New Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck Unveiled Ahead of Bangkok Premiere

General Motors has lifted the wraps off the pre-production version of its next generation Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck in advance of the Bangkok International Auto Show on March 25, where it is making its global public debut. The Colorado Show truck will lead to a toned down production model that will be revealed within the next few months and first go on sale in Thailand later this year. The Detroit automaker is keeping mum about whether or not the Colorado will come to the States.

“Although this is a show vehicle, the basic proportions and form convey the vision for the next-generation Colorado that we will bring to market,” said Brad Merkel, GM's global vehicle line executive.

“It reflects a stylized version of the new truck, one that takes into account rugged dependable truck capabilities for commercial use as well as sophisticated refinement for personal-use needs.”

The Bangkok show truck features an extended-cab body atop a high-stance AWD chassis and rides on large, 20-inch wheels and off-road tires size 285/50R20. Certain details such as the large alloy wheels, futuristic exterior mirrors and LED lamps will most likely be absent from the production model.

The interior styling of the Colorado is inspired from the latest Chevy models including the Aveo/Sonic as well as the Camaro. Chevy says soft-touch materials have been used throughout the cabin, which also features number of storage compartments including a covered center bin and a large, dual glovebox.

Power for the Colorado show truck comes via 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine.

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New Chevrolet Colorado Roughens Up with Double-Cab Rally Concept

The Buenos Aires Motorshow is proving to be an important event for GM as after the debut of the Chevrolet Cobalt Concept, the Detroit automaker released the first details on its second design study, the Colorado Rally Concept.

We first saw the Colorado as single-cab concept truck at the Bangkok International Auto Show earlier this year.

The Argentine study is a double-cab racing version of that concept fitted with a bevy of off-road accessories and components such as the front and rear bumper hooks and tow winches, an adjustable suspension that allows the driver to increase the ride height by 5 inches and special acrylic windows.

The Colorado Rally Concept is powered by a 2.8-liter turbo diesel engine coupled to an all-wheel drive system and rides on massive 18-inch machined aluminum wheels shod in 305/60 R18 tires.

The production version of the all-new Colorado in both single- and double-cab formats is slated to debut later this year.

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GM Unveils New Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan Concept at Buenos Aires

Here in the good ‘ol US of A, General Motors replaced the Chevrolet Cobalt compact car with the new Cruze sedan. In South America, however, it’s another story as the Detroit brand has given birth to a new Chevy Cobalt that is being revealed in pre-production form at this week’s Buenos Aires Motor Show (June 17 to 26) in Argentina.

Developed by General Motors Technical Center in South America, the four-door sedan Cobalt Concept is slated to enter production within the next year. GM’s press blurb doesn’t mention anything about the Cobalt’s underpinnings, but judging from the size of the car, it appears to be based on the Chevy Sonic (Aveo in Europe) saloon.

GM said that the Cobalt will be sold globally offering buyers a choice of four cylinder engines ranging in displacement from 1.3 to 1.8 liters, with automatic and manual transmissions, running on ethanol (flex fuel), gasoline or diesel.

The specific concept model is equipped with an aero kit comprising of front and rear aprons, side skirts and a discreet boot lid spoiler, plus 17-inch alloy wheels in 255/45 R17 rubber and twin exhaust outlets.

The interior has also been upgraded with plush two-tone leather seats, chrome trim, twin sunroof and even an infotainment system with LCD screens integrated into the front headrests.

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Bertone Auctions Off Some of its Most Recognizable Concepts to Avoid Insolvency

Here lies Bertone, the famed Italian automotive design house, bankrupt and on almost on the verge of death. The once legendary company was forced to sell its most prized possessions – six concept cars – to appease the bankruptcy commission and also to remain afloat. RM Auctions of London handle the sale at this past weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011.

So what delectable concepts were the vultures able to get their beaks into? Well, there’s the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal that once graced the Monaco Grand Prix and is often cited as the inspiration for the Espada of the following year.

Then comes the extreme, wedge-shaped 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, which looks like the car RoboCop would use on the weekends and the little known Chevrolet Testudo of 1963. Next are two more low slung, Lamborghini-badged offerings – the Countach-alike Bravo coupe of 1974 and its convertible Athon brother from 1980. And lastly is the 1978 Lancia Sibilo that looks to me like a prop out of Total Recall and is finished in a very ‘70s shade of chocolate brown.

Overall, the auction went well with the Lamborghini Marzal fetching €1.51 million (estimated: €1 to €1.8 million), the Lamborghini Athon €347,200 (est. €150,000 to €220,000), the Lamborghini Bravo €588,000 (est. €150,000 to €220,000) and the Lancia Sibilo €95,200 (est. €60,000 to €100,000). The only cars that didn’t meet their estimated sales value were the Lancia HF Zero at €761,600 (est. €1 to €1.8 million) and the Chevrolet Testudo €336,000 (est. €500,000 to €800,000).

You can see pictures of the concepts that went up for sale in our gallery below.

By Tristan Hankins

Photos courtesy RM Auctions

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