Chevrolet Trucks Blog

The 2008 Chevy Colorado lineup will have some significant changes, including two new and more powerful engines. It will also retain  the versatility the customers have come to expect from this lineup of capable trucks.

Colorado is available in regular cab, extended cab and crew cab configurations, as well as 2WD and 4WD. The base engine in all but 4WD crew cabs is a powerful, 2.9L DOHC four-cylinder with variable valve timing (VVT) that delivers 185 horsepower (138 kW) and 190 lb.-ft. of torque (258 Nm).

Colorado ’s various body styles and powertrain combinations are available in WT, LS and LT trims. LS models come with a color-keyed appearance for a sporty appearance.

Colorado can seat up to six while offering much higher levels of ride comfort, handling, quietness and interior space than many other midsize trucks. Standard features include rack-and-pinion steering, intermittent wipers, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control and folding outside mirrors.

Some optional equipments are the remote keyless entry, traction assist (2WD models), XM Satellite Radio, fog lamps, self-dimming inside rearview mirror, power, heated leather seating, high-back bucket seats, a rear sliding window and power-operated outside rearview mirrors.

According to some car critics, Colorado ’s instrument panel has large, easy-to-read analog gauges, with switches and controls designed for easy operation with gloves. Crew cab models offer a 60/40-split/folding rear seat capable of accommodating three adults. Extended cab versions have four doors, and its two folding rear seats face forward.

Regular and extended cab models have a 6-foot 1-inch (1.85 m) pickup bed with taller sides than many competitors, providing best-in-class volume for deeper storage and higher overall payload. Crew cab bed lengths are 5-foot 1-inch (1.55 m). Both beds offer two-tier cargo loading and tailgates that are both lockable and easily removable. The crew cab box offers a standard lock.

There are two suspension systems available on Colorado : the rugged Z85 suspension, which is standard on 2WD or 4WD models, and the Z71 off-road suspension, which is available on both 2WD and 4WD models.

An improved and powered-up mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado truck will soon be hitting the market. Here are the upgrades that patronizers should watch for.

The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado, like the other medium-sized truck lines of Chevrolet, is available in three configurations which are the regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab. All of these cab options can have either a 2WD or 4WD. The six-passenger regular and extended cab trucks have a 6-foot 1-inch pick-up bed, which is geared with taller sides. This enhanced feature of the Chevrolet Colorado will enable users to load up the truck big time because of the deeper storage and higher overall payload. The Colorado Crew Cab, however, has only a 5-foot 1-inch bed length and offers a standard lock. It is good though that no matter what bed length, both have been equipped with two-tier cargo loading and tailgates that are both lockable and easily removable. An upgraded tailgate that can fully open to almost 90 degrees will allow storage of longer items.

Moving over to the truck’s interior power, the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado has been geared with a high-performing engine and suspension to match up its already powerful exterior look. The regular cab and extended cab have a 2.9 L DOHC four-cylinder engine that could deliver up to 185-horsepower and 190 lb.-ft. of torque. The crew cab, however, is made more powerful with a beefed up engine of 3.7 L DOHC five-cylinder with VVT that can deliver up to 242-horsepower and 242 lb.-ft. of torque. With the 2008 Colorado’s powerful engine, the suspension system has to be brought up a notch, thus the trucks are geared with either the rugged Z85 suspension or Z71 off-road suspension. To make the experience with the new Colorado line more comfortable, specifically tuned body mounts has been installed for an interior free of noise and vibration.

Moreover, notable optional equipment are also available such as the remote keyless entry, XM Satellite Radio, self-dimming inside rear view mirror, and heated leather seating. These and everything else will leave Chevrolet truck enthusiasts and owners in awe.

Rumor has it that Chevrolet would incorporate a V8 engine in 2008. Asked to confirm the new engine option, GM spokespersons told us only to, “stay tuned.” No other information, denial, or verification was provided. Well for now, all we can do is wait. But here are some considerations.

Sources tell PickupTruck.com that the Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup is going to receive a V8 next year - the same small block 5.3-liter 295-horsepower / 317 lb-ft motor that will power it’s Shreveport stable mate, the 2008 Hummer H3 Aplha. Both trucks are assembled in the same Louisiana factory, along with the Colorado’s mid size corporate twin, the GMC Canyon.
The current 2007 Colorado offers buyers a choice of two engines: the Vortec 2900 2.9-liter inline-four cylinder rated at 185-hp / 190 lb-ft or the Vortec 3700 3.7-liter 242-hp / 242 lb-ft inline-five cylinder.

In 1999 Chevrolet brought its S-10 V8 Extreme Concept to the SEMA show in Las Vegas as a promo for the S-10 Xtreme factory body and suspension kit. GM legendary performance guru Jon Moss and his team of powertrain wizards gave the V8 Xtreme Concept a 350 cubic inch (5.7-liter) LT1 Corvette powerplant. It was rated at 340-hp and 370 lb-ft and was mated to a four-speed auto gearbox.

