>>Chevrolet Tracker/Geo

Chevrolet Tracker/Geo

Chevrolet Tracker/Geo
Manufacturer	Suzuki CAMI Automotive
Parent company	General Motors Canada
Production	1988–2004 (USA & Canada) 1988-2008 (Mexico)
Successor	Chevrolet Equinox (U.S. & Canada Only)
Class	Mini SUV
Body style(s)	4-door wagon 2-door convertible 2-door wagon
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

First generation
Also called	Chevrolet Tracker (1998 & 1989-1991 Canada) GMC Tracker Asüna/Pontiac Sunrunner Chevrolet Grand Vitara Chevrolet Vitara
Production	1989–1998
Assembly	Hamamatsu, Japan Ingersoll, Ontario Kosai, Japan
Engine(s)	1.6 L I4 95hp
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2-Door: 86.6 in (2-door) 4-Door: 97.6 in
Length	2-Door:142.5 in (1989-1995) 143.7 in (1996-98) 4-Door: 158.7 in
Width	2-Door: 64.2 in 4-Door: 64.4 in
Height	2-Door: 65 in (1989-1991) 65.6 in (1992-93) 64.3 in (2WD, 1994-98) 65.1 in (4WD 1994-98) 4-Door: 65.7 in (2WD) 66.5 in (4WD) GMC Tracker: 65.8 in
Fuel capacity	11.1 US gal
Related	Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Sidekick Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Jimny Suzuki X-90

Second generation
Also called	Chevrolet Grand Vitara Chevrolet Vitara
Production	1999–2004 (USA) 1999-2008 (Mexico)
Assembly	Ingersoll, Ontario Kosai,Japan
Engine(s)	1.6 L I4 2.0 L I4 130hp
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2-Door: 86.6 in 4-Door: 97.6 in
Length	2-Door 2WD: 151.6 in 2-Door 4WD: 151.8 in 4-Door 2WD: 162.6 in 4-Door 4WD: 162.8 in
Width	67.3 in
Height	2002-04 2-Door 2WD: 65.7 in 2-Door 4WD & 1999-2001 2WD 2-Door: 66.5 in 4-Door 2WD: 65.6 in 4-Door 4WD: 66.3 in
Related	Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Grand Vitara Suzuki XL-7 Chevrolet Grand Vitara Suzuki Jimny Suzuki X-90

First generation

The Geo Tracker was a mini SUV introduced in late 1988 as a 1989 model. It was developed by C.A.M.I 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. In 1992 the Geo marque was brought to Canada so the Chevrolet Tracker became the Geo Tracker there as well. Also in 1992, the GMC Tracker became the Asüna Sunrunner and then in 1995 with the demise of Asüna became the Pontiac Sunrunner, discontinued in 1998. 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's 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 harsh ride, but the benefit was its notable durability in harsh conditions.

Second generation

In 1999, the Sidekick was discontinued, and a second generation Tracker came. 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 Mexico, 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.

Tracker in Mexico

The Tracker will be finally replaced by the 4 cylinder versions of the already introduced Chevrolet Captiva Sport (Saturn Vue in the U.S and Canada) in the summer of 2008 because sales are dropping very fast due to its old design.

Safety Distinction

According to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, two-wheel drive 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 290% above the average of 1.1 deaths per 10,000 vehicles.