GM Debuts Diesel Manual Body-On-Frame SUV Despite Giving Us The Astra

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Even though the gods of the Ren Cen saw fit to deliver us the Opel Astra, the capricious and jealous Dan Akerson still managed to deny his Chosen Ones the elusive diesel/manual body-on-frame SUV, leaving the faithful to wallow in a sea of front-drive, car-based gasoline powered crossovers that nobody ever buys. Ever.

The Thai-built Trailblazer shares a platform with the next-generation Colorado compact pickup. Despite extensive market research that suggests a potential market of 300 million Americans for the diesel version with the 5-speed manual version, GM has decided against bringing the Trailblazer to North America, leaving a gaping hole in its current lineup of the Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban and Colorado. Ultimately, GM’s move to ignore the healthy, oft-neglected “former 4.0 Cherokee owner” market will result in their eventual downfall, especially if the Holden Commodore SS Ute never makes it to North America.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Zbnutcase Zbnutcase on Jun 12, 2012

    One only has to look at the stunning success of the solid front axle, manually shifted transfer case Ford Super Duty trucks to realize there IS a huge market for rigs like these. If you wear a tie to work every day, don't waste server space responding to this,YOU are the tiny minority in this country...the very one's whose children can't even change a light bulb...

  • Nate Nate on Jun 12, 2012

    ...“former" 4.0 Cherokee owner? Who said anything about former? Honestly though, I would love a modern alternative to the Cherokee. Is the market for a smallish, sturdy, reliable 4X4 SUV that tiny? The nameplate has been dead for 11 years but I see dozens on the road every day, not counting my own daily driver. Clean used examples sell for thousands more than they should on Craigslist. There has to be a market for something like this, right?

    • See 1 previous
    • Nate Nate on Jun 12, 2012

      @mkirk I know the 4 liter I6 was a bit of a gas hog, but man that's a great engine. Plenty of low end grunt, reliable, easy to work on. One of the all time great off road mills. Not to mention, 190 horses isn't bad in a lighter SUV.

  • CJinSD CJinSD on Jun 12, 2012

    GM has a dozen great business cases for never making anything I'd actually buy. I probably buy at least two new cars a year, and am well on my way to at least three this year though. Oh well. They don't care about me. I won't care when they're gone.

  • SomewhereDownUnder SomewhereDownUnder on Jul 31, 2012

    I want one

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