Confirmed: The Holden Rodeo Is Dead! Chevrolet Colorado To The Rescue

[JoeT]

GM Holden Plans Light Commercial Replacement

GM Holden
19 March 2008
www.holden.com.au

GM Holden has announced it will introduce a new light commercial vehicle later this year that will replace the long-running Rodeo.

The new Colorado range will feature many of the attributes that has made Rodeo so successful, including the choice of petrol or diesel engines, 4x4 or 4x2 models, and numerous body styles such as Single Cab, Space Cab and Crew Cab.

Current Rodeo owners will continue to be covered by GM Holden’s 3 year/100,000km warranty and Roadside Assistance for the first 12 months of ownership.

GM Holden Marketing Manager for LCV, Teresa Basile, said GM Holden is moving to a new exciting product with more details to follow in the coming months.

“The light commercial segment is a significant market for Holden and with this exciting new addition we will remain a major player with a highly competitive new entry,” she said.

“And Rodeo owners can rest assured that Holden remains committed to providing superior customer service and parts availability to the current range.”

The new Holden Colorado will be available from Holden dealers nationally later this year.



Holden To Retire Rodeo

Marton Pettendy
4 March 2008
www.goauto.com.au

GM Holden will retire its popular Rodeo nameplate within months because it does not own the right to continue to use it.

Once Australia’s top-selling light commercial vehicle name, the Rodeo badge will become history from about June because Isuzu, which manufactures Australia’s Rodeo in Thailand, owns it and will prevent Holden from using it following the formal separation between Isuzu and Holden’s parent company General Motors.

GM announced in mid-2006 that it would sell its remaining 7.9 per cent stake in Isuzu to raise about $US300 million following the US giant’s $US8.6 billion loss the previous year.

The announcement heralded the end of a successful product-sharing arrangement that began in 1971, and followed the sale of GM interests in Suzuki and Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries for a total of $US2.7 billion only months earlier.

The demise of the Rodeo name will come as a marketing blow to Holden and its representative in one of Australia’s most important vehicle segments.

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Two Stars: Holden Rodeo Rates Poorly In New European Crash Test Results
Australian & New Zealand January 2008 Sales Results

Chevrolet Thailand's facelifted Colorado

[FISH]

Sad to see the name die because of all the rep built into it...

As for the new name 'Colorado'? A different name of Aus might be a good idea. No sheet metal changes just a new name as we have no mountains or states named that here.

[JoeT]

How about 'Rodao', as that's how we pronounce it anyway. That'll stuff 'em!

[Olds88]

Wow that facelifted Colorado looks excellent. Looks like a mini-Avalanche. With that look a 5.3L V8 or an L67 6.0L V8 and a 5sp, I'd buy one as a fun toy.

[69Firebird400]

Why not go alphanumeric like almost every other stupid manufactuer is doing nowadays? Actually, hopefully not.

I'm still not crazy about even the Thai Colorado's look...and just like the name of some mountain in Australia wouldn't make sense in the US, I can see how 'Colorado' wouldn't make sense in AUS. But maybe 'Canyon,' as it's a non-specific topographic feature? Or 'Butte'?

[FISH]

Originally Posted by Olds88

Wow that facelifted Colorado looks excellent. Looks like a mini-Avalanche. With that look a 5.3L V8 or an L67 6.0L V8 and a 5sp, I'd buy one as a fun toy.

I more a fan of the current gen, with the HFV6.



^I know these are the TD's


Also can the 'Colorado' be fitted with a tray? Because I know that is not a popular style in the US, but it is a must for Aus.

[FISH]

Originally Posted by JoeT

How about 'Rodao', as that's how we pronounce it anyway. That'll stuff 'em!

Thats an idea.

[BlueMontreal]

Originally Posted by Olds88

Wow that facelifted Colorado looks excellent. Looks like a mini-Avalanche. With that look a 5.3L V8 or an L67 6.0L V8 and a 5sp, I'd buy one as a fun toy.

I like it too. Just imagine it with DI on both Atlas engines and 6 speed-auto.

[MonaroSS]

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by FISH

Sad to see the name die because of all the rep built into it...

As for the new name 'Colorado'? A different name of Aus might be a good idea. No sheet metal changes just a new name as we have no mountains or states named that here.

Yea it will be weird to no longer have a Rodeo name on the market, i used a few to move house and they were fun with no weight in the back but a friend of mine had the V6 and he said they sucked alot of fuel.

So are they both identical the Rodeo and Colorado?? And will they be able to supply Holden with as many models as they have with the current Rodeo

[jcgable]

Originally Posted by JoeT

How about 'Rodao', as that's how we pronounce it anyway. That'll stuff 'em!

Sounds like a great way to get sued, though I for one would laugh my ass off if they did that.

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I'm still not crazy about even the Thai Colorado's look...and just like the name of some mountain in Australia wouldn't make sense in the US, I can see how 'Colorado' wouldn't make sense in AUS. But maybe 'Canyon,' as it's a non-specific topographic feature? Or 'Butte'?

Good thing i didnt have a mouthful when i read this.. there is no way the Butte would work... it would be Butte to Butt to Ass in about 0.2 seconds.

Though after reading the article it sounds like the GM/Isuzu divorce and the changes that it will cause in Australia is going to be a bit messy. With Isuzu going to be selling the D-Max which seems to be the current Rodeo Holden might have some trouble if the new model does not work out well straight away.

[ctaylorzl1]

I wish our Colorado looked like that! I also wish it atleast came with a HFV6, instead of the weazy 5cyl! We have been promised the V8 for a long time now, so GM needs to get in gear and get it in there or get the DI V6 or something! Plus a refresh, and a real off-road pkg.!

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by FISH

Also can the 'Colorado' be fitted with a tray? Because I know that is not a popular style in the US, but it is a must for Aus.

I'm sure you can get a tray for the back of the US Colorado/Canyon, though not from the dealer. The bed is separate from the cab, and you can get a cab & chassis Colorado.

Interestingly (at least to me), the headlights in the above truck look similar in shape to a 2008 CTS's.

[Timekeeper]

The Colorado just never seemed to look right. There's something about the front end that bothered me. Hence I opted for a Ranger instead. Yeah! Yeah! I know, talk about a boring redundant front end, but at least I can look at it whereas the Colorado (and Canyon) just never seemed right.