ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702100050
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHICAGO
SOURCE: Associated Press
What's in a name? GM intends to find out.
GMC will produce a high-end luxury version of its Jimmy sport-utility vehicle, but it will carry a new name - Envoy.
The truck division of General Motors Corp. said Friday the Jimmy nameplate eventually may disappear because it is not perceived by consumers to have the premium image that GMC is trying to develop.
``That's an option,'' said Jeff Cohen, brand manager for GMC's sport-utility vehicles. ``We'll test a range of options.''
The midsize Envoy will go into production in mid-1998 as a 1999 model. A prototype was unveiled during the final day of the Chicago Auto Show's media preview.
It is essentially a Jimmy with some additional features, including a built-in air compressor for beach balls and other recreation equipment, a voice-activated cellular phone, GM's OnStar emergency assistance system and high-intensity headlights.
But the Envoy retains the profile and basic sheet metal of the Jimmy and its twin, the Chevrolet Blazer.
The Envoy will be more luxurious and expensive than the top-of-the-line Jimmy SLT, which lists for about $30,000, but the price has not been set.
GMC does not plan to enter the growing market for smaller, so-called ``hybrid'' sport-utility vehicles based on cars rather than trucks, such as Toyota's RAV4, the Honda CR-V and Subaru's new Forester.
``We see truck-based sport/utilities as the foundation for the future of GMC,'' Cohen said.
But GM's Buick division may get a car-based sport-utility vehicle. Buick dealers have been clamoring for such a vehicle to keep buyers from defecting to other makes.
Ronald Zarrella, GM's North American sales and marketing chief, said ``we may well do a hybrid'' sport-utility for Buick, but that it would not go into production for at least two years.
Chevrolet, meanwhile, showed its slightly restyled 1998 Camaro. The sport coupe will receive a new, more aerodynamic front end with elliptical headlights; the Z28 and SS versions will get a version of the 1997 Corvette's 305-horsepower V8. The car goes on sale next fall.
The auto show opens to the public today.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. 1. Just what we've all been wanting: a his-andby CNBhers-trunk. The Mercury MC4 concept car (above) has a gull-wing
rear. 2. The 1998 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (left), also unveiled Friday
at the Chicago Auto Show, is powered by a version of the 1997
Corvette's 305-horsepower V8. color.