gavriil

FOR RELEASE: Feb. 1, 2004 12:01 a.m. EST
2005 CHEVROLET UPLANDER ADDS SUV STYLING AND UPGRADED CAPABILITIES IN MID-VAN SEGMENT

CHICAGO - Chevrolet is distinguishing itself within the mid-van segment with the 2005 Uplander, combining SUV-like styling with all the functionality and convenience you would expect in a family-friendly vehicle from Chevrolet.
Introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, Chevrolet's new crossover sport van is ideal for customers who need and appreciate comfortable seven-passenger seating, cargo-carrying flexibility, a high degree of safety, fuel economy, low step-in height, and excellent ride and handling - all combined in a new design package embracing numerous SUV-type features.
Attention to detail and craftsmanship are hallmarks of Chevy's new entry. The Uplander also raises the bar in rear-seat entertainment systems with the Mobile Digital Media Powered by PhatNoise system (available interim 2005) that allows customers to store hundreds of hours of music, audio books, movies, television shows and games onto a wallet-size hard drive cartridge.
"The Chevrolet Uplander was created to stand out from the crowd," said Janet Eckhoff, Uplander marketing director. "Uplander breaks from the traditional sloped-nose style of competitors with a design that evokes the emotional appeal of a sport utility. At the same time, there is no compromise in the practical features that van customers expect."
The Uplander offers thoughtful seating and interior appointments, such as a third-row bench seat that can be folded to create a level load floor when combined with its rear convenience center/cargo system.
"With Chevy Uplander, you get a flat load surface - and you get it without sacrificing seat comfort, excellent ground clearance or the option of all-wheel drive," Eckhoff said. "Uplander is endlessly versatile and adaptable to a wide range of lifestyles and activities."
Innovative exterior styling
Uplander's innovative styling combines the best attributes of vans with the aggressive looks of sport utility vehicles. "Uplander will appeal to a lot of people who need the practicality, convenience and safety of a mid-van, but would rather be seen driving an SUV," said Eckhoff.
Uplander's design makes a powerful statement up front, with a prominent Chevrolet horizontal mid-grille band and a large grille opening for high efficiency air intake. A chrome ring around the grille accentuates the bold look. Headlamps are mounted high and wrap over the hood, adding to the SUV-like appearance.
Wide, prominent, exposed C-pillars - another SUV styling cue - reinforce the Uplander's strong, durable look. Large 17-inch wheels and wider tires also contribute to its sturdier, more aggressive SUV-like stance.
Gray molding covers the rocker panels and extends to lower front and rear fascias, creating an SUV-like skid-plate appearance with small air holes, and, in the rear, a vertical groove treatment to reinforce Uplander's SUV-like character.
An optional roof rack completes the picture with tubular-shaped, satin finish side rails.
User-friendly interior
Elegantly simple and logically laid out, Uplander's seven-passenger interior is extremely user friendly. Drivers and passengers alike will appreciate the comfort and convenience of Uplander's interior and its high levels of fit and finish and attention to detail.
Uplander's second- and third-row seats are foldable and removable. The Uplander also offers a spacious and flexible rear convenience center/cargo system. With its doors closed, the box-like cargo system's height lines up with that of the folded third-row seat, providing a level load floor, with more depth for carrying items behind the second row. Overall, there is up to 136.5 cubic feet of cargo space.
The third-row bench seat features a 50/50 split. Second-row bucket seats can be folded and tumbled up against the front seats for increased storage.
Other storage details include an overhead rail system, which integrates HVAC, audio controls, lighting and the rear-seat entertainment/DVD system in a single unit. Snap-in storage and accessory modules provide more flexible storage options for the system. Convenience trays with pop-up beverage holders between the first and second-row seats fold easily out of the way for pass-through.
PhatNoise leads entertainment choices
Uplander's range of available in-vehicle entertainment choices is unprecedented. From XM Satellite Radio to a DVD player with flip-down screen and integrated controls, long drives pass more enjoyably. And then there's PhatNoise.
A segment-exclusive, the available PhatNoise system is a wallet-sized, 40-gigabyte hard drive that installs in the Uplander's overhead rail system. The system's capabilities include:
· Storing and playing back up to 10,000 songs in MP3, WMA or WAV formats.
· Storing and playing up to 40 movies in MPEG format (standard format for movies).
· Storing and playing a combination of songs and movies.
· The ability to provide the software for playing a video game.
· The ability to provide a voice-browsing interface - if the driver wants to listen to music, the system tells him or her over the radio speakers the song's name, allowing the driver to run through a list of stored music using steering wheel buttons.
