06 trail blazer ss

[68protouring454]

has anyone seen one at a dealer or know when they will be out? suppoose to have the vette motor, 400 hp suv, thats what i am talking about.anyone have any pics or info???
jake

[Smack_talker]

has anyone seen one at a dealer or know when they will be out? suppoose to have the vette motor, 400 hp suv, thats what i am talking about.anyone have any pics or info???
jake

I havent seen one but its supposed to be LS1 and all wheel drive too :willy: I'd like to drive one.

[srh3trinity]

It has the same 6 liter that the Silverado SS has and 20s and different suspension, they look nice.

[TravisB]

interesting....I would like to see some pics as well

[XcYZ]

http://gallery.trailvoy.com/data/503/4DRvette1.JPG

http://gallery.trailvoy.com/data/503/medium/ss8.jpg

[Steve Chryssos]

Me likey!

[Smack_talker]

I'll take the silver one...would be a great DD.

[XcYZ]

Came across this so I figured I had to post it. :D It's pretty old; Motor Trend, March 2002.

http://www.trailvoy.com/images/articles/1-tbtt/ttfrt.jpg

Not since the legendary Buick Regal GNX, GMC Cyclone, or even the GMC Typhoon has a similarly quick, turbocharged American product existed. Unfortunately, Chevrolet's TrailBlazer Twin-Turbo exists only as a concept vehicle, and we can't give you an on-sale date. Yet. What we can offer is a behind-the-wheel view with a fully instrumented track test of this 400-hp engineering study. And we can report that this agile TrailBlazer and its twin-blown Vortec 4200 engine are being evaluated for production.

GM is a very different place nowadays from what it was even a year ago. Top management has been shaken up, and there are many new faces on deck, aiming to revitalize this sleepy giant. One such is Ron Kociba, GM Powertrain's chief engineer on the 4.2L inline-six. At Mid-Size Truck, there's another batch of engineers and techs that have the same goals under vehicle- line executive Tom Wallace. Ask Fritz Indra, Powertrain's executive director of advanced engineering, why 400 horses are being extracted from a truck engine that makes 270 in production form, and he makes it sound like a logical extension of everyday engine-development work. "We just think 400 is a nice, reasonable number," he deadpans with his Austrian physics professor's accent. "And we were going after significantly more performance without changing the engine to a V-8.""Of course, if we needed more, there's more to be had," adds a smiling, but equally dry Kociba. "The point was to demonstrate the bullet-proof nature of this engine with fairly minor modifications."

We were surprised to learn how little is changed to create this Bullitt Mustang-performance-equaling six, with its twin Aerodyne turbos and air-to-water intercooler. For example, the block, crank, head, head gasket, cams, and valve sizes remain virtually untouched. The extra breathing hardware adds but 45 lb to the engine's mass. The only critical mods were a switch to 8.5:1 pistons (from 10.1:1), the addition of piston-cooling oil squirters, shorter (by 2 mm) connecting rods, thicker piston pins, higher-flow oil pump and fuel injectors, and a freer-flowing exhaust system. As you'd expect, the 4L60-E four-speed transmission's internals required some beefing, and the transfer case was swapped for the ultra-tough all-wheel-drive unit found in the 6.0L V-8-powered Cadillac Escalade.

http://www.trailvoy.com/images/articles/1-tbtt/enginett.jpg

Home office for the 4.2L/270-hp Vortec six is the GMT360 platform (Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Olds Bravada). So it was logical to install this experimental version in one of those platform variants. The Chevy was chosen primarily because of its mechanical relationship with the hot Chevrolet (GMT368) SSR retro pickup and the long-wheelbase Chevrolet TrailBlazer XL (GMT370) with the third-row seat, both of which will debut soon. Besides, Chevy is the most performance oriented of these three brands. Higher-performance chassis, steering, and brake bits that will be found on the SSR also plug and play in the TrailBlazer, since they share a considerable amount of platform commonality.

