After delaying its Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon diesel trucks for a “final validation” issue, General Motors said Tuesday that the trucks would be on their way to dealers.
“The highly anticipated 2016 GMC Canyon diesel has begun shipping to dealers. We look forward to getting these trucks in the hands of our customers and appreciate their patience,” GMC spokeswoman Kelly Wysocki said in a statement.
Earlier this month we reported that people who ordered the truck — in some cases as far back as August — said GM was delaying delivery. A GM spokesman said the trucks were delayed due to a “final validation” issue. GM didn’t specify what the “final validation” issue was with the trucks, nor did they say why they were delayed.
When it announced the truck last year, GM said it would deliver those trucks by Fall 2015. The diesel-powered truck underwent additional testing by environmental officials before receiving its certification in November.
A spokesman for GM said the delay was not related to the trucks’ certification by the EPA, but did say that the delay only affected diesel-powered trucks.
Yay!!!
Global Warming
70° Christmas
Parsing these statements, it sounds like the EPA certification was OK, but there was an engineering validation issue peculiar to the diesel that needed resolution.
Could have been anything, but it probably wasn’t emissions related. Fair enough.
Agree, I would say it was not emissions related
RobertRyan,
I do believe the US is at the same point in the phase of diesel where Australia was in the early eighties.
Within 5 years I’d like to think most any pickup on offer in the US will come with a diesel option. This will be a far cheaper way than hybrid or EV pickups for the medium term.
Heavier vehicles seem to profit from a diesel more than a light small car.
@Big Al from Oz,
From memory that was pretty rapid. Even the old British trucks had petrol,engines at one stage
RobertRyan,
Diesel really started in the late 70s in Australia but didn’t get a foothold over petrol utes until 1981.
I think the farmers and miners got a rebate on diesel in 1981 and they bought lots of small Asian diesel utes for the farms. They then replaced the old Bedford, Dodge (with 318s), Fargos, IH, Fords, etc. Most farm trucks back then would of been around the size of a F-450/4500. The all ran petrol.
Then within a decade all the farmers had a Landcruiser/Patrol for the wife, a diesel Japanese ute and Izuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi MDT for a truck. All diesel powered. Oh, most all farmers had a Holden or Ford car as well for church and used the ute to go to the pub after dropping into the stock and produce.
Then the virtues of diesel became recognised by the off roaders. I remember the big craze of 350/351 conversions for FJ 40s. When the diesel Landcruisers hit the scene V8s died in the ass.
Even though the 2.8 diesel is limited to the crew cab, I’m happy to see them hitting the sales floor.
Within a year or two we’ll know whether or not the extra $5k is worth it. I hope it succeeds, just to shake up Toyota’s complacency.
“When it does, the diesel version will carry a price premium of $3,730 over comparable models equipped with the 3.6-liter gasoline V-6.”
I didn’t think it was anywhere near 5K. And unless the motor turns out to be a complete disaster you’ll probably get 1/2 of that back or better when you sell. The premium for a dirtymax HD over the gas in my 2004 Sierra on the used market right now is a good $3K.
Toyota maybe looking at it’s new 2.8 Diesel, rather than the gutless 3.5
RobertRyan,
The gutless 3.5 should do quite well in an unladen midsize pickup. The diesel will fair much better when expected to work.
These trucks even come with an exhaust brake. Very cool! I predict GM will sell everyone they can build at top dollar for quite sometime. The other two gas engine options aren’t anything special IMO which will help. They should have stuck the new 4.3 you can get in the FS trucks in it. Then they would have had a gas truck with a truck engine.
If they sell the chassis cab with the diesel, fleets will love it. Smaller truck for smaller jobs that uses the same fuel as the bigger trucks, it’s a win all around.
Fleets are often too cheap to step up to the diesel. There is a reason why the Ford 6.2L and GM 6.0L are fleet kings.
A $3000+ premium over the V6 isn’t exciting for fleets. This will be a premium lifestyle truck for individual consumers. And that’s okay. It will be good in that role.
Not state DOT and big landscaping fleets, apparently…
Well that was an example in the HD area.
The diesel is crew cab only. GM knows fleets don’t really want the diesel.
When I asked someone I know that owns a towing company why they were running the 6.0 gas vs duramax in their 1 ton tow trucks this was the answer I got:
Cheaper to buy.
Cheaper to run/operate.
Worth more when it’s time to sell.
I’m with you on the first two points, but everything I’ve heard/read/experienced says that you get back proportionate to what you put in when you resell a diesel HD. If the diesel is an $8000 investment new, and you’re selling the truck for 1/3 of its MSRP, you can expect over $2500 extra vs. a gas.
I think when your talking about a used wrecker(commercial vehicle) that has over 300K on it and your not sure how it’s been taken care of people get nervous. You can replace a gas engine a lot cheaper than a diesel. That was a few years ago and I haven’t stopped in lately to see if they are still running gas in their smallest(1 ton) wreckers. Everything thing else they have is diesel.
If you look at one of my other posts you’ll see I stated that w/my 2004 Sierra HD gasser, the diesels seem to carry an easy 3K premium on the used market, even with higher mileage.
bball,
I do think they will be sold to fleet operators.
My nieces boyfriend/partner is second in command of a County’s water and sewrage department. He stated they have already organised diesel Colorados to replace the existing Dakotas.
I would assume GM will only release the higher end pickups initially to gather as much cash as possible.
In the US, it will be a crew cab only. The price will start at $33000 for a 2WD LT. Fleets, in general, are not buying that when they can get a Silverado WT with the 4.3L for under $25K.
I think the Colorado is a fine truck. However, the diesel version is not a value for fleet customers.
Then why do fleets operate diesel trucks in logistics?
Fleets that do expect a considerable amount of work and durability/life out of a working pickup would find a diesel attractive.
For government/fleet sales you can get a diesel extended cab in WT trim.
Even though I’m a car guy and a city boy, I really like and want one of these diesels.
Based on that alone they should do well.
GM designers and engineers do a superb job. too bad the marketing staff is inept.
Put the same group on it that handled the Volt, that will insure success.
Hopefully they’ve changed the buttons on the steering wheel to BUTTONS instead of membrane switches, which I could foresee fritzing-out the day the warranty is up!