Muscat

“With the tremendous attention to detail that has been paid to smoothness, quietness and refinement, we believe this is simply the best Tahoe yet,” said Samer El Khalil, Middle East marketing manager for Chevrolet SUVs. “The objective was to improve upon the segment-leading qualities of the previous generation Tahoe – capabilities, safety, reliability and fuel efficiency – and raise the bar to new levels in terms of exterior styling, refined interiors, and superior ride, handling and quietness. The result is a vehicle with segment leadership in all of these areas.”

The 2007 Tahoe is built on GM’s new full-size SUV platform, which incorporates features such as a new, fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and an all-new, premium interior system that bolsters the vehicle’s comfort, quality and capability. Wider front and rear tracks enhance handling for a more confident road feel.

Extensive attention to detail was paid by Tahoe’s engineers to ensure a quiet driving experience. It starts with a new, stiffer frame, which reduces vibrations transmitted to the passenger cabin. The strength and accuracy of the full-boxed frame also enables more precise mounting and tuning of chassis and suspension components, which helps reduce vibration. Even the tyres on the large, 17 inch standard and 20 inch optional wheels (1st quarter 2007 availability) were designed to reduce noise.

Noise-reducing components and materials are used throughout the body structure, including the headliner material, door seals and front-of-dash area. The engine also features a quiet-tuned alternator and an acoustically tuned engine cover that dramatically reduces interior engine noise. New door seals help reduce seal “pull away” at highway speeds, which can cause wind noise.  A more slippery shape, thanks to improved aerodynamics, streamlined exterior mirrors and roof rack, and tighter body gap tolerances, makes Tahoe quieter as it slices through the air.

The Tahoe also features details such as spray-in expanding foam, which helps reduce noise by filling in space to eliminate sound paths. Tahoe’s quietness and smoothness are complemented by capabilities that full-size SUV customers depend on.

A new Gen IV small-block V8 – the newest chapter in the small block’s 50 year history – offers more power than comparable power trains in previous models.  The Vortec 5.3-litre V8 is rated at 355 horsepower and 504Nm of torque with Active Fuel Management.

Active Fuel Management technology enables better fuel economy.  When combined with other vehicle-wide features, including improved aerodynamics, the small-block V8 helps give the Tahoe the segment’s best fuel economy.  Testing with 5.3-litre equipped models shows unadjusted combined fuel economy ratings of 11.5litres/100km with 2WD models and 11.7litres/100km with 4WD models - better than any other full-size SUV.

A more steeply raked windshield and smoother roofline improve the aerodynamics of Tahoe, resulting in a best-in-class 0.363cd, which enhances economy on the highway.  Additional contributors to fuel efficiency include a lower, wider front air dam, tighter tolerances and gaps between the fascias, lamps and grille openings, and improved front-end sealing that virtually eliminates air leak paths.  These features also improve driving quietness compared to previous models.

The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is available in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ.  Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models are available. All come well equipped with enhanced safety, comfort and convenience features. New and substantially revised features include power-release fold-and-tumble second-row seats, a remote vehicle starting system, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, a Rearview camera system (1st quarter 2007 availability), a touch-screen navigation system (1st quarter 2007 availability) and a DVD rear-seat entertainment system with 8-inch screen and enhanced features.

Refinements throughout Tahoe’s spacious interior create an environment that exudes quality and precision, as well as comfort. A two-tone colour scheme is executed with new, softer, low-gloss materials for the instrument panel and other trim pieces. Additional details include LED backlighting for the instruments and chrome accents on instruments and vents.

Flush-mounted accessories and controls, such as the climate control/radio centre stack create a seamless, “single unit” appearance. Also, there are almost no exposed metal hardware or latches, as all models feature enclosing “close outs” around the seat bottoms and door sill trim plates.

The amenities and performance features are wrapped in a stylish new package that conveys Tahoe’s sporty, ready-for-anything attitude. The all-new exterior design is leaner and more agile looking, with large wheels and the wider track enhancing Tahoe’s powerful, capable stance. The improved aerodynamics also contributes to the sleek look, with a more steeply raked windshield and smoother roofline accentuating the exterior length.

Tahoe is the first SUV to feature the new face of Chevrolet with a large Chevrolet gold bow tie, centred on a twin-port horizontal grille.  The body-coloured grille surround is inset with an argent texture mesh.  Fog lamps and headlamps feature jewel-like optics.  The lower fascia, incorporating the front license plate holder and integrated tow hooks, is aggressively styled with a skid plate look that enhances Tahoe’s rugged, off-road appearance.

Tahoe’s front end reflects its sporty, outdoor character. It includes the fast-rake windshield; a bulging power dome hood; a prominent new fender design, with integrated wheel flares; a distinctive new grille and headlamps; and a full-wrap fascia. The wraparound fascia, which eliminates the conventional bumper-to-body gap, is one of the numerous attributes that gives the Tahoe a more refined look. It also enhances aerodynamics.

The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe has a comprehensive package of standard and available safety features. New features, including roof-mounted head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows, complement the stronger chassis and body structures to provide excellent passenger protection.

For further protection, the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with new roll-over mitigation technology is standard on all models.   With the enhanced Stabilitrak system, sensors continuously monitor the vehicle’s side-to-side angle, triggering stability-maintaining action if the angle indicates a possible roll-over situation.  If a roll-over is likely, the system can trigger the roof-rail air bags before the incident occurs to provide passengers with increased protection.

Crash avoidance is also bolstered through enhanced driver control dynamics, such as wider front and rear tracks, as well as more responsive suspensions – including a new coil-over-strut front suspension design and new rack-and-pinion steering.

Tahoe’s chassis and body structure are designed for improved crash energy management. The front frame section has improved crush dynamics that provide the equivalent of 450 mm of additional crush space, when compared with the previous-generation models – in a vehicle that is only approximately 76.2 mm longer. The frame also is designed for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility in the event of a crash with a smaller vehicle.

OTE Group is the dealer for Chevrolet in Oman. Tahoe 07 is available for test drive at OTE Group’s 14 showrooms spread across the Sultanate or call 24566267 for more details.

Chevrolet is the largest division of General Motors. Founded in 1911, Chevrolet fulfils the transportation needs of millions of people daily around the world – one out of every 15 vehicles sold around the world today is a Chevrolet. In the Middle East, Chevrolet has a strong heritage stretching back around eight decades. Today Chevrolet brings the most comprehensive range of value vehicles to customers across the region, offering superlative excitement, strong personality, value for money, safety and security from a brand that has long been a trusted partner in the region.

Chevrolet boasts the widest range of passenger cars in the Middle East, from the cost effective entry-level Spark, Aveo, Optra and Epica models to the iconic Corvette, full-size Caprice and Lumina sedans and the all new Captiva, TrailBlazer, Tahoe and Suburban SUV models. In 2005, regional sales of Chevrolet were up by 22% to 73,276 units over the previous year