Mike LeDuc, one of GM's ride and handling development engineers, calls it his "library of parts." So bigger TrailBlazer XL brakes, stiffer springs, revalved shocks, a beefier rear axle, harder track bar and link bushings, and the faster XL steering rack were borrowed from LeDuc's go-fast lending library. Outside, the TrailBlazer (which has been lowered 40 mm) is little modified; keep in mind that this is largely an engineering, not design, project. The roof rack's gone, and functional louvers were punched into the hood. Deep front bucket seats were installed. A boost gauge was popped into the hole left by the 4WD switch. Street-performance-biased 295/45ZR18 BFGoodrich Comp T/As are wrapped around 18x9.5-in. Speedline wheels. The look is buff, but quietly mature; no stripes or wings required. Enough parts talkA—how's it work?

http://www.trailvoy.com/images/articles/1-tbtt/ttint.jpg

Running approximately 8.5 lb of boost, the twin-turbo 4.2 has given up none of its normal smoothness and quiet. Except for that unexpectedly quick climb made by the speedo needle, some turbo whoosh, and a bit of rear squat at launch, things inside during acceleration runs remain quite unremarkable. With the all-wheel-drive system to maximize grip, there's virtually none of the tire slip, yaw, or torque steer of typical high-performance machines.
This development vehicle's benign overall behavior strongly reminds us of the old turbo V-6 GMC Typhoon/Cyclone. Indeed, a post-run look at our laptop revealed a steep acceleration curve and consistent mid-5-sec runs to 60 mph, with a best run of 5.35. That's compared to 8.2 for the standard TrailBlazer. Somewhat disappointing, but probably wise, is a software bug intentionally left in the engine's computer that limits top speed to 110 mph. Otherwise, no letdowns. The handling/braking upgrades are nicely matched to the newfound power. For example, the beefier brakes and more aggressive rolling stock shortened the production TrailBlazer's 132-ft 60-0 stopping distance by 12 ft.

These improvements also conspire to add an impressive 5 mph to the TrailBlazer's pass through the high-speed slalom and helped generate 0.86 g on the skidpad. These numbers put it squarely in BMW X5 territory. Handling at high speeds is largely neutral with initial push and tail-out available under full throttle. Overall, we'd say it's a smart chassis setup by LeDuc and company and a nice complement to the 400 horses underhood.

Want one? Send your cards and letters to GM. Though many have wondered about the marketplace viability of high-performance sport/utilities, the demand appears to be there: Last year, the ML55 AMG was the best-selling among all AMG-ified Mercedes-Benzes. BMW is just now coming to market with its own hi-po, though not M-badged, X5. Let's not forget the upcoming Porsche Cayenne. So, why not a 400-hp TrailBlazer?

http://www.trailvoy.com/images/articles/1-tbtt/compare.jpg

Chevrolet TrailBlazer Twin-Turbo Concept
GENERAL
Location of final assembly Moraine, OH
Body style 4-door, 5 pass
EPA size class Special purpose
Drivetrain layout Front engine, 4WD
Airbags Dual
POWERTRAIN
Engine type I-6 twin turbos & intercooler, alum block & head
Bore x stroke, in 3.66 x 4.01
Displacement, cu in/L 256/4.2
Compression ratio 10.1:1
Valve gear DOHC; 4-valves/cyl
Fuel induction SFI
Horsepower, hp @ rpm 400 @ 5200
SAE torque, lb-ft @ rpm (est) 400 @ 2500
Transmission type 4L65-E
1st 3.06:1
2nd 1.63:1
3rd 1.00:1
4th 0.70:1
Reverse 2.29:1
Axle ratio 3.73:1
Final drive ratio 2.61:1
Recommended fuel Unleaded premium
DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES
Wheelbase, in 113.0
Length, in 191.6
Width, in 74.7
Height, in 71.9
Track, f/r, in 64.1/63.1
Headroom, f/r, in 40.2/39.6
Legroom, f/r, in 43.1/37.1
Shoulder room, f/m/r, in 58.5/58.5
Ground clearance, in 6.0
Base curb weight, lb 4645
Payload capacity, lb 1150
GVWR, lb 5700
GCWR, lb 11,000
Towing capacity, lb 6200
Cargo Capacity, cu ft 80.1
Fuel capacity, gal 18.7
CHASSIS
Suspension, f/r IFS, Double A-arm, coil springs/live axle, five-link, coil springs
Steering type Hydraulic assist, rack & pinion
Ratio 20.4:1
Turns, lock to lock 3.1
Turning circle, ft 36.9
Brakes, f/r 12.0-in vented discs/12.8-in vented discs
Wheels 18x9.5 alloy
Tires BFGoodrich Comp T/As 295/45ZR18
PERFORMANCE
Acceleration, sec, 0-60 5.35
Standing quarter mile, sec/mph 13.91/97.40
Braking 60-0, ft 120
Speed through 600-ft slalom, mph 61.1
EPA fuel economy, city/hwy 14/20 (est)
PRICE
Base price $32,495
Price as tested (est) $47,000

