2015 Chevrolet Colorado Preview

 
By Stephen Elmer, Autoguide
 
The midsize truck market has gone stale with products that have gone untouched for years, but Chevrolet is breathing some life back into the segment with the introduction of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado here at the LA Auto Show.
 
Two gasoline powertrains, a 2.5-liter inline four cylinder and a 3.6-liter V6 will be available when the truck hits dealers in the third quarter of 2014, but one year after launch, a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine will become available. The base 2.5-liter puts out 193 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, while the larger 3.6-liter makes 302 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.
 
Output from the same 2.8-liter diesel engine in international markets is 180 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque, though those numbers are likely to change thanks to emissions standards that the engine must meet here in North America. Chevrolet did reveal that the diesel is likely to be an available option for every trim level, though there are no specifics on this as of yet.
 
All three engines will be linked up to a six-speed automatic transmission, and when properly equipped, Chevrolet says that this truck will be rated to tow more than the industry’s current best for small trucks, 6,700 pounds. Available as an option is Chevy’s G80 automatic locking rear differential along with the choice of four-wheel drive, as base model trucks are fitted with rear-wheel drive.
 
The Colorado shares few exterior design cues with its larger sibling the Silverado, adopting most of its design from the international version, save for the angular front end. Many other features on this truck however are borrowed straight from the Silverado, including the bumper integrated step, lane departure warning, inlaid doors, eight-inch touchscreen with Chevy’s MyLink infotainment and more.
 
Chevy’s Z71 off-road package has also been adapted for the Colorado and includes features like rollover mitigation technology, trailer sway control, hill start assist, hill descent control, an upgraded interior and unique styling.
 
Three configurations of Colorado will be available: an extended cab model with a six-foot bed, a crew cab with a five-foot bed and a crew cab with a six-foot bed. To match those three configurations, three trim levels will be available, starting with the base work trim, moving up to the LT and topping out with the Z71.
 
On the inside, the truck mimics the Silverado with its eight-inch center mounted touchscreen and 3.4-inch screen in the info cluster. Safety features installed on the 2015 Colorado include a standard backup camera, forward collision alert and six standard airbags.
 
Source: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/11/2015-chevy-colorado-reignites-midsize-trucks-with-diesel-power.html