Chevrolet has unveiled the all-new 2015 Colorado, the brand’s new mid-size truck that aims to target those customers who don’t require the functionality or capabilities of a full-size pickup truck.

Chevrolet expects Colorado to be the most powerful truck in the segment, featuring a 2.5L I-4 as standard, and a 3.6L V6 available as an option. Each engine features direct injection and variable valve timing to make the most of power and efficiency. Each is additionally matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the 2.5L is available with a six-speed manual transmission on extended cab 2WD Work Truck models.

While the 2.5L four is estimated at 193 horsepower (146 kW) and 184 lb-ft of torque (253 Nm), with approximately 90 percent of the peak torque available from 2,000 rpm to 6,200 rpm, the 3.6L engine is estimated at 302 horsepower (224 kW) and 270 lb-ft of torque (366 Nm).

When properly equipped, the Colorado is expected to offer a payload capacity and trailering capacity of more than 6,700 pounds (3,039 kg). The truck’s powertrain lineup will further expand to include the segment’s only diesel engine in its second year – a Duramax 2.8L I-4 turbodiesel already offered in global markets.

The truck has been designed and developed specifically for North American customers. Taller bedsides, for example, are exclusive to North America and match the raked belt line of the cab, creating a proportion that its designers claim reinforces the truck’s “athleticism” while better securing items stored in the bed.

The pickup truck’s configurations are an extended cab model with a 6-foot bed, a crew cab with a 5-foot bed and a crew cab with a 6-foot bed. With the tailgate down, the 6-foot bed allows hauling of 8-foot-long items.

“The new Colorado’s design brings a youthful breath of fresh air to the mid-size truck segment and puts a progressive spin on Chevrolet’s true-truck styling,” said Ken Parkinson, executive director of Chevrolet Design. “It’s like the younger, more eager brother of the Silverado – a Chevy truck through and through, with great zeal and a spirit of adventure.”

WT, LT and Z71 trims are available, all in 2WD or 4WD. The off-road-inspired Z71 (pictured above) is the brawniest of the bunch. It also features a gunmetal grille surround – a change from the chrome standard on the other models – projector headlamps and custom 17-inch aluminium wheels.

The truck features triple-sealed doors inlaid in the body sides, like the 2014 Silverado, for better aerodynamics and a quieter interior. To help keep overall mass down and improve the front-to-rear weight balance, the Colorado features a segment-first aluminium hood. It also features the segment’s only active aero grille shutters, which close at certain highway speeds to further enhance aerodynamics.

Practical solutions for hauling and accessing cargo include a corner-step rear bumper design; an EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate that uses an internal torsion bar to make raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for more-controlled lowering; and a two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into upper and lower sections, making it easier to haul, store and conceal items such as tools.

Blending cues from the Silverado, the interior features an upright instrument panel with large instruments, while the centre console incoporates a floor-mounted shifter similar to those found in mid-size cars and crossovers.

“We took the best attributes of full-size trucks and mid-size cars to develop a passenger space that delivers a balance of unmatched functionality and comfort,” said Parkinson. “It’s designed to be as useful as possible, with storage compartments and clever features throughout, for owners who will use the Colorado as their daily driver and for weekend getaways.”

Standard safety technologies include six air bags, including head side curtain air bags designed to help keep occupants from being ejected in a crash.

Like the Silverado, the Colorado has a fully boxed perimeter frame, while a coil-over-type front suspension features aluminum knuckles that are low in mass and high in strength, contributing to a more responsive feel to driver inputs according to Chevrolet engineers. Four-wheel disc brakes, with four-piston front calipers, are standard and, like the 2014 Silverado, feature Duralife brake rotors.

The Colorado also features the segment’s first application of electric power steering, and has a turning radius of about 41 feet (12.5 metres), which Chevrolet says helps enable better turning in tight areas such as city streets or backing a trailer into a camping spot.

Chevrolet plans to start of production of the Colorado in 2014.

Source: Chevrolet

Tags: 2013 LA Auto Show, car design, Chevrolet, Colorado, Colorado Z71, Ken Parkinson, pickup truck