mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

2023 Chevy Colorado Work Truck Spied Up Close: Video

GM Authority has already shown you spy shots of the upcoming 2023 Chevy Colorado, both in the spartan Work Truck guise as well as in the range-topping ZR2 trim. Today, we’re bringing you an even closer look at a prototype of the 2023 Chevy Colorado Work Truck as it underwent high-altitude testing out West.

Like the prior prototypes, the one seen here is wearing a solid amount of heavy vinyl camo on the front and rear ends, as well as on the sides. Only the cab’s roof features the more tighter-fitting checkered camo. Speaking of the roof, it appears to be wearing a fin-style antenna, a small yet noteworthy departure from the current models’ “short antenna” configuration.

This 2023 Chevy Colorado Work Truck prototype is a Crew Cab, Short Box model and is riding on a set of steelie-style wheels typical of the WT trim. The front three-quarter angles show that the front end features a much flatter fascia treatment when compared to the slightly more raked appearance of the current model, which debuted for the 2015 model year. The front end camo is so massive that we can’t even tell whether it’s running with placeholder or production-intent headlights.

The body side is also covered in a solid amount of camo that obfuscates the new sheetmetal underneath. However, the general dimensions of the Crew Cab, Short Box configuration seem to be in line with those of the current model.

Like the earlier Colorado Work Truck prototype, a hard tonneau cover hides the box from view. The rear end also features a solid amount of vinyl camo, hiding the box and tailgate. That said, we can see the general outline of the fender flares protruding from beneath the camo. Additionally, we can barely see the makings of the CornerStep feature under the corners of the rear bumper, along with a single-exit side exhaust tip on the passenger side of the truck.

The 2023 Chevy Colorado will ride on an updated version of GM’s current GMT-31XX midsize body-on-frame architecture, which will be dubbed 31XX-2. The vehicle will get an all-new exterior and interior, along with an all-new powerplant in the form of the turbocharged 2.7L I-4 L3B gasoline motor currently offered in the Silverado 1500. In that application, the boosted four-pot is rated at a healthy 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque. The TriPower engine will see its torque rating boosted to a whopping 420 pound-feet in the refreshed 2022 Silverado 1500 thanks to various physical upgrades to the engine.

GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission will handle shifting duty. The atmospheric 2.5L I-4 LCV and 3.6L V-6 LGZ, along with the 2.8L I-4 LWN turbo-diesel baby Duramax will no longer be offered.

The midsize pickup truck, which has consistently ranked in the top three spots in its segment from a sales volume standpoint, will also adopt GM’s new Global B electrical architecture – otherwise known as Vehicle Intelligence Platform, or VIP. Besides allowing for over-the-air (OTA) updates to all vehicle components, Global B also allows for the latest in infotainment and active safety technologies.

Current, 2020 Chevy Colorado

The 2023 Chevy Colorado will continue to be built at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri alongside its corporate cousin, the 2023 GMC Canyon. GM invested $1 billion into the facility specifically for the new midsize pickups.

The international-market variant, marketed as the Chevrolet S10 in South America, is expected to become ever more similar with the North American-market model. The S10 will be built at the São José dos Campos plant in Brazil, which received a $1.3 billion investment for the next-gen model. The GM Rayong plant in Thailand, which built the S10 for Southeast Asia, has been shuttered and sold off as GM/Chevrolet withdrew from that region.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Colorado newsChevrolet news and a constant flow of GM news coverage.

[nggallery id=1162]

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. I wish they would take the covers off the truck and I also hope the higher performance Turbo 2.7 comes standard on the New Colorado ! I am currently driving the 2015 Crew cab long bed LT Colorado with a V6 and HD Towing package ! So I may be ready to trade for a 2023 equipped the same way ,But 4wheel drive this time !

    Reply
    1. Do you have a need for 4wd or live in the north? Too many people buy 4wd with zero need for it (especially down south) as an image purchase which is why it is now a nearly $4,000 option. Not sure what the whole fascination is with 4wd stickers, people give up better options to have something they never use. It doesn’t save money (you get back maybe half at resale time), there are a ton more maintenance and repair items and a $100 tow is much cheaper than 4 grand. Down here in Texas if I didn’t go out in the back country I would have zero use for it. Weather isn’t bad enough to warrant it, boat ramps are well maintained, shoot even hunting we usually park and walk or take the UTV.

      Reply
      1. I agree I live in the north and have both a older 2wd (never seen snow) rides a hell of lot nicer than even a newer 4wd. Comfort is king.

        Reply
      2. I couldn’t agree more.

        Reply
  2. I have a 2018 V6 Z71 Crew Cab with a long bed and absolutely love the truck. The new one would have to be significantly better for me to trade my 2018.

    Reply
    1. God I hope they keep the CCLB set up, that is the only model I am interested in when it comes time to replace my truck.

