Story & photos by Patrick Tulfo
JUST this March, The Covenant Car Co. Inc. (TCCCI) flew select members of the motoring beat to Thailand for the 37th edition of the Bangkok International Motor show to showcase the latest variations of its best-selling Colorado pickup and Trailblazer SUV.
Michael Simcoe, GM International vice president for design, had intimated to this scribe during a cooking class in Bangkok that they are excited to present to the media new and interesting variants of their two best-sellers.
The two vehicles didn’t disappoint when they were finally unveiled. The Colorado, presented in the Xtreme edition, was mean-looking. While the Trailblazer in a Premiere look was the epitome of luxury.
Later on in a press conference that followed Simcoe, together with Michael Devereux, GM International sales was coy on the question as to when the two vehicles will be officially launched in the country. Devereux answered this question with another one, saying that the actual date of the release of the vehicles will depend on the media itself. Pressed further for a definitive answer, they said “production of the two vehicles will depend on the clamor of the buyer themselves”.
Six months later, from September 13 to 15 , these two fine vehicles were finally launched in what Chevy, dubbed as “The new Chevrolet Colorado and Trailblazer Regional Ride and Drive”. Our country was chosen for the event and members of the media from Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos were flown to Cebu “Queen City of the South” together with their local counterparts.
In a presentation on the first evening at the posh Shangri-La Hotel in Mactan, both vehicles were on display in one of the conference halls in the sprawling resort. Devereux and Vanchana Unakul, general director-engineering, General Motors Thailand and Southeast Asia, presided over the presentation and answered queries. Devereux pointed out that the new model addressed the common complaint on the materials used on the interior of the previous model. While Unakul confidently remarked, “We believe that these two vehicles will set the benchmark in the truck and SUV segment in your market.”
The next day we were given the opportunity to finally test the mettle of the two vehicles, as well as to closely examine it in broad daylight. Exterior-wise, both vehicles retained their overall look. Major changes were confined mostly to their front ends, while their rears retained their original setups.
They now have a more refined look courtesy of new hoods, new headlamps (now with LED daytime running lights or DRLs), and the signature grille with a slightly smaller Chevy bowtie badge displayed in the middle. The reshaped front bumpers that house the fog lamps complete the modern look. Other exterior upgrades include a new set of alloy wheels.
Interior-wise, the dash is now the same as those found on the Suburban, which is luxurious. The perennial complaint of owners and motoring journalists have now been addressed with the use of soft plastic materials all around the cabin.
The new Mylink infotainment system now connects to both Apple and Android phones. Owners will just have to use their voice to give commands on their phones.
Meanwhile, driving both vehicles on- and off-road also revealed the other improvements that were mentioned during the presentation.
The Trailblazer, for example, is now quieter on the road. No doubt the thicker front windshield plus the stiffer chassis, new engine and transmission mounts all contributed to the improvement of the vehicles’ NVH. The shock absorbers now feature digressive valves that give a firm damping action when driven fast on the highway, but soften when compressed, which improves off-road traction and stability.
The 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine with VGT, which is said to have been improved further, still pumps an impressive 200 hp and earth-moving 500 N-m of torque, making it the most powerful in its class. The 2.5-liter Duramax engine, also with VGT, is now more powerful than before. The base engine is the 2.5-liter Fixed Geometry Turbo (FGT) for buyers who don’t want a VGT.
The Colorado, on the other hand, was impressive off-road, tackling the 45-degree incline and the 35-degree sideway driving with ease. The 600-mm water crossing was lower than the published 800-mm capability. The new shock absorbers with digressive valve really work.
Meanwhile, the new electric power steering provides good feedback both on and off the road. Both the SUV and pickup now feature the following; remote engine start, front and rear park assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert and a driver’s knee airbag, among others.
The good news to would-be buyers is that there is only a minimal increase on the prices of the vehicles. The 4X2 Colorado LT with a six-speed manual transmission starts at P1,167,888, while the top-of-the-line variant 4×4 LTZ with a six-speed automatic tranny is priced at P1,689,888.
The Trailblazer, on the other hand, starts at P1,378,888 for the 4×2 LT with six-speed manual transmission, while the top variant 4×4 Z71 six-speed automatic with all the features is only priced at P1,881,888.
The Colorado and the Trailblazer are now available in all Chevrolet dealers nationwide.
Image credits: Patrick Tulfo