Chicago 2017: General Motors Reintroduces the Redline, Foists It on Chevrolet
Chevrolet is introducing a new Redline trim for most of its current models. Actually, I should say it’s reintroducing the trim because Red Line — styled as two words — was pre-bankruptcy General Motors’ designation for Saturn’s signature performance models.
Unlike the Saturn models, the Chevy Redlines don’t offer appear to offer any dynamic advantages and are simply mid-level trimmed vehicles with special wheels and paint. That’s sort annoying when GM has decided to name the cars after the maximum safe speed of an engine. I cannot believe I’m saying this but it kind of makes me nostalgic for the sporty Saturns.
Chevrolet says the Redline touch will be available for the Cruze, Malibu, Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Silverado, Colorado, and Camaro before end of this year. All models receive black wheels with dual red striping that is absolutely going to get GM sued by Dodge for copyright infringement.
Other redline adornments include blacked-out nameplates outlined in red, darkened grilles, and black bowties. Some of the vehicles will have model-specific garnishes. For example, the trucks have red towing hooks and the Camaro gets a goofy woven metal graphic on the quarter panels. It’s another classic example of an automaker trying to mimic what’s hot in the aftermarket industry.
“Redline is another example of Chevrolet bringing SEMA concepts to showrooms,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of Chevrolet. “The SEMA show has proven to be a great way to identify customization trends in the industry, and quickly apply those trends to our most popular Chevrolet models. Based on the strong interest Redline attracted at the show, we believe they will be very popular with customers looking for standout cars, trucks, and crossovers.”
Keeping with this year’s Chicago Auto Show theme, General Motors is offering the visual promise of performance without one iota of dynamic enhancement to back it up. The Saturn Sky Red Line might have been an odd little roadster, but at least it was more feisty and fun to drive than the base model.
[Images: Chevrolet]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Giving the Cruze an engine might be a sales creating idea instead of this vapid idea. Give them another few years, and like GM has always done, the idea of an actual mainstream car that moves well will don on them in the year they discontinue the model. They have been doing just that since before the Fiero (which by the way got its V6 and proper suspension only after they announced its cancellation).
lame