DETROIT - Chevrolet's all-new full-size sport utility vehicles -- Tahoe and Suburban -- continue their love affair with American consumers in one of the industry's fastest-growing truck segments.

2000 Chevrolet Tahoe

Photo: GM

"If you want the newest in full-size sport utilities, Chevrolet's got 'em," said Steve Ramsey, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban brand manager. "Chevrolet created the full-size sport utility vehicle market in 1935 with Suburban; that heritage has been extended to Tahoe. Both vehicles have kept customers happy for generations."

Tahoe and Suburban have earned many enthusiastic owners by offering additional standard equipment and new product features for 2000 which include: side air bags, 16-inch wheels, full-function seats (power driver and front passenger seats, memory driver seat, power seat back bolster, etc.), automatic headlamps and 4-wheel disc antilock brakes. The vehicles also offer Autotrac 4-wheel-drive system (standard on 4-wheel-drive models only), roomier interior, front and rear air conditioning, nine-speaker stereo, new coil spring rear suspension and a more rigid frame for improved ride and handling.

OnStar, General Motors' innovative mobile communications system is also available on some models. At the touch of a button, OnStar advisors can contact emergency help, and have access to more than five million service listings including hotels, restaurants, dealerships, hospitals and more.

Tahoe also offers new options: a third seat so Tahoe can carry nine adults, a sunroof and the Autoride suspension package. The third seat also has a segment-exclusive 50/50 split fold design to maximize the number of cargo- and passenger-carrying configurations. Autoride has computer controlled shock absorbers, which are adjusted in real time to optimize ride comfort and vehicle control. The system also provides air assisted load leveling in the rear of the vehicle.

Suburban also features multi-link suspensions (1/2-ton model), optional second row bucket seats, flip and fold third row seating for versatile storage capability and a choice of rear doors (including new liftgate). The Suburban also has the same optional and standard features as the Tahoe, and is available in the 2500 series (3/4-ton models).

Both Tahoe and Suburban benefited from high profile advertising campaigns. Chevrolet began advertising the all-new 2000 Suburban using television ads during the Christmas holiday season in Texas because the Lone Star state is the most popular market for Suburban. Tahoe TV ads debuted on last month's Academy Awards, and continued during the NCAA Final Four and NCAA championship games.

(April 25, 2000)