Colorado MCE for Thailand; US version coming?

[Smellhound]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

Ours need to grow in size, and better interior and powertrains to compete with Tacoma and Titan.
Ford and GM seem to have let this segment go the minivan way

I totally disagree. In the last 15 years, I have purchased 3 brand new Sonoma's or S10's, and would still consider one strongly for a future vehicle. HOWEVER, the reason I haven't even considered a Colorado or Canyon is they have grown too big. If anything, I think the Colorado needs to shed a few lbs and a little size and become a compact pickup again.

[Quattro]

Wow, it looks like the front of a Tacoma and the rear of a Dakota.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by igor

as surprising as this might sound the "new" Thai range is just a reskind of the one we have here with new interior and a new good diesel. The diesel is worth the effort- but the truck is not all new .. an all new truck from Ford is still just coming.

Igor

I didn't realize that -- but certainly it shows how versatile (and what kind of shelf life) platforms can have if they are updated and investments are made.

I still wonder what the "next gen" will be; some have speculated that it would just be based on the Explorer platform eventually. Others thought that it would follow a formula set by the SporTrac. Still others have stated that when the Explorer goes from a BOF to a UniBody design (or the platform that will underpin the next Escape) the Ranger would follow the same path and transform into a Honda Ridgeline type product.

Who knows what will happen. But til they figure it out, updating the existing plant to replicate what they are producing in Thailand (and -- as you point out -- is based on the current platform) would seem like a no-brainer. I wonder how much this would cost them and if they'd get the return they'd need for such an investment.

[Htay7500]

1. Thailand is the 2nd largest producer of pickups in the world.
2. passengers cars (say a corolla or accord) are taxed more and pickups are cheaper. they have 4 door 2WD trucks that are avail in all brand pickups sold there. (in the US, the colorado is the only truck that offers this)
3. in SE Asia, these kind of pickups are converted into passenger buses like this:

they can also be school buses or taxis when accessing to small towns & villages. I'm from Burma and I do see this alot.
4. and of course theyre used a lot in shipping. probably a cheaper way than a big rig or similar over there.

[KIDDIESEL79]

Not agressive enough to compete with the Tacoma.

[tseas930]

I can't say that I care for the nissan look...But it is a big improvement. I personally like the I-5. I feel it is a good performing engine for that size truck. My Colorado customers seem to agree. The 5.3 vortec is really overkill, but hey...why not! We seem to sell more colorado's than we do tacoma's and ranger's.

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by GM-Joe

The front-end is much better, but the tailgate is terrible, but that may be just for the Thai market?

Absolutely. The front isn't great, but the tail is just a mess. I don't know why they couldn't do better than that. At some point you have to say "This is a pickup truck," and keep it simple and functional. The extra chrome here, lines there, and doo dads all over the outside just look ridiculous.

[armycam68]

This truck is still the same mistake as the original 2004. It has no style and I'll bet it hasn't improved since 2004.
I just traded a 2004 Z-71 4X4. I had owned a number of S-10 4X4's. This truck was a disappointment. The tires wore out in 20,000 miles........improper front end alignment from factory, the ride and handling was poor, the interior was cheap and uncomfortable. I got a letter from GM prior to trading extending the warranty on the motor, valve and head problem. The turning radius was awful..........two tries for any common shopping mall parking space.
I was glad to see the dealer take the truck to the back of the used truck lot. As it drove away, i thought.........how could I have purchased such an ugly truck.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by Hoosier Red

Absolutely. The front isn't great, but the tail is just a mess. I don't know why they couldn't do better than that. At some point you have to say "This is a pickup truck," and keep it simple and functional. The extra chrome here, lines there, and doo dads all over the outside just look ridiculous.

Your comments make me wonder if we aren't entering the age of a "subtle" or "toned-down" look to some vehicles.

The Dakota was always one of the more "aggressive" and even "bold" looking compact pick ups for years.

Now they have an '08 redesign that is rather simple and less "extravagant" than the '07 model.

2007 Dakota:

2008 Dakota:



Now we see this Colorado and it's much less "bold" but certainly more handsome (if not groundbreaking) than the model it replaces. Could this be a trend?

Just a thought....

[TaHoE]

That looks great!

[Robert Ryan]

The Ranger in Thailand is an impressive vehicle. I think Britons get a version in the UK as well that is based on the Thai version. Its such a shame that Ford doesn't have that pick-up for sale here.

They sell them in Australia.

[jzchev28]

i for one do not care for that look...ours needs an update for sure but i hope thats not it.

[DU Biggs]

I like the front but wish they could integrate the logo into the handle for the tailgate. Hopefully the interior wasnt shorted in this MCE

[skylark68]

Im surprised the people responsible for the I-5 haven't been fired from GM Powertrain. I guess it was a logical development from the I-6, but it was a definite step backwards from the tried and true 4.3 V-6. That engine could have been refined much more than its current form. The 5.3 V-8 in the Colorado will make things much more interesting but the interior and the exterior could use a re-fresh (Interior for sure).

[likearock00]

I could care lees what the exterior looks like, it's ok as is. The interior is the key to this truck. They have addressed the engine shortcomings, but they need to update that horrid interior ASAP!