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Author Topic: The GV's big brother  (Read 2520 times)

Offline G0dspd

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The GV's big brother
« on: March 23, 2006, 12:48:28 am »
Quote
Here's a sneek peek of the 2007 Suzuki XL-7. It's expected to show up at the New York auto show next month and go on sale this fall. Built at the same plant as the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent, the seven-passenger XL-7 will ride on a stretched version of GM's Theta platform. No word on engines yet, but with seven passenger capacity we would hope for more than the current XL-7's 2.7-liter V6.
(http://blogs.edmunds.com/.ee9011e)


You can see the ressemblance when you look at the back.  Check out those headlights!  :-X
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Offline Trainman

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2006, 01:31:41 am »
Will we have another debate on the platform for this one?   :rofl2:
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Offline Shnak

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2006, 07:18:30 am »
Willl the platform be reinforced like the GV's is or will it simply be a Equinox/Torrent clone?
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Offline mrthompson

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2006, 08:05:07 am »
.... :banghead:
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Offline Bullet Blue

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2006, 09:59:51 am »
 :rofl2:

Anyway, that's a really weird headlight display. The front kinda reminds of of a mix between Nissan and Mistubishi. I think the XL-7 is an underated vehicle.
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Offline Shnak

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2006, 10:36:55 am »
But isn't that valid question? The GV is a quite robust vehicle, quite a bit more than the Torrent and Equinox... if the XL-7 is based on the same platform as the Torrent/Equinox, and not reinforced like the GV's platform has been, that would mean the XL-7 would be more of a passenger vehicle for city duties than a capable off-road vehicle.
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Offline Trainman

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2006, 10:56:32 am »
Quote from: Trainman on March 23, 2006, 01:31:41 am
Will we have another debate on the platform for this one? :rofl2:

Quote from: Shnak on March 23, 2006, 07:18:30 am
Willl the platform be reinforced like the GV's is or will it simply be a Equinox/Torrent clone?

Ops, me and my big mouth.   >:D

  Me vs  mrthompson
 :stfu:

 :rofl2:
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Offline mrthompson

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2006, 11:01:03 am »
Bring it...

 ;D
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Offline Trainman

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2006, 11:18:34 am »
Quote from: Trainman on March 23, 2006, 10:56:32 am
Ops, me and my big mouth.   >:D

  Me vs  mrthompson
 :stfu:

 :rofl2:

Of course I am the one being whacked for even mentioning this platform thing.   ;D

Should learn to 
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Offline Loudpedal

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2006, 11:47:34 am »
Quote from: Shnak on March 23, 2006, 07:18:30 am
Willl the platform be reinforced like the GV's is or will it simply be a Equinox/Torrent clone?

Looks like a car based unit to me.   Not much ground clearance, low hanging bits...   The shape of the window on the rear door looks very similar to the Equinox/Torrent.
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Offline Shnak

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2006, 11:50:34 am »
yeah that's what I was thinking... it seems like an odd business decision to build the XL-7 as a minivan while the GV is a capable off-road vehicle... I guess the XL-7 doesn't sell enough to warrant more than a reskinned Torrent/Equinox... but why didn't they simply stretch the GV platform a little bit and use that instead?
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Offline Loudpedal

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2006, 11:57:28 am »
I suppose not too many folks took their XL-7's off road, maybe that will be the role of the GV. 

If the new XL has 7 passenger seating, can tow at least 3500 lbs, have the 3.9 GM variable valve timing pushrod engine out of the G6 it may find some buyers. 
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Offline G0dspd

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2006, 04:30:54 pm »
The GV is Suzuki's off-road vehicle ... reality is that 80% of GVs will never see mud.  :rofl2:

The XL-7 is a 'AWD" people mover ... there's no need to have advanced off-roading capabilities on this wehicle.  The GM platform is more then sufficient.
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Offline X-Traction

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2006, 03:22:58 am »
The problem is that by making the XL-7 so much like the Torrent/Vue/Equinox, why would someone buy it instead of them?  Other than the third seat, of course.  But if you need the third seat, and you don't need the "ruggedness" of an suv, why not get a small minivan instead?  If you need the ruggedness, it's not that rugged.  If you want to differentiate the new XL-7 by including the frame reinforcement of the Grand Vitara, the weight will hurt mileage, already suffering from the weight of the extra length and back seat, and this important spec will look inferior to the GM Thetas.

Seems to me the XL-7 is going to have a problem identifying a niche, which means a reason for someone to buy one.  XL-7's haven't sold in large enough numbers to have a "loyal following", and North Americans don't associate the Suzuki nameplate with quality as they do Honda and Toyota.  So unless they do something pretty stunning with the price or styling, it may do even worse than the previous XL-7, which had a distinctive character, ability, and appeal.
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Offline G0dspd

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2006, 02:43:47 pm »
You're assuming that someone who's looking for a Jeep-ish people hauler will go for a minivan ... probably not!

The engine/size (7 seats) combination is simply not good for an off-roading vehicle.  It's a glorified 7-passenger Jeep ... Suzuki knows that and they're keeping the real Jeep features in the GV.
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Offline AVToller

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Re: The GV's big brother
« Reply #15 on: March 25, 2006, 02:56:25 pm »
Time will tell, of course, but I see this as another significant marketing error by Suzuki, just like their current crop of Daewoo clones. Their own designs are very solid, but the rest - why bother?  :P ::)
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