Chevrolet is quietly rewriting the Captiva's genetic code — and this time the change runs deeper than it looks. According to GM Authority, prototypes of the gas-powered 2027 crossover are already running validation tests on roads in Mexico and South America. Camouflage is minimal: mostly the badges, emblems, and front-end details are covered. General Motors itself hasn't officially unveiled the new version yet — but you can't hide something this big for long.
The real intrigue isn't under the wrap, it's under the sheet metal. The current gas-powered Captiva XL is built on the Baojun 530, but GM Authority now links the next generation to the brand-new Wuling Starlight 560 from the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture. And here's the twist: the electric and plug-in hybrid Captiva already on sale in the region rides on a completely different platform — the Wuling Starlight S. So Chevrolet is using the exact same name for two entirely different Chinese vehicles. Coincidence? More likely a marketing calculation.
The Starlight 560 is already in production, so the size of the future Captiva can already be estimated. According to official SGMW figures, it measures 4,745 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, and 1,755 mm tall, with a 2,810 mm wheelbase. It's front-wheel drive, with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the rear.
So what's under the hood? The gas-powered Wuling gets a 1.5-liter turbo good for 177 hp. The six-speed manual version delivers 260 Nm of torque and sips fuel at 6.99 L/100km on the WLTC cycle, while the CVT version bumps torque to 290 Nm at the cost of 7.58 L/100km. It's too early to call these confirmed Captiva specs, though — the source only points to a gas-powered engine for the future Chevrolet, nothing more.
Meanwhile, Chevrolet's South American lineup is getting an almost total shake-up. The new Sonic 2027 is already rolling out to several markets in the region as a standalone global GM project, and in August a 48-volt experimental version was spotted testing in Brazil. For the Captiva, the next checkpoints are the official trim name, the engine, the transmission, and the list of launch countries. GM Authority expects the premiere within the coming months. Remember this name — it's not going to be boring.
