In conjunction with the start of deliveries, Chevrolet will be organizing road shows and other events to introduce the all-new Trailblazer to a wider cross-section of potential customers.
