Next Generation Colorado Aims To Have Much Lower Operating Costs Than Full-Sized Trucks
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It’s easy to see why the Chevrolet Colorado never really caught on. Compared to the Silverado, it’s too close in price while its capabilities are far exceeded by its full-sized stablemate. The difference in operational costs hasn’t been significant enough to attract enough full-sized truck buyers, either. However, that could change with the next generation model set to launch in America by 2013.
From what GM North American President Mark Reuss is saying, owners could have the capabilities that are around “85, 90 percent of what a big pickup will do,” while featuring much more appealing operating costs. Reiterating, Reuss touts that the new Colorado is a “very, very nice mid-sized pickup that is really cheap to run.” And honestly, how many people really need full sized trucks in the first place?
As far as a GMC model goes, the potential truck will have a “different approach than a Chevrolet.”
Source: Automotive News
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“ALTERNATE FUELS”. It really should be alterNATIVE fuel since to alternate means to go back and forth continuously. What we want is to completely move to diesel and be done with it! But still, we know Reuss means “diesel” fuel but what we want is some kind of idea which engine will be used. I don’t know if the VM Motori 4 cylinders are refined enough to do justice to winning over the masses. Say what you want about Toyota, but as far as I am concerned they have the most refined truck diesels on the planet. Their 3.0L I4 and their 4.2L I6 are musical to say the least.
Richard we have been working on diesels for a very long time starting with one of the first names in diesel Detroit Diesel, the diesels that are being built today are highly refined including some of the VM engines, this engine may be the DELTA engine which is Diesel Engine Light Truck Application I think you will like, they are very modern and I guess like you think toyota has the best diesels on the planet I am not sure anyone can claim that… I would put these newer engines against any in the industry on this planet.
I must be missing something here. The comments from Richard & JD talk about alternative fuel and diesel power being part of the product plans for the new Colorado; but the Manoli’s post doesn’t say anything about either possibility. I’m also not aware that Toyota has any diesel-powered cars or light trucks on sale in the US.
In Europe, Toyota, Honda and even Subaru sell cars with diesel engines because the market demands it. So does Opel/Vauxhall and Ford. And the Germans have the diesel thing down pretty well after a hundred years or so. I don’t think Toyota has a lock on good diesel engineering. I read UK car magazines weekly and they don’t see anything particularly special about Toyota over any other manufacturer of diesel engines. In fact, they usually wax lyrical about German diesels.
I drive an older diesel Mercedes and it’s a fantastic car and engine (3.0L inline 6). The new-generation diesel power plants are powerful, much quieter and, at least in California, meet the same emissions standards as gasoline-powered cars. The also get significantly better fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts.
I think it would be GREAT if someone (GM) finally offered a mid-size pickup truck with a modern, clean, diesel engine which would likely have a significant fuel economy bump from a gas model (probably at least 25%). The bigger problem in the US is the price of diesel fuel. Here in LA, it’s more expensive than premium. Just a few months ago, it was the same price or less than premium. And a few years ago, diesel was cheaper than regular. Go figure. But at $4.38/gallon (cheapest I could find), there is a psychological barrier to paying for diesel when you can easily recoup the the couple extra dollars in price difference after just 30 miles. The rest is gravy.
This is my favourite size of pickup right now. Full size is too much for 95% of driving since in most cases there’s only 1 person in the vehicle. Mid-sized is just right because it still has lots of room for 5 people, can haul or tow most anything, and is easier to drive because of their size. The only sticking point with these trucks (whoever makes them, toyota, dodge, nissan) is that their economy and price is no different from a full sized truck. Who really wants to pay the same for a smaller vehicle that doesn’t have any real fuel economy benefit either. The current Colorado and Canyon would be better trucks if GM had redone the interiors and ditched the 5 banger for the 3.6 V6. I think that sized pickup has a niche that no one is looking after. Some of these midsized trucks are so big now that you need to pull out a measuring tape to see the difference between that and the big boys. Ever see a crew cab Tacoma with the long box? Good luck to GM with this, I just hope the GMC version looks butchier than the Chevy, because I’m not a fan of this front end. Look at the competition. Butch sells. No body wants a truck that looks like a car from the front end.
I agree with everything @Mozeby says. When you look at what a Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma has morphed into, there’s little price, size or fuel economy difference between those “mid-size” trucks and full size ones. And have you ever tried a U turn in those trucks? Horrible! Oh, and macho looks sell in a truck. Always has.
It would be nice to have a viable smaller (mid-sized) pickup in the market that got much better fuel economy and cost appreciably less than the big boys.
I’d also make a case for small pickup trucks to come back. I’ve found that the older generation Toyota and Nissan pickup trucks that were MUCH smaller than the current versions have a very high resale value because there is no longer a small truck in the US marketplace. I used to have an old (early 1980s) Nissan pickup. It was fuel efficient (4-cylinder with a stick) an the size made it easy to park and to maneuver. It was perfect for IKEA, Home Depot or Costco runs when I needed extra cargo capacity. And when I moved, it was very useful. Unfortunately a friend wrecked it and there was nothing new to replace it.
I think someone is going to prove the industry wrong one of these days, and release a back to basics, small (like S-10. Ford Ranger small) and cheap and effiecient 4 cylinder only truck, and it’ll do well. The 4 cylinder in the current Colorado or Tacoma make plenty of power for a small truck, and get good MPG that make it a worthwhile alternative to a full size. This notion of you gotta get bigger and more powerful with every generation, is what eventually has killed this segment. When a Tacoma, Frontier, or Dakota don’t have any real world mileage advantage, and cost about the same as a full size, their purpose and attraction has disappeared. The Colorado and even Ranger were the last of a breed of smaller more efficient trucks. It’s just a shame that neither Ford or GM saw any value in investing more money to make them any better. By the way a local Ford dealer (here in Canada) is selling brand new 2011 Rangers (club cab, 4.0 auto, tow package 2wd) for $13999. That’s cheaper than what a Cruze or Civic even start at. If the truck wasn’t as ancient as the Pyramids then it would be an even better deal. I would bet that a more modern pickup that well equipped below $20K, would sell like crazy.
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