GM Korea releases new Trailblazer geared for S.Korean market

General Motors (GM) Korea on Wednesday launched the domestic sale of its new model of the small SUV Trailblazer customized for the South Korean market.

Launched in 2020, the Trailblazer has seen global sales of over 620,000 units thanks to designs that consumers can choose from according to lifestyle and a more spacious interior for its class.

The SUV was also GM Korea's top passenger car export in the first half of the year.

The new model has four trims like Rally Sport (RS) and Activ (active). The semi-midsize vehicle is 442.5 cm long, 167 cm tall and 181 cm wide, and its wheelbase, or distance between wheels, was extended to 264 cm to expand the interior.

The new model's computer simulation reinforces body parts bearing weight and lightens parts with no weight using GM's design process technology "smart engineering."

In addition, the 1.35-liter gas E-Turbo engine with GM's light sizing technology has a maximum horsepower of 156 and torque of 24.1 kg-meter.

A VT40 continuously variable transmission is installed on the front-wheel drive version and a Hydra-Matic nine-speed automatic transmission on the four-wheel drive edition, with fuel efficiency of up to 12.9 km per liter.

The new Trailblazer also has major changes in design. The front has a newly installed dual-port grille with Chevrolet's signature design, upper LED daytime running lights are thinner than before and tail lights have new LED graphics.

Based on a design strategy of customizing each trim, the RS edition exudes a sporty feeling and the Activ model strong emotion.

The interior has a driver-focused design instead of the dual cockpit motif that was part of Chevrolet's identity. The latter format features a symmetrical dashboard for the driver's and passenger seats focused on the center fascia, or the control console between the two seats.

Other new features include the eight-inch (20 cm) instrument cluster facing the driver and the central 11-inch (28 cm) touchscreen.

GM Korea President and CEO Roberto Rempel called the new Trailblazer "Chevrolet's flagship SUV with balanced proportions, sophisticated design and outstanding engineering capacity."

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com