In 2004, when Colorado replaced the S-10, the 420-hp Curz Concept showed up out of the blue sporting a 6.2-liter eight cylinder engine and six speed manual transmission. It was built by GM’s Performance Division to showcase design talents and engineering expertise. But it also showed that the Colorado platform could hold a V8, even if the truck looked like it had been spray painted around the engine.

And just last year another Colorado V8 went to SEMA. The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab Z71 Plus Concept was a heavily disguised look at the powertrain we’re expecting production Colorados to receive next year, though the Plus Concept had a more powerfully tuned version of the 5.3-liter V8 capable of 320-hp and paired with a heavy duty 4L65 four-speed automatic.

Chevrolet’s 2007 Colorado is the combination of durability and value. It starts with two powerful engines designed and engineered with proven Vortec technology. A fully boxed frame with seven cross members provides a solid feel. Available Insta-Trac 4×4 and automatic locking rear differential. The 2007 Colorado, from the family of Chevy Trucks, is arguably the most dependable, longest-lasting trucks on the road.

The Chevrolet Colorado is General Motor’s mid-size pickup trucks introduced in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S10 and GMC Sonoma Isuzu which helped design the truck, began selling a version of the truck in late 2005 named the “i-Series.The Chevrolet Colorado was jointly designed by GM’s North American operations, GM’s Brazil operations, and Isuzu, based on the GMT 335 itself the basis for the GMT 345-based Hummer H3. The vehicles are manufactured and produced at a GM plant in Rayong, Thailand and in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Colorado/Canyon offer both manual and automatic transmissions. GM also offers either a 2 wheel drive or four wheel drive drivetrain with standard, extended, and four-door crewcab bodystyles. Most models come with the 2.8 L LK5 l4 engine as standard, but a more powerful 3.5 L L52 l5 comes with the Z71 package on 4-door versions and is optional on all others. The 4-door Z71s also get the 4-speed automatic transmission standard. This package was later dropped in favor of LT2 and LT3.
Also a ZQ8 edition is available with a lower and more road-tuned “sport” suspension than the standard Z85 and comes with 17 inch wheels, color matched bumper and grille, and low profile fender flares. Also there is an Xtreme edition of the ZQ8 which has a different front bumper, rear bumper, side skirts, fender flares, grille, headlights, and 18 inch wheels.

Word on the streets that the Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup is going to receive a V8 next year. Apparently, the particular V8 engine is the same small block 5.3 liter, 295 horsepower and has a 317 lb-ft motor that will power it’s Shreveport stable mate, which is the 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha. The two trucks are assembled in the same Louisiana factory, along with the Colorado’s midsize corporate twin, the GMC Canyon.

When asked about any new engine options, GM spokespersons told some sources to only, “stay tuned.” There have been no other information, denial or verification released to support the statement.

The current 2007 Colorado offers buyers a choice of two engines. One option is the Vortec 2900, that has a 2.9 liter inline-four cylinder rated at 185 hp or a torque of 190 lb-ft. The other choice is the Vortec 3700 3.7 liter 242-hp and a 242 lb-ft inline-five cylinder.

If people would be focusing on the power, incorporating a V8 to the Colorado can be positioned with the Dodge Dakota. The Dodge vehicle is the only midsize pickup that currently offers a V8. According to Dodge company, the 2008 model of Dakota is getting a heavily updated 4.7 liter V8 that is said to produce 290 horsepower and 320 lb-ft.

It is said that the Colorado’s 5.3 liter V8 would also give the vehicle some bragging rights over the number one selling Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup, that offers 236 hp and 266 lb-ft and number two selling Ford Ranger, which overtook the Colorado last month in 2007 sales volumes.

Rumors about the V8 for the small pickups of GM were actually heard of since the Colorado’s predecessor, the S-10 compact truck. In 1999. If some can recall, Chevrolet brought the S-10 V8 Xtreme Concept to the SEMA show in Las Vegas as a promo for the S-10 Xtreme factory body and suspension kit. GM legendary performance guru Jon Moss and his team of powertrain wizards gave the V8 Xtreme Concept a 350 cubic inch or 5.7-liter LT1 Corvette powerplant. It was rated at 340 hp and 370 lb-ft and was mated to a four-speed auto gearbox.

Back in 2004, when Colorado replaced the S-10, the 420 hp Cruz Concept was introduced. It has a 6.2 liter eight cylinder engine and six speed manual transmission. It was built by GM’s Performance Division primarily to showcase design talents and engineering expertise. Aside from that, it also showed that the Colorado platform could hold a V8, even if the truck looked like it had been spray painted around the engine. And just last year another Colorado V8 went to SEMA. The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab Z71 Plus Concept was a heavily disguised look at the powertrain together with the expected production Colorados to receive next year, though the Plus Concept had a more powerfully tuned version of the 5.3 liter V8 capable of 320 hp and paired with a heavy duty 4L65 four-speed automatic.