Chevrolet has pulled the wraps off its upcoming Trailblazer SUV at the Dubai Motor Show.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is based on the U.S. market Chevrolet Colorado, with which the recently unveiled 2012 Isuzu D-Max shares its DNA. The Trailblazer and Colorado thus share the same ladder-frame chassis underpinnings and, from these latest images, it’s clear that both the Trailblazer and Colorado share a common design language too.

The question for South African Chevrolet fans is: will it be coming here? ‘Yes’ is the official word from General Motors South Africa and although they haven’t confirmed an arrival date, we suspect it won’t be here before the third, but likely, the fourth quarter of 2012. The Chevrolet Trailblazer will enter the local model range as a dedicated off-roading, seven-seater, SUV, above the Captiva range.

The vehicle on-show features an all-wheel-drive system and is powered by GM’s new 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, which features a variable-geometry turbocharger for an optimal combination of performance and fuel economy. Nothing more has been announced in terms of engine choices at this stage, but as the Trailblazer follows the Colorado so closely in its underpinnings, expect the engine line-up to be similar, if not identical.

Being a pre-production model, the Trailblazer shown here is likely to remain true to form when it eventually reaches showrooms, save for minor details like the lights, bumper, alloy wheel design and certain interior trim pieces, which are likely to be less showy.