.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Boss
(Press Release)
Chevrolet Colorado
Quote:
Chevrolet unveiled the all-new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, which will redefine the midsize truck and offer real truck capability and versatility to customers who don't require a full-size truck.
The new Colorado is built with the DNA of a true Chevy truck, expected to deliver class-leading power, payload and trailering ratings. Colorado goes on sale in fall 2014 as a 2015 model.
"Our strategy is simple: meet the needs of the broadest possible customer base, and let them choose precisely the right truck to meet their needs," said Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president and president of GM North America. "The all-new Colorado benefits from the solid foundation established by the Silverado, and it reinvents the midsize truck while reinvigorating the segment at the same time."
The new Colorado was developed for the North American truck customer, with distinctive design, comfort and connectivity features, including segment firsts such as available forward collision alert and lane departure warning.
Chevrolet expects Colorado to be the most powerful truck in the segment, allowing owners to haul and tow more. A 2.5L I-4 is standard, and a 3.6L V-6 is available. Each engine is tuned, tested and validated for truck use, and each features direct injection and variable valve timing to make the most of power and efficiency. Each is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission.
When properly equipped, the Chevrolet Colorado is expected to offer class leading payload capacity and trailering capacity of more than 6,700 pounds (3,039 kg). That is more than enough capability to throw a weekend's worth of camping gear in the bed and tow a boat to a favorite lake.
Colorado will also offer the segment's only diesel engine in its second year - a proven Duramax 2.8L I-4 turbodiesel already offered in global markets. The diesel engine will expand Colorado's powertrain lineup to cover the broadest range of needs.
"We designed the Colorado to be the most versatile and most capable in its segment, bar none," said Jeff Luke, executive engineer, GM Trucks. "Not everyone needs full-size capability, but they still deserve the strength and true-truck attributes that come in larger models. The Colorado delivers capability with confidence - and a fun-to-drive spirit that complements active lifestyles."
Designed with a zeal for adventure
The Colorado's North American design is unique, with a confident stance and a sporty demeanor. Taller bedsides, for example, are exclusive to North America and match the aggressive, raked belt line of the cab, creating a distinctive proportion that reinforces the truck's athleticism while better securing items stored in the bed.
The 2015 Colorado's configurations are an extended cab model with a 6-foot bed, a crew cab with a 5-foot bed and a crew cab with a 6-foot bed. With the tailgate down, the 6-foot bed allows hauling of 8-foot-long items.
"The new Colorado's design brings a youthful breath of fresh air to the midsize truck segment and puts a progressive spin on Chevrolet's true-truck styling," said Ken Parkinson, executive director of Chevrolet Design. "It's like the younger, more eager brother of the Silverado - a Chevy truck through and through, with great zeal and a spirit of adventure."
WT, LT and Z71 trims are available, all in 2WD or 4WD. The off-road-inspired Z71 is the brawniest of the bunch. It also features a gunmetal grille surround - a change from the chrome standard on the other models - projector headlamps and unique 17-inch aluminum wheels.
The Chevy Colorado features triple-sealed doors inlaid in the body sides, like the 2014 Silverado, for improved aerodynamic performance and a quieter interior.
To help keep overall mass down and improve the front-to-rear weight balance, the Colorado features a segment-first aluminum hood. It also features the segment's only active aero grille shutters, which close at certain highway speeds to enhance aerodynamics.
And because it's a true Chevy truck, the Colorado leaves nothing on the table when it comes to innovative solutions for hauling and accessing cargo:
-Standard CornerStep rear bumper design pioneered on the 2014 Silverado
-Available EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate that uses an internal torsion bar to make raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for more-controlled lowering
-Standard two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into upper and lower sections, making it easier to haul, store and conceal items such as tools
-Thirteen standard tie-down locations throughout the bed for use with available, movable cargo tie-down rings
-Standard bed rail and tailgate protectors
-Available factory-installed spray-in bed liner.
An interior for work, recreation and everyday comfort
Blending cues from Silverado with a style all its own, the interior of the 2015 Colorado is designed to be comfortable, is cleverly equipped and well connected. A bold, upright instrument panel with large instruments and a central driver information center is similar to Silverado, while featuring a center console with a floor-mounted shifter similar to those found in midsize cars and crossovers.
Colorado cabin designers paid exceptional attention to detail and premium appointments, including a sculpted headliner that enhances headroom, halo lighting on key controls for easier view and an open area at the front of the center console for easier phone charging. The Z71 model features exclusive color and trim details, including embossed seatbacks and contrast stitching.