· Listening to books, magazine or newspaper articles recorded on a PC.
· Allowing simultaneous listening to two entertainment sources.
· Transferring digital camera pictures through a USB port in the PhatNoise cartridge and playing them back on the DVD screen.
The PhatNoise system's hard drive is easily removable, so it can be connected to a home PC or laptop to download computer files for playback in the Uplander, giving passengers an unprecedented level of entertainment customization.
Responsive powertrain and chassis systems
Uplander provides the power and control needed to meet the demands of crossover sport van customers.
A new, high-value 3500 V-6 powers the Uplander. Rated at an estimated 200 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque, this 3.5-liter engine delivers excellent launch feel and highway-speed acceleration, with low levels of noise and vibration, low emissions and excellent fuel economy.
The 3500 engine is mated to the Hydra-Matic 4T65-E four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, which provides smooth, seamless shifts. Electronic safeguards built into the transmission ensure trouble-free performance. When properly equipped, an Uplander can tow up to 3,500 pounds including such items as a 20-foot boat and trailer or a pop-up camper.
Versatrak all-wheel drive is optional. Unlike some other systems that only can split torque between the front and rear wheels, Versatrak can split torque between the left and right wheels. This enhances the system's effectiveness on a variety of slippery road conditions.
The Uplander's powertrain is nestled into a reinforced chassis. Cross-rail reinforcements enhance stiffness, and bolster crash protection. Attached to the chassis is a MacPherson strut front suspension and a twist-beam rear axle with integrated stabilizer bar.
Large, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock system are standard, while GM's sophisticated StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancing system is optional. StabiliTrak uses data from several state-of-the-art sensors located throughout the vehicle to measure road-holding performance. When the system senses the vehicle is performing in a way other than what the driver intended, the brakes can be employed or the engine power reduced to ensure the vehicle stays on the intended track.
Safety built in
The Uplander is engineered to be among the safest vehicles in its segment. The frame is designed to achieve effective crush, helping preserve occupant space while absorbing energy.
All seven seating positions have three-point safety belts. An integrated child safety seat also is available.
Dual-stage frontal air bags for driver and front passenger are standard. Optional seat-mounted side air bags now also provide head and thorax protection for the the front passenger and the driver. The Uplander also will be equipped with a driver information center, oil life monitor, child security locks, OnStar and optional theft security.
Chevy product barrage
"The 2005 Uplander is part of a Chevrolet product barrage of 10 new cars and trucks being launched during a 20-month period," said Brent Dewar, Chevrolet general manager.
The product assult began with the all-new Malibu Maxx extended sedan, which went into production in December 2003. It was followed in January by market launches for the Colorado midsize pickup, Aveo entry-level car and SSR roadster pickup. In addition to Uplander, also debuting in 2004 will be the Equinox compact sport-utility, the sixth-generation Corvette and the Cobalt premium small car. A new Impala and the HHR, a unique crossover vehicle, will follow them in 2005.
The Uplander is projected to be the volume leader in GM's new stable of crossover sport vans. The Uplander will replace the Venture in Chevy's lineup and, like the Venture, it will compete in the center of the mid-van market
Uplander's lineup will include front-wheel-drive passenger models - available with base, LS and LT trim - an all-wheel-drive passenger van and a front-wheel-drive cargo van.
The Chevrolet Uplander will be manufactured at the GM Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta - a plant ranked number one in 2003 in the J.D. Power IQS2 quality study. The Doraville plant also is ranked as the No. 1 plant in its segment two years running in terms of productivity, according to The Harbour Report.
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Contacts:
Mike Stoller
Chevrolet Communications
Phone: (313) 667-4082
E-mail: michael.stoller@gm.com
Lynda Messina
GM Product Communications
Phone: (248) 874-8676
E-mail: lynda.messina@gm.com

Source: Autoweek

gavriil

Fugly and underpowered...

DISRUPTV

deja vu (i.e. check pontiac thread and isnt saturn getting one too?)

cusdaddy

as I said with the other versions, terrible on the outside, very nice on the inside. I just hope these interiors translate to their other models

gavriil

Chevy and Pontiac have officially changed. Their interiors are WAY better than their exteriors at this point. And that's not much better than before... Luzt, what the hell?

Montez

Looks prety bad

soopa

interesting

d00g

yucky

cnatra

arguably one of the best interiors I've seen in a GM product in sometime