2012 Holden Colorado Concept Revealed At 2011 AIMS

2012 HOLDEN COLORADO

Holden has unveiled the face of its new second-generation 2012 Colorado pickup at today's Australian International Motor Show, following its unveiling in Chevrolet form back in March.

Predictably, Holden has elected to maintain the basic style of Chevrolet's 'dual port' grille design, but knocking out the Chevrolet bowtie in favour of Holden's familiar 'lion and stone' badge.

Apart from the tweaked grille, the 2012 Holden Colorado concept, a product of GM's Australian design studio, remains largely unchanged from the earlier concept. But how much of this newer concept's styling will carry over to the production model?

Speaking at a press event earlier this week designed to highlight the company's local design heroes and their impact in the global GM empire, Holden boss Mike Devereux said that, in the case of the Colorado, it's almost a "what you see is what you'll get" deal.

“Although this is a show vehicle, the fundamental design and proportions are true to form for the production version of the Colorado hitting Holden showrooms next year,” Mr Devereux said.

“As a show truck it”Ÿs designed to whet the appetite for another chapter in the Holden product renaissance – a series of new, world-class vehicles that are making people sit up and take notice of our new generation cars." 

This Holden concept isn't simply Chevy's Colorado with a respray and a new fascia, either. This pickup was built right here in Australia, at Holden's own fabrication shop in Melbourne - one of only a few capable facilities in the GM family.

Leading the Colorado concept project at Holden was 26 year-old Monash University graduate Ben Last, working closely with GM's Brazilian and Thailand-based studios to get the local concept just right.

Mechanically, the Holden Colorado concept is virtually identical to its Chevrolet counterpart - although power and performance figures are still to be revealed.

It is known however that a 2.8 litre turbodiesel engine lies beneath the bonnet, and while Australian specifications remain a secret for now, Holden says the 2.8 litre diesel is "one of a number of engines" that will be offered locally.

We can likely expect Holden's existing Alloytec V6 or the newer SIDI V6 petrol engines, also. 

Availability

The 2012 Holden Colorado is slated for an early 2012 launch, when it will take on the newly-launched Volkswagen Amarok, the upcoming next-generation Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 platform twins, and the current pickup kings: the Toyota Hilux, the Mitsubishi Triton and the Nissan Navara.