Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/270259
CHANGING LANES 14 MARCH 2014 // WWW.CHANGINGLANESDIGITAL.COM Kelley's cool running of about 41', enabling easier turning in tight areas such as city streets or backing a trailer into a camping spot. Standard four-wheel disc brakes with four-piston front calipers feature Duralife brake rotors that off er extended service life, saving money on maintenance. Another serious-truck feature off ered on the Colorado is the G80 automatic locking rear diff erential. Introduced by Chevy more than 40 years ago, it gives drivers a traction advantage when needed. The G80 is standard on Z71 and available on WT and LT. A 2.5L I-4 engine is standard, and a 3.6L V-6 is available. Each engine is tuned, tested and validated for truck use, and each features direct injection and variable valve timing to make the most of power and effi ciency. Both engines are matched with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, and the 2.5L is also available with a six-speed manual transmission on extended-cab 2WD "Work Truck" models. After the 2014 launch, a Duramax 2.8L I-4 turbodiesel will be added to the engine lineup. The 2.5L and 3.6L engines off ered in the Colorado are based on proven designs found in other Chevrolet vehicles, but tuned specially for truck duty – including more torque at lower rpm – for a more confi dent feeling of power when the Colorado is loaded or pulling a trailer. Aluminum blocks and forged-steel crankshafts, along with dual-overhead camshafts with variable valve timing, direct injection and jet-spray piston cooling are features shared on both engines. A number of extended- life components can help reduce maintenance intervals and reduce the cost of ownership. Properly equipped, the Colorado is expected to off er trailering capacity over 6,700 pounds, more than enough to throw a weekend's worth of camping gear in the bed and still tow a boat to the lake. The standard six-speed automatic transmission complements the truck- tuned engines with features that make hauling and trailering easier and more comfortable, including auto grade braking and a tow/haul mode. Stay tuned for a full test-drive report later this year. kelleys cool runnings 0314 cl.indd 2 2/6/14 1:35 PM