Holden Colorado 2008 News

It will go on sale in the middle of this year with the highest hauling rating despite using a smaller engine than the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara V6 and Toyota Hilux. Holden is yet to reveal the maximum payload, that is, the amount in can carry on the tray or in the ute back. The top-spec Colorado will run a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel generating 132kW and 470Nm. It works with a six-speed automatic transmission, which can handle the higher torque figure. Customers can also select a lower output version of the same engine, which makes the same amount of power, but has 30Nm less torque. This unit is available with a five-speed manual gearbox. The entry-level diesel option will be the smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel with 110kW and 350Nm of torque, which will be hooked up to a five-speed manual. This smaller powerplant doesn't quite match that of the larger engine, but is still a fairly handy 3000kg. Holden has decided against offering up a petrol variant, as is the case with the just-introduced Ford Ranger. More details on the Colorado, including pricing, will be released closer to the launch, which has been delayed due to floods near the Colorado factory in Thailand. The company has disclosed the new model will be available in three body styles, a single cab, a space cab and family-friendly crew cab with the choice of 4x2 or 4x4. Key safety features will be standard on the new model, which shares the same base as the Isuzu D-Max but wears a different skin and runs unique engines, including electronic stability control (ESC). Holden says it will also install front and side curtain airbags to all Colorado models as standard equipment. In a bid to have interested customers hang-on until the new ute arrives, Holden is sending out display Colorados to dealers in April.

The new arrival has to make a mark in the light commercial market before the next generation model arrives.The good looking Colorado takes over from the Rodeo, one of Holden's oldest model names (the other veterans are Statesman and Commodore).Holden says it is well aware of the enormity of the marketing task it faces to get the Colorado name established and will kick off with a massive advertising campaign highlighting the ute's toughness.Holden can no longer use the Rodeo name — it is owned by truck builder Isuzu, a long-term alliance partner of General Motors, but that relationship has ended and Isuzu wants to hang on to the name for itself.Ironically, the new Colorado is still being built on Isuzu's production line in Thailand. As for the name, Holden says it did extensive market research and Colorado, despite its American links, was strongly accepted.Holden's director of marketing Phillip Brook says the split with Isuzu has had an upside — it has given Holden the chance to step back and re-assess how it can tackle the tough light truck market.While Holden is keen to push the Colorado as a `new' model there's a degree of smoke and mirrors here — it is under the skin at least, a five-year-old Rodeo albeit freshened with a new and more attractive Holden family face.This latest model is due to be replaced in about two years with a slightly larger Colorado being developed by GM in Brazil which will be used in several General Motors global markets. While there is a South American connection, Australian models will continue to be built in Thailand.The larger model will give Holden the added firepower it needs — one of the negatives of the previous Rodeo was its smaller size compared to its rivals like the Toyota HiLux.The current Colorado meanwhile keeps Holden alive in the market and comes with sharp pricing and more standard equipment than the previous Rodeo, although the model range has been reduced to a more workable 16 models.Brook says pricing has been maintained or lowered by up to $1500 over the outgoing Rodeo line up. The range opens at $19,990 for the DX 2.4l single cab chassis and stretches to $45,990 for the four-wheel drive LT-R turbo diesel.He says there has been a big swing to four-wheel drive models which double as work trucks during the week and as sporty family fun vehicles at the weekend.To capitalise on that Holden has a new sports variant called the LT-R which comes with all the trinkets including a sports bar, soft tonneau cover, rear park assist, side steps, smart alloy wheels and Bluetooth capability (on four-wheel drive models).Overall, there's a choice of three body styles, three engines (the turbo models are easy to pick by their big bonnet scoop), two-wheel or four-wheel drive and two transmissions.One of the Colorado's big selling points will be a three-tonne tow rating on the 3-litre turbo diesel four-wheel drive recreation models making it perfect for those with boats or horse floats while two-wheel workhorse versions are limited to 2 tonnes for the 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol and 2.5 tonnes for the 3.6-litre petrol V6.While the Colorado has become a more comfortable and versatile all-purpose vehicle it still misses out on safety features found in most cars.The launch of the Colorado comes at a time when the US Institute for Highway Safety has questioned the safety of some utes in America because they lack side airbags or electronic stability control which can help steer a vehicle out of a skid.Holden says fitting ESC is a difficult challenge which all ute manufacturers face because these vehicles are often heavily modified by owners which can change the vehicle's weight and weight distribution — two factors which have to be calibrated into an ESC system.The Colorado has dual front air bags in all models, but none have been engineered for side air bags or ESC and only the LT-R and all LX four-wheel drive models have anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution — a safety feature Holden now leads the pack with. 

