Diesel Colorado / Canyon

Spied: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax Diesel

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Although it won't be available for the first year of production (which starts in several months), the baby Duramax turbo-diesel option for the 2015 midsize GM pickups (the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon) has been caught doing both high-altitude and hot-weather testing. No word on pricing for the powertrain option yet, but you can expect it to be packaged with the top trim package; eventually it should be available as a stand-alone option for cost- and durability-minded fleet owners. Here's what our photographers shared with us:

"GM is testing prototypes for its diesel-powered Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon alongside Volkswagen's Amarok pickup truck on the streets of Milford, Mich.

"The revived Colorado and Canyon will use GM's 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel, which should give GM's new pickups a strong standing in the midsize truck market. These latest prototypes give us our best look at the Colorado diesel's venturi exhaust tip, which is likely to be the final production exhaust specification.

"The presence of the Amarok testing with GM's new, U.S.-spec midsize pickups is interesting. Such testing will help GM see how they will compare with the Amarok for global markets, but we've heard VW is also discussing the possibility of entering the U.S. truck market in the future. It's highly unlikely that the current Amarok will see U.S. showrooms — as some have deemed it too small for the North American market. VW's entry into the U.S. truck market will likely come with the next-generation, upsized Amarok model — which is expected to be a better fit for the U.S. market."

We should know more about the two gas engines later this summer when we get our first chance to drive the duo. As to what kind of competition GM's fraternal twins will have, much of that will depend on how long the U.S. pickup truck segment is protected by the "chicken tax."

PickupTrucks.com

IDK, leading edge of the hood too tall, don't like the forward rake of the box either.
Don't like the up swept rear window openings with such a high belt line.

Had high hopes but it is looking like the truck will be larger than I hoped for.

It is larger than I thought, what's up with the tail lights?

TheQuig wrote:

... what's up with the tail lights?

What is wrong with the tail-lights?

The crew cabs proportions look better with the short box in my opinion.

The extended cab looks better with the larger box (and the more vertical wall of the rear of the cab).



Like it's bigger brother, I prefer the look of the GMC over the Chevy.

From the back they don't look to bad, in the first set of pic's of the white truck, the side view looked like they stuck out.
The crew cab could work for me.

I'll take the longest box on any configuration. Thanks for asking.

ggbaird wrote:

The extended cab looks better with the larger box (and the more vertical wall of the rear of the cab).

Interesting, so they will need multiple box designs for different cab configurations. Increases complexity and cost.
Agreed that the ext cab has the better looking cab/box design.

I'm guessing the frame is the same size not matter which one you buy. They just adjust bed size to make the all fit.

TheQuig wrote:

I'm guessing the frame is the same size not matter which one you buy. They just adjust bed size to make the all fit.

There is clearly a different frame size if you look at the crew cabs above, offered in both short and long beds and wheelbases.

It's hard for me to tell. The white truck looks like an extended cab, and the crews all seem to have a short bed.
You are right Greg, the CC comes with 2 bed sizes.

The truck will come as an extended cab or crew cab, with a 6-foot bed behind the extended cab and a choice of 5- or 6-foot bed behind the crew cab

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1311_2015_chevrolet_colorado_first_look/#ixzz307oAu34a

It is amazing a modern serpentine belt can last as long as they do.
Look at the tight radius they run them in both directions!

Hopefully the 2.8L Diesel works out good, just wish the Colorado/Canyon were smaller.

Diesel Dan wrote:

It is amazing a modern serpentine belt can last as long as they do.
Look at the tight radius they run them in both directions!

Hopefully the 2.8L Diesel works out good, just wish the Colorado/Canyon were smaller.

I took a look at one and liked it. I would have liked to have seen a regular cab, 8' long box model but that's not where the market is at. 48"+ between the fender wells (it's 44" now iirc) would have been nice, too. Guess I expected more bed space for its size. I give GM lots of credit for doing these trucks and think they will really take off once the diesel is available. That said I still think there is a real market for a true compact (like my old '02 Ranger) size pickup. In it's heyday (late 90's) the Ranger was iirc, selling over 300,000 units a year but Ford never really updated it and let it wither on the vine.

There's still talk of Ram bringing a true compact pickup back to market, but I think they are looking at front drive and uni-body. Not sure if that will take of or not, but other markets are using them. Most of those other markets don't have full size pickups though.

https://pickupownersgroup.forumotion.com/t1003-new-small-pickup

'16 model year new features and changes to the Colorado.

(LWN) 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine (Late availability); includes (K40) Exhaust brake, (JL1) Integrated trailer brake controller and (NQ6) 2-speed, electric transfer case
(UDD) Display, driver instrument information enhanced, multi-color

Changes

(A28) Rear-sliding window is now standard on Z71 and included in (PCM) LT Convenience Package

From GM order guide.  http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2016&butID=1&regionID=1&divisionID=1&vehicleID=17403&type=0#

2.8 availability for retail is trim 2LT or higher. The WT trim is limited to fleet customers. No manual transmission option.

Interesting it lists an exhaust brake. I don't think the RAM Ecodiesel has an exhaust brake.