First there was the trucky GMC Acadia in December 2006, then the beautifully styled Buick Enclave a few months later, followed by the value-priced Saturn Outlook. GM has been rolling out full-size crossover utilities on its Lambda platform for a while now.

This brings to mind thoughts about coming late to a party--unless you're bringing something really special, you run the risk of not being noticed. This seems to be a risk Chevrolet is willing to take with their 2009 Traverse. As a matter of fact, GM thinks it'll sell so many Traverses that it's devoted a entire factory to Traverse (a former Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee). The three other Lambda vehicles are built in Michigan.

As for Chevrolet's timing into the market, the bow-tie boys (and girls) are looking pretty clever at the moment. Just in the nick of time, they're introducing a roomy, eight-passenger vehicle that is more fuel-efficient (17/24 mpg front-wheel drive, 16/23 mpg all-wheel drive) than the full-size truck-based SUVs drivers are abandoning like rats off a sinking ship. Think Chevy planned this confluence? Not likely, but this does give Chevy Truck reason to hope that Traverse will keep full-size SUV buyers in the Chevy fold.

So what's the Traverse like? This was our first experience behind the wheel of a Lambda fitted with the direct-injection V-6 from the Cadillac CTS and STS. The 3.6-liter engine produces 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, and this is adequate to move the Chevy's not inconsequential weight: 4,720 pounds (front-wheel-drive models) and 4,925 pounds (all-wheel-drive models). Compared to the most powerful of GM's full-size trucks and utilities, the Traverse accelerates at a leisurely pace, but it is far from being dangerously slow and never feels anemic.

Shift calibrations have been significantly revised for the six-speed automatic, and the improvements are obvious to anyone who had ever spent time behind the wheel of a 2007 or 2008 Acadia, Enclave, or Outlook. Shifts could be jerky as the powertrain often waited too long before requesting a lower gear, so when the lower gear finally engaged, there was significant physical and aural commotion. This unpleasantness has been remedied. Like the other Lambdas, the Traverse is impressively quiet.

Handling is surprisingly sharp for such a large and heavy vehicle. Especially with the LTZ's 20-inch wheel and suspension package, steering response is quick and body roll is present but not excessive. Stability control is standard, but it functions in an unobtrusive manner--and unlike some systems from other manufacturers, it doesn't "ding ding ding" at you when you're not driving the way it thinks you should. The chassis also proved competent at soaking up road imperfections in a way that would have set a new benchmark for luxury cars not all that many years ago.

Styling-wise, the Chevy is conservative. It lacks the dramatically flowing lines of the Buick or the chunky stance of the GMC. Overall, it's safe with a Chevy face. Our ho-hum impression was undoubtedly exacerbated by the fact that nearly all the models on hand (there are three trim levels; LS, LT, and LTZ) were painted kitchen appliance white, and it was difficult to tell one from the other. This is not a flattering color, and it tends to mask body character lines.

Inside, the Traverse presents a cleanly styled interior with the room you'd expect in an Enclave, Acadia, or Outlook. All the expected standard and optional features are there, including standard OnStar, XM, and so on. In a nod to the reality of hand-free phone laws coming on line, GM now offers a Bluetooth option; no longer is an OnStar cellular phone link the only choice.

We found it amusing that the gentleman who did most of the press presentation was the same guy, Don Butler, who launched the Pontiac Aztek. We'll risk our career by predicting that the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse will do better than the still-the-butt-of-jokes-and-still-a-sore-point-at-GM crossover. Butler isn't taking any chances, though, as he's already accepted a position at OnStar. Coincidence? Probably, but it's not a bad timing to get out of the truck business today. (Good luck, Don.)

We asked if there was a Michigan-only Grand Traverse model in the works, to which no one responded because it wasn't a very serious question. (Only people from Michigan will potentially laugh at this weak joke.)

We'll be back next week with a full review of the Traverse. Stay tuned.--Rex Roy

While Hyundai launches the new Genesis sport sedan this month, it’s already turning its attention to seven new vehicles it plans to introduce over the next 24 months.