      Reply
  3. Looks like a good amount of ground clearance on this base model

    Reply
  4. GM seems to be in the habit of of wasting money rather then making money. Why waste money on a small diesel truck engine if they not going to use it for the next Colorado/Canyon?? Keep developing it…

    Reply
    1. What engine?

      Reply
    2. If your talking about the 2.8, it’s an older engine with Ancient bones! It’s bones come from a 1992 design from an Italian/GM joint, and the current design is the 2010 update that in 2016 was made US emission compliant. It’s past time for it to go. IMHO, the 2.7 with it’s torque and additional HP is a better replacement.

      It has been offered in global vehicles longer than over here, and I think will continue to power the S10

      Reply
    3. Um, they aren’t further developing it so money isn’t being wasted there and GM is making tons of money, so not sure at all where this comment comes from…

      Reply
      1. You don’t have enough common sense to understand they are not making tons of $.

        Reply
  5. I sure hope they put in seats that do not give you a sore back.
    The owner leased 10 and 10 get sore backs,the manager took an old Frontier away from the shop guy and he was not happy.
    A rummage sale lumbar pillow helps but ia a nuisance messing with it constantly.

    Reply
    1. Some people just have to lie to try and strengthen their view point. Let me try. My company bought 100 trucks and 100 people were completely comfortable! See how easy that is? Seats are unique to each person, what is nice to one person isn’t another. Some haven’t liked the seat comfort, others have said they are good or great. They test them with hundreds if not thousands of people to get input before production and balance comfort with durability. With that said ours is completely comfortable after 9 hours in the seat. By that time I get more restless than any real discomfort. Have I sat in more comfortable seats? Sure, but these so far seem like they’ll last and keep their shape. If it is uncomfortable for you I am sorry, others feel the same but most people feel they are fine. They can’t design a seat specifically for you then most others will probably be uncomfortable, best they can do is just give it multiple adjustments points.

      Reply
      1. Some people can’t stand when someone says something they don’t like. So in return they make some big long draw out statement that any person with common sense would realize is that mans personal experience.

        Reply
      2. Well look at some forums and other people were also uncomfortable.

        Reply
      3. If you have commonsense you got the Denali not a W/T

        Reply
  6. is Toyota abandoning the V6 on the Tacoma as well? That would only leave the Ridgeline/Gladiator with V6 options?

    Reply
    1. Considering the turbo fours put them to shame, I see no problem with that. This new one will give diesel like torque and V6 hp with four cylinder fuel economy. I am most happy about the added low end torque the V6’s lack which will make them a much better towing companion.

      And before any questions reliability, an over built four cylinder with forged components will last as long if not longer than most any V6.

      Reply
  7. If they are not using the 4 cylinder diesel in the Colorado, will they drop it from the Express as well? Would the 3.0 diesel fit in the Express?

    Reply
    1. That is a good question but I doubt it would. Even though the express is on a full sized chassis it has a small front end which would be a tight fit. Look how little room is there in front of the V8, not try and get two more cylinders in there I bet won’t happen. Once the 4 cylinder diesel is gone I bet diesel is out of those vans. I think they used to use the V8 Duramax at reduced power levels, or maybe they still do?

      Reply
      1. I think GM is slowly phasing out the Express and Savanah to make room for an EV replacement. That would explain why they haven’t seen a refresh or redesign since 2007.

        Reply
        1. They definitely are not phasing it out for EV replacement. They are keeping it the same because many costumers were TO’ed that Ford changed their design with the transit vans to be more “modern.” Many customer use these as upffiters and have fixed designs and dimensions for their packages and Ford changed it on them. It’s a lot of money to retool all your equipment for a dimension change regardless is it’s more efficient for Amazon trucks. Also, good luck hauling a generator in an EV van. Your batteries will already max out your vehicle weight rating, but maybe you’ll be able to recharge every 50miles with that generator. Simple put, expresses are sold to heavy industries and contractors. Not Amazon, and EV express would flop terribly.

          Reply
          1. Yup Amazon uses the best van there is the Mercedes sprinter

            Reply
      2. Agreed. The express still uses the 4.3 V6 as well, the 2.8 probably has a long long life with the express, or unleast till emission law changes and it no longer compliant.

        Reply
  8. The Diesel was not doing bad in sales. But the added cost makes it difficult to price so there is less money in it.

    The Turbo is going to give similar torque ad the diesel and around the same power as the V6.

    GM needs the MPG and lower emissions anyplace they can find it and the new engine will do that and only offering one engine will lower cost with no drop in performance.

    Midsize trucks are hard to price as they cost as much as a full size to build but people will not pay the higher price for them. Do the profits are much thinner on them. Once they hit $40k sales drop fast. Most sell for $28k yo 35K.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel