Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Chevrolet, GM
V8 for '08: Chevy Colorado engine lineup expanding
The addition of GM's 5.3L V8 to the HUMMER H3 Alpha for 2008 has resulted in some trickle-down goodness for the SUV's pickup truck platform-mate, the Chevy Colorado. PickupTruck.com is reporting that the smaller Chevy truck will indeed receive the same infusion of V8 power in 2008. We've driven both the Silverado and the GMC Sierra with that engine, and we liked it a lot in the big trucks. Imagining it in the Colorado has grins spreading across our faces, as it will certainly add a good amount of pop, and with the 5.3's cylinder deactivation system, it should also be respectable at the pump, considering it'll have a lot less truck to move around than with the GMT900.
The addition of the 295-horse V8 will catapult the Colorado to the top of the heap in the midsize pickup segment in terms of power, edging the new Dodge Dakota (290 hp), and putting it well beyond the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger (numbers 1 & 2 respectively on the sales charts). GM's been teasing everyone with V8-powered small concept pickups for a while now, and though it won't officially confirm or deny the report (a spokesman only says, "stay tuned"), it sure looks like the General's finally decided to give us the real thing. Good.
[Source: PickupTruck.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
FLR 1:49PM (6/07/2007)
Finally! Every review I've read of the Colorado was that it was a decent truck but underpowered. Hopefully this will fix that!
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Jim 12:50AM (9/13/2007)
I bet it will only go into the SS model which is sad because it should be optional/standard on all models. I'd take it with the Z71 ext cab package.
Sarge 1:49PM (6/07/2007)
Nice...
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tikirob 1:50PM (6/07/2007)
Hopefully they will update the interior.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
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Big Mike Wood 1:51PM (6/07/2007)
That's pretty cool - good job GM! Now just clean up the exterior styling a bit and you'll have a winner.
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fireblade 2:16PM (6/07/2007)
Still a crappy GM product with crappy quality control. No V8 is going to fix those issues.
Mark 2:16PM (6/07/2007)
Add a diesel and ill buy it.
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BCM 2:17PM (6/07/2007)
60% more cylinders, 43% more displacement, 22% more power. I'd be more impressed if they fixed the gruesome front end styling and the interior plastics and IP design. I've rented these trucks and otherwise they're pretty nice vehicles.
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Drew 2:20PM (6/07/2007)
about flippin time!
Though I would have like to seen the 292hp I6 from the trailblazer make it in there too.
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rem83 2:21PM (6/07/2007)
Hey, maybe now it'll be able to tow as much as an S-10 could.
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bmoredlj 2:22PM (6/07/2007)
This has been my favorite small truck since it was introduced, despite the power shortcomings (2 be fair, the only other small truck out there is the ancient Ranger.) I'm glad the general is finally putting some more cylinders under the hood.
The chrome bar has always fractured and busied the front end faces of too many Chevys. They should just tweak the front end to more closely fit with the new Chevy truck grille of the Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban. Same goes with the Equinox. Two main headlights, one grille, and two fogs below as an option...keep it simple.
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beaker 2:22PM (6/07/2007)
This will definitely help GM reach all those new and upcoming CAFE standards that they're so afraid of!
HA!
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The Other Bob 3:01PM (6/07/2007)
I bet it won't cost much more than the I-5 or I-6 which are likely pretty expensive engines to when compared to a pushrod V-8. Plus the V-8 in that light of a truck is probably going to get pretty good mileage and be able to run on E-85 too.
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Tim 3:01PM (6/07/2007)
I am wondering if this engine will be too much truck for the frame. i.e. the frame might not handle what the 8 can pull.
Why no put the V-6 in the acadia. I know it is FWD there but it cold be done.
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Lee 3:10PM (6/07/2007)
It doesn't matter what they do to the Colorado it is still a total piece of crap in my opinion plus the 4-Cylinder that it has in it now is just a complete joke the damn thing can't even go 55MPH up a steep hill and thats while you are holding the accelerator to the floor and with the manual transmission. I think GM needs to replace the Colorado with something that can actually get the job done..... Now with that said everyone probably thinks i hate GM and love Toyota and thats not the case I have always liked Chevy but the Colorado is the worst thing they have ever produced.
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Jeremy 12:08AM (8/09/2007)
I own an '06 2.8 Crewcab LT1 4x4 Colorado, I have and often do climb a 22 mile long 6% grade canyon in this truck. While the engine will drive its rpms through the roof topping out at 5600rpm before the computer limits the revs, it will climb that canyon doing 85 mph. Oh, and there is still more peddle to push. While the 2.8 and the 3.5, both of which I have owned, are limited in power on take off, once moving I have little in the way of trouble with a 3500 lb. load. It is a truck after all, it is no GTO with a triple-deuce. Then again, I have never seen a GTO tow and climb hills while maintaining a 21mpg average.
Mike G 3:29PM (6/07/2007)
Why not a diesel or V6? A V8 will have poor fuel economy, which I thought was one of the key issues regarding competitiveness that GM was trying to address. Wow are these guys frigtarded.
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Alex Nunez 3:34PM (6/07/2007)
Mike G,
I'm pretty sure there's no diesel ready for that application, yet. You'll probably see one after the H3 gets it, but it's going to be a while. Also, that V8 will do better than you think due to the cylinder deactivation feature.
Owen 3:51PM (6/07/2007)
With the proper gearing and engine managment, the truck might actually be able to see a boost in fuel economy by utilizing it's abundance of torque and low end grunt. In addition V8s are more well balanced than a I5 or V6. Now if they simply give it the same gearing as the H3 and you drive it like you stole it, then yes, it's going to suck lots of dead dino.
thesawzall 4:25PM (6/07/2007)
I don't know why any automaker builds 5 cylinder engines. They always get horrid reviews. See current gen Jetta/Rabbit, first gen TL, etc.
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