2004 chevrolet colorado

Chevrolet has designed its all-new 2004 Colorado to give midsize pickup buyers an array of models and functional features to meet their individual needs.

Bigger than the S-10 vehicles it replaces in Chevy's lineup, the Colorado was designed to appeal to the customer who needs a midsize pickup but doesn't need the higher payloads, towing capacities and expenses of owning a full-size pickup.

"This is a personal-use truck for singles, couples or families who want more out of their midsize pickups, but who still share one thing in common: Any truck they drive had better be 'a real truck'," explained Janet Eckhoff, Colorado marketing director.

Colorado is a true pickup truck with body-on-frame design; crew, extended and regular cab models; manual and automatic transmissions; 2WD and 4WD; and ample power from two completely new engines, the Vortec 2800 inline four cylinder and the Vortec 3500 inline five cylinder engines. The engines are derived from the highly acclaimed Vortec 4200 4.2L inline six cylinder powerplant.

The Vortec 3500 I-5 produces 220 horsepower and 225 lb.-ft. of torque, while the Vortec 2800 I-4 delivers 175 hp and 185 lb.-ft of torque. A key advantage of the inline engine is that 90 percent of peak torque is available across a much wider range of the driving cycle: from 1400 to 5200 rpm for the Vortec 3500 and from 1200 through 5600 rpm for the Vortec 2800. Although both engines, inline-five and inline-four are powerful enough for a 4x4, American snowmobilers will want to consider the more potent 220 hp five cylinder for two-place sled towing.

The precisely controlled, smooth shifting Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission is available with both the Vortec 3500 and 2800 engines. Used in all of GM's light-duty truck applications, it has a long history of customer-pleasing performance and dependability.

With its ladder-type frame, Color-ado's chassis offers superb torsional stiffness and durability. Independent front suspension and a live rear axle are standard on rear-drive models, as is torsion-bar suspension on 4WD models.

Snowmobilers will appreciate that Colorado offers several traction-assistance options. The shift-on-the-fly 4WD system is activated with a dash-mounted switch. A segment-exclusive automatic locking differential is available on both 2WD and 4WD models with either the inline four cylinder or inline five cylinder engine along with a segment-first traction-control option on rear-wheel-drive models.

Both the Vortec 3500 and 2800 also link to a standard new high-torque capacity Aisin five-speed manual transmission. Used by GM for the first time, it provides smoother, higher quality shifts; better launch; improved durability and a higher degree of fuel efficiency.

Colorado positions Chevrolet to compete more effectively in the midsize truck segment, where 80 percent of all models are either extended or crew cab models. Crew cabs alone comprise one-third of the segment.