GM is redesigning the Chevy Traverse crossover, adding hands-free driving technology

LANSING, MI – General Motors on Monday unveiled a redesigned version of its popular Chevrolet Traverse crossover with a truck-like look that the company hopes will attract new buyers.

The exterior of the 2024 Chevy Traverse features a more sculpted design than the previous, smoother model. It also adds an off-road-inspired Z71 model to the lineup and features a new engine, a redesigned interior — including a standard 17.7-inch color touchscreen — and additional safety and convenience features, such as hands-free Super Cruise. Highway driving assistance system.

The Traverse has historically been one of General Motors’ best-selling vehicles, typically selling more than 100,000 units annually. During the first half of this year, the larger crossover trailed only the automaker’s full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and the smaller Chevrolet Equinox in sales.

“The new Traverse is designed and engineered to function and feel like an SUV,” Chevrolet Vice President Scott Bell said in a statement. “Led by the all-new Z71, the 2024 Traverse builds on the success of its predecessor and will undoubtedly enable us to be present in more customers.”

All models will be powered by a new 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces an estimated 315 horsepower and 317 foot-pounds of torque. The current engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.

GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assistance system uses a combination of cameras, sensors and map data to control the vehicle’s acceleration, braking and steering on pre-mapped highways. It also monitors the driver’s attention.

The redesigned Traverse is positioned between the Chevy Blazer crossover and the larger, more capable and more expensive Chevy Tahoe SUV. It is expected to be in dealer showrooms in early 2024, according to GM.

GM did not announce pricing for the car, which was revealed at the Lansing Delta Township plant in central Michigan, where the crossover is produced. The current starting price for a Traverse ranges from about $34,500 to more than $55,000.

GM executives said during the car’s unveiling on Monday that the company will add a third shift to the plant to produce the redesigned vehicle, which is expected to be assembled alongside redesigned versions of the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. This will be the first time since 2017 that the factory will operate in three shifts.

“Based on the fact that we’re looking to add a third shift, you can draw conclusions that we’re seeing very strong demand in terms of this vehicle,” Rory Harvey, GM’s North American president, told CNBC after the event. Specific sales forecast. “We are confident that this vehicle is great for the size.”

The announcement of the third shift comes one day before GM officially opens what is expected to be contentious contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union.

Company and union officials said the timing of the announcement was coincidental, but the company has a history of making such announcements before the talks.

Michael Trevorrow, GM’s vice president of North American manufacturing operations, said he was confident the two sides could work together to achieve a deal that rewards workers and helps the company.

“It’s an opportunity. It’s an opportunity for our employees to get pay raises. It’s an opportunity for us to move forward. To be able to support the future,” said Trevorrow, a member of the negotiating team.

Securing new products like the redesigned Traverse is always critical no matter the timing, said Steve Dawes, UAW District 1D director, whose responsibilities include the Lansing plant.

“Every negotiation has its challenges,” he said, referring to this one in particular as “interesting.” “There are a lot of things on the table…the dynamics are unique and change every four years.”