The all-new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 is built with the DNA of a true
Chevy truck and is expected to deliver class-leading power, payload and
trailering ratings. Colorado goes on sale in fall 2014.
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Midsize truck with the DNA of Chevy’s full-size trucks
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Expected to deliver class-leading horsepower, payload and trailering
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Rounds out the industry’s only three-truck portfolio to give customers
more choices
LOS ANGELES – Chevrolet today unveiled the all-new 2015
Chevrolet Colorado,
which will redefine the midsize truck and offer real truck capability and
versatility to customers who don’t require a full-size truck.
The new Colorado is built with the DNA of a true
Chevy truck, expected to deliver class-leading power, payload and trailering
ratings. Colorado goes on sale in fall 2014 as a 2015 model.
“Our strategy is simple: meet the needs
of the broadest possible customer base, and let them choose precisely the right
truck to meet their needs,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice
president and president of GM North America. “The all-new Colorado benefits
from the solid foundation established by the Silverado, and it reinvents the
midsize truck while reinvigorating the segment at the same time.”
The new Colorado was developed for the North
American truck customer, with distinctive design, comfort and connectivity
features, including segment firsts such as available forward collision alert
and lane departure warning.
Chevrolet expects Colorado to be the most powerful truck
in the segment, allowing owners to haul and tow more. A 2.5L I-4 is standard, and
a 3.6L V-6 is available. Each engine is tuned, tested and validated for truck
use, and each features direct injection and variable valve timing to make the
most of power and efficiency. Each is matched with a six-speed automatic
transmission.
When properly equipped, the Colorado is expected to
offer class leading payload capacity and trailering capacity of more than 6,700
pounds (3,039 kg). That is more than enough capability to throw a weekend’s
worth of camping gear in the bed and tow a boat to a favorite lake.
Colorado will also offer the segment’s only diesel
engine in its second year – a proven Duramax 2.8L I-4 turbodiesel already
offered in global markets. The diesel engine will expand Colorado’s powertrain
lineup to cover the broadest range of needs
“We designed the Colorado to be the most versatile and most
capable in its segment, bar none,” said Jeff Luke, executive engineer, GM Trucks.
“Not everyone needs full-size capability, but they still deserve the strength
and true-truck attributes that come in larger models. The Colorado delivers
capability with confidence – and a fun-to-drive spirit that complements active
lifestyles.”
Designed with a zeal for adventure
The Colorado’s
North American design is unique, with a confident stance and a sporty demeanor.
Taller bedsides, for example, are exclusive to North America and match the
aggressive, raked belt line of the cab, creating a distinctive proportion that
reinforces the truck’s athleticism while better securing items stored in the
bed.
The 2015 Colorado’s configurations are an extended
cab model with a 6-foot bed, a crew cab with a 5-foot bed and a crew cab with a
6-foot bed. With the tailgate down, the 6-foot bed allows hauling of 8-foot-long
items.
“The new Colorado’s
design brings a youthful breath of fresh air to the midsize truck segment and
puts a progressive spin on Chevrolet’s true-truck styling,” said Ken Parkinson,
executive director of Chevrolet Design. “It’s like the younger, more eager
brother of the Silverado – a Chevy truck through and through, with great zeal
and a spirit of adventure.”
WT, LT and Z71 trims are available, all in 2WD or 4WD.
The off-road-inspired Z71 is the brawniest of the bunch. It also features a
gunmetal grille surround – a change from the chrome standard on the other
models – projector headlamps and unique 17-inch aluminum wheels.
The Colorado features triple-sealed doors inlaid in
the body sides, like the 2014 Silverado, for improved aerodynamic performance
and a quieter interior.
To help keep overall mass down and improve the
front-to-rear weight balance, the Colorado
features a segment-first aluminum hood. It also features the segment’s only
active aero grille shutters, which close at certain highway speeds to enhance
aerodynamics.
And because it’s a true Chevy truck, the Colorado leaves nothing
on the table when it comes to innovative solutions for hauling and accessing
cargo:
- Standard
CornerStep rear bumper design pioneered on the 2014 Silverado
- Available
EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate that uses an internal torsion bar to make
raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for
more-controlled lowering
- Standard
two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into
upper and lower sections, making it easier to haul, store and conceal
items such as tools
- Thirteen
standard tie-down locations throughout the bed for use with available,
movable cargo tie-down rings
- Standard
bed rail and tailgate protectors
- Available
factory-installed spray-in bed liner.
