The 2018 North American International Auto Show may have been highlighted by full-size pickup truck news, such as the debut of the all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2019 Ram 1500, and 2018 Ford F-150 Diesel. However, Ford also made a splash with its US-market 2019 Ford Ranger mid-size pickup. With its 2.3L EcoBoost turbo engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, it aims to take a chunk of market share away from the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, a pair of sibling pickups responsible for revitalizing the segment.
It’s not just Ford, either. Jeep will also enter the fray with its upcoming Wrangler pickup, which could also be called Scrambler. As far as American options go, the GM trucks won’t be the only choices for much longer. But that’s not to say the product planners of Chevrolet and GMC haven’t taken notice.
“You’ve seen us continually invest in the segment since launch,” said Chevrolet truck marketing director Sandor Piszar. “We’ve introduced new powertrains with the new 3.6L V6, the 8-speed automatic, and we’re the only diesel in the midsize segment. We’ve introduced ZR2, and our special edition models are red hot.”
The Chevrolet Colorado is coming off its best sales year recorded, with 112,996 units moved in 2017. Momentum picked up in the second-half of the year, after the launch of the popular Colorado ZR2 off-road pickup. The current US-market Chevrolet Colorado is going on its fourth year in the product lifecycle. With that in mind, we here at GMA expect a refresh to be not too far off, and Chevrolet’s main truck marketer seems to hint that there’s more Colorado news coming soon.
“You’re going to see Chevrolet continue to invest in the space,” Piszar continued. “I think we have a better understanding of the needs and wants of customers vs competitors in catch-up mode.”
Reading the tea-leaves; if Ford and wedge the GM-co-developed 10-speed into its 2019 Ranger, then it’s more than likely it can fit in the transmission tunnel of both the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. That’s one obvious update to anticipate. Another could be further upmarket pursuits with various accessory packages and trim levels that could line GM’s coffers, as various truck-oriented trademarks have been filed. It’s currently unclear whether or not the Colorado and/or Canyon will see any further engine updates until their anticipated overhauls, reportedly due around 2022 or so.
Comments
Would be awesome to see a 375hp 400lb-ft from a version of the 3.0TT from the CT6. Both in a SS and ZR2.R
Midcycle inferior refresh
Midcycle front and rear fascia refresh
A cheaper offroad like what they did with the Silverado, and also offer an LTZ/Premier trim
How about a Colorado SS? 6.2 420/460, 10 speed auto, Torsen transfer case, lowered suspension, “right” wheels, etc. Would be another segment exclusive substantially from the parts bin.
If a Colorado SS ever were to happen I think it would be a turbo V6.
Agreed, a 6.2 Liter would put it way over-the-top in price range and would be better off sold just as a Limited Edition model.
Why would you think a naturally-aspirated, single-cam-in-block, 16V V8 would cost more than a twin-turbocharged and intercooled, quad-overhead-cams, 24V V6??? GM doesn’t offer THAT V6 as a crate engine, but for the sake of comparison, an LT1 crate engine lists for $11,000, while the LTG (DOHC 16V single-turbo 4 cylinder) lists for $9,000. No scenario where the 3.6TT isn’t at least 50% more than the 4-banger, making it at least $2,500 more than a 6.2 V8…in crate MSRP terms, at least. Taking a step further, the 6.2 is already validated for truck use, while the 3.6 TT isn’t. I’m talking about parts bin engineering…where you take parts and pieces that have already had all of the development dollars ever needed spent on them, and don’t require much engineering time to achieve successful integration, and bring a desirable product to market in months rather than years, at a reasonable price. Sometimes GM does that (remember the 20th Anniversary T/A with the Buick 3.8 turbo?).
Colorado is an excellent product. Glad they are trying to keep it updated. After 4 years, it will be ready for a mild refresh, which will hopefully include better interior materials and the latest tech updates.
Perhaps another 20 horsepower could be found in the 3.6L engine….along with a defeat switch for the auto start/stop like what the 2019 Silverado features. Maybe they can get some LED lights for the higher end models too and bring the Autotrack four wheel drive option to the Colorado (it’s already on the Canyon).
If the 2019 model includes an updated front end, I’d hope they can figure out how to eliminate or reduce that ridiculous lower air dam on the non-ZR2 models.
Now for what we may really expect.
I anticipate many more detail things to be addressed.
Upgraded interiors.
More technology like adaptive cruise and 360 cameras.
I do expect more HP but not a TT V6 or V8. Look for a Turbo 4 option, more powerful diesel and maybe an increase in the NA V6.
The refresh in 19 will bring the new Chevy and GMC face.
Let’s not forget the twins now are the leaders in their segment in features and power. What Ford is bringing is details that GM can quickly add.
Then in 2022 we will see the new 2023 model that I expect will use the weight savings tech GM has learned on the Silverado. Stiffer stronger lighter with better ride and handling.
They will remain a player and sales will be harder to come by as the segment gets more crowded but GM will still grow in sales.
Look for a Trailboss model that will incorporate a some things from the ZR2 but at a cost savings and with the ability to buy it as a base model. No expensive shocks but better control arms bigger tires lift etc. not just a Z71 with stickers.
Look for GMC to be the one to add more content to the Denali as well to price. More content to the All Terrain too. No ZR2 for them but the All Terrain will see the additions the Trailboss sees.
