GMI Concept of the Month: Chevrolet Borrego

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, when doing research for these concepts, you come across a lot of cool cars.

[SUPERBADD75]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Yeah, when doing research for these concepts, you come across a lot of cool cars.

Al, have you seen this site? talk about some cool concepts...

http://www.conceptcarz.com/default.aspx

[USA1Fan]

I'm dredging a bit I know. But I haven't had much time on the site lately, so it's new to me at least!

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

I always thought that would be a great production car..truck....whatever it is. I would love to have something like that. Although I think the US getting the Holden UTE would be kinda similar, I bet if we do get it it will not be the 4wd version though

Probably not. The Avalanche already fits the bill / slot where a 4wd El Camino would go. The most attractive part of having the new UTE come here would be the greatly improved fuel economy of the lighter car based structure, at least some of which is lost when you get the 4wd system in it (drivetrain weight goes up quite a bit). It'd be neat to see a Crew cab version of the UTE (sort of a Crewman, but without the separate chassis-cab / bed configuration), including the Av / H2 SUT midgate configuration. I think this could easily be the best selling version (even moreso than my personal favorite Avalanche).

[gulfsolar]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

GMI Concept of the Month: Chevrolet Borrego
by BigAls87Z28
gminsidenews.com



With talk of GM using and working its world wide network bringing such vehicles to the US as the Opel Astra, Holden Monaro and now Commodore, along with using engineering departments to bring chassis and power trains over. One of the first times GM thought about using its wide reaching power was in 2001 as it took a look to its friends at Fuji Industry's Subaru Motor Corp and its wildly popular turbo boxer four cylinder engine and all wheel drive train. GM infused this set up into an aggressive crossover truck to appeal to young people looking for a fun entertaining car.



The car had a flexible interior set up with an adjustable midgate like the one found on the Avalanche SUT. The remote controlled midgate could convert it from a 2 seater truck with a 6 foot bed to a 4 seat person carrier, reducing the bed to half the size. A roof panel would come over the top to cover the 2 rear seats. Everything was sealed to prevent wind and water from entering the cabin in both configurations.



Outside, the car had a design similar to the Avalanche with its aggressive looking headlights, large body-wide chrome bar that split the grill. Large 20 inch wheels are equipped with one off tires give this car a Baja-ready look that matches the World Rally Championship based platform. The two liter turbo engine made a high revving 250hp, which would give the relatively light truck a quick and fun feel to match its design.

Other features found on the Borrego was a removable GPS navigation system aided by OnStar which gave people who would take this car off the beaten path. The truck also was equipped with an air compressor for camping, inflating, or pressurizing the internal water tank where it could be used to give the adventurous drivers a quick shower in the wilderness.

This truck crossover would have made a great idea for a mini-Avalanche, something that could have developed into the Colorado. While its power train seems light weight, it still has more horsepower then the 3.7 5 cylinder that is found in the GMT-355 trucks. The truck had a definite rugged feel and design to it, but it also had the looks to be driven on the street. Its aggressive stance and design would go great in today’s market as GM tries to retain its truck customers as the imports start to develop bigger and better trucks. Would this truck be good in today’s market? I think that its design and innovation for flexibility would be cool, but what Chevy would need for a true mid sizer. Its lack of a bed and possible restrictions on towing and hauling from the 2.0 turbo engine could really look bad to the other mid sizers. Its real importance was GM's look into flexibility and using its engineering prowess across the world to bring a unique product here to the US, using existing technology to bring a new product to the world. GM is moving on its global power currently by making world-wide chassis, power trains and aligning its engineering, design and management to make GM a faster and better car company to handle the competition.

This is the type of new blood the general needs. A truck like this would sell to the youth market like the VW bus did.

[johnstarnes]

Yet ANOTHER cool GM concept that garnered praise yet did not see production.

[jzchev28]

love it, this would look great in my driveway

[t-rex]

What's sad is that not even any of the ideas from this concept vehicle made its way into any production GM model.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by t-rex

What's sad is that not even any of the ideas from this concept vehicle made its way into any production GM model.

And in the same time frame I believe they made it a priority to put the Aztek in show rooms! Freakin' YIKES the decisions those CEOs at GM make!.....like NOT building the Cien and Sixteen and this way-cool Borrego and instead putting out the embrassing G 5 rebadge.

GM has a corporate death wish I tell you.

[Elk]

It’s interesting, but I think it would end up just stealing sales from the Equinox and Avalanche.

You also have to consider the practicality of it. I don’t think the bed is big enough to really fit anything.

And finally Subaru tried to sell a vehicle like this the Baja and it failed.

[Vette410]

Originally Posted by GM-Joe

I am not a fan of car based trucks, but looking at this, there could be something great.

How about an El Camino SUC (Sport Untility Car), with fold down second row seats into the bed or have them up!

Yeah, this sweet-lookin' ride would make an awesome new El Camino! Chevy could resurrect two old nameplates in '09-Camaro, and El Camino!

[Vette410]

Originally Posted by Elk

And finally Subaru tried to sell a vehicle like this the Baja and it failed.

Yeah, the Baja failled because it was basically a last-gen Legacy/Outback wagon with the roof and hatch taken off the back end, which made it look rather old and boring, and it wasn't too powerfull either.

[ctaylorzl1]

^^^ I thought the Subaro Baja was a really cool car. My friend has a silver one, I really like it its wall loaded up with black embroided leather and everything. I didnt realize Subaru concidered it a "failier"? I will agree that the Baja is low on power, my friends has the N/A engine & automatic, very weak. He looked at a turbo/5-speed, but his wife couldnt drive a manual tranny.

And as for the Borrego, I love it, I would love to have something like it.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

^^^ I thought the Subaro Baja was a really cool car. My friend has a silver one, I really like it its wall loaded up with black embroided leather and everything. I didnt realize Subaru concidered it a "failier"?

Subaru considers it a failure because it didn’t sell. Auto manufactures don’t judge the success of there vehicles on interior quality.

[sf59er]

I love this concept, but it makes more sense as a Pontiac.

[Dirtguy]

Originally Posted by Dynamo

Thank god we didn't build that. I like it at the time but I also liked the Subaru 9-2X. This would have been a terrible sell.

Other options with Subaru were explored but they just weren't worth it in the end.

I thought that Rampage concept was the Ridgeline for a second.

BTW, this has nothing to do with H4.

"WE??"

I got the feeling that this was a pumped up marketing blog site from GM. Too many "Go Blue" types.
Too many butt kissers...

Confirmed.

DG