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2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax Diesel Pickup Introduction By Larry Nutson


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2016 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel
Duramax Diesel Gets The Job Done

By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel


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Diesels are in the news of late. To say the least! On the good news side, Chevy just announced that the U.S. EPA has certified the new 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel for sale, along with its stable-mate the GMC Colorado.

Chevy says the Colorado is America’s most fuel-efficient pickup with its EPA test highway fuel economy rating of 31 mpg.

With the Colorado’s 21 gallon fuel tank that could take you up to 651 miles without refueling. The Colorado just might be a good choice road trip vehicle to trek off to the in-laws for Thanksgiving.

I was invited by Chevrolet to a “lunch and learn” along with a number of my colleagues here in Chicagoland from the Midwest Automotive Media Association. Jessica Rogers, Chevrolet’s Marketing and Advertising Manager for the Colorado was on hand to bring us some of the latest news on the Colorado.

The all-new, Colorado midsize pickup was named the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year and Cars.com’s Best Pickup Truck of 2015 – and was the fastest-selling truck in the industry, prompting a third shift to be added to the Wentzville, Mo., assembly facility.

According to Rogers, the Colorado is moving off dealer lots very quickly with a 21 to 22 day turn rate. Chevy is building all they can and now with the diesel, well, who knows. Rogers also said that the Colorado is bringing new customers into Chevy showrooms and not hurting sales of the full size Silverado.


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The 2016 Colorado diesel 2WD offers, along with its 31 mpg highway, an EPA test estimated 22 mpg city and 25 mpg combined. The 4WD model offers an EPA test estimated 29 mpg highway, 20 mpg city and 23 mpg combined.

Colorado Duramax diesel’s fuel economy complements maximum trailering ratings of up to 7,700 pounds on 2WD models and up to 7,600 pounds for 4WD models with the available trailering package.

Colorado’s all-new 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel engine generates 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Diesel: it’s all about the torque. It is paired with the Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission, which uses a unique Centrifugal Pendulum Vibration Absorber in the torque converter to reduce powertrain noise and vibration.

The Duramax 2.8L is the cleanest diesel truck engine ever produced by General Motors, and meets some of the toughest U.S. emissions standards, thanks in part to a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.


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Two new features for the Colorado diesel are smart diesel exhaust braking and an integrated trailer brake controller. Smart diesel exhaust braking enhances vehicle control and reduces brake wear by reducing the need for braking on downgrades. The integrated trailer brake controller works with the antilock brake system to provide immediate and measured brake force, eliminating the need for an aftermarket trailer brake controller.

The Colorado diesel goes on sale this fall, offered in LT and Z71 Crew Cab models, with 2WD or 4WD. Pricing for the diesel engine option is $3,730 more than a comparably equipped 3.6L V-6 model.

New Colorado models like the Trail Boss and Midnight Edition allow high fuel efficiency along with high style.

I did a more extensive write-up on the Colorado and also the GMC Canyon just about a year ago when they first came out. Click here to read that review.

The GMC Canyon diesel has the same power train and EPA mpg ratings. Both pickups offer a 200HP 2.5-L 4-cylinder and a 305HP 3.6-L V6. Chevy says around 75 percent of Colorado orders have been for the V6 up to now. They forecast about 10 percent will buy the diesel. We think it might just be more.

© 2015 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy