11:34 PM
Chevrolet is showing off the GPiX two-door crossover at the Sao Paulo International auto show in Brazil.
The concept car blends the looks of a small ute with coupe styling, and it has been designed with high ground clearance to handle the uneven driving surfaces found in South America.
The GPiX is about the size of a Saturn Vue, and it's a concept in the truest form. There's no engine, no transmission--and it's not coming to the United States, a General Motors spokesman said.
GPiX stands for Global Pix, and it could offer a view into what is to come in future small utes in South America, a region where GM sales are booming.
"With this project, the Chevrolet GPiX concept could result in the development of many models for Brazil and the Mercosur region," said Jaime Ardila, president of GM operations there.
The crossover concept wears 17-inch wheels, a panoramic glass roof and LED headlamps. The front end gets Chevy's signature grille and looks similar to the Traverse. On the sides, there are also subtle wheel flares.
The GPiX is based on a chassis that blends parts from two small cars, the Celta and the Corsa, that GM sells in South America.
Inside, the GPiX has room for four, and the seats all fold down. Technologies include Bluetooth, handheld computers and audio players.
The crossover is the fruit of GM's design center in Brazil, one of 11 around the world. Expect to see more design muscle from the site, as GM is spending $36 million to expand the facility and increase the headcount from 79 to 190.
