The Chevrolet Colorado and its counterpart the GMC Canyon are General Motors' new compact pickup trucks, replacing the Chevrolet S10 and GMC Sonoma in 2004. Isuzu, which helped design the truck, began selling a version of the truck in late 2005 named the "i-Series". The Chevrolet Colorado was jointly designed by GM's North American operations, GM's Brazil operations, and Isuzu, based on the GMT355, itself the basis for the GMT 345-based Hummer H3. The vehicles are manufactured and produced in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Colorado/Canyon offer both manual and automatic transmissions. GM also offers either a 2WD or 4WD drivetrain with standard, extended, and four-door crewcab bodystyles. Most models come with the 2.8 L LK5 I4 engine as standard, but a more powerful 3.5 L L52 I5 comes with the Z71 package on 4-door versions and is optional on all others. The 4-door Z71s also get the 4-speed automatic transmission standard. This package was later dropped in favor of LT2 and LT3.
Also a ZQ8 edition is available with a lower and more road-tuned "sport" suspension than the standard Z85 and comes with 17 inch wheels, color matched bumper and grille, and low profile fender flares. Also there is an Xtreme edition of the ZQ8 which has a different front bumper, rear bumper, side skirts, fender flares, grille, headlights, and 18 inch wheels.
All Colorado/Canyons, including the Hummer H3, are fitted with 6-lug rims (6 lugs - 5.5" {139.7 mm} bolt circle); both the 2WD and 4WD rims have the same backspacing.
For new in 2007, have a new generation engines 2.9 L LLV I4 and 3.7 L LLR, new colors Deep Ruby (Sonoma Red in GMC), Pace Blue (Sport Blue in GMC) and Imperial Blue (Midnight Blue in GMC) and new tires and wheels.
The Colorado is also produced at a GM plant in Rayong, Thailand. One of GM's current cost cutting options involve closing the Shreveport, Louisiana plant and expanding capacity at the Rayong, Thailand plant to allow for export of the Colorado to the United States.