Chevy Traverse gets nod for 2004

General Motors Corp. has green-lighted the Chevrolet Traverse, a truck-based crossover sport/utility first shown at last February's Chicago Auto Show, GM North America President Ronald L. Zarrella says in an interview. The 4-door Traverse, which is based on GM's midsize truck platform (body-on-frame) but features more car-like styling, will mark a new direction for GM in the midsize car category when it bows in 2004, Mr. Zarrella says. "Right now we have more midsize sedans than we need," he says. "During the next round (of product introductions) we will clean up the overlap of products." In addition to the new Traverse, Chevrolet's lineup will be bolstered in 2002 with a new Blazer that will be larger than the current model and feature a new aluminum engine, Mr. Zarrella says. The division also will get a new product in collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corp., he adds.