General Motor's
Australian subsidiary, Holden, has introduced an updated version of its
Rodeo ute for 2007.
Based on
the same GMT 355 platform that underpins the Chevrolet Colorado and Canyon
twins, the Rodeo sports two big revisions - a new common rail direct injection
diesel (VCDi) engine and updated interior.
At 3.0-liters,
the new VCDi powerplant boosts power 25% over previous Rodeo turbo diesel
models. It's rated at 160-horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 246 lb-feet of torque
at 1,600 rpm for the automatic, and 265 lb-feet at 1,800 rpm for the manual
transmission.
Don't drool
though at thoughts of this diesel showing up in your driveway. It's very
unlikely we'll see this engine cross the Pacific to the US market, because
it only meets Europe's Euro 4 emission specs, which are much less strict
than the EPA's 50-state Tier 2 Bin 5 standards.
However,
the new interior holds much more promise to show up in the Colorado and
Canyon. The upgraded instrument panel and dash are a big improvement over
the stark IP found in the current Colorado and Canyon.
Look for
more information after the Detroit Auto Show early next month.