[XcYZ]

Found this over at GMI, while I knew about the TB SS, I hadn't heard of Colorado SS before, but it appears to be old news.

http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/PV__021665__.jpg

http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/PV__021664__.jpg

Concept Vehicle Highlights

In the hallowed tradition of SS-badged Chevrolets such as the Chevelle, Camaro, and awesome 1990-93 454 SS Sport Truck, the Colorado SS show vehicle sets a new benchmark for road-going performance. The Colorado SS launches with 400 horsepower from the 2005 Corvette’s LS2 and then benefits from a complete package of high-performance features.

LS2 6.0L V-8 with 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. torque that exhales through a custom-built performance exhaust from the catalyst rearward
Heavy-duty 4L70-E four-speed automatic transmission with floor shifter
Heavy-duty 9.5-inch rear axle with a locking differential for added traction and a short 3.73:1 rear axle ratio for rapid acceleration
Front disc brakes measuring over 12 inches that are sourced from the full-size Chevrolet Silverado; rear disc brakes from the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
Lowered suspension riding on brushed nickel-plated 20-inch Silverado SS rims
Stylized interior with unique trim, bezels, and seats
Custom exterior package with unique grille, fascias, flares, rocker extensions and tonneau cover

[slownova]

the trailblazer SS is out. every dealer in nebaska has like 2. it has the 395 horse LS2 in them. thier a blast to drive. i suggest all of you at least test drive one :)

[AndyB]

I saw a brand new one in black the other day, it looked great. The thing I liked the most was the seats, they were black leather with what looked like black suede inserts, it also had the SS logo in the headrest. Very sharp indeed.

[68protouring454]

wow, looks like i asked in the right spot, thanks guys, keep the info coming.
jake

[slownova]

i ordered a silver one and have heads/cam/intake on the way already. my only beef is... the tach is a totally diffrent color then the rest of the dash.

[68protouring454]

awesome, when is it due in??? i bet you cannot wait, what a killer suv, let us know.
jake

[TrailVoy]

Came across this so I figured I had to post it. :D It's pretty old; Motor Trend, March 2002.

:eek: Nice article.... :D Any trailblazer ss owners here?

Happy Holidays,

Tommy

[JMitch19]

The SS Trailblazer is a LS2 not the LQ9 6.0 that is in the SS Silverado's. My friend Chris White(GM High Tech & High Performance Pontiac writer) has one. You guys should see some pretty cool articals in the future. It has already been on W@W's 4wd dyno. It will soon be going to stainless works to have the first SST exhaust designed.

Oh by the way 32hp from just the tune on a bone stock truck.

Jason

[GregD]

This might be old news but I saw an alternative to the Trailblazer SS. They are coming out with a Grand Cherokee SRT 8. All wheel drive 420HP :hail: . Sticker is high starting at 39K but it flys. check it out here: http://www.drivesrt.com/