Targeting SUV Buyers with a Need for More Space

After years of offering vans with noncompetitive interiors, General Motors says it is getting serious about improving its position in the mid-size van market with four new 2005 model year entries, the Chevy Uplander, Pontiac Montana, Saturn Relay and Buick Terraza.

GM is serious about grabbing a bigger piece of the mid-size van market, and the new Buick Terraza should help. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

The introduction of the Relay and Terraza, the first vans for either Buick or Saturn, was held December 4 at the Stage Three Productions facility on the grounds of the former Warren (Mich.) Tank Plant, where military vehicles had been produced since World War II to the early 1990s. The debut of the vans was also broadcast live on the Internet for journalists around the globe.

The Terraza falls into a category GM calls "mid vans" or "crossover sports vans" (CVS), a new approach to a segment currently occupied by the aging Chevy Venture and Pontiac Montana, as well as the outgoing Oldsmobile Silhouette.

GM acknowledges the weak interiors of its past minivans, and has taken extra care to improve overall quality in the Terraza. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

"These vehicles represent a substantial upgrade from the vehicles that they are replacing," said Robert A. Lutz, Product Development and Chairman, GM North America. "I can honestly say this is one of the best mid van interiors in the business. They look very European and very carefully crafted."

"I think we've gone from the current GM T200 interiors... that was without question the weakest part of the (Venture and Montana) and noncompetitive. Now we have gone to a better than competitive interior."

GM currently holds 20 percent of the mid-van market--a 1.1 million unit segment of vehicles priced between USD$21,000 and USD$30,000. The Terraza will be competing against the pricey Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Town&Country, (U.S. only) Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, and Mazda MPV.

With bold front-end styling and improved functionality, the Terraza crossover sport van (CSV) will be a strong competitor. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

"Terraza positions Buick in the growth area of the mid-van market," said Roger Adams, Buick general manager. "Although the overall segment has declined slightly the last few years, sales of USD$30,000-plus vehicles have grown from 19 percent to 24 percent of the mid-van market."

With its ability to carry seven people and plenty of cargo, the Terraza crossover sport van (CSV) complements Rendezvous and Rainier in the Buick truck lineup by combining SUV features, like bold front-end styling, with the functionality required by customers in the mid-van segment.

GM's overall goal with the Buick Terraza is to give more value, performance and functionality for the money. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

"The goal here is to offer the customer substantially more value than has been offered in the General Motors mid vans up to now with far better performance, much nicer interiors, much nicer exteriors, higher functionality and yet remain price competitive with the other vans in the segment," Lutz said. "In Buick's case, it will be price competitive with the more premium brands like Chrysler's Town and Country."

The front end of the Terraza immediately suggests an SUV, with a raised hood and a high-set grille and headlamps that serve to lift the eye and make the vehicle look like it is raised off the ground, Lajdziak said. Seventeen-inch standard tires and its new roof rack contribute to the vehicle's tall-looking stance, but it remains easy to step into like a minivan.

The C-pillar behind the sliding door is also emphasized the way it is on a SUV. "On minivans, the glass goes over the C-pillar to give the look of one long piece of glass," Lutz noted.

The C- and D-pillars of the Terraza are broken up into several panels much like many older minivans, detracting from the vehicle's overall appearance. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

Unlike several competitors that have integrated the track of the sliding doors with the rear windows, giving a seamless, clean look, the sheet metal between the C- and D-pillars of the Terraza is broken up into several panels much like many older minivans, detracting from the vehicle's overall appearance. The aluminum-colored rails of the luggage rack, however, add a touch of distinction.

Utility bars attach to the factory-installed roof rails, providing a base mount for bicycle, ski, hard or soft cargo, kayak, canoe and other rooftop carriers.

For the first time in the segment GM is offering an optional Versatrak all-wheel drive system for buyers. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

Under the hood, the Terraza will come equipped with GM's new 3500, 3.5-liter V6 engine that debuted on the 2004 Chevy Malibu. The motor, which is manufactured at Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, will deliver 200 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque.

GM says the powertrain is well suited for the vans and will give them best in class fuel economy.

What's more, the Terraza will come with a "forged steel crank shaft that delivers a more refined engine sound," Adams said.

Front-wheel drive is standard, but for the first time in the segment GM is offering an optional Versatrak all-wheel drive system for buyers who want the peace of mind when driving on low-traction surfaces, such as in snow, mud or wet conditions.

