Saving the best for last might not have been GM’s intention when it finally introduced the fourth and final version of its acclaimed Lambda full-size crossovers—the others being the Buick Enclave, the Saturn Outlook, and the GMC Acadia—but after our short first drive of the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, that seems to be the case.

The New Malibu Maxx

The Traverse we first saw at the 2008 Chicago auto show was clean and classy, and the production version enters virtually unchanged, save for an ever-so-slight reshape of the headlamp lenses to claim a segment-best 0.33 coefficient of drag. Not accidentally, the Traverse’s fascia bears a resemblance to that of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, which is great-looking itself. Other nice details include an upswept rear window, flush-mounted roof rails, and mirrors with LED turn signals on LT and LTZ models.

Malibu influence can be found throughout the Traverse’s interior. The center stack cascades down toward the shifter and is tastefully decorated with silver trim. Illumination patterns also follow those of the Malibu. Read more »

This pre-production Camaro convertible is undergoing testing prior to launch in late 2009.

Continuing its strategy of thwarting spy photographers and providing its own pictures of future vehicles, General Motors offers a good look at the preproduction Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

Pilot vehicles are currently undergoing testing—unclad and therefore unhindered—as the automaker preps them for full production later next year.

As promised by the designer when GM first showed the convertible concept, the car sports a simple cloth top with a glass rear window and small quarter windows.

Like the Camaro coupe, the interior has been made less space age and more practical. And the side mirrors have grown, as expected.

The revised muscle cars ride on a version of GM’s Global Rear Drive platform or Zeta, developed by subsidiary Holden in Australia. It will be offered with V-6 and V-8 power, and features a four-link independent rear end which should give the Camaro a handling edge over the live-axle Ford Mustang. Read more »