- General Motors unveiled its first "global" midsize pickup, the redesigned Chevrolet Colorado, in Thailand.
- The new Colorado was designed in Brazil and developed by a team of engineers from GM do Brasil.
- GM said the new Colorado eventually will be sold in 60 countries, with the U.S. expected to build and sell a version of the midsize truck.
BANGKOK, Thailand — General Motors this week unveiled its first "global" midsize pickup, the redesigned Chevrolet Colorado, in Thailand, with plans to eventually build and sell the new truck in the U.S.
GM's late-September contract with the UAW noted the automaker's commitment to build a "new midsize truck" at its assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri, but did not specify a startup date.
As an indication of the new truck's significance to the company, GM said the new Colorado "is the product of a five-year, $2-billion vehicle program developed across five continents for customers in more than 60 markets around the world."
For the Thai market, the Colorado is being offered in a wide variety of configurations, including single-, extended- and crew-cab bodies in high- and low-stance, wide- and narrow-body options, as well as two- and four-wheel drive. Trim levels include entry-level LS, midrange LT and range-topping LTZ.
Thai buyers can choose from two new Duramax turbodiesel engines, displacing 2.5 and 2.8 liters. The 2.5 engine delivers 150 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 2.8 is rated at 180 hp and 324 lb-ft with the five-speed manual gearbox (346 lb-ft with the optional six-speed automatic).
GM began teasing the new Colorado earlier this year, with concept versions at the Bangkok auto show and the Buenos Aires auto show.
Inside Line says: While GM has yet to publicly confirm that the new Colorado will come to the States, the smoke signals seem pretty clear.
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silvbullit says:
12:55 PM, 10/06/2011
No mention of whether the diesel will make it here? Of course it won't; because it would outsell everything else and could get close to or better than 30 mpg in a small truck... If this came here with one of the two diesels it would be my first new vehicle purchase hands down. Otherwise, there is nothing new worth buying.
For everyone squawking about V8s, body-on-frame, etc. How many times does anyone haul over 5,000 pounds? My 99 Grand Cherokee with 157k miles doesn't have a frame and and it is rated for 5,000 pounds and I have regularly hauled cars on a flatbed with zero issues. Considering my "manly" 4.7 V8 puts out less horsepower than most modern V6s, why would 99% of truck customers need a V8 or a frame?
Contractors hauling heavy implements or old farts with huge campers can go get a full-size truck to tow anything over 5,000 but who else needs them? Most rednecks around here get a full-size truck to haul 2-3000 pounds worth of snowmobiles and ATVs, it is a bit overkill.
trmckin says:
08:41 AM, 10/06/2011
is it just me or does anyone else see a potential surge in aftermarket suspensions and engine performace mods? Gov't is making it tough for automakers to make real trucks but if the big 3 worked closely in designing trucks that EASILY accept aftermarket bolt-ons... they could slide by the gov't regs and we could build the trucks to our specifications or the average buyer could leave as is. Sort of like the jeep wrangler mantra.
michael_s says:
06:36 AM, 10/06/2011
General Motors put a lot of money into the comfort, ride quality, interior materials, engines, crash safety, and transmissions in the Silverado and Sierra pickups. The current Colorado and Canyon clearly received less investment, they are the only vehicle lefts at GM to use that particular inline 4 and inline 5 cylinder engines, stuck with four speed automatic transmissions, they have inferior crash safety compared to the Equinox or Traverse, the interiors are not as nice.
I'm not too pleased with the front end styling of this redesign, but if it's a superior vehicle across the board it will be fine.
I am kind of surprised GM has not built something like the old Chevy El Camino again. A pickup based on a sedan platform would not be as capable as a true pickup, but most people who really need the capability of a true pickup will opt for a Silverado anyway. For carrying light loads and towing 3500 pounds or less while also getting great fuel economy when empty, I think a new El Camino makes a lot of sense.
jgcl2005 says:
06:26 AM, 10/06/2011
@blackdynamite1
You're right.
Especially about girls in management.
Because of that terrifying fact I say we end women's suffrage. it is the only way we can save the V8 and bring back REAL vehicles with body on frame.
run_and_drive says:
05:48 AM, 10/06/2011
Something about that is just... wrong. The nose. It doesn't look like a truck. I also find it amazing they could make something that looked WORSE than the current Colorado.
damaje says:
10:09 PM, 10/05/2011
Which of the trucks pictured is the new one, the one that looks like a freshened version of what we have or the one that looks like a toned down version of the concept? If the latter sign me up, it looks better than the freshened Tacoma and the aging Frontier and looks way better than the ancient 1993 Ford Rangers that Ford tries to pass off as new. New, really? A couple minor face lifts in nearly 20 years and you bother printing out bruchures with a new model year?
damaje says:
10:06 PM, 10/05/2011
Which one is the new Colorado the one that looks like a freshened version of what we have now or the one that looks like a toned down version of the concept. If the latter sign me up, looks better than the refreshed tacoma and the aging Frontier and the very very ancient 1993 Ford Rangers they sell as new on the Ford Lot.
neusp33d2 says:
08:30 PM, 10/05/2011
I find it very interesting that the debut of this truck was made in Thailand. But then on second thought when I was visiting Thailand back in 2009, I noticed that compact trucks were everywhere, like everybody and their mother drove one. To say that 1 out of 2 vehicles on the road (I was in southern Thailand) was either a Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200 would be a gross understatement.
And speaking of the Toyota and Mitsubishi, this new Colorado looks eerily similar to both those trucks. It definitely has an "Asian" flair to its styling.
I bet it probably won't be sold here in the States. But it looks like it will be a big hit in Southeast Asia and Australia.
rail1972 says:
07:53 PM, 10/05/2011
Hello,
At some point in time during the 80's GM imported an Isuzu pick-up truck to the US and sold it at Chevrolet dealers as the Chevy Luv. The re-designed Chevy Colorado reminds me of it. It looks like an import. Whether that is good or bad depends on who you ask. Personally, I prefer a pick-up with sharper creases and edges to the hood and fenders.
rail1972 says:
07:52 PM, 10/05/2011
Hello,
At some point in time during the 80's GM imported an Isuzu pick-up truck to the US and sold it at Chevrolet dealers as the Chevy Luv. The re-designed Chevy Colorado reminds me of it. It looks like an import. Whether that is good or bad depends on who you ask. Personally, I prefer a pick-up with sharper creases and edges to the hood and fenders.