33 replies to this topic

[black-knight]

G. Noble
Editor/Reporter
CheersandGears.com
March 27, 2012

If these patent drawings unearthed by French publication L’Automobile Magazine are the real deal, then it seems Buick — and by extension Opel — won’t be the only GM brand selling a new small crossover in the near future. The drawings, which unsurprisingly are claimed to come from the European patent office, clearly show what seems to be a Buick Encore-based vehicle with some changes to the sheetmetal and wearing the familiar Chevrolet dual port grille. That also means the small Chevy CUV depicted would be the same size as the Encore, would offer all-wheel drive, and would probably share an engine or two.

L’Automobile didn’t receive any confirmation or comment from GM about the patent drawings. On a more interesting note, the L’Automobile article seems to think that this particular GM model may play a tidy role in the GME-PSA partnership, providing PSA with a vehicle which they can rebadge and use to replace the Mitsubishi-based Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007.

If this new Chevy shows up anywhere, count on it turning up in Europe and Asia, especially China. As for us in North America? There’s a good chance we may get a crack at it as well. An Encore-based Chevy CUV could slot in below the Equinox and give Chevy a vehicle that can take the Toyota RAV-4, Honda CR-V, and Jeep Compass head-on.

Source: L'Automobile Magazine

Click here to view the article

[Paolino]

Mon Dieu! I'm barely excited about this as a Buick...

[Drew Dowdell]

The schnoze is too large. There is more to it than an Encore rebadge. Look at the encore side profile in the gallery.

[CanadianBacon94]

I don't think an SRX style nose <overhang> is what this vehicle needed

it should size up better to the small cuv's though

Edited by CanadianBacon94, 27 March 2012 - 09:36 PM.

[hyperv6]

I hear this is the 2025 Tahoe.

I really don't think this one will be here. Too close to the Buick. But in this day and age they never seen to find enough SUV's to sell anymore.

[black-knight]

I don't know about that, hyper. I think it'll be here. The whole reason GM repurposed the Opel Antara/Saturn Vue for the U.S. market as the Chevrolet Captiva Sport was because they felt there was an absence left in the wake of the discontinuation of the old HHR. I know the Captiva Sport is only available brand-new to fleet buyers right now, but I think that will change with whatever replaces it. Call it a hunch, but I think the CUV in the patent images will be what replaces it.

I also wonder how much shelf life the Antara has left after the Mokka goes on sale. The Antara only rides on a wheelbase that's six-inches longer than the Mokka's and the other dimensions aren't that much larger.

Edited by black-knight, 27 March 2012 - 10:11 PM.

[Cubical-aka-Moltar]

Chevy could use it here...they have nothing in the compact or subcompact CUV niche...nothing to compete directly w/ the CR-V, RAV-4, Escape, Rouge, etc...

[vonVeezelsnider]

Even though the sheetmetal isn't the same, it looks a little too much like the Encore to me for some reason...

[daves87rs]

I'm all ears...

[dfelt]

I believe a compact CUV for Chevy with FWD/AWD options would be the ticket for many young College graduates starting their career and wanting a solid ride to get up the mountain to play.

This would rock for Chevy!

[regfootball]

Encore was at our autoshow, and it looked fantastic. It's a great size also. Funny thing, the dimensions are about the exact size (the Encore) as the sx4's i try to give away every day. The Encore is an amazing styling job. It is an extremely small rig yet it has a ton of presence and looks substantial.

The size is such that it it's on the small platform that should give nice mpg....and it looks to be space efficient. It will probably be 7-900 pounds lighter than an Equinox. Cheaper to buy also. My guess is if chevy brings it here, sales will explode, and also i bet this is why there is no Orlando here.

One of the easiest ways to make small cars actually desirable is to raise the roof and make it a crossover so people can be comfortable, and get some ground clearance for winter. If chevy does not sell this here, one of their competition will and will take market share.

[black-knight]

If chevy does not sell this here, one of their competition will and will take market share.

Uh, the competition already have it. Let's see, there's Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Jeep, Mitsubishi ...

The schnoze is too large. There is more to it than an Encore rebadge. Look at the encore side profile in the gallery.

The nose appears to be a little longer, but these patent drawings always manage to come across different from the real thing somehow.

It's not a blatant rebadge, no, but it's obvious that it appears be related to the Encore/Mokka.

Edited by black-knight, 28 March 2012 - 01:27 AM.

[hyperv6]

Chevy needs a small SUVbut I don't think this one is the ticket.

It is just a little too close the the Encore in shape and style. GM has done a pretty good job of platform sharing and if the do this one as a Chevy and the Encore one of them will lose.

They need to change the body more like they did on the Cruse and Verano. St least give it a little different shape. While this is different it is not enough.

[Drew Dowdell]

Keep in mind that the 'Nox and Terrain are losing some bulk on the next total redesign. They are moving to a Delta2(3) variant.

[riviera74]

But what should the Equinox and Terrain target: the RAV4 or the Jeep Wrangler?

[Drew Dowdell]

The CR-V for the Nox, The Liberty for the Terrain.

[Cubical-aka-Moltar]

The current Equinox is closer to the Pilot in size..a lot bigger than the CR-V...

[GMTruckGuy74]

It would be better for GM to re-align the sizing of their SUV/CUV models to avoid overlap and fill in gaps that they currently do not offer a model in:

GM: Yukon XL/Suburban - Yukon/Tahoe - Acadia/Traverse - ?/Trailblazer - Terrain/Equinox - Encore/Chevy Moka
Ford: Expedition XL - Expedition/Navigator - Explorer - - Explorer - Escape - N/A or C-Max?
Chrysler: N/A - Durango - Grand Cherokee - GC - Liberty - Patriot/Compass

(and of course I won't go into the foreign brands but you have the Sequioa, CR-V, Pathfinder, X-Terra, Rougue, 4Runner, RAV4, etc to put up to each of these classes)

This ideal GM lineup offers a balance between SUV (BOF) and today's more demanded CUV architecture, where those needing towing & payload capability can still find it and those seeking more people haulers find what they're looking for. Of course the Trailblazer has not been id'ed for sale in North America, nor has a GMC version been alluded to either. But if offered it would bring a sense of balance to the dealer's lots and offer customers more choices in vehicles that suit their driving needs.

[Drew Dowdell]

The current Equinox is closer to the Pilot in size..a lot bigger than the CR-V...

Keep in mind that the 'Nox and Terrain are losing some bulk on the next total redesign. They are moving to a Delta2(3) variant.

[Cubical-aka-Moltar]

It would be better for GM to re-align the sizing of their SUV/CUV models to avoid overlap and fill in gaps that they currently do not offer a model in:

GM: Yukon XL/Suburban - Yukon/Tahoe - Acadia/Traverse - ?/Trailblazer - Terrain/Equinox - Encore/Chevy Moka
Ford: Expedition XL - Expedition/Navigator - Explorer - - Explorer - Escape - N/A or C-Max?
Chrysler: N/A - Durango - Grand Cherokee - GC - Liberty - Patriot/Compass

Currently as far as CUVs, the Ford/GM alignment seems to be the Traverse matches up w/ the Flex and Equinox w/ the Edge. Nothing really lines up w/ the Escape or Explorer. WIll be interesting to see how things evolve...

With BOF SUVs, the Tahoe and Suburban line up well w/ the Expedition and Expedition EL.

I guess the Buick, GMC, and Cadillac entries sort of map to Lincoln.