Does Chevrolet Need a Ford Bronco or Jeep Fighter?
At last week’s North American International Auto Show, we learned some things about the upcoming Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler-based pickup truck. We also are beating the dead horse about a possible Bronco revival from Ford. If these vehicles come to fruition, does Chevrolet need to get in on the off-road SUV game?
When it comes to capable off-roaders that aren’t huge, Chevrolet does have the Colorado. In Z71 and Trail Boss trims, buyers get skid plates and chunky tires and better off-road suspension. It’s not as capable as a Wrangler, but can get the job done in most cases. Considering you can also get the Colorado with a diesel engine, it does make it a unique offering.
Rumor has it that the next Wrangler will also have a diesel engine as an option, and it could come by way of the 3.0L EcoDiesel that’s currently available on Ram Trucks and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. That engine makes 420 lb-ft of torque, and would be a good option for someone looking to off-road.
The potential Bronco coming from Ford would be based on the upcoming Ranger platform, and have a slew of engine options. Most of those would be EcoBoost gasoline engines, including the possibility of the 2.7L V6 that packs quite a punch. Ford does have a range of global diesel engines as well, and could tap into any of those to get a diesel Bronco on the roads.
Of course, Chevrolet could benefit just from the rumor of building a vehicle like this. Ford hasn’t confirmed, leaked, or really implied that a new Bronco is on the way, but the Internet has taken to it and it has spread like wildfire.
But what if they actually wanted to build something to compete? Perhaps a new Trailblazer of sorts? Well it’d make sense to start that construction on the Colorado platform. It’s a capable body-on-frame platform that is quite versatile. It’s also large enough to support a SUV that has four proper doors.
The 2.8L Duramax diesel is already certified and ready-to-go in that platform, and it’d make sense to continue to offer it on this concept. It’d also make sense to bring both the 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder gasoline engines over. The current 6-speed automatic transmission seems like the logical choice here, but we’d like to see the Colorado’s 6-speed manual make the transition, and also be offered on the diesel iteration.
What would also be awesome about this vehicle is that, at least in truck form, it can tow 7,000lbs. Of course, the SUV would be heavier, and that tow rating would drop, but it’d make sense that it’d still fall into the 5,000 pound range. Some full-size SUVs, like Ford’s Explorer, can only tow that much. It’d be a great option for someone who has a boat or toys they need to haul, but also need room inside for gear.
It’s doubtful this vehicle would make an appearance anytime soon, but if the new Wrangler is popular, and Ford’s Bronco (if they build it) sells well, then we could see Chevrolet get into the mix.
What do you think? Let us know over in the forums!
