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Sao Paulo, Brazil – General Motors revealed the Chevrolet GPiX crossover coupe concept today at the 25th edition of the Sao Paulo International Auto Show. Yes, they do drive cars in South America.

The Chevrolet GPiX concept was developed by General Motors Design in Brazil and represents a potential new segment for GM in the Mercosur region.

The GPiX concept features a two-door body style with high ground clearance appropriate for the types of roads and conditions found in emerging markets. The general director of GM Latin American design said the car offers the sporty design and versatility necessary for a country with the continental dimensions of Brazil.

GPiX also combines Chevrolet’s global design “DNA” with the cost-benefit proposition necessary to compete in today’s emerging markets. Jaime Ardila, President of General Motors Brazil and Mercosur said, “with this project, the Chevrolet GPiX concept could result in the development of many models for Brazil and the Mercosur region.”

GM’s Design Center in Brazil is one of 11 GM studios around the world. Its facilities are being expanded to meet increased responsibilities in the GM global development process.

Hmmm. They could be talking about anywhere.

Get more from http://www.chevrolet.com/

Frank S. Washington

Popularity: 1% [?]

Automakers have long known that women either purchase or have the final say in something like 80 percent of the new vehicles purchased in this country.

It stands to reason that eventually the influence of women in the automotive market would transcend to the design of automobiles. That has been happening without a lot of fanfare the last few years.

But Chevrolet is heralding its Women of Traverse Leadership Team which had a heavy hand in the development of the Chevy Traverse, a three-row crossover vehicle that has just come to market.

The vehicle line executive (the chief engineer and boss), the vehicle line director and the lead development engineer were all women and there were more on the top rungs of the Traverse’s development team.

They developed what Chevy is calling a family friendly crossover. The Chevrolet Traverse has 2 dozen places to story stuff, lots of cargo space, a rear power liftgate, rear parking assist, outstanding driver visibility, spiffy styling, an oversized dual sunroof, a rear-seat entertainment system and safety stuff like roll-over mitigation, traction control and OnStar.

The bottom line is that the majority of people who will drive the Traverse will be women and the vehicle has been endowed with attributes that Chevrolet thinks they want.

Get more from http://www.chevrolet.com/2009traverse

Frank S. Washington

Popularity: 2% [?]

I was invited to a regional rendition of the GM collection recently. And it was exactly what you’d think, a collection of some of GM’s products. The vehicles included the Corvette Z06 and the new Chevrolet crossover utility, the Traverse, at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL.

But the car, or should I say the powertrain, of the not too distant was also there in the form of the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell. Here’s the deal. The Equinox is hydrogen powered; it is a zero gasoline, zero emissions vehicle. Well sort of, the exhaust is comprised of water.

Hybrids and diesels, no matter what way you cut it, are stopgaps until we find a new source of fuel. In other words, the world is going to run out of oil, which means no more gasoline or diesel fuel and it’s most likely to happen sooner rather than later.

I got a chance to drive the Equinox as well as ride in it and it was not an otherworldly experience. Aside from no engine noise, the thing responded pretty much like any other vehicle. Acceleration was surprisingly good.

As for the fuel cell, simply put, it converts hydrogen into electricity, thus making the Equinox an electric car that does not need to be plugged in. A kilo of hydrogen equals about one gallon of gasoline and the generation of  Equinox Fuel Cell that I drove had a range of 170 to 190 miles.

And I was stunned to learn that the Chevrolet Equinox’s speed was electronically limited to 103 mph. That wasn’t because of any mechanical limitations; it was top speed the tires could take.

There are four challenges GM and others must conquer whe it comes to fuel cells: the range needs to be increased, hydrogen must be converted, a fuel distribution infrastructure must be set up and vehicle cost must be affordable.

A fuel cell powered vehicle for mass consumption is closer to reality than I thought.

Get more from http://www.chevrolet.com/

Frank S. Washington

Popularity: 1% [?]