Chevrolet Puts the Spotlight on 2018 Traverse and All-Electric Bolt at Detroit Auto Show
Chevrolet completely redesigned its Cruze compact sedan for 2016. It gave it sleek styling, a new turbocharged engine and an array of available convenience and safety features. But that was 2016. At the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Chevy put the spotlight on other vehicles.
According to WYTV, one of those vehicles is the 2018 Traverse(below). The three-row SUV is larger than the outgoing model yet weighs almost 600 pounds less. The new Traverse’s 3.6-liter V6 should generate 305 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It will reportedly cover 25 highway miles on a gallon of gas.
Chevrolet also focused a lot of its attention — and that of the Detroit Auto Show crowds — on the Bolt EV. Not that it needed to try hard to do that. The all-electric car was recently named the 2017 North American Car of the Year and boasts 238 miles of range on a full charge. It retails at $37,500 (but after federal tax credits, it’s about $30,000).The sportier RS version of the Traverse will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 with 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. Regardless of engine choice, the Traverse will have a nine-speed automatic. The High Country trim line brings a greater level of luxury, which includes leather and suede interior elements, 20-inch polished wheels, and power-folding third row seats.
Unfortunately, sales in the Cruze’s market segment have been that way, too. Alan Batey, president of GM’s North American operations, said, “The Cruze has done really well in its segment. The unfortunate thing is the segment has not done really well itself. So, we’ve taken the appropriate measures to meet supply and demand.” That statement has translated to the elimination of a Cruze production shift at GM’s Lordstown Complex plant in Ohio.
Given the reception of the new Cruze, Batey is optimistic for its future. Hopefully, the workers at the Cruze plant can be, too.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
