Colorado Canyon, USA - MT's TOTY Back-to-Back

[Joey D]

That looks way more capable then the current Z71 package and actually could probably do pretty well off road, I do fear that it will suffer the same issue as the Tacoma TRD Pro and be obscenely expensive.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

^^^ This may hit production, as it has been caught out testing in the desert.

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/18/chevrolet-colorado-zr2-spy-shots/

They planning on going to Dakar in the future?

 

[YSSMAN]

Looks like they're sticking pretty close to the concept, so that's good. Realistically, I think all of us know this thing very likely won't hit the streets for less than $40k. But, with a good number of off-road options and the diesel, it'll be a great alternative to the Taco TRD Pro.

 

[05XR8]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/A2B4F4E08EB37FE5CA257FFB00278B23

ISUZU and General Motors have decided to go their own way in the development of their next rough and ready one-tonne utes, ending a deal struck in 2014 for the two auto-makers to collaborate on the next-generation Colorado and D-Max.

If fruitful, the partnership would have produced a Thai-built pair of workhorses that would have shared much of their mechanicals under two different skins, but “unique requirements for each company” prevented GM and Isuzu agreeing on a balance of design parameters.

As such, the two companies today announced that the agreement had been wound up but GM and Isuzu parted company on good terms.

“GM and Isuzu have agreed to cease the joint development program for the next-generation midsize pick-up truck for General Motors International (GMI) markets,” said General Motors in an official statement.

“GM and Isuzu greatly value their relationship and will continue to collaborate on a range of projects across sales, vehicle parts and manufacturing in North and South America, Africa and Asia.

“Both GM and Isuzu agree that due to unique requirements for each company, joint development of the next-generation pick-up truck for GMI markets is no longer the optimal model for this project.”

GM’s Colorado development strategy remains unclear now that the global car-maker has split from the Japanese off-road and commercial vehicle brand, but says it has not been left in the lurch and the new plan is nearly ready.

“GM is finalising its next-generation pick-up truck strategy for GMI and will share its plans in due course.”

Collaborating with other car-makers to create mutually beneficial models is not an uncommon practice with Subaru and Toyota teaming up to build the BRZ/86 sportscar, while Renault, Nissan and Mercedes are at it with another one-tonne ute based on the NP300 Navara.

The collaboration shares development costs for a common goal, but without a partner, both companies will have to wear the full price of designing and developing a ute if both respective parties decide to push on.

It is not yet known how the parting of Isuzu and Holden/GM will affect the deal between fellow Japanese brand Mazda (if at all), which announced earlier this month that it had jumped on board with Isuzu to build its next BT-50. Mazda had previously collaborated with Ford to develop the current BT-50 alongside the Ranger, but that agreement ended.

With GM and Holden now out on its own, the North American brand is likely to lean more heavily on its own resources including Australia’s local design team, and the split of Isuzu could end up resulting in a heavier Australian influence.

Either way, the Australian design team will have submitted sketches to GM’s headquarters for evaluation, and even if the styling goes to a different team, local involvement could extend to the Lang Lang proving ground during development stages.

It is not known whether either company has secured a new co-development partner following the recent separation, or if the flexibility of working alone justifies the greater project cost in the eyes of the car-makers.

Isuzu and General Motors will continue to work together on a number of international projects, including a US commercial vehicle collaboration.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Gasoline powered Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 spied

 

[CodeRedR51]

Updated 2017 Chevrolet Colorado Receives All-New 308HP V6 & 8-Speed Auto

 

[CodeRedR51]

Production ZR2 shown.

LA Show: New Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Takes Off-Roading To The Extreme

Important stuff:

• Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve damper technology
  
• Aggressive new side profile
• Steel-tube rocker protectors
• 17x8 inch aluminium wheels and 31-inch Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires
  
• Front and rear track have also been widened by 3.5 inches
• 9 drive configurations for the advanced four-wheel drive system
  
• 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque
  
• 8-speed automatic transmission
  
• Duramax diesel with 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque is also available

 

[Joey D]

Not too bad, I do hope those steel tube rock protectors are actually bolted to the frame instead of the door sills like they are on most truck because if they are on the door sills the first rock it encounter will cause some serious damage. I also hope the 9 drive configurations just means e-lockers and not some idiotic electronic gizmo that does witchcraft off-road...because all that's going to do is break.

I do like the front bumper, it seems like they figured out that the low hanging one on the normal model is worthless off road. The diesel option is intriguing as well. The suspension also could be rather interesting too, I'll be curious to see a shoot out between it and the TRD Pro.

 

[YSSMAN]

If the press is correct in thinking the ZR2 starts under $40k, it is a solid bargain compared to the Taco TRD Pro. Having the locking front diff puts it a full step ahead of most of it's competition off-road, the question will largely be whether or not the Goodyears will be a good rock/dirt tire or not. It seems like a diesel crew cab would be the way to go, shame the resale values will probably be sky-high just like the Raptor for years to come.

 

[Joey D]

the question will largely be whether or not the Goodyears will be a good rock/dirt tire or not.

They should be good on rocks but eveything I've ever read about them says they aren't great in mud or snow. Also apparently on the older versions of the Duratracs the sidewall was more easily punctured that other all-terrains. It should do the job though, but I suspect most people who will be doing serious off-roading will switch to BFG KO2's or KM2's since they are regarded as better tires. Those who want to turn it more into a pre-runner will probably go for something like the General Grabber.

For 90% of the people buying this truck though the Duratracs will be more than enough tire until it comes time to replace them.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Colorado ZR2 pricing announced. Starts at nearly $41k.

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/02/08/2017-chevrolet-colorado-zr2-40995-price/

 

[Cale]

Granted that price is probably for the extended cab, it's still $2K less than the Tacoma TRD-Pro (only comes in quad cab config) which comes less well equipped both inside and for hardcore offroad duties. Good Job GM

 

[05XR8]

2018-hsvwalkinshaw-colorado-hsvs-new-ute-exposed

 

[05XR8]

No petrol option for HSV SportsCat

“Doing something to the diesel engine, that wasn't viable ... to put a petrol engine in, that's not a scenario at this point in time,” he said.

“We recognised most people are going to say ‘you should have a power up, shouldn’t you?’ But where we’re looking at this product is really extending the Colorado range. From our perspective it’s how we’ve taken and evolved that product to a point and at a price point, so people say ‘yeah, there’s a real value added to that product.’“I’m not saying we’ve given up our basic DNA to want to look for those types of other performance improvements. In terms of a first execution, that’s where we’re at.”

Mr Jackson explained that emissions regulations meant that tuning the dieselengine was not an option, while converting the diesel-only Z71 ute to petrol power would have been prohibitively expensive.

Asked about media stories that suggested that the Colorado would get a twin-turbo V6 petrol powerplant from the US-market Cadillac CTS, Mr Jackson indicated that the concept existed and had been discussed, but was now in no way tied to HSV.

“There are absolutely no model plans around that,” he told GoAuto.

Reports suggest that the concept may be produced by HSV’s sibling, Walkinshaw Performance.