When it comes to pickup trucks, Chevrolet is best known for its full-size Silverado 1500 that has consistently earned the Recommended rating of Consumer Reports in the last five years. Just as consistently, the Colorado, Chevrolet’s midsize 5-cylinder pickup in the United States, was criticized by Consumer Reports as being surpassed in just about every category by the competition. It didn’t help any that in Thailand, the world’s biggest market for midsize pickups, the Colorado was using the same engine and platform as the Isuzu D-Max.
But Chevrolet, which is celebrating its centennial this year, will reassert its nearly 100 years of trucking heritage by launching an all-new Colorado. Concept versions of the 2012 Colorado were displayed in various motor shows around the world this year, including the Bangkok Motor Show in March. It was launched first in Thailand last month and is slated to debut in the Asia-Pacific region including the Philippines come February 2012 (it will be sold as a Holden in Australia) followed by the Middle East and South America.
Chevrolet spent megabucks to develop the 2012 Colorado. The total global program costs reached US$2 billion, including a $500 million investment to prepare General Motors Thailand’s Rayong facility for Colorado production. Of this half a billion dollars, $200 million went to the construction of a new, state-of-the-art diesel powertrain plant adjacent to GM’s vehicle manufacturing plant in Rayong—the first diesel engine plant in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Developed across five continents for eventual sale in more than 60 markets around the world, the new Colorado trucks have been rigorously tested and driven more than 2.5 million kilometers under tough and varying engine loads and weather and road conditions in Africa, Asia and North and South America.
400 kilometers
To prove that the 2012 Colorado has what it takes to grab best-in-class honors and market share from today’s midsize segment leaders, GM Thailand/SEA and Chevrolet Sales Thailand invited 39 motoring journalists from the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to drive the new pickup over 400 kilometers of steep, winding mountain roads, including an off-road section, in rural Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. (These provinces were spared from the floods.)
The Southeast Asian media were among the first in the world to extensively test the Colorado, which for the Philippine motorheads was totally new since the Colorado has never been sold here. Our Thai hosts had repeatedly driven on the open roads, narrow village roads and winding mountain roads of Northern Thailand to chart a challenging route that would test the mettle of their new truck, 18 units of which were waiting outside the Chiang Rai Airport upon our arrival there from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
We discovered that the new Colorado is equipped with either a 2.5-liter or 2.8-liter four-cylinder, 16-valve Duramax diesel engine with common rail direct injection (CRDI) system and Variable Geometry Turbo manufactured by GM’s newly opened powertrain plant in Rayong, Thailand. The 2.8L engine packs 180 hp/3,800 rpm and 470 Nm/2,000 rpm when mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The max torque of 2.8 L variants with 5-speed manual transmission is rated at 440 Nm/2,000 rpm. The 2.5L version, which comes with a 5-speed MT only, produces 150 hp/3,800 rpm and 350 Nm/2,000 rpm peak torque.
Duramax
These engines form Chevrolet’s all-new family of four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines are based on Chevrolet’s 6.6-liter, V8 Duramax that is available only in the United States. They are designed with the same strengths as their bigger US brethren in terms of power, torque output, fuel efficiency and durability aside from meeting EURO-4 emission standards.
Delivering high torque at low rpm, the Colorado units I drove—alternating with Business Mirror motoring editor Popong Andolong in the 2.8L AT on the first day and with Chevrolet Philippines executive David Zaballero in the 2.5L MT on the second day—tackled the twists and steep inclines of mountainous Chiang Rai with ease and occasional screeching of the rear tires when cornering. Although the 2.8L AT Popong and I took turns driving on the first day was not a 4WD, it successfully traversed the tough off-road section under Popong’s expert steering.
What pleased me most, the only female journalist in the Asean group, was the exceptional ride quality of the Colorado, accustomed as I had become to the bouncy, bucking-horse ride of all the pickup trucks I have tested in the past. The Colorado’s riding comfort and low levels of NVH [noise, vibration and harshness] over all kinds of terrain can be traced to the torsional rigidity of its chassis that has been further strengthened by eight cross-members in its step-ladder frame. Plus its sturdy suspension consisting of a double wishbone with coil springs and stabilizer bar up front and semi-elliptical leaf springs at the rear.
Gear shift
Remember that we Filipinos are not used to driving on the left side of the road the way it’s done in Thailand. Fortunately, the 5-speed MT of the 2.5L Colorado shifts smoothly, even for drivers who have to focus more intensely when shifting gears with their left hand. The hydramatic 6-speed AT has an automatic gear selector via a toggle switch on the shift head while the 4WD units are equipped with a new 2-speed electronically activated part-time transfer case.
The new Colorado aced in the handling department, providing driving feel, nimble maneuverability and quick response. Built with solid overall structural integrity, the 2012 Colorado is kitted with a suite of safety features such as Traction Control System, Electronic Stability Control, Panic Brake Assist, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist aside from the usual front airbags (in the 2.8 LTZ variant only), side protection impact beams and collapsible steering column… but no Limited Slip Differential.
The spacious cabin, with a “dual cockpit” front console and sporty meters cluster similar to the Camaro’s, has a multifunction steering wheel, comfy, ergonomically designed, adjustable front seats, 20 storage spaces and amenities usually found in upscale passenger cars such as digital/electronic air-con controls and cruise control for the LTZ variant, a 2-DIN audio system with six speakers, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and MP3 compatibility.
Optimizes
The Colorado’s exterior design optimizes the latest styling cues for pickups including projector-style chromium headlamps, flared wheel arches, a high shoulder line plus a protective metal sump-guard integrated into the bottom of the front bumper. The use of chrome, low-gloss and soft-finish materials on the tailgate, door handles, rear fender and electric side mirrors give the Colorado a premium feel while large vertical LED taillights at the rear contribute to the bold, rugged, tough look.
Whatever its configuration—whether a basic 2-door work truck or a premium LTZ crew cab—the 2012 Colorado offers a common frame and body structure, more payload and towing capacity (3,500 kg), high-performing power trains and outstanding refinement. It’s a “haul anything, go anywhere” pickup and can be a workhorse, a family hauler or a lifestyle vehicle for the high-end premium buyer. How much will it cost in Manila?
Find out in February.