The Colorado light commercial range will be launched with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, 4x4 or 4x2 models, and numerous body styles such as single cab, space cab and crew cab.The Rodeo name has been dropped because it belongs to Isuzu with which Holden no longer has any ties.Isuzu is taking the name back and releasing a Rodeo in Australia under its global name of D-Max.Meanwhile, Holden has released 60th Anniversary Special Editions of the run-out Rodeo LT and LX 4x4s with $3000 worth of extras and price reductions up to $8000.LX 4x4 Crew Cab Pick Up, LX V6, petrol and TD (auto and manual) get a chrome sports bar, side steps, towbar package, Bluetooth connectivity for compatible mobile phones and special 60th anniversary badge.The LT 4x4 Crew Cab Pick Up, LT V6 petrol and TD (auto and manual) get chrome sports bar, side steps, rear park sensors, Bluetooth connectivity for compatible mobile phones and badging.The 4x4 Crew Cab Pick Up LX V6 petrol manual now costs $32,990 compared with its previous price of $39,690, while the diesel is $33,990 down from $41,990.The 4x4 Crew Cab Pick Up LT V6 petrol manual is $39,490 down from $43,990 and the diesel is down from $46,990 to $41,490.Add $2000 for auto and $1000 for ABS.Holden has also unveiled its VE Ute 60th Anniversary Special Edition at the recent National 4x4 Show in Brisbane.It arrives this month with more than $2000 worth of extras above the standard SV6 ute, including leather-faced seats, alloy foot pedals, Onyx leather seat trim, Bluetooth, sports steering wheel, six-disc MP3/CD player, anniversary floor mats and badge.Prices are $36,990 for the manual and $37,990 for the auto, which is $1000 above the SV6 ute. 

The Rodeo is dead. Long live the Colorado.That's the new name for the trusty Rodeo badge which is being retired later this year.The Rodeo name belongs to Isuzu with which Holden no longer has any ties.In a strange twist, Isuzu is taking the name back and releasing a Rodeo in Australia under its global name of D-Max.However, it will be distributed by Mitsubishi, not Isuzu. And Mitsubishi Motors knows nothing about the vehicle.Mitsubishi Motors senior manager corporate communications, Lenore Fletcher, said they had nothing to do with it.“Mitsubishi is a large corporation and the link-up could be with another Mitsubishi company, not the motor company,” she said.Meanwhile, GM Holden product information manager Kate Lonsdale said the Colorado would be released later this year.“There is no official timing yet, but it will be called Colorado,” she said.Holden had an opportunity to badge the popular Thai-made ute with an Australian name, but has decided to go with the same name used in the Asia-Pacific region.Lonsdale said the Colorado would be “slightly different.”“It will be a similar offering, but with slightly different features,” she said.In a GM Holden media release, the company said the new Colorado range would continue to offer a choice of petrol or diesel engines, 4x4 or 4x2 models, and numerous body styles such as single cab, space cab and crew cab.GM Holden light commercial vehicles marketing manager Teresa Basile said; more details such as price would follow in the coming months.“The light commercial segment is a significant market for Holden and with this exciting new addition we will remain a major player with a highly competitive new entry,” she said.She said current Rodeo owners would continue to be covered by GM Holden's three-year/100,000km warranty and roadside assistance for 12 months.“Rodeo owners can rest assured that Holden remains committed to providing superior customer service and parts availability to the current range,” she said.The Rodeo has been a popular ute, at one stage the biggest selling.However, it has been usurped in the past few years by the Toyota Hi-Lux, which has dominated the sector and is the biggest-selling vehicle of any type in Queensland.While the Hi-Lux has led the field with its more modern and brutish looks, Nissan's Navara and Mitsubishi's Triton have followed suit, leaving the Rodeo looking a little anaemic and old-fashioned, outside and in.I prefer the less bloated look of the Rodeo's exterior and the functional, user-friendly interior.It has many other attributes which commend it to tradies and weekend warriors alike.For a start, it has one of the quietest cabins of the lot. There's almost no engine noise (except in the diesel at idle and full noise), no wind buffeting and surprisingly very little tyre noise.The interior may be a bit austere and old-fashioned, but the door and seat trim are very smart, even in the base model.Back seat passengers don't quite sit bolt upright and there is plenty of legroom.And no one could doubt the abilities of the airconditioning to make a beer truly frosty.If we are asking for anything in the new Rodeo/Colorado, audio controls on the steering wheel would be nice, less pitch and roll in the suspension would be handy and stability control is a must, especially in the rain.Just make sure it's switchable for the obligatory circle work in the car park at the next B&S.