DETROIT, MI: The best thing about the current large SUVs from General Motors is that they are strong in each and every functional attribute required in such vehicles.
That is to say, the existing Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban and Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and all variations of the GMC Yukon don't have a single
weakness to drive owners crazy or potential owners to a competitive brand.
That seemed like such an admirable situation for a group of vehicles that contribute so much to its profit margins that the world's biggest car company decided to maintain it in the next generation of the vehicles.
According to the man most responsible for the creation of this lineup of full-size SUVs, Gary White, "Our objective was to improve upon the segment-leading qualities of our current vehicles -- capability, safety, quality and fuel efficiency --and raise the bar to new levels of exterior style, interior execution, power, ride and handling smoothness, quietness and comfort."
White, who is the vehicle line executive for full-size trucks and a vice-president of GM of North America, said at a media reveal of the SUVs here that "With a dramatic level of refinement and performance, the results are vehicles with segment leadership in all of these attributes. Our next-generation full-size SUVs have what takes to sustain their dominant position in the industry."
No hemming, hawing or throat-clearing there, so you have to assume that White -- who is as professional a car guy as I've ever known -- has the funds to cover that enormous promissory note.
Run an eye over the list of assets in the new SUVs (with Chevrolet Tahoe as the primary example) and you start to see where White's confidence comes from.
The most important advances are of course under the new exterior shapes, but it's hard to go directly to more fuel efficient engines and the like without spending a few moments on the Tahoe's rounded new look. All of the upcoming vehicles were on display in GM's Design dome, but only photos of the Tahoe were released.
GM's product chief, Bob Lutz, explained that the new SUVs have "distinct brand identities with unique styling cues." But he added that they are all "characterized by a sleeker, cleaner and athletic form that is more aerodynamic and appear smaller in stature. Attention to detail found in
elements, such as wraparound fascias, styled mirrors and integrated running boards, enhance the vehicles' flowing design and bolster the feeling of refinement."
All major sheetmetal and body components of the '07 models are new and feature "crisp, taut lines that convey the capabilities expected from full-size SUVs," Lutz said.
"Distinctive styling creates a unique look for each brand's models," Lutz added, "with differentiated front-end sheetmetal, lamps and fascias helping to create wholly different appearances."
White made the point that the Tahoe is just the tip of the SUV iceberg, that there are many, many other members of the full-size lineup still to come, that GM is alone in the industry in terms of choice and aptitude.
"The breadth of products means customers don't have to compromise when accommodating their lifestyle choices," White said, "and vehicle-wide improvements increase the capability of the new vehicles in exactly the ways that drive customers to full-size SUVs."
The nature of the changes for 2007 might best be exemplified by the way the second row of seats folds out of the way. In response to consumer requests, various GM executives noted, the seats fold forward with little effort to allow improved access to the third row. No real technological departures, then, just refinements and adaptations as required.
That is to say, the existing Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban and Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and all variations of the GMC Yukon don't have a single
 |
| 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ (Photo: General Motors) |
That seemed like such an admirable situation for a group of vehicles that contribute so much to its profit margins that the world's biggest car company decided to maintain it in the next generation of the vehicles.
According to the man most responsible for the creation of this lineup of full-size SUVs, Gary White, "Our objective was to improve upon the segment-leading qualities of our current vehicles -- capability, safety, quality and fuel efficiency --and raise the bar to new levels of exterior style, interior execution, power, ride and handling smoothness, quietness and comfort."
White, who is the vehicle line executive for full-size trucks and a vice-president of GM of North America, said at a media reveal of the SUVs here that "With a dramatic level of refinement and performance, the results are vehicles with segment leadership in all of these attributes. Our next-generation full-size SUVs have what takes to sustain their dominant position in the industry."
No hemming, hawing or throat-clearing there, so you have to assume that White -- who is as professional a car guy as I've ever known -- has the funds to cover that enormous promissory note.
Run an eye over the list of assets in the new SUVs (with Chevrolet Tahoe as the primary example) and you start to see where White's confidence comes from.
The most important advances are of course under the new exterior shapes, but it's hard to go directly to more fuel efficient engines and the like without spending a few moments on the Tahoe's rounded new look. All of the upcoming vehicles were on display in GM's Design dome, but only photos of the Tahoe were released.
GM's product chief, Bob Lutz, explained that the new SUVs have "distinct brand identities with unique styling cues." But he added that they are all "characterized by a sleeker, cleaner and athletic form that is more aerodynamic and appear smaller in stature. Attention to detail found in
 |
| Bob Lutz (Photo: General Motors) |
All major sheetmetal and body components of the '07 models are new and feature "crisp, taut lines that convey the capabilities expected from full-size SUVs," Lutz said.
"Distinctive styling creates a unique look for each brand's models," Lutz added, "with differentiated front-end sheetmetal, lamps and fascias helping to create wholly different appearances."
White made the point that the Tahoe is just the tip of the SUV iceberg, that there are many, many other members of the full-size lineup still to come, that GM is alone in the industry in terms of choice and aptitude.
"The breadth of products means customers don't have to compromise when accommodating their lifestyle choices," White said, "and vehicle-wide improvements increase the capability of the new vehicles in exactly the ways that drive customers to full-size SUVs."
The nature of the changes for 2007 might best be exemplified by the way the second row of seats folds out of the way. In response to consumer requests, various GM executives noted, the seats fold forward with little effort to allow improved access to the third row. No real technological departures, then, just refinements and adaptations as required.