Holden is killing the Colorado 7 nameplate for the facelifted version of their seven-seater SUV that will arrive in Australia adopting GM’s global Trailblazer moniker from Chevrolet.
GM’s Australian arm said that customer feedback and a change in vehicle design were important factors in the decision to rename the SUV . “The move to adopt the Trailblazer name emphasizes the vehicle’s new direction into a more luxurious and premium space,” explained Holden’s Executive Director of Marketing, Geraldine Davys.
In other words, while the new Trailblazer continues to be the SUV body-style of the also resigned Colorado truck that was introduced in Brazil last week, Holden wants to disassociate it (marketing-wise) from the pickup in the minds of buyers.
The 2017 Holden Trailblazer that will go on sale in Australia later this year adopts the same cosmetic upgrades as the Colorado, bringing a new, more Americanized and boxier fascia with modern LED daytime running lamps, plus added chrome accents and new tail lamp fixtures.
The changes are more evident inside where GM gave the refreshed Colorado truck and Trailblazer SUV a brand new dashboard design together with more upmarket materials and trim. Another highlight is the eight-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology.
Holden says it also retuned the suspension and made efforts to reduce noise and vibration inside.
“We 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,” said Holden’s Lead Dynamics Engineer, Rob Trubiani.
The Australian carmaker did not provide details on the powertrain, but the 2017 Trailblazer is expected to continue with the same 147kW (197hp) and 500Nm (369 lb-ft) 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel as the outgoing Colorado 7.
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