An interior for work, recreation and everyday comfort
Blending
cues from Silverado with a style all its own, the interior of the 2015 Colorado
is designed to be comfortable, is cleverly equipped and well connected. A bold,
upright instrument panel with large instruments and a central driver
information center is similar to Silverado, while featuring a center console
with a floor-mounted shifter similar to those found in midsize cars and
crossovers.
Colorado
cabin designers paid exceptional attention to detail and premium appointments, including
a sculpted headliner that enhances headroom, halo lighting on key controls for
easier view and an open area at the front of the center console for easier
phone charging. The Z71 model features exclusive color and trim details, including
embossed seatbacks and contrast stitching.
“We took
the best attributes of full-size trucks and midsize cars to develop a passenger
space that delivers a balance of unmatched functionality and comfort,” said Parkinson.
“It’s designed to be as useful as possible, with storage compartments and
clever features throughout, for owners who will use the Colorado as their daily
driver and for weekend getaways.”
Interior
details include:
- Sculpted door panels that make it easier to
enter/exit the vehicle
- Upper-instrument panel storage bin (when not
equipped with the uplevel audio system) and large glove box
- Standard center console with room to store a
tablet
- Rear under-seat storage.
Dual-firmness
foam helps Colorado’s seats wear for long-haul comfort with high-wear,
stain-resistant cloth seating trim. Leather-appointed seating is available.
Connectivity, control and safety
technologies enhance Colorado’s
driving experience
The new Colorado’s technologies
are aimed at complementing owners’ lifestyles with connectivity and other
features that support their daily and recreational lives – and help keep them
safe, including:
- Eight-inch diagonal color touch screen (LT,
Z71) and multiple USB drives
- A 3.4-inch diagonal driver information screen
in the instrument cluster
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Available next-generation OnStar and MyLink
enhancements with gesture recognition and natural language voice recognition
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Available navigation
Standard and available features
designed to keep the Colorado’s occupants safe before, during and after a crash
include:
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Six standard air bags, including head side curtain
air bags designed to help keep occupants from being ejected in a crash
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Large rearview mirrors and standard rear-vision
camera system for greater visibility
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Available segment-first application of forward
collision alert
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Available segment-first application of lane
departure warning
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Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control
system with rollover mitigation, trailer sway control, hill start assist and
hill descent control (Z71).
Chevy truck DNA supports leading
capabilities
The Colorado delivers the
capability expected of a Chevy truck – including segment-leading payload and
trailering. Like the Silverado, the Colorado has a fully boxed perimeter frame,
which provides the strength to support its capabilities, as well as a
confident, smooth and quiet ride.
A
coil-over-type front suspension features aluminum knuckles that are low in mass
and high in strength, contributing to a more responsive, immediate feel to
driver inputs, as well as efficiency. Colorado also features the segment’s
first application of electric power steering, which enhances efficiency by avoiding
the energy used by what conventionally is an engine-driven feature.
The Colorado
has a short turning radius of about 41 feet (12.5 meters), enabling easier
turning in tight areas such as city streets or backing a trailer into a camping
spot.
Four-wheel disc brakes, with four-piston front
calipers, are standard and feature Duralife™ brake rotors – also pioneered on
the 2014 Silverado. They offer up to double the service life, which can save
money on maintenance.
Another Chevy truck feature offered on the Colorado is the G80
automatic locking rear differential. Introduced by Chevy more than 40 years
ago, it gives drivers a traction advantage when needed. It is standard on Z71
and available on WT and LT.
Truck-tuned powertrains designed for work, efficiency
The 2.5L and 3.6L engines offered in the Colorado are based on proven designs found in other
Chevrolet vehicles, but tuned uniquely for truck duty – including more torque
at lower rpm – for a more confident feeling of power when the Colorado is loaded or pulling a trailer.
The 2.5L four is estimated at 193 horsepower (146
kW) and 184 lb-ft of torque (253 Nm), with approximately 90 percent of the peak
torque available from 2,000 rpm to 6,200 rpm. The 3.6L engine is estimated at 302
horsepower (224 kW) and 270 lb-ft of torque (366 Nm). SAE certification of the
power ratings is pending.
Aluminum blocks and forged-steel crankshafts, along
with dual-overhead camshafts with variable valve timing, direct injection and
jet-spray piston cooling are features shared on both engines. A number of
extended-life components can help reduce maintenance intervals and reduce the
cost of ownership.
All models are matched with a six-speed automatic that
complements the truck-tuned engines with features that make hauling and trailering
easier and more comfortable, including auto grade braking and a tow/haul mode.
Chevrolet will continue to work on and develop the
Colorado until the start of production in 2014. The content of this release is
based on current GM testing and is subject to change.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit,
Chevrolet is now one of the world's
largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more
than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with
fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design,
and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
