General Motors isn’t in the business of making hot hatches. Very sad. But it can make a pretty brisk truck, it turns out. We’re talking about the new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, which offers a 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that comes in three different flavors: a base work truck engine (codenamed L2R) with 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque, a “mid” version (L3B) with 310 hp and 380 lb-ft, and a V8-matching “high output” version (L3B HO) with 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The latter of which is offered on the range-topping Colorado ZR2, as well as an a-la-carte engine tune that’s installed by an authorized Chevrolet dealer. Meanwhile, GMC keeps it simple by making the high-output L3B calibration standard on all trim levels.
To compare, Ford offers a similar high-output flash tune for the current Ranger pickup truck’s 2.3L EcoBoost engine, but power is maxed out at 320 hp and 355 lb-ft (though the new one may even the odds a bit). And the new Nissan Frontier may have a V6, but is way down on torque, peaking at 310 hp and 281 lb-ft (truck makers: don’t put an NA passenger car engine under the hood of your pickup).
So, with V8 muscle car levels of torque, it has anybody with a sense of curiosity pondering just how quick the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon can be in the right hands. And we got a pretty good answer.
L3B chief engineer Kevin Luchansky told us during last week’s 2023 Chevrolet Colorado media drive program that the 0-60 acceleration for the quickest iteration of the new midsize truck is “under 7 seconds,” and admitted that the truck’s forward quickness is “traction limited” based on the tires.
Indeed, a set of Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires aren’t exactly what we’d call summer performance tires. But if somebody were to affix the new Chevy Colorado with the high-output L3B engine with, say, a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires, and we could see the new Colorado keep up with a couple of choice hot hatches. Everything is just a vessel for tires, after all.
Production of the new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are currently underway.
Image copyright Steven Pham, Muscle Cars & Trucks.
