2015 Chevrolet Colorado replacement coming next year

New trucks to offer different styling, names

May be diesel-powered, could be shown in 2013

General Motors will roll out all-new midsize pickup trucks next year. The trucks will replace the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which were recently canceled. The announcement ends much speculation on the future of midsize pickups in GM’s lineup.

While General Motors confirmed the trucks are coming back next year, the automaker didn’t even speculate on what they’ll be called. It’s unlikely that the trucks will carry the same Colorado and Canyon names as those of their predecessors. That’s because General Motors is targeting “different buyers” with the new models, according to Mark Reuss, GM’s president for North America.

Reuss announced he’d like to see the Chevrolet version “attack the West Coast with a lifestyle version that is really beautiful and fun,” according to The Detroit News. The GMC model would be more of a “semi-serious duty cycle truck,” said Reuss.

As for styling, the upcoming GM trucks are expected to roughly mirror the midsize pickup GM sells in foreign markets. That model, called the Chevrolet S10 in most of Asia, offers more curves than the boxy, brawny Colorado and Canyon.

What’s less certain is the engine that will power the upcoming trucks. Reuss said the GMC version will have “95 percent duty cycle of the big Sierra with a lot more fuel economy.” That’s a tall order for a midsize pickup — and it may suggest the use of diesel engines. That makes sense, as the foreign-market S10 is only sold with diesel power.

We do know that the trucks will be built at GM’s newly expanded Wentzville Assembly Plant in Missouri. While the plant is still under expansion, it will be ready for the trucks’ launch early next year. That means eager buyers should count on seeing the pickups revealed by the end of 2013.

By reviving the Colorado and Canyon, GM is tossing its hat into the increasingly small midsize truck class. Ford recently dropped its midsize Ranger pickup, and Mazda canceled the mechanically similar B-Series. Dodge also pulled the plug on its midsize Dakota. That leaves just the Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma to battle it out for buyers who want a pickup but don’t need a full-size model.

What it means to you: If you can’t find what you’re looking for among today’s midsize pickups, consider waiting for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado replacement.

The photo is of the 2013 Chevrolet Colorado that’s currently available outside the US. We expect the 2015 version to be somewhat similar.