Holden Colorado 7 News

With a hidden camera set up in the dashboard and a hired actor to play the Holden salesman, the Holden four part series focuses on real-world usage of an SUV with a "Holden twist".So far we've seen five members of the championship Collingwood Football Club clamber into a Captiva 7 and the Holden salesman sing along to music via Pandora internet radio capability in the Holden Trax.Watch the Holden customer gets Collingwood surprise video here. Also watch: Holden Trax test drive surprise video here. The twist in the Alex Davis video is a coffee run, where the Holden salesman bumps into the Chadwick model offering her a lift to her next gig.The salesman even fits in a quick selfie with the WAG, who is engaged to captain of the Collingwood Football Club Scott Pendlebury.Watch the desktop version of Alex Davis in cheeky Holden prank video here.

The seven seater four wheel drive will likely be named ‘Everest’. Like the Ranger ute it’s based on, it’s developed by Ford Australia, whose design, research and development capability is expected to continue operating locally beyond manufacturing close down in 2016.The Territory rear end on this production test mule disguises a shorter wheelbase than the Ranger, which should make the Everest more manoeuvrable and agile on and off road. Like its rival, the Holden Colorado 7, the Ford is expected to upgrade the Ranger’s leaf springs and drum brakes to a live axle coil suspension setup and rear disc brakes.This should make the ride more passenger friendly, with the possibility of Ford adopting an independent rear suspension setup also an option. This would make the development more costly, but would favour passenger comfort and handling on road.A passenger version of the previous generation Ford Ranger has been in production in Thailand for several years, carrying the Everest name in that local market. But this is the first time the Everest SUV, which will be assembled in Thailand, will feature a smaller wheelbase and the expected suspension, brake and cabin refinement and passenger safety updates to make the SUV a competitive product in the global Ford portfolio.Like the Ranger, the Everest will be sold in European, American and Asia-pacific countries. No details have been revealed about engine and powertrain options, but expect little or no change to Ford’s 147kW 3.2-litre 5 cylinder Turbo diesel unit and 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions for our market. Ford’s 110kW 2.2-litre Turbo diesel, and 122kW 2.5-litre petrol may also feature in overseas models, but both are unlikely to make it to Australian showrooms.Low range is almost certain to continue too, making the Everest the most off road capable passenger four wheel drive offered by Ford Australia since the late 80s Maverick. A rear wheel drive model may also be on the cards, lowering the entry level price for families who don’t need the extra off road capability.Expect the Everest to launch in the second half of 2014, when the new model will need to win over the hearts of families and off road enthusiasts alike. The segment is currently dominated by the Toyota Prado with over 1000 sales per month, but it’s the soft roaders like the Ford Territory, Toyota Kluger, Holden Captiva 7 and Hyundai Santa Fe that make up the majority of sales combined, making passenger accommodation an important success factor.However, it’s the other ute-based passenger SUVs that will feel the heat of increased rivalry, with the Holden Colorado 7, Isuzu MU-X and Mitsubishi Challenger squarely on Ford’s radar. Ford may gain some sales from Territory buyers too, once manufacturing of the local SUV stops in 2016. Territory’s likely replacement, the Ford Edge, is not available with a Diesel engine, meaning customers wishing to buy a diesel four wheel drive Ford will need to turn to the Everest. 

Holden Colorado 7 is built in Thailand to a reasonably high standard and, along with its brother the Colorado pickup, has proven to be a success in Australia. It contains a fair bit of Australian input on the engineering side, particularly in chassis dynamics, on-road and off-road, so is good to drive.And it has now been upgraded for 2014 with the fitment of an improved version of its turbodiesel engine, now tagged the Duramax 2, mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox. There's also an all-new app-enabled infotainment system and several added safety features.PRICEDespite the improvements the prices of the 2014 Holden Colorado remain the same as on the outgoing model, $46,990 for the LT and $50,490 for the LTZ, both with automatic transmission. These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges – contact your local Holden dealer for driveaway prices.ENGINE / TRANSMISSIONSThe 2.8-litre diesel generates 147 kW of power and an impressive maximum of 500 Nm of torque. The engineers tell us that torque has been increased across the rev range.Automatic transmission calibration has been improved and now includes shift stabilisation in uphill and downhill modes. Grade braking control preventing unnecessary shifting between gears when travelling uphill, and suitable shifting when travelling downhill to minimise the need for braking by the driver. When teamed with the new six-speed manual transmission, the Duramax 2 engine still produces 147 kW of power, but torque has been derated to 440Nm.INFOTAINMENTA seven-inch colour touchscreen is now standard on all models in the Colorado 7 range. Holden's MyLink allows drivers to connect by Bluetooth and access apps for music, news, entertainment and navigation. Embedded apps include Pandora, Stitcher and TuneInTM.Bluetooth can be used to wirelessly to stream audio files for playback from a paired smartphone, as well as giving access to 1000 contacts and missed or recent call history.Holden Colorado 7 owners can also access BringGo, a navigation app that with 3D maps, turn-by-turn directions, points of interest, and emergency contacts. BringGo does not require a 3G connection unless it's performing a Google places search. Apple iPhone users can use Siri to select and play music, hear and compose text messages, read notifications and add reminders.DRIVING TECHNOLOGYHolden's new chassis control systems see Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist and Descent Control System fitted across the complete Colorado 7 range. Trailer Sway control detects any towing instability and activates the brakes and reduces engine torque to try and pull the rig back under control again.SAFETYHolden Colorado 7 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating. Crash prevention and mitigation items are Electronic Stability Control, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Hydraulic Brake Assist.The 2014 Colorado 7 now has front side airbags as standard in all LX, LT and LTZ models. There's Rear Park Assist and a rear camera.Holden Colorado 7 is already offered with a good range of accessories. To these the 2014 range adds an Alloy SuperBar, an updated steel bullbar, black nudge bar and sports bars and a reversing camera.Importantly, the Alloy SuperBar has been certified by ANCAP to maintain the Colorado 7's maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating. It is, of course, covered by Holden's Genuine Accessories Warranty. Crew Cab to reflect the new additions to the range.Speaking of the revised Holden Colorado 7 range, Philip Brook, Holden's Executive Director of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing, says, "We've put a lot of time and effort in ensuring we have delivered a real contender and serious competitor in the LCV and SUV market. The latest Colorado range ensures this tough vehicle offers consumers a serious 4WD that's a workhorse and a family vehicle." 

