Space a promise for Paris debut

HOLDEN’S small SUV is set to debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month.

The Trax, being unveiled by Chevrolet, will arrive here next year with a Holden badge.

These pre-show images give a good idea of what we’re likely to get – at least as far as the exterior goes.

The Trax is based on the baby Barina Spark city car but rides higher and gets some beefy body styling to give it tougher presence. It also promises more room, with stretched dimensions of 4248mm long, 1776mm wide and a 2555mm wheelbase considerably up on the Barina’s 3595, 1597 and 2375 respectively.

Boot space is more than double at 358 litres. GM says the cabin will have several storage areas, including an under-seat tray and an area below the cargo floor.

Three four-cylinder engines have been announced for overseas markets: a 102kW/ 200Nm turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol, a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 96kW/300Nm 1.7-litre diesel. Gearbox choices are a six-speed manual transmission with stop-start shuts down the not moving.

A six-speed automatic will be available for the 1.4-litre and 1.7-litre diesel, which also offer on-demand all-wheel drive, with the 1.6-litre arriving only in frontwheel drive. The safety list includes six airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, hill start/descent controls, and a trailer stabilising system. system that temporarily engine when the car is