First look: Chevrolet Trax previews Matiz

GENERAL Motors will unveil three GM Daewoo-derived compact car concept vehicles under its Chevrolet brand at this week’s New York International Auto Show, including the Trax shown here.

All three concepts were designed at GM’s design studio in Incheon, South Korea, and are certain to reflect the work of former Holden senior designer (and now GM Daewoo’s deputy director of advanced design) Max Wolff.

Built on GM’s "global mini architecture", the concepts are designed to appeal to young car buyers in urban markets. The orange four-door Trax is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine and points to the next-generation Matiz light car – and the Scion-oriented direction in which GM is now taking Daewoo.

Other GM cars on show in NY include the upgraded 2008 Cadillac STS – a car bound for Australia in 2009 – which now has a 222kW direct-injection V6 in its arsenal, along with a new lane-departure warning system and side blind-zone alerts.

Buick will have high-performance "Super" versions of its LaCrosse and Lucerne sedans, while Hummer will debut a safer and more fuel-efficient H2 and a 220kW V8 "Alpha" version of its Hummer H3.