The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck has been spotted on public roads for the first time through the glass of a camera lens, and our spy photographers have managed to share with us evidence of the truck’s existence. The new GM midsize truck will compete directly with the next-generation Ford Ranger, which has been recently spotted testing on public roads, as well.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Details
The GM midsize truck photographed outside the company’s Milford Proving Grounds is in crew cab configuration, and what looks to be a “short box” truck bed. While not yet fit with production-intent lighting, the headlights appear to have a narrower look to them, likely signifying a move to LEDs across the lineup.
Spy photographers claim that the truck may have grown a bit in size in comparison to todays Colorado, while maintaining a six-lug bolt pattern wheel that’s wrapped around a variant of the Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude tire, which is the same tire currently used on non Z71 or ZR2 variants of the truck. It’s currently unclear if the 2023 Colorado and Canyon will come in single cab or extended cab variants to slot below the crew cab.
MC&T was first to report that the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon would adopt a reworked version of the GM 31xx architecture that underpins the current trucks. Plans to introduce an entirely new 32xx architecture were scrapped in 2018, following a massive future product portfolio shakeup that axed several programs that included a sixth-generation Camaro Z/28, as well as a midsize body-on-frame SUV that would have presumably went after the Toyota 4Runner. Efforts and capital have instead been redirected into electric vehicle programs such as the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq.
Next-Gen Chevrolet Colorado Engine And Transmission
Other exclusive details that we’ve reported on the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is that it will ditch both the 3.6L V6 and 2.8L Duramax diesel engine for the 2.7L turbo four that’s found in the larger Chevrolet Silverado and Cadillac CT4-V. The engine will likely come in varying outputs depending on the configuration of the truck. Sending power to the wheels will be a 10-speed automatic transmission that’s found itself in just about every RWD-based vehicle in the GM family.
MC&T understands that General Motors will retire the 2.8L Duramax upon the discontinuation of the current Colorado and Canyon midsize trucks. Unfortunately, GM’s midsize pickups never got the Gen V small block engines that would have been perfect matches; the 4.3L V6 and 5.3L V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500.
If plans go unchanged, expect the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon pickup trucks to officially debut sometime next year. Here’s to hoping that the global microchip shortage will be sorted out by then.
Among the next-generation Colorado lineup is still expected to be the coveted ZR2 variant, which will reportedly get a new Baja mode setting that should target the capabilities of the Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Ford Ranger Raptor.
The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon will be built in America at the GM Wenztville Assembly plant in Missouri, which has recently been allocated $1.5 billion USD to build future products.