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The Chevrolet Tracker, formerly the Geo Tracker, is a mini SUV produced for Chevrolet and Geo.
[edit] First generation The Geo Tracker was a mini SUV introduced in late 1988 as a 1989 model. It was developed by CAMI which was a joint venture between General Motors of Canada and Suzuki. North American Models were to be built in Cami's Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada plant alongside its almost identical twin the domestic-built Suzuki Sidekick (Escudo). All 1989 and some 1990 Trackers were built in Japan and imported to the US because of delays at the CAMI factory in Canada. In 1990 production began in Ingersoll and all Trackers were now being built there. The Tracker was originally powered by Suzuki's G16A 1.6L 8V SOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 80hp. The trim levels in 1989 were base convertible, base 2 door hardtop and LSi hardtop. LSi equipment included Air Conditioner, Chrome Rally Wheels, intermittent wipers, rear window wiper/washer, spare tire cover, 3 speed automatic transmission, tinted glass, and special red/black front and rear bucket seats. In 1990 the LSi trim was made available on the convertible models also. All Trackers were four wheel drive until a base two wheel drive convertible was introduced in 1992. The two door hardtop models were available until 1995 when they were discontinued to make way for the four door hardtop wagon that was to be introduced the following year. Although Suzuki started importing Sidekick 4-doors in 1991 CAMI didn't start producing them until the 1996 model year, when America got a 4-door Geo Tracker, now powered by Suzuki's G16B 16 valve 1.6L boasting 96hp. In 1998 the Geo nameplate was merged back into Chevrolet and all Geo Models including the Tracker were rebadged as Chevrolet in 1998. The Tracker was different from most other light SUVs on the market in that it is based on a rugged light-truck chassis. Although it appeared to be a comfortable passenger SUV, it was bolstered by a sturdy off-road 4-wheel drive system with a conventional light truck engine and transmission coupled to a hi-lo, 2-4 transfer case. The Tracker had a strong front suspension with a rugged recirculating ball steering box. The conventional front differential was rigidly mounted ahead of the engine, with U-jointed drive-shafts connecting the coil-spring front hubs to the differential case. The rear axle was a conventional light truck unit on coil springs. As a result of the truck-like underpinnings, the Tracker had a fairly truck-like ride, but the benefit was its notable durability in harsh conditions. The production of the first generation model of the Tracker (and Sidekick) came to an end in Ontario after 1998 in order to make way for the second generation of Tracker/Vitara. However the first generation Sidekick continued in production in other countries until 2004. [edit] CanadaWhen the Geo Tracker was introduced in the United States the Geo Brand was not sold in Canada. Because of this the Tracker was introduced there as both the Chevrolet Tracker and the GMC Tracker. The Chevrolet Tracker was sold at Chevrolet dealerships in Canada starting in 1989. Initially there were 3 models: a base convertible, base hardtop and a CL hardtop (CL is equivalent to the LSi in the Geo line). In 1990 a CL convertible was added to the line-up. 1991 was the last year for the Chevrolet Tracker as the Geo marque was brought to Canada in 1992 and all Chevrolet Trackers were renamed Geo Trackers. All 1989-1991 Chevrolet Trackers were four wheel drive. From 1992 on the Geo Tracker sold in Canada was identical to its US counterpart. The GMC Tracker was also introduced for the 1989 model year to be sold at Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealerships in Canada. Just like the Chevrolet and Geo initially there were three models: base convertible, base hardtop and SLE hardtop (SLE being equipped the same as the CL and LSi of the other marques). In 1990 an SLE convertible was added to the lineup. 1991 was the last year for the GMC Tracker as GM introduced the Asüna marque in 1992 and the GMC Tracker was renamed the Asüna Sunrunner. The Sunrunner was marketed as more upmarket and had no base model, with all of the Sunrunners being equipped like the SLEs were.The Asüna brand did not last long though and after only two years (1992 and 1993) the Sunrunner was rebranded as a Pontiac. The Pontiac Sunrunner was sold in Canada from 1994-1998 in both base and top of the line GT trim. It was available in two and four wheel drive and in both convertible and hardtop body-styles. While the Geo Tracker was also sold as a four door wagon beginning in 1996, The Sunrunner never got this body-style. [edit] Second generationIn 1999, the Sidekick was discontinued, and a second generation Tracker was introduced. This time, it was a rebadged Suzuki Grand Vitara which is still sold by GM in Latin American countries as the Chevrolet Grand Vitara. In Mexico, the second-generation Tracker remained in production and was sold there as Chevrolet Tracker. The Tracker series was discontinued in the United States and Canada in 2004, but all models including the LJ80/Jimny are still in production in other Suzuki plants. Some Trackers and Sidekicks were made at a Suzuki plant in Kosai, Japan. The later (1999 and up) Tracker models reverted to a lightweight automobile-type rack and pinion steering, and thus were nowhere near as popular with rural and off-road users since the rack and pinion is easily damaged (and expensive to repair). The 1st generation Tracker was sold as the Chevrolet Vitara in Latin America, and the 2nd generation Tracker is sold as the Chevrolet Grand Vitara in Latin American countries. In North America, the first generation Tracker was sold as a Chevrolet in 1998 after GM discontinued the Geo brand. In Latinoamerica GM made the Suzuki Vitara/Grand Vitara and sold as Chevrolet Vitara/Grand Vitara (Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela produced in GM Ecuador), Suzuki Grand Vitara (Argentina) Chevrolet Tracker "Just change Logos" (Brazil and Mexico) Both Produced by GM Argentina. On January 27, 2004, production of the Chevrolet Tracker was discontinued at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario and replaced with the Chevrolet Equinox. [edit] Tracker in MexicoEven though the Tracker was discontinued in the U.S. & Canada, the Tracker continued sales in Mexico & Brazil, although the model was facelifted in 2005. For the 2006 model year, the silver GM logo was added on the front doors. The Tracker was finally replaced by the 4 cylinder versions of the already introduced Chevrolet Captiva Sport (Saturn Vue in the U.S and Canada, even though the Vue & Captiva are both built in Mexico) in the summer of 2008 because of rapidly falling sales due to its old design. [edit] Tracker in Brazil Even though the Tracker was discontinued in the U.S. & Canada, the Tracker continued sales in Mexico and Brazil, although the model was facelifted in 2005. For the 2006 model year, the silver GM logo was added on the front doors. The Tracker was finally replaced by the 4 cylinder versions of the already introduced Chevrolet Captiva Sport (Saturn Vue in the U.S and Canada, even though the Vue & Captiva are both built in Mexico) in the summer of 2008 because of rapidly falling sales due to its old design. [edit] Safety distinctionAccording to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety[1], models of the Geo Tracker manufactured between 1991 and 1993 received the worst safety rating of all vehicles tested, with a reported 3.2 driver deaths per 10,000 vehicles. This was nearly three times the average of 1.1 deaths per 10,000 vehicles. Furthermore, crashes involving a rollover resulted in a fatality rate six times the reported average. [edit] References
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