Chevrolet Seeker: Five years begins for the Chinese crossover

The work on the Chevrolet Seeker, which the Americans launched in China together with their joint venture partner SAIC, began more than five years ago. In April 2017, the study of the Chevrolet FNR-X Concept began at the Shanghai Motor Show. The abbreviation then stood for “Find Neh Roads” (“seek a new path”). With the model of the series, which is now called Seeker, Chevrolet certainly leaves the well-trodden paths and seeks and seeks new paths (seeking means “seeking”).

The crossover model is intended to combine all the needs of a car and also attract small buyers. In addition, the Seeker combines a beefy SUV core with a sleek coupe design. A large central air intake at the front and sharply cut LED taillights add sporty elements, although the former has a honeycomb grille on the production car – at least in the top RS variant. In the side view, a narrow band of windows and an 18-inch model surrounded by multi-panel wheel arches are visible. Unlike the front, the rear lights have a generous size. The roof spoiler extends far beyond the rear, while the exhaust tip is hidden under the apron.

It has decreased compared to the study

As a concession to the series, the Seeker does not offer active aerodynamics, unlike the FNR-X. In the 2017 concept study, the front and rear spoilers as well as the radiator flaps, wheel trim and side skirt trim were perfectly adapted to the driving conditions. Chevrolet Seeker also does without remote-controlled doors that open in different directions. Unlike the concept car, it therefore offers a classic B-pillar.

With its wheelbase of 2.70 meters long, Chevrolet Seeker should provide a lot of space in the interior; However, it was not enough for four FNR-X cruise missiles to be suspended on the rail system. With two 10.25-inch screens: The monitor mounted behind the flat-bottom steering wheel provides all important driving information. The central touch screen, which is oriented nine degrees to the driver’s seat, works with the new operating system called “Xiaoxue” and represents the command center for the infotainment system. The dashboard and seats are made of perforated leather. The latter can be ventilated and heated and mobile phones can be charged wirelessly. Speaking of which: Apple Carplay works without a physical connection to the car and software updates also reach the Finder over the air.

1.5 liter turbo instead of plug-in hybrid

But the same applies here again: The Finder is not as well equipped as the FNR-X. In any case, we do not see all the wooden clothes and high technology in the study in the photos of the production car. There was also a whole range of support systems on board at the time, including a head-up display and all-round monitoring. Chevrolet and SAIC say nothing about this type of technology in the text accompanying the Finder.

In terms of the car, the Seeker comes with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that is said to have 180 hp; Chevy has yet to submit full data. According to local media, the engine will be mated to a CVT transmission. Chevrolet has also gone low when it comes to driving: The FNR-X concept presented a then-unspecified plug-in hybrid drive. It offered all-wheel drive, which, along with generous ground clearance and an adjustable, flexible chassis, would also allow driving on undiscovered, new trails. But the features mentioned in the last sentence are not with the Seeker either.