Filed under: Trends, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, GM
RUMOR MILL: New platform for Colorado/Canyon/H3 in the works?
One of the more common complaints about the GMT355-based trucks (Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3) is their lack of power. When the H3 debuted, there were rumblings of the 5.3L V8 being slid into its butched-to-the-max bodywork. Unfortunately, someone forgot to measure the transmission. It turns out the V8 with the 6-speed automatic will not fit, and that's the combo the General desires to offer in their smallest trucks. To accomplish that goal, the GMT-355 platform is reportedly going under the knife. No word whether it'll take a stage name when the surgery is over, or if the moniker will stay GMT355, but look for the revised platform under the reportedly forthcoming Hummer H4. Following soon after will be a new Colorado, which is said to look something like Colorado Crew Cab Z71 Plus SEMA concept pictured above. The overwhelmed 5-cylinder is also rumored to be taking a sidestep - giving the 6-cylinder Atlas a place to live. We can only hope the quality of the interior will come up as well. The current GMT-355 trucks aren't filled with materials comparable to the Tacoma, for instance, but the sticker wants to play in that realm. Rebates to the rescue, but our real hope is that the next Colorado is good enough to stand on its own
[Source: GM Inside News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
J Finz 1:26PM (12/31/2006)
jury's still out on the styling (i kinda like the current colorado/canyon) but if it allows the 4.2 I6 and a v8, then I'm all for it. I've been in a friends 06 base colorado and the interior isn't that bad at all, especially for the price.
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jon... 1:29PM (12/31/2006)
H3 with a 5.3l V8 sounds great.
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Adam 1:52PM (12/31/2006)
Whats this garbage about needing V8 in the colorado?
The engines should be:
2.8 4cyl 200hp
3.5 5cyl 240hp
4.2 6cyl 280hp.
And thats it. Done. The three engines are the same anyway. They are 700cc per cylinder. GM chops off 1 cylinder and it goes from 6 to 5 to 4. They are 85% related in parts. We dont need the 5.3 V8. At most maybe the 4.8 V8
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George1970 2:11PM (12/31/2006)
The 4.2 would be sweet. The V8 is needed in the hummer but for the colorado, 4.2 is more than enough.
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bryan 2:33PM (12/31/2006)
this is big pimpin baby.. its a tank also lol
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Bob Zeliff 2:34PM (12/31/2006)
Not really sure the Colorado needs a V8. 240hp seems plenty in that size truck. It does need a redesign. It's specs on towing is way below the competition. I have a S10 so any Chevy truck has a negaitve maintenace cost stigma to overcome with me.
The 10 year warantee if does not have escape clauses may make be feel better.
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Andy 2:40PM (12/31/2006)
The General's current midsize pickups rank last in comparison tests. I like the Colorado/Canyon exterior styling the most of the current crop of midsize trucks, but everything else is lagging. GM should focus more of its effort on crafting high-quality midsize trucks as opposed to full-size ones. With the buying public going smaller, this would make sense.
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MikeW 2:51PM (12/31/2006)
Non-sense. The bored out inline5 3.7 and a 6 speed automatic 6L50 would be great.
Add variable intake valve timing, 250hp 250ft-lbs, can be on the market yesterday.
The fuel tank extends from the rear axle upto the transfer case. There isn't any room for a driver side exhaust to cross over to the passenger side muffler. Fixing that would entail substantial modification to the platform, and the ROI for that would be how many years?
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Daniel 4:04PM (12/31/2006)
Love the styling!
Just build it with a range of engine choice for the customer. From I4 to I6 to small V8. Also, offer a full plug-in hybrid version that gets super mileage.
Good Work GM! Now bring it to market.
Front end is spot on!
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Jason 4:08PM (12/31/2006)
Here is why the Colorado has been a complete failure: UGLY front end styling, with the double headlights and eyebrows. This is straight out of National Lampoons Vacation. Rear styling is last generation Nissan Frontier. Interior is about as Fisher-Price and cheap as it gets. Engines have been too weak from the get-go. (No one asked for a 5 cylinder.) Whoever designed this vehicle should be fired.
