Bangkok--22 Mar--Weber Shandwick
Boldly styled show truck previews next-generation midsize pickup
Chevrolet today revealed the Colorado Show Truck in advance of the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show, where it is making its global public debut. The show truck previews the next-generation Colorado pickup truck, which will build on Chevrolet’s strong truck DNA and award-winning heritage. The Colorado goes on sale in Thailand later this year.
“Thailand is the world’s largest market for midsize pickups, so this is the perfect location in which to unveil our new Colorado,” said Mr. Martin Apfel, president, GM Thailand/Southeast Asia and Chevrolet Sales (Thailand).
“The next-generation Chevrolet Colorado will carry with it the heritage of almost 100 years of award-winning Chevrolet trucks. We are proud to build it here in Thailand and confident that it will be ‘tailor fit’ for Thai consumers,” Mr. Apfel said.
“Trucks have been part of Chevrolet’s heritage for nearly all of its 100-year history. The next-generation Colorado will reinforce that heritage with expressive design, refinement and uncompromising capability,” said Ms. Susan Docherty, vice president, GMIO Sales, Marketing and Aftersales.
The show truck features an extended-cab body atop a high-ride all-wheel-drive chassis and comes with large, 20-inch wheels and off-road tires. Power comes from an efficient 2.8L turbo-diesel engine, which produces a broad torque band for excellent cargo and towing capability, in addition to enhancing drivability and fuel efficiency.
“Although this is a show vehicle, the basic proportions and form convey the vision for the next-generation Colorado that we will bring to market,” said Mr. Brad Merkel, GM global vehicle line executive. “It reflects a stylized version of the new truck, one that takes into account rugged dependable truck capabilities for commercial use as well as sophisticated refinement for personal-use needs.”
While the new Colorado was developed within GM’s global product development organization, engineers took careful steps to ensure it would meet local market needs in Southeast Asia. Senior engineers lived in Thailand for several months during the truck’s development, immersing themselves in the market and observing how Thais use their trucks and the road conditions they experience.
“Pickups are instrumental in the vibrant Thai economy and owners take great pride in their trucks, which are used for both work and personal driving,” Mr. Merkel said. “These customers ask a lot of their trucks, so the powertrains and chassis must be very robust to earn their trust — and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered.”
Design details
The Colorado Show Truck’s purposeful design conveys strength through bodywork that is tightly wrapped over the chassis and has a wide, confident stance. At the front, Chevrolet’s internationally recognized gold bowtie and dual-port grille are framed by an extractor vent on the hood and large headlamps that flow into the front fenders.
“Around the globe, pickup trucks are associated with strength, capability and function — and that’s exactly what the Colorado Show Truck embodies,” said Mr. Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design. “Its broad-shouldered proportions are derived from nearly a century of Chevrolet truck heritage.”
Pepperdust Metallic exterior paint is accented with polished aluminum details in the fascias, as well as integrated side steps and black-masked projector-style headlamps with LED lighting elements. At the rear is a full-width LED-lit taillamp, which creates a striking appearance when illuminated.
Additional exterior details include:
A streamlined “cab collar” design with a body-color hard tonneau cover on the bedGray accents on the side, front and rear lower moldings20-inch aluminum wheels featuring a “liquid metal” finish, with Stone Gray color wheel portsCooper 285/50R20 ZEON LTZ tiresExterior mirror-mounted LED turn signals.
Signature Chevrolet cues continue inside the show truck including a dual-cockpit instrument panel design that flows into the doors, with continuous lines that create a floating, wrap-around effect, amplifying the Colorado’s feeling of spaciousness. Ice-blue lighting and high-quality, “double-faced” leather-trimmed seats add sophistication and refinement.
“The interior is designed to deliver a premium and inviting environment, with a greater feeling of spaciousness than is typically found in midsize trucks,” said Mr. Welburn. “There’s also great attention to detail in the execution of the features you see and feel.”
An array of three-dimensional gauges stands out on the instrument panel, projecting a sporty appearance similar to precision measuring instruments.
Contrasting trim used with the light-colored leather seating, dark wood trim accented with chrome and low-gloss and soft-touch materials are used throughout for a premium feel. A number of storage compartments are located throughout the interior, including a covered center bin for concealment of valuable items, and a large, dual glovebox.
Additional features include a dual-zone, digital climate control system and the latest in “infotainment” technology. The show truck highlights an ergonomically positioned 7-inch LCD display in the center stack, for easy viewing and intuitive control of Web access, navigation, music and hands-free phone features.
More details about the production model will be released later in the year.
Please visit media.chevrolet.com for the latest updates.
About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet is celebrating its centennial. Last year, the brand had sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
For further information, please visit www.gmthailand.com and www.chevroletthailand.com or www.facebook.com/generalmotorsthailand please contact:
Paphada Tuanghirunvimon / Satapana Karnjanaprakorn
Weber Shandwick
McCann Worldgroup (Thailand) Ltd.
Tel: +662 343 6057
Email:
[email protected] /
[email protected]
Or
Sasinan Allmand
Public Relations Director Thailand/ SEA
General Motors (Thailand) Limited & Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited
Tel: +662 791 3400
Email:
[email protected]