Korea Week: Viva La Trax

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

GM’s Korean partner GM-Daewoo has an Aveo-based “SUV” in the final stages of design development… and it definitely looks like the 2007 “Chevy Trax” concept, right? Wrong. Of course.

Design chief Taewan Kim insists the design is “still not fixed” for production but the detailed study is finished to the sort of standard designers reach before wheeling in The Boss to sign it off as ready for production and the interior ‘mock-up’ looked all but sorted to give the suppliers the go for first off-tool samples. Looks? Cameras were banned but think ‘I shrunk the Capitiva’ and you get the idea.

Don’t know what a Captiva is? Well, do you remember the Saturn Vue? No? Well, there’s a new one anyway… take a look after the jump.

Yes, through the power of a secret Korean trade practice of scale auto design cloning, this seven-seat-option Crossover can be perfectly shrunk to Aveo-platform proportions. It’s been done before. Consider the case of the new Kia Sorento and Sportage: can you tell which is which?

But maybe it’s unfair to to suggest that Daewoo will pull the same stunt… after all, Kia’s entry in the “B-Cross” segment, the Soul, is a highly distinctive design and it’s been selling steadily. To have a real shot at the young-in-spirit market for such baby “utes”, Daewoo really should go with a distinctive, Trax-inspired look. If it’s not already too late.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 7 comments
  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Nov 16, 2010

    Why do car companies make cars look like they have been in an accident and the owner hasn't had time to paint the replacement panels yet?

  • Nick Nick on Nov 16, 2010

    The Trax looks okay to me except for the Roger the Robot look from the front. Danger Will Robinson!

Next