2009 Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Orlando Concept Headed to U.S. Showrooms in 2011

#DAS09 During GM's wide-ranging press conference at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Troy Clarke, president of GM North America, slipped in a surprise announcement that quickly got lost among all the hysteria over the Cadillac Converj. The Chevrolet Orlando, a seven-seat concept shown at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, will arrive in U.S. showrooms by 2011.

Built on the same platform as the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, the Orlando concept has a 108.6-inch wheelbase. That's about 3-inches longer than the Cruze. The Orlando also has a wider front and rear track than the Cruze to open up more space inside. A 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine powered the concept, but expect the production vehicle to switch to a similarly sized gasoline engine for the U.S. market. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line