Those paying attention will find it as no surprise that General Motors has officially announced an investment of $380 million for its Wentzville, Missouri assembly plant to produce the next generation Chevrolet Colorado. The move is said to create or retain about 1,260 hourly and salaried jobs.
Given the timeline of the investment, the Colorado should launch around 2013. GM plans on building the current generation Colorado through the 2012 model year.
Comments
I much prefer the blinged-out, yet classy truck shown in the photo ( “Flex-Cab” version in Thailand ). Pictures of the Thai version of the Colorado look a bit bland with too much hard, cheap plastics in the interior to fly big in the NA market. The nose cap on the photo truck is much nicer IMHO yet any aero enhancements for better mileage are very welcome as well. Noted on this show truck version are body-color door handles over the chrome ones on Thai models, a nice, Sport-Truck bed/cab cap above looks great. The more aggressive fender flares and wider tires give the above truck a more meaningful stance. Perhaps a top-line U.S. model could look more like the show version! I like the little rear-side hood edge fake air intake – adds design interest. Body-color mirrors – nice, should incorporate lane-change, mirror turn signals like the Thai model.
Small details like a chrome, or alloy band on the plastic black side mouldings and perhaps some kind of improvement over the sheetmetal indentations on the tailgaite ( a smoother look would be better than those odd lines ).
Hope the circular button arraingment on the Thai model isn’t a U.S. carryover, and I hope we get a bit better door panel and console – center stack arraingement with a large center nav with Bluetooth and MyLink options. The lower-priced work trucks look good IMO. Innovative bed features like a detachable lockable storage ( small toolbox ), adjustable cargo hook runners inside the full length of the bed and definately some kind of step-up feature on the side of the bed ( and rear ) would impress potential buyers. Thngs like flares, jacks, tow ropes and straps and some tools need a home that doesn’t mean sitting in the rear jumpseat or backseat area. This is lacking in every truck out there except the fullsized RAMs which have a bedrail storage area that is rendered useless if the owner adds a bed-top canopy.
Chevy has demonstrated some innovative bed ideas like a pop up/down bar that would enable things like ladders, kayaks or surf-wakeboards to be stowed neatly. some type of aero rail-tiedown on the rear edge of the cab roof would fit with that feature. A moveable rail system on tracks would also be GREAT for hauling those everyday small things you don’t want sliding around in back. Also – I’ve always felt a rubberized rear bed floor and walls would be a great option – not the conventional bedliner or Rhino lining that’s available today. Swiss Army knife utility for the cargo area is crucial to sales. Chevy could sell optional tool boxes and flush-mount attachents to make hauling anything imaginable a breeze.
I must say, we need independent coil springs in the rear – and/or adjustable load/ride air dampers. Sore backs and suffering over bumps and dips, potholes and miles of roads with leaf springs whose design goes back to the horse and buggy – must end!!!!
Give us a diesel/turbo diesel option. One fear of a diesel owner in America, where we do not refine much diesel, and it’s sometimes hard to find at a gas station would love to have one of the aforementioned optional lockable bed storage features be a poly portable gas tank – locked into the bed, perhaps 1.5 or 2 gal. worth. GM optioned tonneau, another profit maker. Give the Colorado tonneau something different, like a rollup that’s easily removable and lockable.
Lastly – please make a PHEV version. No 2nd gen light hybrid, but a true PHEV with a diesel of 4 cyl. direct-injected genset that’ll provide electricity to the rear wheels once the battery is discharged. Colorado fits so many lifestyles – we don’t need 8,000 lbs. towing capacity to haul a small-mid boat, jetskis, motocross bikes, quads or lumber from Home Depot! Finally, it looks like a better-than-current option will be available with the new ’13 Colorado. Seriously the five-banger, ugly last gen just fell far short.
Let’s give Toyota a kick in the pants and make Ford regret the day it decided to nix the F-100. Won’t Ford sweat as Colorado takes off in sales?! You’ll see a two year delay before they can sell their Ranger 2 here which is built in S. Africa – Time for GM to get the big advantage!
I draw very well, and have many ideas – esp. for trucks. GM send me an email if you’d like to see my many unique ideas to increase truck market share. It’s in the details guys – get this one right!
Also – the four door King Cab version of Colorado could benefit from some of the great ideas GM designers have lavished on the Granite CPU. One fantastic idea is the split tailgate, opening to increase bed length! A net or crossbeam and “wala!” you have a built-in flush bed extender! Perfect for the short short bed in the longest cab version!
One more comment for the day – Has GM though of putting Eco Cruze-like shutters in the Colorado’s grille for better mileage?
I’ve also mentioned an auto-lowering suspension feature as an option to increase frontal drag and increase mileage. The feature would automatically lower the truck over 40 mph. From my own tests, this really enhances gas mileage.
One comment…with the right options and accessories I’m looking at my next truck.
James : there has to be a balance good grief auto lowering suspension, how much do you want to pay for such a vehicle.
Err…James…don’t hold back…tell us how you REALLY feel…