Americans continue to be on the outside looking in when it comes to a proper midsize truck offering. But it won’t be for much longer, as GM’s Wentzville, Missouri plant is busy retooling itself thanks to a $380 million expansion commitment that broke ground a month ago. And on the north end of the country, engineers are busy prepping a new Chevy Colorado for the U.S. market. And while they’re at it, a new GMC Canyon.
Unfortunately, the process isn’t as simple as importing the current new Colorado, which is built in Thailand, across the Pacific and into American dealer lots. As the new Colorado was not originally intended for America, it was not built to pass U.S. market requirements. Additionally, according to the Pickuptrucks.com’s spy photographers, engineers are also busy testing powertrains different from the 2.5 and 2.8-liter Duramax diesel-powered mills observed in Asia.
The account hints that the base Chevy Colorado bound for the United States will come with a gasoline-powered four-cylinder engine — speculated to be either the new turbocharged 2.0L or naturally breathing 2.5L Ecotec engines. A potent 3.6L LFX V6 would be the range-topping gasoline engine, but there’s a notion that a diesel offering won’t make it into the fold. Our intuition disagrees with that. And between all of the engineering and retooling work that needs to be done, Americans will be lucky to see the truck by the late 2014 model year, if not the 2015 model year.
Lastly, the left-hand-drive trucks remain heavily shrouded because we’re told that their appearance will be different from what Chevrolet is currently launching around the rest of the world.
Comments
Looks like they won’t downsize and downprice. Close costs and lack of advantages over fullsizes is the death of the mid-size truck in the future. Might as well switch to compact now instead of being stuck with a mid-size for 4-7 years.
The global front end is too car-like. They need to stub nose it and have less feminine headlights.. Or maybe leave the Chevy more along the lines of the global midsizer and give GMC the more brute front end.
Maybe it’s me, but these pics look like they are obviously of the new GM full size Silverado & Sierra? Why would the “NEW” Colorado be so much larger than the one that is already on sale in other countries?
There are many differances with the US and world version, remember the US has larger folks so width is a very big consideration as well as the way the truck will be percieved not as an suv but as a TRUCK so design has been hard working on updates the 2014 model year is the release time frame but I think all will like what the 90 percenter not the 99 percenter has to offer this is the new GM and design is very happy how all the new trucks are coming together expecially the interiors world class and more expecially for caddy. much more to come in future months don’t worry you will start seeing more and more detail in the months ahead. Like GM has said they want to lead the market and we are working towards that.
That’s a humongous grill
I have been waiting for the New Colorado, with the 2.8 diesel, I hope GM does not disappoint me.
Dear GM. If it’s not too late in the design process consider:
– bed storage ala rambox
– opposing doors or at least hidden back door handles so it looks 2 door
– big rear window like titan
– fold flat passenger seat like title.
– 220 hp 23mpg city and 4000lb towing or don’t even bother.
A midsize pickup with a deisel engine and coming in the right time frame…
Cant wait.
Keep the automatic shifter in the steering column.
how many hoes can i fits in da back of dat truck????