Lajdziak said that she expects less than 10 percent of Saturn's buyers will choose AWD, built by Austria's Steyr-Daimler-Puch, while considerably more Terraza owners would probably opt for the system, Adams noted.

The Terraza's interior includes wooden accents and a jeweled look to the instrument panel. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

Another first for GM's vans is that they can be equipped with the optional Vehicle Stability Enhancement System (VSES) that improves handling, braking and acceleration by using a combination of safety systems including stability enhancement, anti-lock brakes, and traction control.

Inside, the Terraza's interior includes wooden accents and a jeweled look to the instrument panel plus premium styling cues on the steering wheel, instrument cluster and shifter, Adams said. The van comes with standard captain's chairs with leather or leather with cloth inserts.

GM's overhead storage rail system allows customers the flexibility to personalize their vehicles with any number of dealer-supplied bins. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

Johnson Controls was GM's vehicle interior "integrator" on the Terraza, as can be evidenced by the auto supplier's overhead storage rail system which allows customers the flexibility to personalize their vehicles with any number of dealer-supplied bins. These 305 mm (12-inch) wide, 229 mm (9-inch) deep bins snap on and off of the overhead rails with ease and can be used to hold sunglasses, MP3 players, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), a first-aid kit, flashlights, or a portable DVD player and screen.

The van can sit two people in front, two in the center and three in the third row seats. There are storage compartments on the backs of the first and second row seats that provide a place to put headphones and other small items.

The second row of seats can fold down and flip forward, while the third row folds flat. The cargo area floor also includes a removable watertight cargo storage compartment which can hold milk containers, 12-pack beverage cans, and grocery bags. The forward edge of the dividers is cut out to create a long, left-to-right compartment, capable of holding lengthy items such as golf umbrellas.

The cargo area floor also includes a removable watertight cargo storage compartment. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

"We think this is a better solution rather than having a third row seat that folds into a well," Lajdziak said. "You don't have to pull stuff out of the well and put on ground to flip seat into well. And when you need the extra storage, you can remove the storage unit and the seats."

The vans also come with 12 cup holders--two in the front instrument panel, four in each of two trays between the first and second row seats (two sized for Big Gulp drinks), and two in the rear quarter trim.

Will GM's new lineup of vans win them new customers and increase their marketshare? Time will tell, but GM faithful will surely be pleased. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

For those buyers facing mobility problems, the GM vans can be equipped with an optional dealer-installed remote control Sit-N-Lift power bucket seat. The seat rotates, then extends out of the vehicle and lowers down to approximately 43 cm (17 inches) seat bottom to ground, allowing a person to sit down from a standing position or transfer from a wheelchair.

Production of the Terraza, plus its Saturn, Pontiac and Chevy counterparts, will begin in the fourth quarter of 2004 at the GM Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta, Georgia. The plant has a maximum capacity of 250,000 units, which will be divided among the four models. And a version of the sports vans will be built in China starting in February 2005, Adams said.

It will be interesting to see if the Terraza and its siblings will be able to increase GM's marketshare in the mid-van segment. One thing is for sure, the new vans will give current GM owners four good reasons to stay faithful to their chosen brand.

Specifications:

• Price Range (estimated MSRP): $32,000 - $45,000
• Body Type: 5-door minivan
• Layout: front engine, FWD (opt AWD)
• Engine: 200 hp, 228 lb-ft torque, 3.5-L, 24-valve, DOHC V6
• Transmission: 4-spd auto
• Suspension (front/rear): independent strut with coil springs / open section twist axle (FWD) or independent double wishbone (AWD)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum (opt ABS)
• Curb Weight: N/A
• Seating Capacity: 7
• Cargo Cap (min/max): N/A
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 5103 / 1829 / 1730 / 3048 mm (204.7 / 72.0 / 69.4 / 121.1 in)
• Towing Capacity: 1,588 kg (3,500 lb)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 10.5 / 7.7 L/100 Km (FWD4 with manual)
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive - 60/100,000 powertrain
• Direct Competitors: Chevy Uplander; Chrysler Town&Country; Dodge Caravan; Ford Freestar; Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona; Mazda MPV; Pontiac Montana; Saturn Relay; Toyota Sienna; Volkswagen Eurovan
• Web Site: www.gmcanada.com

Note: Additional larger photos available in photo album.