Lansing — With an all-new Chevrolet Traverse and the next-generation GMC Acadia coming back to General Motors Co.’s Lansing Delta Township plant, the facility will be prepping to get back a third shift of production — which it lost in 2017.
“If you look at the vehicles that we’re going to build at this plant, then we see the momentum building … we think that we’ve got the ability to be able to build volumes to be able to deliver three shifts,” said Rory Harvey, GM’s new head of North American operations. “We think this is going to sell significant volumes. We’ve already got positive momentum and we see that momentum continuing.”
GM’s Lansing Delta Township employs 2,800 employees to build the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse, according to GM. In October 2020, GM said it would invest $100 million at Lansing Delta to send the next-generation GMC Acadia back to the Michigan plant from its Spring Hill, Tennessee, facility, which has transitioned to build electric vehicles along with internal combustion engine vehicles. GM has not said when the Acadia will launch at Lansing Delta. Nor would it quantify how many jobs will be added to the plant with the addition of a third shift.
“We’ve been fighting for six years to get that,” said Ryan Eding, shop chair at UAW Local 602 representing Lansing Delta workers. “The membership has been building quality vehicles and putting in the work through parts shortages, through COVID.”
Chevrolet’s redesigned 2024 Traverse, revealed at a plant event here Monday, will offer more SUV-like proportions and new safety features on top of greater horsepower and torque from an all-new engine. The 2024 Traverse will be available early 2024. Pricing details will be announced closer to production start, Chevrolet said. Chevrolet also is offering the midsize, three-row SUV in an off-road-capable Z71 model.
“Our new Traverse is designed and engineered to act and look more like an SUV,” said Scott Bell, Chevrolet vice president. “Led by the all-new Z71, the 2024 Traverse builds on the success of its predecessor and will undoubtedly enable us to be in more customer driveways.”
The redesigned Traverse, the model’s third generation since it debuted in 2009, will compete in a segment that’s popular among families, with three-row rivals including the Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride.
The Traverse will be offered in four trims: LS, LT, Z71 and RS, all powered by a new 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a GM-estimated 315 horsepower and 317 pound feet of torque — 19% more torque than the current model. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available on the Traverse — including an off-road-capable twin-clutch system for the Z71. The new Traverse has max trailering of up to 5,000 pounds.
Traverse Z71 features
The Traverse Z71 has a list of off-road-capable features that come standard:• A more than one-inch increased ground clearance and increased trackwidth for added stability, handling and capability• All-terrain tires coupled with 18-inch wheels• Front fascia designed for improved approach angle, with an aluminum skid plate and Z71 red tow hooks• Twin-clutch AWD system • Dampers with hydraulic rebound control • Terrain Mode • Hill descent control• Standard trailering package
Safety, technology features
The 2024 Traverse comes standard with a suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies, including:• Automatic emergency braking• Forward collision alert• Following distance indicator• Lane-keep assist with lane departure warning• IntelliBeam high beam assist• Front pedestrian and bicyclist braking
All trims also come with an updated “Buckle to Drive” feature that requires the front-seat passenger and driver to be belted before driving.
GM’s self-driving Super Cruise technology is available on the Traverse, including trailering and automatic lane change capabilities.
Design features
The Traverse is framed by an all-new silhouette. Its redesign mixes crossover and truck design elements to give the vehicle a rugged look.
“The designers did a great job balancing crossover cues as well as some truck-inspired design elements,” Bell said. Production of the Traverse will start later this year at the Lansing plant, and it will be available at dealerships in early 2024.
Design features include: • All-new front and rear lighting, including standard LEDs• On the RS, walk-up lighting animation that greets owners as they approach• Standard dual-exhaust system in bright chrome• New for the Traverse: available AutoSense Liftgate• New for the Traverse: panoramic dual-glass sunroof with power sunshade for the LT, Z71 and standard on RS• Two all-new exterior colors: Lakeshore Blue and Harvest Bronze
The new Traverse’s interior is about the driver experience with a more spacious feel, according to Chevy. The instrument panel is lower than the previous model to enhance outward visibility. The Traverse comes with a standard 17.7-inch diagonal infotainment screen.
Additional interior design features include:• A larger, 11-inch-diagonal configurable driver information center• A column-mounted electronic transmission shifter• A pass-through console design for more storage capability • Available heated front and second-row outboard seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors• Leather-appointed first and second row seating surfaces standard on RS
The Traverse comes with a number of flexible second- and third-row configurations:• Eight-passenger seating standard on LS, with second- and third-row bench seats• Seven-passenger seating standard on LT, Z71, and RS, with the eight-passenger configuration available on LT• Seven-passenger configurations include second-row captain’s chairs with SmartSlide to ease access to the third row, even when a child seat is installed• One-touch folding second row and power-folding third-row standard on RS
khall@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @bykaleahall