A few months ago, we were there when the 2010 Cadillac BRX, an upcoming version of GM’s TE family of crossovers that also includes the recently released Saturn Vue and the upcoming Saab 9-4X, was let out of the house for track testing. Now, another of the TE platform-mates has not only gotten out of the house, but is out on the road, barking and chasing cars.
Based on the pictures we just got from our spies, the 2010 Chevy Equinox appears to share its bodyside stampings, wheelbase, and certain other key elements with the Cadillac. This prototype’s front end appears to be darn close to that of the shorter-wheelbase Vue, though its thin bar in the middle of the grille—as opposed to a fat bar at the top of the grille—clearly gives this one away as a Chevy.
The interior shot reveals interesting thick-rimmed gauge pods and silver trim around the HVAC registers—design elements we’ve not seen on Chevrolets before.
Under the skin, little is known at this point. We expect GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 from the Vue will make it to the Chevrolet, and we half expect an SS version with a 300-plus-horsepower direct-injection V-6, as seen in the Cadillac CTS.
We’ll see what GM has done to address the Vue’s pesky weight problem, something which prevents even the hybrid version from getting truly great fuel economy.
But given that the current Equinox has provided the basis for a variety of alternative fuel powertrain experiments, including a small fleet of hydrogen fuel cell versions, we expect that the next one will include not only a two-mode hybrid, but also a plug-in hybrid, and the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.
Regardless of what it has beneath it, we like what we see so far. If Chevy can pull the same kind of coup for crossovers that it did in the sedan market with the Malibu, we predict more praise for the bow-tie division.
Based on the pictures we just got from our spies, the 2010 Chevy Equinox appears to share its bodyside stampings, wheelbase, and certain other key elements with the Cadillac. This prototype’s front end appears to be darn close to that of the shorter-wheelbase Vue, though its thin bar in the middle of the grille—as opposed to a fat bar at the top of the grille—clearly gives this one away as a Chevy.
The interior shot reveals interesting thick-rimmed gauge pods and silver trim around the HVAC registers—design elements we’ve not seen on Chevrolets before.
Under the skin, little is known at this point. We expect GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 from the Vue will make it to the Chevrolet, and we half expect an SS version with a 300-plus-horsepower direct-injection V-6, as seen in the Cadillac CTS.
We’ll see what GM has done to address the Vue’s pesky weight problem, something which prevents even the hybrid version from getting truly great fuel economy.
But given that the current Equinox has provided the basis for a variety of alternative fuel powertrain experiments, including a small fleet of hydrogen fuel cell versions, we expect that the next one will include not only a two-mode hybrid, but also a plug-in hybrid, and the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.
Regardless of what it has beneath it, we like what we see so far. If Chevy can pull the same kind of coup for crossovers that it did in the sedan market with the Malibu, we predict more praise for the bow-tie division.
