Unlike Ford, which still refuses to commit to selling its handsome, modern new T6 Ranger in the U.S., General Motors gave us truck enthusiasts at least some good news by announcing the new global Chevy Colorado would be sold in the U.S. as well. But we still have no idea what will be under the hood when it finally gets to the States.
The overseas model is offered with the choice of two turbodiesel four-cylinders, a 2.5 and a 2.8-liter. No gasoline engine is offered. Obviously, that won't be the case in the diesel-averse U.S. But what will end up powering Chevy's new midsize truck?
Most likely, the current "Atlas" engines will be dropped. A strong contentder for the base engine for the new Colorado is the recently-announced 2.5-liter engine for the 2013 Malibu. There's a good chance a longitudinal adaptation of this engine will find its way under the Colorado's hood.
But as to what the engine options will be on higher-level models is anyone's guess. The safest bet would be GM's direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6. This engine has shown itself to be capable of well over 300 horsepower, and even in truck trim, should come close to the triple-century mark.
A more dubious future looms for the V-8 option in the Colorado. Introduced for the 2009 model year, the Colorado was the only other truck in the midsize class other than the Dodge Dakota to offer a V-8 option. It produces a competitive 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. However, the 3.6 can easily match it in horsepower, and as far as torque goes...read on.
The top engine option on the overseas version of the Colorado is a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel that cranks out a respectable 180 horsepower, but more importantly, a beefy 346 lb-ft of torque. That out-cranks even the mighty 5.3-liter smallblock currently offered. As cool, fun, and nostalgic as the V-8 is in the Colorado, its appearance in the new model is doubtful, at best. And if it does, it'll likely be a version of the fifth-generation smallblock. Exact displacements are unknown, but it may be slightly smaller than the current 5.3 liters.
Given these choices, what would you like to see as the upgrade engine in the new U.S.-spec Colorado? The 2.8 diesel, 3.6 DI V-6, or, as unlikely as it seems, a new V-8?