Chevy Colorado, rotary not dead, Caravan and Avenger dead, Nissan IQS, VW Golf R
Episode #251 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, with Chris, Zach and Dan making up this week's crew. Topics include the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado being confirmed for the U.S. market, Mazda confirming via Twitter that there will be a new generation of the Rotary engine, Nissan's troubles with the JD Power Initial Quality Study scores, Sergio Marchionne's plan to axe the Dodge Grand Caravan and Avenger and the Volkswagen Golf R pricing information. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
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We record Episode #251 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #251
[UStream] Interact LIVE at UStream - 10PM Eastern on Monday, October 11, 2011
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As expected, General Motors has just announced that the company's global Chevrolet Colorado is, in fact, headed our way. The company says that the vehicle's fuel efficiency, design and capability all make it ideal for American buyers, and that the excitement surrounding the truck's launch in Thailand earlier this month helped push the company to decide to bring it to the States. Unfortunately, GM isn't saying where the truck will be built or what kind of drivetrain(s) it will offer when it arrives. We have our fingers crossed for the 2.8-liter turbo diesel Duramax four-cylinder engine with 356 pound-feet of torque.
Of course, we have a hard time believing that GM would be willing to sell a mid-sized truck with that kind of power given that the engine bests the torque figures provided by the base V8 currently available in the Silverado 1500, but that won't stop us from lighting a candle, as we
think the U.S. market is itching for a reliable diesel mid-sized truck.
When it arrives, the Colorado will face diminished small- and mid-size pickup competition now that Ford is finally calling it quits with the Ranger and Ram has already axed the Dakota. Hit the jump for GM's official press release.
General Motors has officially unveiled the company's global 2012 Chevrolet Colorado in Thailand. The automaker says the truck is the culmination of a vehicle program that spanned five years, $2 billion and five continents. What did all that effort come up with? For starters, buyers in Thailand will be able to chose between a pair of new turbo-diesel four-cylinder Duramax engines. The engines are available in both 2.5-liter and 2.8-liter displacements, with the smaller lump producing 150 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
The larger, 2.8-liter turbo diesel yields 180 hp and a very impressive 346 lb-ft of torque. For reference, that's just 20 horsepower shy of the base 4.8-liter V8 in the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but it's also 41 more lb-ft of torque. GM hasn't released any fuel economy estimates on either diesel engine, but both can be mated to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive versions of the Colorado make use of a two-speed, electronically actuated transfer case.
General Motors has been fairly tight-lipped about whether or not we'll see the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado here in the Land Of The Free. Right now, most signs point to "no." That's a real shame, too, given that the new mid-sized pickup packs what appears to be an efficient and powerful 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine and some snappy styling. That's the kind of combination that could make us miss the new global Ford Ranger all the less. Regardless of whether or not the new Colorado makes it to our back yard, the truck promises to bring buyers elsewhere in the world the capability they want in a convenient package.
A keen-eyed member of Asian forum BBZnet has managed to snap a few quick shots of what appears to be a production version of the pickup. The vehicle has lost the integrated rear bumper of the concept as well as its large 20-inch wheels, but remains fairly true to the original design otherwise. Head over to the BBZnet for more photos.
