The Colorado SS is the replacement for the age old S10 which has been manufactured since the first one in 1982. Over twenty years later General Motors had to make a change in the lineup and unveiled the Colorado in 2004. This new truck has raised the bar for the midsized truck community with a larger interior, new technology, and a bold appearance.
This year at SEMA GM once again raised the stakes and unveiled the 2005 Colorado SS concept. This truck not only has the appearance and the comfort but GM turned up the heat on it and gave it the 6.0L LS2 with 400bhp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. In the midsize truck market today no automobile manufacturer has a midsize truck of this nature. The closest comparison would be the Dodge Dakota R/T that had a 5.9L with 250bhp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque; however this was discontinued in 2003. The Dakotas of today do not stand a chance in this comparison, but note that the prized “Hemi” has found its way to just about every other Dodge product except the Dakota and in 2005 the “Hemi” gets a boost to 425hp.
The Colorado SS will join the linage of past Super Sport Vehicles such as the 1990 to 1993 454 SS Sport Truck, Camaro, and the Chevelles of the past. The SS package includes a barrage of performance additives such as:
- LS2 6.0L V-8 with 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. torque that exhales through a custom-built performance exhaust from the catalyst rearward
- Heavy-duty 4L70-E four-speed automatic transmission with floor shifter
- Heavy-duty 9.5-inch rear axle with a locking differential for added traction and a short 3.73:1 rear axle ratio for rapid acceleration
- Front disc brakes measuring over 12 inches that are sourced from the full-size Chevrolet Silverado; rear disc brakes from the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
- Lowered suspension riding on brushed nickel-plated 20-inch Silverado SS rims
- Stylized interior with unique trim, bezels, and seats
- Custom exterior package with unique grille, fascias, flares, rocker extensions and tonneau cover
It is obvious that if the Colorado SS is actually brought to life that Chevrolet will dominate the midsize truck market in power and performance unless Dodge steps up. Could this be the work up for a potential truck shoot out between the Dakota, and the Colorado? Only time will tell what will happen. |