Keep in mind price is a consideration and going over $50k is a problem for sales. Most mid size buyers stop at $38k before they move to a full size with large incentives.
The SS is a good idea. Extreme would work, too. ZQ8 suspension and a manual 6 speed for those who know how to drive them. That was a dig.
I love my 2015 All Terrain SLE and am not complaining because I will eventually get a tune to fix this trouble, but a wish Sandor would allocate some of that investment to fix the downshift trouble for us 2015 owners, so I could feel confident to buy a new one. Sorry scott3
Ready for a GMC Syclone & Typhoon… why should Chevy get all the fun?
The Colorado is a great work truck. It’s big, large enough for many workers to consider snubbing Silverado.
I’m sure Ford Fans will like Ranger, but the Blue Ovel has nothing unique that Chevrolet can not add to Colorado during a refresh.
Jeep Scrambler will be a unique lifestyle offering. I’d hope FCA plans to federalize the Fiat Toro for sale as the next Ram mid-sized. Curious to see if it will be branded Ram Toro or Ram Dakota? I never thought that Ram would interest me at all but they and Chevy build the best trucks out there.
A ZQ8 offering would be interesting. A “sporty” street truck is missing from the line up. I know the market isn’t what it was 20+ years ago, but you still people building street trucks. There is a void that they yearn to be filled.
The ’19 Ranger with 2.3L turbo and 10 spd. is going do very well. I’m may order one myself? It will have more low rpm torque than any other gas powered truck in the segment which should force GM to do a 2.0T Colorado/Canyon.
At times, I don’t think many understand (or maybe want to understand) modern turbo engines? When you say “turbo”, some still think……turbo lag and “rev it to the moon” for maximum top end horsepower. Times have changed. Using the ’18 Camaro as an example. The ’18 Camaro with 2.0T makes 280lb.ft. of torque @ 2500 rpm. It takes the 3.6L V6 4800 revs to make 280 lb.ft. In a mid-size truck some will still want a V6? There are those who still believe….”there’s no replacement for displacement!” , but in reality today, smaller cube turbo engines is where the low end torque is at.
I just simply cant believe in 100 years GM engineers are still trying to figure out torque. OK 101 from history, in the beginning long stroke lots of torque. Old 2 cylinder John Deere tractors and first trucks. Than 4/6 cylinders skip to 60’s like 292 I6 4 speed a lot of torque. O wow now small block 283 lots or revs no low end torque, so gearing to get right torque at right time. Then automatics, “”” now 2015 Canyon Engineers Listen”””, you had to use a torque converter to allow the revs to get high enough to get torque. Remember the first S10 pickups rev-rev and go nowhere. But o we use to much gas now with all those revs so we put a lockup torque converter in the automatic. Now back to the 60’s if your going to use a low torque high rpm you need to keep the torque converter unlocked until you get enough torque”””” on this 2015 Canyon it would be less than 2 seconds on the downshift.”””. But if we do that the mileage goes down just slightly do to the longer unlock. But that’s not true because in real world application VS testing, the driver has to step it down harder and then you get a whole gear shift and a lot of rpm, thus using more fuel and higher emissions. All turbos do is give you more, more in I6, more in V6, more in V8, Etc. But its still the same torque issue without the CVT or like I like to call it the steel snowmobile belt, you still have to deal with gears. Make an I4-I6,V6,V8 block strong enough to make it Diesel or gas, turbo or not, pare it with 6,8,10 speed whatever it takes for all GM vehicles and move on. Pretty soon we will have an 80 Chevy Chevette, I4 4 speed.
Give me a Colorado diesel with the extended cab. I will not buy the four door suburban station wagon version of a pickup truck. Straight cab and bench seat would be better but with today’s customer that is not likely.
Don’t forget Mercedes Benz is also getting in this segment as well.
A lot of good suggestions. I just wish they would make the truck a little bit wider. More horsepower and better fuel economy is the ultimate, hardest goal to meet.
Where’s the ZQ8, damn it!
Yeah, but make this right this time. I have a 06 Colorado Xtreme, i would like that Chevy makes this inline 3.5l turbo, manual trans and better interiors. Here in Puerto Rico, you see many Tacomas X-Runner, because they have manual trans. GM needs to look forward to beat Toyota in every corner.
Dear GM, PLEASE bring the Trailblazer (similar to Colorado architecture) back from the Asian market to the US…with the baby DuraMax…please?
Yep and that same thing for the Cadillac XT4, or even the 3.0 Duramax option.
Street truck with a 5.3 or 6.2 would be great
I just hope the don’t do the normal GM thing and let the competition pass them,By doing a half hearted refresh. Every thing they can come up with it needs to be equal or better on the Colorado. That includes making the ZR2 more macho to make it stand out from the regular Colorados.
Why does it seem like the Duramax version is hard to find? Neither Chevrolet or GMC dealers in my area seem to carry them. Is it a special order?
Demand is lower for diesel in general, it’s also higher in cost to build. GM and dealers don’t want too many vehicles sitting on the lot which they may need to discount to move and hurt profits.
Yeah, as far as online shows, there’s just none on any of the lots, and there never has been it seems. They have plenty V6s though, and a few 2.5s. So, I guess for now you have to request it. So, it all makes sense.
Needs a Colorado SS with the LT1 along with a Trailblazer SS with the LT1. Also needs a Silverado SS and a 396ci Camaro SS which is only 6.4L so just bump it up .2-Liters and go from there.