ONE of Chevrolet’s best known SUVs—the Trailblazer—has come back carrying a new passport as the once US model is now built in and is intended for the Asian market. Recently, the nameplate’s all-new rendition landed in the showrooms of Philippine Chevrolet distributor The Covenant Car Co. Inc. (TCCCI).

The company said that the new Trailblazer—the SUV version of the Colorado pickup that is also built at General Motors’ Thailand facilities, and which had debuted in the country earlier—is its bet in the country’s “highly competitive” seven-seat, midsize sport-ute segment. TCCCI noted that the new model is “totally different” from the previous North American Trailblazer.

The Philippine-spec models arrived with a pair of Chevrolet’s Duramax diesel engines that have variable geometry turbo-chargers and common rail direct injection systems. The top engine displaces 2.8 liters and outputs 180 horsepower and 470 Newton-meter of torque. It is bolted on to a six-speed automatic transmission, which in turn sends power to a four-wheel drive system—suitably equipped with electronic shift-on-the-fly function.

For its part, the 2.5-liter mill makes 150 horsepower and 350 Newton-meter, and mates with a five-speed manual gearbox that spins the rear wheels.

TCCCI said the new Trailblazer has a wading depth of 800 millimeters and a towing capacity of 3,000 kilograms.

In the cabin, the sport-ute gets leather seats for seven, which can be configured to fit passengers or cargo; an audio system with steering wheel-mounted controls, links devices by way of USB and an aux jack, and is iPod- and Bluetooth-compatible; and plenty of storage spaces. Safety concerns are taken cared of by Dynamic Brake Distribution, Panic Brake Assist, ABS, Cornering Brake Control, Hill Descent Control, Hill-start Assist, traction control and electronic stability control. TCCCI said the new Trailblazer is covered by a five-year warranty program, 24/7 Chevrolet Roadside Assistance and a dedicated 24/7 hotline.

“This vehicle will positively change the way one would look at a midsize, diesel-engine SUV,” said TCCCI Managing Director lawyer Albert Arcilla. “It offers power, flexibility, refinement and comfort, wrapped in one stylish SUV package that’s a cut above the rest.”

TCCCI is selling the new Trailblazer at an introductory price of P1,368,888 for the 2.5L 4x2 M/T and the 2.8L 4x4 A/T for P1,718,888.