Photo: CarPix
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Why it’s the third generation of the Chevrolet Equinox, the one that’s bound to arrive at North American dealers for the 2018 model year. Or is this mule the 2017 Opel Antara B because it wears German license plates?
Considering that the current Equinox and Antara ride on the GM Theta platform, I’ll have a wild stab in the dark and presume that it’s a little bit of both. Introduced in 2004 and heavily updated in 2009, the Equinox is one of the oldest models in the General Motors lineup as far as the chassis is concerned. However, the new model will change to the GM D2XX/D2UX, a platform mainly engineered by Opel.
GM D2XX/D2UX replaces the Delta II and Theta platforms and it's currently used by the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, Opel Astra, Buick Verano and Envision. As you can see in the following pics captured in sunny Spain, it’s pretty clear that the next Equinox will shrink in size for a simple reason: to compete with compact CUVs (Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Tucson).
According to a report from Automotive News, the smaller dimensions of the new Equinox will make way for a new entry in the mid-size segment. The model (Traverse, anyone?) will ride on the GM C1XX platform.
The swath of black camouflage hides the visual details that interest us the most, while the faux headlights and taillights don’t help either. Be that as it may, it is understood that the front and rear fascias will be styled to resemble the current design language of the golden bowtie. Think Chevy Cruze and Volt.
As far as the interior is concerned, the cockpit will undoubtedly get hi-tech goodies such as the Chevrolet MyLink touchscreen infotainment system and a driver-information display integrated into the instrument cluster. Entry-level models will get front-wheel-drive as standard. AWD will be an option. However, I’m not holding my breath for an active torque-vectoring rear diff such as the one available for the Buick Envision.
Speaking of the Envision, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox will borrow the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine from its more luxurious sibling, a mill that churns out 197 horsepower and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) will be available on higher trim levels. A V6 is not on the cards as far as I know. The 2017 Opel Antara B compact-sized crossover, on the other hand, will be motivated by an assortment of turbo gasoline and diesel engines from the Opel Astra K.
Editor’s note: Have you noticed the guy in the backseat is flipping the bird? He must be fun at parties...
GM D2XX/D2UX replaces the Delta II and Theta platforms and it's currently used by the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, Opel Astra, Buick Verano and Envision. As you can see in the following pics captured in sunny Spain, it’s pretty clear that the next Equinox will shrink in size for a simple reason: to compete with compact CUVs (Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Tucson).
According to a report from Automotive News, the smaller dimensions of the new Equinox will make way for a new entry in the mid-size segment. The model (Traverse, anyone?) will ride on the GM C1XX platform.
The swath of black camouflage hides the visual details that interest us the most, while the faux headlights and taillights don’t help either. Be that as it may, it is understood that the front and rear fascias will be styled to resemble the current design language of the golden bowtie. Think Chevy Cruze and Volt.
As far as the interior is concerned, the cockpit will undoubtedly get hi-tech goodies such as the Chevrolet MyLink touchscreen infotainment system and a driver-information display integrated into the instrument cluster. Entry-level models will get front-wheel-drive as standard. AWD will be an option. However, I’m not holding my breath for an active torque-vectoring rear diff such as the one available for the Buick Envision.
Speaking of the Envision, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox will borrow the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine from its more luxurious sibling, a mill that churns out 197 horsepower and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) will be available on higher trim levels. A V6 is not on the cards as far as I know. The 2017 Opel Antara B compact-sized crossover, on the other hand, will be motivated by an assortment of turbo gasoline and diesel engines from the Opel Astra K.
Editor’s note: Have you noticed the guy in the backseat is flipping the bird? He must be fun at parties...
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