The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, expected to debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and arrive in showrooms near the end of 2008, has been somewhat of a wily prey for spy photographers...until now. A member of the Priddy car portrait-takers snagged these shots of the new upcoming Lambda-platformed SUV as it was being tested on of all places, the Las Vegas Strip. The Spring Hill, Tennessee-built Traverse will replace the Uplander minivan and the big Trailblazer SUV — so, you know, Chevy's got a lot riding on the cousin of the Enclave, Acadia and Outlook. Brenda Priddy's take is below the gallery and below the jump.

Although we don't know if the name is carved in stone, Chevrolet's Lambda-platform-based crossover is making its first unofficial appearance on - of all places - the Las Vegas Strip!

Adding to the Lambda family - the Buick Enclave, Saturn's Outlook and the GMC Acadia, will be this Chevrolet. But unlike the others - this one will be built in Spring Hill, Tennessee (at what was - at one time - a Saturn-only plant).

Codename GMT 561, this Chevrolet crossover will likely begin production in August of 2008 - making this a 2009 model. Based on those dates - we're expecting to see an Auto Show debut at either the 2008 NAIAS, or possibly even Chicago - as Chicago tends to preview many SUVs and trucks. Looking through the camouflage, it looks like this all-new Chevrolet entry might even be carrying over some styling cues from the new Malibu!

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