GENERAL Motors is to take advantage of the growing market for big 4x4s by launching the Chevrolet Tahoe in Britain this autumn. Expected to cost from £32,000, the 5.3-litre V8 petrol-engined four-door station wagon holds the title of Europe's largest off-roader and has already gone on sale in Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

The eight-seater Chevy, big brother to Blazer, will come with a part-time dash-select four-wheel-drive system, which automatically switches to 4x4 when it detects maximum traction is required. Tahoe's eight-cylinder engine produces 273bhp at 5,200rpm and 315lb-ft of torque at 4,000rpm. Combined fuel consumption is 18.3mpg and carbon dioxide emissions performance is 366g/km.