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| Ankush Arora, GM Korea's vice president of vehicle sales, services and marketing, speaks during the launch event of the small SUV Trax at the Phoenix Island Resort on Jeju Island, Tuesday. / Courtesy of GM Korea |
By Kim Tae-jong
JEJU ― GM Korea launched the new Chevrolet Trax on Tuesday with the aim to lead the small sport utility vehicle (SUV) market.
"The new Chevrolet Trax is GM's first global small SUV," Ankush Arora, GM Korea's vice president of vehicle sales, services and marketing, said during the launch event at the Phoenix Island Resort on Jeju Island. "This arrival marks the great start of Chevrolet's third year in Korea and will generate a fresh momentum for Chevrolet's growth in this market and across the globe."
The new model goes on sale nationwide from Feb. 25 with prices ranging from 19.4 million to 22.89 million won. It will also be available in more than 140 countries including the European market in the first half of this year.
Arora described the Trax as a totally new concept of vehicle, which will create a new segment called "urban life vehicles," adding it offers the power of an SUV, a spacious interior and sedan-like ride comfort.
The model is also the first domestically produced vehicle equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, which can generate 140 horsepower and a maximum torque of 20.4 kilogram-meter.
The Gen II six-speed automatic transmission has been used in the Trax, which has been optimized to work in harmony with the engine. It has a smooth gear transition and supports the engine's high fuel efficiency of 12.2 kilometers per liter.
Arora and other GM officials are very confident of the newly-developed powertrain used for the Trax, because its turbocharger can minimize turbo lag and maximize engine response.
It is a small SUV at 4.24 meters long, 1.67 meters high and 1.775 meters wide but it does not look small thanks to its stylish appearance. With a 2.444-meter wheelbase, it can comfortably accommodate five adults.
Arora said the main target customers are urban dwellers in their 20s and 30s, adding that their main rival models are the Sportage by Kia Motors and the Tuscan by Hyundai Motor, which are slightly bigger with 2 liter diesel engines.
The Trax is also equipped with the upgraded Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, which can aggregate content from smartphones onto a 7-inch touch-screen display.
The new model also comes with six driver, passenger and side curtain air bags as standard. It also comes with various safety features such as an anti-lock braking system, traction control system, hydraulic brake assist and hill start assist.
GM Korea expects the Trax to receive top safety ratings in Korea, Europe and the U.S.
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