4WD identity Simon Christie shows what the Colorado 7 4x4 SUV can do over a variety of Australian terrains.

Holden is keeping the new Commodore under wraps until early next year. Expect an unveiling in late February and an on-sale date in June.So this year’s show is about filling some big gaps in the rest of the range and getting back to family basics. The list of new arrivals can’t come soon enough; Holden is on track to post its lowest annual sales result in 19 years. Its recovery starts here and should ensure a bumper 2013.The Colorado7 SUV (as its name implies, a seven-seater) gives Holden a much-needed boost in the booming mid-size SU V market. Holden hasn’t had a rugged, go-anywhere 4WD since the Jackaroo ended its 25-year run in 2005. Based on the Colorado pickup, the all-new model will get a long list of safety equipment (including six airbags and a rear camera on most if not all models) and a likely starting price of about $43,000 when it goes on sale in December. The Colorado7 is a diesel-only proposition (more than 70 per cent of vehicles in this category are diesel), using the same all-new 2.8 turbo-diesel four-cylinder that helps give the Colorado pick-up the biggest towing capacity in the ute class (3500kg). At the other end of the spectrum, Holden returns to the small-wagon category with the Cruze. Apart from its cavernous cargo area, the Cruze carrier fills a void for Holden which has been without a small wagon since the Daewoo-sourced Viva was discontinued in late 2008 and the European-sourced Astra wagon soon after. 

The Trailerblazer will wear the lion for Holden under the name Colorado 7. The last big off roader to wear the Holden badge was the Isuzu based Jackaroo in 2004. As its name suggests the Colorado 7 shares its architecture and underpinnings with the new Colorado range of utes due to arrive here mid-year. General Motors has taken the unusual step of replacing the ute's leaf springs with a mult-ilink rear suspension setup that it said improves on-road handling and ride quality. Colorado's offroad credentials are underscored by standard fitment of a low range transfer case and locking differentials on 4WD models. It will be available in rear and all-wheel drive confiurations, with petrol and diesel power trains like the ute. A big brother to the Captiva, the Colorado 7 is expected to appeal to a broader range of customers, with greater capacity and serious off road ability. Two turbo diesels have been confirmed, a 2.5-litre four cylinder engine producing 110kW/350Nm and a 2.8-litre version of the same engine that delivers 132kW/470Nm, paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed auto. No word yet on what petrol combinations will be offered. The seven-seat wagon will be able to tow a 3 tonne boat, caravan or trailer  500kg less than the ute. Competitors include the usual suspects as well as the Isuzu version of the same vehicle plus a wagon based on the Ford Ranger utility on which Ford is said to be working. Holden's John Elsworth said the growing popularity of SUVs in Australia would ensure the new Colorado 7 had a ready-made fan base when it is launched at the end of 2012. "Australians are buying more SUVs than ever before, and we've seen this demand reflected in the growing popularity of our Series II Captiva range," Elsworth said. "The Colorado 7 will be a perfect fit for customers looking for the increased packaging flexibility and lifestyle benefits of clever interior storage, seven seats and rugged off-road performance. "Developed to deliver everything Australians could want from a tough 4WD, with coil-sprung five-link rear suspension and a competitive 3-tonne towing capacity the Colorado 7 will be an impressive addition to our SUV line-up. "Its heavy-duty 4WD credentials and refined driving characteristics make it equally at home in the suburbs and off the beaten track." Due early next year, Australians will get their first look at the Colorado 7, most likely in concept form, at October's Sydney motor show.The Colorado 7 was designed in Brazil and will be built in Thailand alongside the Colorado utility. More information, specification and pricing details will be revealed closer to launch.