The Chevrolet Colorado has been an utter hit for The Bowtie brand, with demand continuing to outpace production capacity — not a bad problem to have in the slightest. Now, Chevrolet has officially introduced the configuration many mid-size truck buyers have been waiting for, at least from the sounds of it: the 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel has officially arrived for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado.

Chevrolet says the engine, which makes 369 pound-feet of torque can, withstand 7,700 pounds of towing capacity, while delivering fuel economy that surpasses that of the gasoline-powered Colorado. It is also the cleanest diesel truck ever produced by GM.

“Simply put, there’s no other midsize truck that can do what Colorado can with its all-new Duramax diesel,” said Sandor Piszar, director of Chevrolet Truck Marketing. “Along with greater capability and efficiency, it expands the Colorado lineup to give customers more choices and the capability of exploring more possibilities on and off the road.”

The 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel has global roots within General Motors. The engine has been engineered with a variable-geometry turbocharger, providing smooth power delivery across the power band. Horsepower figures are officially rated at 181 ponies, but the low-end grunt of 369 pound-feet arrives at 2,000 RPM.

“It is a no-compromise turbocharged engine that is also really fun to drive, with excellent responsiveness,” said Scott Yackley, assistant chief engineer. “It was also designed specifically for trucks and has undergone many of the same validation tests as the 6.6L Duramax, contributing to legendary Duramax durability and reliability.”

Noise and vibration has been kept to a minimum in the 2.8-liter Duramax oil burner, too. The engine’s Centrifugal Pendulum Vibration Absorber (CPVA) controls harsh vibrations and unpleasant noises, marking the first time the device has been used in a GM vehicle, and in the mid-size truck segment. The 2016 Colorado diesel even takes a cue from bigger brother, the Chevy Silverado, in providing a driver-selectable exhaust brake system, thereby, reducing brake pad wear.

Chevrolet states the 2016 Colorado diesel will arrive this fall, and will be offered on LT and Z71 Crew Cab models, in two- and four-wheel drive. Expect the price to be $3,730 higher when compared to a similarly-equipped 2016 Colorado with the 3.6L V6 LFX gasoline engine.