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Daniel 4:13PM (12/31/2006)
I get a kick out of the people who say that it should have this engine or that engine? Why not just offer a range of engines - as in let the customer have it their way. Obviously, there is cost to offering a range of engines but it is more than ofset by the additional sales by serving the wants and preferences of a much larger customer base. Mikey D does not sell just one size hamburger.
Also - a small, high tech diesel would be nice to add to the mix.
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Alex 4:16PM (12/31/2006)
I believe a lot of people want the v8 because the 5.3L could get like 24mpg on the highway in a light vehicle.
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BOB 4:18PM (12/31/2006)
I am not the expert on that market, but NO DOUBT it would be silly to make a new platform that did not handle a V-8, since that would sell.
The idea of GM making the best put together and coolest vehicle in the market would be very nice -- sort of like what everyone expected of GM in the old days.
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bruddahmanmatt 4:55PM (12/31/2006)
I've said it when the news first broke and I continue to say it now, a 5 cylinder engine has NO PLACE in a GM truck. FFS with all the high tech V6s GM has at its disposal and not to mention the underused 4.2L Atlas inline 6 that won't have a home once the GMT360 SUVs are discontinued how can GM be so stupid? The 3.5L was underpowered from the get go and the 3.7L is merely adequate. Not to mention folks are probably put off by the fact that their truck is "missing a cylinder" compared to the competition. With Nissan and Toyota both building compact/midsize pickups that pack a decent V6 punch GM brass needs to remove their collective heads from their asses and give the Colorado/Canyon the 4.2L Atlas inline 6 as their trucks top offering.
No V8 for the massed produced units if you ask me. Save the V8 for the hi-po models provided the market permits it. A 5.3L V8 would seem like a waste of engineering as a 290-300ish hp V8 would look weak next to a 270-280ish hp inline 6. If there's a demand for V8 powered GMT355/GMT345s go ahead and shove an LS2 under the hoods of these things for a 400hp Colorado SS, Canyon Denali and an H3 Alpha.
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jon... 5:12PM (12/31/2006)
Guys I think you may be missing the point. Its not about what people need, its about what they want, sure a 6 in the colorado is great, I agree, but the H3 targets a low level luxery audiance AND the off road set. Compared to the toyota's and nissans it is pretty slow. It still sells like hot cakes but imagine what it could be if it could match or beat the imports in all performance paramiters. Im not saying a 6 wouldent work, just given its current weight it needs the 5.3 (315-325hp) to accelerate the same or better then the others in its price AND set class.
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jon... 5:15PM (12/31/2006)
And for the offroaders think of the added low level torque a 5.3l would pull over the 3.7! Crawling would never be so easy.
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That One Person 5:28PM (12/31/2006)
#3 Adam...thats what the trucks definitely need. But the 4.2 already puts out just over 290 hp. Which would be great for the trucks. The H3 would need the V-8.
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Josh E. Oliver 5:49PM (12/31/2006)
I mentioned this back at the time these pictures came out over on TheGMSource.com That the new H4 will ride on the updated version of GMT355.
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ts 6:04PM (12/31/2006)
the small pickups can haul quite a bit. the ranger and s-10's/colorado's are a godsend to people just starting out in the contracting business. they are tough enough to completely overload and come back for more, yet don't cost as much as entry level half-ton trucks. i'm always amazed at how much stuff can be hauled in the back of my buddies ranger.
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Bruce 6:42PM (12/31/2006)
GM seems to be able to make V8's affordably, and they also get great fuel economy. I imagine 24mpg or so highway in a small truck. Using the same engine as the high volume silverado/sierra wouldn't hurt costs either. I don't see why you wouldn't do it if possible. They need to do something to differentiate their compact pickup from the competition.
1. V8 power available
2. I4 or I6 as base engine
3. Improve the interior
4. styling improvements ala picture in article
Result: Selling trucks w/o rebates. It's not all that difficult. You're not designing cutting edge sports cars here, just pickups.
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