GM Korea unveils upgraded Trailblazer SUV

Industry

Published: 19 Jul. 2023, 17:00

GM Korea unveils upgraded Trailblazer SUV

GM Korea President Roberto Rempel, right, and dancer Honey J pose with the latest Chevy Trailblazer at a press event Wednesday in southern Seoul. Honey J is a global ambassador of the Trailblazer SUV. [GM KOREA]

GM Korea is reviving its fortunes with the latest Trax crossover, and the automaker is looking to cash in further with an upgraded Trailblazer SUV.

The Korean arm of the U.S. automaker on Wednesday introduced the latest Trailblazer SUV in Korea, its first partially revamped version in three years.

As the best-selling Chevrolet SUV in Korea, over 620,000 Trailblazer SUVs have been sold globally since its introduction in 2020. Most of the Trailblazers are manufactured at GM's plant in Bupyeong, Gyeonggi, and some in its China plant.

With a thinner LED headlamp, the newest Trailblazer boasts a more polished and sharper look, while the interior underwent a complete overhaul.

GM Korea President Roberto Rempel introduces the latest Chevy Trailblazer at a press event Wednesday in southern Seoul. [GM KOREA]

Four versions of the car are available, including the front-wheel-drive and the all-wheel-drive with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Powered by a 1.35-liter gasoline engine, it generates up to 156 horsepower and 24.1 kilograms-meter of torque.

The trunk capacity stands at 460 liters (121 gallons) and can be expanded to 1,470 liters when the second-row seats are folded down.

The sticker price begins at around 27 million won ($21,300), around 1 million won pricier than the previous version.

"The new Trailblazer has all the elements that represent Chevrolet's flagship and the authentic American SUV, including outstanding engineering capabilities created by our expertise acquired in the U.S. and Canadian markets, and solid reliability capable of driving in any environment," GM Korea President Roberto Rempel said during a press event Wednesday in southern Seoul.

"I truly feel confident recommending the new Trailblazer to anyone, including my family and friends. I deeply believe it is the best compact SUV in the market."

Interior of the revamped Trailblazer [GM KOREA]

GM Korea’s sales have seen a steady rise this year thanks to its latest Trax Crossover, which was introduced in March. Its sales between January to June jumped 75 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. Domestic sales rose 8.2 percent on-year to 18,984 in the first six months, while exports jumped 86 percent to 195,322.

GM Korea swung to an operating profit of 276.6 billion won last year, ending eight consecutive years of losses.

GM sells vehicles under four brands globally: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, with Chevrolet and Cadillac models currently available in Korea.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]