The Genesis sedan is the first V-8-powered vehicle from the brand to be sold in the United States. As it arrives in U.S. showrooms this month, it offers a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines—the latter with 375 horsepower—along with a six-speed automatic transmission, a roomy interior, and a choice of upscale options like a Lexicon audio system, a navigation system, an in-car controller like the Audi MMI or BMW iDrive controllers, and abundant leather and aluminum trim.

Later this year, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe breaks cover, with a 300-horsepower V-6 engine but no V-8 option. Also on the docket: The new Hyundai Elantra Touring, which is based on the i30 hatchback already on sale in Europe.

Moving forward, Hyundai’s plans for a new range of cars are being dubbed internally as “24/7 2.0.” Earlier this decade, Hyundai brought out vehicles like the Tucson and Sonata under the first “24/7” plan, which stood for seven new vehicles in 24 months. The 2.0 version of the plan, set for the 2009-2011 model years, includes the Genesis Coupe, the Elantra Touring, and replacements for the Sonata sedan and Tucson small crossover.

Also a part of the plan are replacements for the Accent sedan and coupe. Those vehicles will share some design elements with last year’s Veloster concept shown above; the coupe, in fact, could adopt the Tiburon name that’s not being applied to the Genesis Coupe.

Also in the offing: a new crossover vehicle that could be a “bit of a surprise for the industry,” according to Hyundai product planning chief John Krafcik.

With the LF-Xh Concept, Lexus promised a none too radical remake of the popular RX crossover. Now the first clear spy shots of the 2010 Lexus RX have surfaced, and those first impressions seem to be right.

The next Lexus crossover won't vary too much from the 2008 Lexus RX 350 crossover, which ranks highly with TheCarConnection.com's editorial team. The updated version takes on more of Lexus' "L-finesse" styling concepts, and from these shots, the most striking revision seems to be in the rear pillar and taillamps.

In concept form, the new RX carried nearly identical dimensions to the current vehicle. That similar stance disguised a five-inch stretch in wheelbase, so we're expecting much more second-row legroom. A V-6 will be standard; likely options will include a seven-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, and the logical hybrid version.

We're playing Concentration this morning at TheCarConnection.com. Below this post, you'll see pics of the 2010 Saab 9-4X--and here, you have the 2010 Cadillac SRX. Can you spot the differences?

OK, time's up. For starters, this Caddy prototype has a body-colored A-pillar, which also appears to be a little more upright than that on the Saab, too. On the Saab shots, the grille is exposed; here, the front end's covered, but even the cooling vents in its chic little outfit are shaped like Cadillac shapes, with a broad grille and vertical headlamps.

This Caddy running mule is riding on 255/55R-18 tires, and our sources say it weighs more than 4,000 pounds. It sits about 195 inches long and 76 inches wide--nearly the same dimensions as the current Cadillac SRX.

That detail brings up the swirl of naming rumors surrounding the car. Initially, sources had been spreading around the letters BRX. Now it's assumed that this vehicle, which was called a Provoq as a concept at last year's Detroit auto show, will inherit the SRX nameplate when it goes into production. The current SRX has been a slow seller and is due for replacement.

We'll know more before the 2009 Detroit Auto Show starts in January. Stay tuned.

TheCarConnection.com's spies have caught the latest pics of the 2010 Saab 9-4X undergoing testing before a likely debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January.

The prototype shown here is said to have a V-6 engine with about 284 horsepower and an automatic gearbox. It's most likely Saab's current turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6. Sized beneath GM's current large crossovers, the 9-4X is imagined as a natural competitor for the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Acura RDX.

The Saab shares its platform with the new Cadillac BRX, but this Saab prototype shows some distinctive touches from the Cadillac mules running around Michigan. The A-pillar has a more raked angle, and it's blacked out; the roofline, too, gives a good indication of this car's Saab design cues, as does the grille opening seen through the camouflage.

We'll have more details on the new 2010 Saab 9-4X as they're released.