"We took the best attributes of full-size trucks and midsize cars to develop a passenger space that delivers a balance of unmatched functionality and comfort," said Parkinson. "It's designed to be as useful as possible, with storage compartments and clever features throughout, for owners who will use the Colorado as their daily driver and for weekend getaways."
Interior details include:
-Sculpted door panels that make it easier to enter/exit the vehicle
-Upper-instrument panel storage bin (when not equipped with the uplevel audio system) and large glove box
-Standard center console with room to store a tablet
-Rear under-seat storage.
Dual-firmness foam helps Colorado's seats wear for long-haul comfort with high-wear, stain-resistant cloth seating trim. Leather-appointed seating is available.
Connectivity, control and safety technologies enhance Colorado's driving experience
The new Chevy Colorado's technologies are aimed at complementing owners' lifestyles with connectivity and other features that support their daily and recreational lives - and help keep them safe, including:
-Eight-inch diagonal color touch screen (LT, Z71) and multiple USB drives
-A 3.4-inch diagonal driver information screen in the instrument cluster
-Available next-generation OnStar and MyLink enhancements with gesture recognition and natural language voice recognition
-Available navigation
Standard and available features designed to keep the Colorado's occupants safe before, during and after a crash include:
-Six standard air bags, including head side curtain air bags designed to help keep occupants from being ejected in a crash
-Large rearview mirrors and standard rear-vision camera system for greater visibility
-Available segment-first application of forward collision alert
-Available segment-first application of lane departure warning
-Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation, trailer sway control, hill start assist and hill descent control (Z71).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Boss
Quote:
Chevy truck DNA supports leading capabilities
The Colorado delivers the capability expected of a Chevy truck - including segment-leading payload and trailering. Like the Silverado, the Colorado has a fully boxed perimeter frame, which provides the strength to support its capabilities, as well as a confident, smooth and quiet ride.
A coil-over-type front suspension features aluminum knuckles that are low in mass and high in strength, contributing to a more responsive, immediate feel to driver inputs, as well as efficiency. Colorado also features the segment's first application of electric power steering, which enhances efficiency by avoiding the energy used by what conventionally is an engine-driven feature.
The Chevy Colorado has a short turning radius of about 41 feet (12.5 meters), enabling easier turning in tight areas such as city streets or backing a trailer into a camping spot.
Four-wheel disc brakes, with four-piston front calipers, are standard and feature Duralife™ brake rotors - also pioneered on the 2014 Silverado. They offer up to double the service life, which can save money on maintenance.
Another Chevy truck feature offered on the Colorado is the G80 automatic locking rear differential. Introduced by Chevy more than 40 years ago, it gives drivers a traction advantage when needed. It is standard on Z71 and available on WT and LT.
Truck-tuned powertrains designed for work, efficiency
The 2.5L and 3.6L engines offered in the Colorado are based on proven designs found in other Chevrolet vehicles, but tuned uniquely for truck duty - including more torque at lower rpm - for a more confident feeling of power when the Colorado is loaded or pulling a trailer.
The 2.5L four is estimated at 193 horsepower (146 kW) and 184 lb-ft of torque (253 Nm), with approximately 90 percent of the peak torque available from 2,000 rpm to 6,200 rpm. The 3.6L engine is estimated at 302 horsepower (224 kW) and 270 lb-ft of torque (366 Nm). SAE certification of the power ratings is pending.
Aluminum blocks and forged-steel crankshafts, along with dual-overhead camshafts with variable valve timing, direct injection and jet-spray piston cooling are features shared on both engines. A number of extended-life components can help reduce maintenance intervals and reduce the cost of ownership.
All models are matched with a six-speed automatic that complements the truck-tuned engines with features that make hauling and trailering easier and more comfortable, including auto grade braking and a tow/haul mode.
Chevrolet will continue to work on and develop the Colorado until the start of production in 2014.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Boss
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Boss
- - - Updated - - -
.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Boss
First Look: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
Chevy Breathes Life Into The Midsize Truck Segment
Quote:
How long has it been since we have seen a new -- really new -- compact/midsize truck enter the market? Most of them haven't undergone huge changes since around 2004. In fact, the biggest change in the category is how small it has become.
