Chevrolet Trax to Debut at 2012 Paris Motor Show

General Motors released detailed information and new pictures of the all-new Chevrolet Trax small SUV, confirming its official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show next month.

The Chevrolet Trax small SUV will go on sale in more than 140 countries worldwide in September and will launch first in Mexico during the fourth quarter.

The five-passengers Trax SUV will arrive at European Chevrolet dealerships in spring of 2013, following the introduction of the all-new Chevrolet Malibu and the much-awaited Cruze station wagon in 2012. US markets are not in the picture at least for the moment.

The Chevrolet Trax shares a platform with the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka and the Buick Encore. It measures 4,248 mm in length, and features a width of 1,776 mm and a wheelbase of 2,555 mm.

Trax has sufficient space to accommodate five persons in a comfortable high seating position. It will deliver car-like handling while also enabling off-road capability when needed.

The engine line-up will include a 1.4L turbocharged gasoline unit, a 1.6L gasoline engine as well as a 1.7L turbo-diesel engine. The 1.4L turbo gasoline engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, cranks out 140 hp (103 kW) and produces a maximum torque of 200 Nm. The AWD system is available on variants that come with the 1.4L turbo gasoline or the 1.7L diesel engine.

The 1.7L diesel engine will deliver a power output of 130 hp (96 kW) and a maximum torque of 300 Nm. All powertrains with manual transmission come with Start/Stop functionality. Both the 1.7L diesel and the 1.4L turbo gasoline engine will also be offered with a six-speed automatic transmission.

GM says that storage amenities in the new Trax are plentiful. Besides a 358L trunk, they include various bins above and on both sides of the center stack, as well as an available under pass seat tray. Further stowage can be made available under the cargo floor.

In addition to a 60/40 split rear seat, Trax boasts a front passenger seat which can be folded flat, offering additional flexibility in the segment. A total of eight seating combinations can be selected.

Upper trims will be equipped with Chevrolet MyLink as standard. Chevrolet MyLink is an infotainment system that aggregates content from smartphones onto a seven-inch, high resolution, full color touch-screen display. As of this winter, MyLink will feature a navigation app which can be downloaded onto compatible smartphones. It will project the route calculated by the smartphone onto the system’s touch-screen.

An array of standard passive and active safety systems will ensure that occupants are effectively protected in the event of an accident. Trax will be equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) including Hill Start Assist (HSA), Traction Control (TC), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution. Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) are standard on LT trim vehicles.

The 2012 Paris Motor Show is scheduled to go live from September 29th to October 14th.