Car Moon

According to a report from Reuters, General Motors is preparing for try-the-competition test drives in Chicago, L.A., Philadelphia, and Miami.

The project, called "Test Drive Studio", goes something like this: when consumers walk into a participating dealership, they'll be offered test drives in the mid-size Malibu and the Equinox and Traverse crossovers.

After that, GM puts its (and the US taxpayers') money where its mouth is: they'll offer people the chance to go out in comparable Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas.

The newest addition to GM’s line-up of crossovers, the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse that will go on sale in the U.S. this fall, will carry a base MSRP of $28,990, including a $735 destination charge, for the 2WD LS model. Chevrolet will offer the Traverse in LS, LT and LTZ models in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, however detailed pricing will be announced at a later date. -Continued

The Traverese that can fit up to eight passengers in three rows of seats (2+3+3) is powered by a direct injection 3.6-liter V6 engine with 288Hp that’s matted to a six-speed automatic gearbox.