The award for the most-hokey-yet-somehow-endearing press conference goes to...Chevrolet and its unveil of the utterly predictable but still attractive Traverse three-row crossover ute.
Sue Wilson, Vehicle Line Executive for the roughly $30,000 ute, was convinced (or compelled or cajoled) into bringing her actual family to help introduce the vehicle. It's a family vehicle, you see. Three of her kids and her old man rode along as Wilson drove the Traverse onto center stage and then recited some scripted jokes...
We appreciate the attempt. We appreciate that this wasn't staged by a German automaker because surely they would have hired a pack of tow-headed models to portray a family -- a family wherein the children are basically the same age as their mothers.
Oh, and the vehicle? You can read all about it here. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
zach101 says:
02:00 PM, 02/ 6/08
Great.. so now we have 4 Lambadas to choose from.
In my opinion, this is the worst looking one of the group. Acadia is still the best looking.
But seriously, GM, I'm Lambadaed out.
mercedesman1 says:
02:42 PM, 02/ 6/08
I agree with Zach, this is by far the worst looking, and I think the interior is the weekest of the group.
I really like the Enclave (fav out them all), Outlook, and Acadia, but I think this version is unnecessary, nd that GM pushed it just a little to far.
texases says:
02:45 PM, 02/ 6/08
Given they have 4, I wish one would have been a 'chop job' 2 row, 188 incher...I've no use for the 3rd row, but would like an Edge competitor.
ekunnen says:
04:05 PM, 02/ 6/08
I agree with zach101, mercedesman1, and texases.
Seriously... how many flavors of the same exact vehicle do we really need.
What's next... a Cadillac version?
I'd much rather see GM put resources into breaching into a new market segment rather than over-saturate the same space.
How about extending the GM Portfolio with truly unique vehicles, not vehicles that are identical except the logos and some sheet metal changes.
texases is right, let's get a true Ford Edge and Nissan Murano competitor into the GM portfolio.
billt9 says:
07:50 PM, 02/ 6/08
I thought it was a Subaru Tribeca from the back.
Nontheless this will be the best selling version, as it sits at a Chevy dealership.
alman08 says:
10:34 AM, 02/ 7/08
this one has the best looking tail light in my opinion, but then that's solely my personal opinion.
ateixeira says:
12:43 PM, 02/ 8/08
I see a bit of Tribeca, too, now that you mention it.
Funny thing is this will probably be the cheapest, yet it looks most like the priciest (Enclave), at least the rear hatch.
georgecavalier says:
09:26 AM, 02/ 9/08
I don't mind the looks so much. The Acadia and Enclave, in my opinion are still much better looking but I'd pick the styling on the Traverse over the Outlook, which has some odd cues up front. The Traverse does have too plain rear styling.