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GM & Isuzu seal next-gen Colorado/D-Max deal

11K views 37 replies 26 participants last post by  mchicha 
#1 ·
GM and Isuzu seal future ute deal

Ron Hammerton
9 October 2014
www.goauto.com.au

General Motors and its former junior partner Isuzu are getting the band back together to co-develop their next-generation Holden/Chevrolet Colorado and Isuzu D-Max utes to save money on engineering and parts costs.

The new workhorse twins again will be built in Thailand for sale by both GM and Isuzu in markets outside North America.

GM Holden has confirmed that the GM version of the ute will replace the current Thai-built Colorado light truck that has been sold under Holden badges since June 2012.

No date has yet been announced for the arrival of the third-generation Colorado, although Holden corporate communications manager Sean Poppitt told GoAuto that it would be several years away.

GM’s Australian-based design team is expected to submit a design “theme” for the new light truck range, as it does with all GM products.

The design and engineering base for the current Colorado was in Brazil, although at least one Australian designer was involved in colour and trim design.

Isuzu’s version is also expected to wear D-Max badges in Australia where Isuzu Ute has been one of the rising stars of the light-commercial vehicle market.

The new agreement is a case of déjà vu for the two manufacturers, who appeared to be moving apart after GM sold its share of Isuzu in 2006 after decades of part ownership.

They appear to have had second thoughts about going their own way, and reportedly have been in talks since 2013 about jointly developing a new Colorado/D-Max because of cost pressures.

The deal was finally signed last month, with Isuzu announcing: “Based on a long history of co-operation and trust, Isuzu and GM will leverage their extensive know-how and technologies to develop the next-generation midsize pickup to match customer needs.

“The joint team will also leverage synergies and commonise components to enable further reductions in cost.

“The project will strengthen the light-commercial vehicle business of GM and Isuzu, whose pickup represents the basis for the new model.”

The agreement is likely to have been influenced by a rash of similar joint ventures in the one-tonne truck arena, with Ford-Mazda and, most recently, Nissan-Mitsubishi arrangements in place.

Both GM and Isuzu confirmed their new models would not be sold in North America where the current-generation Colorado has finally just gone on sale with Chevrolet badges.

Although the current Colorado and D-Max are related under the skin, they are built at different plants and armed with unique styling, powertrains and features.

It is unclear if the new models will share powertrain components – and that seems possible, considering the tone of the announcement – but they will continue to be built in separate plants.

The D-Max is powered by a 3.0-litre Isuzu diesel, while the Colorado gets a 2.8-litre diesel.

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#2 ·
So it's going to be a pickup truck, not a coupe-utility "ute"
 
#21 · (Edited)
Hired a Chevy LUV pick-up in Cyprus on vacation last year it was a the older 2013 version of a Isuzu D-Max, liked it a lot it was a nice drive almost car like.

It certainly looked a lot better than the newer Holden version & Isuzu version it had nice big rectangular windows with superb all round visibility, was dead easy to park liked it a lot. Other than the Chevy badges it was 100% Isuzu ever thing else had Isuzu stamped on all the component parts everywhere.

Would buy this version 100% it was a nice truck very easy to live with, but don't l like the Holden or Isuzu newer versions that followed in 2013 they just look very unpractical, l don't like them one little bit.

Chevy LUV world truck sold outside North America, sold up until 2013, l liked this version a lot even if it was totally an Isuzu under the skin, but a very nice drive, dead easy to park on vacation in Cyprus last year. No rear quarter blind induced spots like the newer duller Isuzu & Holden versions have.
 
#24 ·
It certainly looked a lot better than the newer Holden version & Isuzu version
It's not a Holden or Isuzu, it's a GM Brazil Chevrolet Colorado with Holden or Isuzu badges.
Ford Australia designed the Ranger, You can blame Chevrolet, not Holden, for the current Colorado.
 
#29 ·
The current RG Holden Colorado is selling vey well. It might not be at ranger or hilux level just yet, but it appeals to a lot of people and the top of the range LTZ is selling very well.

The MY15 update is due in the next 2 weeks which fixes up a lot of the current issues (namely NVH, sound deadening and interior trim quality). MY16 will be a full facelift and should bring in power train updates along with the 8 speed auto. Once these updates are out, it will be interesting to see how they compare to ranger and Amarok.
 
#30 ·
The Isuzu Holden's also seemed to improve year on year. It seems that may be continuing.
 
#34 ·
an astute observation there BBDOS CV8, the Diesels (DMAX 4JJ1 3L) and the (Colorado 2.8L) would certainly take the USDM models to town.
Let's not give the global Colorado & Isuzu D-max the trophy just yet. The US-spec Colorado/Canyon trucks with the diesel haven't gone on sale here yet. If the US models have the same power/torque/gearing/etc. as the global models, then results & customer satisfaction should be equal.
 
#36 ·
Wow. Luton is even in Bedfordshire I think. I still don't know why Holden switched badges from Bedford to Bedford-Isuzu to Isuzu in the early - mid 70s for our trucks. But it was a strange time they also re-introduced Chev trucks with the LUV and the C10 & C20, and Holden with the One Tonner. Curiously, the Luv went to Isuzu KB and then Holden Rodeo in successive releases.

See below.

Bedford was a commercial Vauxhall's division and produced heavy and medium chassis, trucks and buses, light pickups, chassis and vans. Bedford KB was rebadged Isuzu Faster (Chevrolet LUV in the United States).
 
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