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2005 Chevy Uplander Preview

Is This the Chart Topper Chevy Needs?

My wife and have long been mulling around the idea of buying a new vehicle. Its not a critical decision as my line of work allows me the use of a couple of new vehicles every week, but theres something special about owning a car specifically bought with personal needs and preferences in mind.

As much as I like the functionality of minivans theres no way Jennifer will allow me to spend good money on something that makes her feel thirty to forty something. She likes sport wagons, but might be able to be talked into one of a dozen or so new crossovers.

While I like to think of myself as unique, this identical scenario is

My family is not alone in wanting the functionality of a minivan without the associated stereotype, and Chevy may have the answer. (Photo: General Motors)

being played out in homes across the country, which is precisely why the crossover segment has gone gangbusters in such a short time.

Enter the Chevy Uplander. Its something entirely different, or at least GM wants us to think so. But in reality is anything really new? Mazda brought its MPV to market with much the same pretense, including an optional all-wheel

While SUV-like in general design, Chevy designates the upcoming Uplander a "sport van." (Photo: General Motors)

drivetrain.

But while SUV-like in general design, the upcoming Uplander is designated a "sport van" by its manufacturer, a phrase the automaker has coined in an attempt to set its new vans apart even from the "conventional" crossover crowd.

Its GM siblings include the previously unveiled Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay, plus the more recently shown 2005 Pontiac Montana. The Montana is only related to its predecessor by name, however, while the Buick and Saturn

GM hopes the SUV styling cues of the Uplander will attract new buyers. (Photo: General Motors)

are firsts for their nameplates. The Uplander replaces the Venture, which never captured as significant a portion of the hotly contested minivan segment as Chevy had initially hoped.

Like its brethren, the new Uplander features a prominent hood line, strong fender lines and a truck-like grille, the latter sporting a bold strikethrough carrying the Chevy bowtie at center, similar in design to the brands light duty pickup trucks.

As previously mentioned, GM hopes the SUV styling cues will attract buyers that prefer the driving characteristics and functionality of

"I can honestly say this is one of the best mid-van interiors in the business," commented Robert A. Lutz, Product Development and Chairman, GM North America. (Photo: General Motors)

a minivan but are turned off by the "family" stigma associated with the genre, the same thinking that has brought recent SUV crossover vehicles such as the Chrysler Pacifica and Ford Freestyle, as well as longer running car-based crossovers such as the Lexus RX and BMW X5.

GM wants to be clear, however, that its new sport vans offer much greater functionality than any crossover currently available, with more interior volume and greater comfort to all passengers, especially those in back. The automaker feels bold enough to state that the new vans offer more competitive interiors than their minivan rivals too.

"These vehicles

GM is planning to make the Uplander an all-round package, better performance, nicer interior, high functionality yet affordably priced. (Photo: General Motors)

represent a substantial upgrade from the vehicles that they are replacing," commented Robert A. Lutz, Product Development and Chairman, GM North America while introducing the Buick Terraza. "I can honestly say this is one of the best mid-van interiors in the business. They look very European and very carefully crafted."

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