There were once 11 compact trucks sold in the U.S. As of 2014, that number is down to two. All the while, we have seen global pickups that we can't get in the U.S.: the Volkswagen Amarok, global Ford Ranger, and global Colorado being just a few of the standouts. However, that is soon going to change, as Chevrolet is bringing a version of its global Colorado to the United States and Canada for the 2015 model year, going on sale in fall 2014.
Instead of seeing this as a rehashed truck from another market, though, it's more accurate to look at it as a scaled-down Silverado, as few of the chassis components are shared with the global truck. The frame is about 40 percent lighter than the global Colorado's frame; the new unit is fully boxed and uses liberal amounts of high-strength steel. Comparing crew cab to crew cab, the Colorado is 900 pounds lighter, 5 inches narrower, 3 inches lower, and 16 inches shorter than the Silverado. The Colorado will use a coilover front and leaf-spring rear, and Duralife disc brakes with ABS. It will have EPS and an impressive 41-foot turning radius.
The truck will come as an extended cab or crew cab, with a 6-foot bed behind the extended cab and a choice of 5- or 6-foot bed behind the crew cab. And for people who lament the loss of the regular-cab model, we hear there will be a rear-seat delete option on the extended cab. Trim levels will be the WT, LT, and Z71, with RWD or 4WD with a rear locker. In the past, the Z71 had been a suspension package available on a variety of trims; for 2015, it will be its own model. As with the Silverado, the doors are inlaid and triple-sealed. Six airbags and a rearview camera will be standard, and forward collision alert will be available. Z71s will come with StabiliTrak, trailer sway control, hillstart assist, and hill descent control.
At launch, there will be two engines powering the Colorado -- a 2.5-liter I-4, with an estimated 193 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter V-6, with an estimated 302 hp and 270 lb-ft. We have seen these engines in other GM products (Impala, Malibu, Equinox), but they have been re-tuned here for truck applications, with more bottom-end torque. Both have direct injection and variable valve timing, and both will be backed by a six-speed automatic. Chevrolet hasn't announced fuel economy estimates yet, but the truck will use active aero grille shutters, which will help improve mpg numbers.
There will be a third engine added to the options list for the 2016 model year: a 2.8-liter Duramax I-4. Chevrolet hasn't announced power numbers for this yet, but in the global truck, it produces 197 hp and 369 lb-ft. However, it's likely that the diesel's hp and torque will be slightly lower here, as emissions requirements are tougher in the U.S. than in the rest of the world and use of aftertreatment can reduce power. That torque number is only slightly lower than that of GM's new EcoTec3 5.3-liter V-8, while potentially offering significantly better fuel economy. The engineers at Chevrolet also told us that the American-market version of this engine will be much quieter than the global unit. It will use Diesel Exhaust Fluid, with its refill point behind the fuel door. Unless one of the other manufacturers pulls off a big surprise in the next year, the Colorado will be the first midsize truck sold in the U.S. with a diesel engine.
The interior is a huge step up from the previous Colorado, using many of the features that are a part of the new Silverado's cabin. There is a driver information screen within the gauge cluster, an 8-inch color touch screen in the center stack (optional on WT), plus OnStar, MyLink, and navigation will be offered. The shifter is floor-mounted. Seats will be stain-resistant cloth or leather.
As you can see here, the new midsize's appearance is much more global Colorado than it is little Silverado. But there were some changes, including a new front end and higher bedsides. And Chevrolet's capability goals, both lofty and reachable, would align it more with the Silverado. The idea is that this truck will have best-in-class hp, payload, and towing capacity. GM hasn't announced payload capacity, but it expects a 6700-lb towing capacity at launch (and higher with the diesel). It will also be the first in its segment to offer a trailer brake controller. The company's CornerStep rear bumper and 13 tiedown locations are standard, and the EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate and spray-in bedliner are options.
There are a few factors that will be key to the Colorado's success. The first is price. If the truck comes in at a price that is lower enough than the Silverado's, it should do well. The challenge will be the price of the diesel in the Colorado. However, if GM is correct in its bet that midsize trucks cater to a different buyer than full-size trucks, and that there is a bigger market for smaller trucks than is being served at the moment, the Colorado could bring people back to this segment. It could also mean buyers would be willing to pay more for a well-optioned Colorado than they would for an entry-level Silverado. Not everyone has the space to park a ½-ton truck or the desire to drive in the city in one. Those buyers will soon have a new option to consider, and this truck has a lot of potential. And who knows? If the Colorado sells well here, maybe Ford and Volkswagen will bring their trucks to the U.S. too.