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The all-new 2012 Chevrolet Colorado range featuring single, extended and crew-cab body styles is the product of a five-year, US$2 billion vehicle program developed across five continents for customers in more than 60 markets around the world.
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All-new Chevrolet Colorado revealed in Thailand
2011-10-05
Bangkok, Thailand - The all-new Chevrolet Colorado, designed and engineered to be General Motors’ toughest, highest-performing and most refined midsize pickup truck ever, made its global debut today in Thailand.
The Colorado range is the product of a five-year, US$2 billion vehicle program developed across five continents for customers in more than 60 markets around the world.
The new-generation Colorado offers more technology and delivers more features and value than ever before. Interiors, exteriors and major mechanical features are all new, representing the most clean-sheet midsize truck program in Chevrolet’s 100-year history.
Chevrolet will offer Thai customers various combinations of Colorado models, powertrains, cabins, and ride heights when the range goes on sale this month. The range features a choice of two all-new Duramax turbo-diesel engines that provide performance and fuel economy across three specification levels.
“Thailand is excited to be the first market in the world to introduce the all-new Colorado, which represents GM’s most significant play in the midsize pickup truck market ever,” said Martin Apfel, GM Thailand President.
Based on GM’s global body-on-frame, rear-drive midsize truck architecture, the new Colorado is designed, engineered and executed to deliver appearance, performance, versatility and refinement.
Brad Merkel, GM’s Global Vehicle Line Executive for Midsize Trucks, said: “Our objective from the beginning of the program was ‘haul anything, go anywhere’ – and that’s exactly what the new Colorado delivers. We have engineered it to meet the needs and desires of commercial and personal buyers alike. It can be a workhorse, a family hauler, a lifestyle vehicle, or a truck that plays to the higher-end premium buyer.”
New Colorado Range – Flexibility Matched with Performance
The development of the all-new Colorado was led by a highly skilled team of GM engineers in Brazil who used their expertise to tailor the vehicle for a number of global markets, including those in Southeast Asia.
The new lineup delivers ride and handling characteristics unexpected of a midsize pickup thanks to two levels of chassis and suspension tuning. As a result, it is equally adept both at hauling and towing and at serving as a day-to-day city commuter.
Colorado also features an all-new global family of GM-developed turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines designed to deliver the combination of performance and fuel efficiency. The two Duramax diesels, built at GM Thailand’s newly opened US$200 million engine plant, are available in 2.8-liter and 2.5-liter displacements.
The 2.8-liter turbo-diesel features a variable-geometry turbocharger for optimal power and efficiency across the rpm band and a balance shaft for greater smoothness, while both engines feature components designed to last for 240,000 kilometers.
The 2.8-liter engine is rated at 180 horsepower (132 kW) and 346 lb.-ft. of torque (470 Nm) with an available six-speed automatic transmission (324 lb.-ft. / 440 Nm with a five-speed manual). The 2.5-liter engine is rated at 150 horsepower (110 kW) and 258 lb.-ft. of torque (350 Nm).
Striking Exterior Looks
The Colorado’s bold road presence was created by the GM Advanced Design Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and takes many cues from the three stunning Colorado concept vehicles that starred at global auto shows in Thailand, Argentina, Australia and Germany throughout the year.
Design highlights include a dramatic power dome in the hood which combined with a raised cowl, gives the Colorado a strong, purposeful appearance. Higher-mounted dual projector headlamps are positioned beneath the power dome, emphasizing the visual strength in the face of the vehicle.
Also prominent is the contemporary dual-port grille – an unmistakable Chevrolet cue – that carries a three-dimensional grille mesh. Chrome appointments in the grille surround, door handles, tailgate handle, mirror caps, and headlamps and fog lamps on high-level models provide a premium appearance. Meanwhile, in a first for a Chevrolet pickup truck, the Colorado offers LED-illuminated tail lamps on high-level models.
That premium appearance is also reflected by detailed sheet metal work throughout the exterior, including the hood and door panels, which blend layers of natural light for a rich, uncluttered, natural surface appearance.
All-Purpose Interior Comfort
With a flowing instrument panel, integrated center stack and trademark Chevrolet dual cockpit design, the interior of the all-new Colorado combines car-like characteristics with the boldness expected of a pickup.
Boasting segment-leading front- and second-row shoulder room, headroom and seat height, the Colorado provides outstanding levels of interior comfort for drivers and passengers alike.
Designers have also carried the premium finish expressed so boldly in the Colorado’s exterior into the interior with the use of chrome appointments around the shifter and shifter head; steering wheel bezels; HVAC controls; door pulls; door appliqués; and surrounding the radio head.
The use of LED backlighting in the instrument cluster and HVAC controls in Chevrolet’s trademark “Ice Blue” illumination provides a high-definition appearance.
The Colorado also includes a vast amount of storage locations designed to be best in class. The regular cab has 16 storage locations, while the extended cab has 19 and the crew cab has 30.
Seats feature flat-woven cloth fabric or optional leather on high-end models with matching IP inserts. They carry sculpted edges and have dual-density foam construction. A front vinyl bench seat is available on base models.
Convenience features like auxiliary power, auxiliary plugs and USB connectivity are standard across the range.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com.
