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Holden Colorado finally out-punches the Ford Ranger Raptor: New Walkinshaw Performance W550 will transform your ute into a powered-up weapon

Walkinshaw Performance is working on a new performance pack for owners of the Holden Colorado.

Holden might not have gotten around to building a true Ford Ranger Raptor rival, but that hasn't stopped Walkinshaw Performance picking up the slack, with the owners of the HSV brand unveiling a new performance pack that will seriously up the street cred of the Holden Colorado.

The W550 pack, which can be applied to all Holden Colorados built between 2018 and 2020, not only ups the performance accessories, but also increases the grunt from the diesel engine, too. Walkinshaw has begun teasing the pack, which comprehensively changes the appearance of the Colorado, but CarsGuide is now across the upcoming modifications.

It starts with the Walkinshaw Performance Diesel Power Pack, which adds a Walkinshaw Performance Engine Calibration and High Flow Air Filter (all of which is covered by a three-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty) to increase power and torque by around 20 per cent. The brand won't be drawn on the specific outputs, but given the 2020 Colorado squeezed 147kW and 500Nm from its 2.8-litre turbo-diesel, a 20-per-cent increase would be significant.

In fact, that would see torque increase by a maximum 100Nm, and power increase by 29kW, for new outputs of, approximately, 176kW and 600Nm - provided, of course, the brand can squeeze a full 20 per cent out of each engine application. The Ford Ranger Raptor, by comparison, makes 157kW and 500Nm. That said, given the name of this pack is the W550, we suspect you'll see 550Nm from the Colorado's engine.

Elsewhere, the package is expected to include new 18-inch wheels and tyres, a suspension lift kit, new body styling (flared wheel arches, side steps, decals, front fascia and grille, bonnet scoops), as well as new front recovery hooks. Those looking to really up the off-road capability can then opt for the SupaShock hi-po suspension and AP Racing front brakes.

Walkinshaw is yet to confirm timing or pricing for the new kit, but this is a company that knows its way around performance. So watch this space.

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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