TWIST (The Way I See Things): Thailand's rough and rugged routes proved no match for the Colorado

A 400-km drive from Bangkok to the province of Uthaithani, which included a challenging off-road route, was a piece of cake for the all-new Chevrolet Colorado.

Motoring reporters from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, earlier this year, were invited by Chevrolet Sales Thailand (Chevrolet) to experience first hand the power of this impressive beast that seems to easily glide off any road condition--wet, dry, murky, muddy, smooth, you-name-it.

The Colorado's strong truck DNA and award-winning heritage in a highly durable and tough package was put the test. Covering the event for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, it was a mix of excitement and nervousness for me as it was the first time I got to drive using a right-hand vehicle--in foreign soil, too.

The off-road route included heavily-rutted rocky uphill/downhill sections with river crossings that at times seemed impossible to cross. But through the variety of terrains, the four-wheel-drive capabilities of the Colorado did not once disappoint.

"The route we had chosen had steep inclines, broken terrains and river crossings – it was tough, but we wanted to show what the Colorado's power, torque and toughness were capable of. The ASEAN media is one of the first groups of media in the world to test and evaluate the Colorado in off-road conditions," said Sasinan Allmand, Director, Public Relations, GM Thailand/SEA and Chevrolet Sales Thailand. (Note: Allmand has since stepped down from the post.)

Chevrolet didn't just want to build an obstacle course, but rather have the Colorado tested in a "real" environment. The route they finally chose was adjacent to the Huai Kha Kaeng forest, designated as a World Heritage site, in the province of Uthaithani.

"In addition to the Colorado's capabilities, it was also a good opportunity to let the journalists experience how features such as TCS (Traction Control System), ABS (Anti-Locking Brake System) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) work together with the power and performance of the truck to 'tame the wild environment'," Allmand said.

The all-new Colorado is powered by the equally-new Duramax family of four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines, featuring a 16-valve configuration, Common Rail Direct Injection system and an intercooled turbo-charger. The 2.8L Duramax, with the help of a Variable-Geometry Turbo, churns out 180 hp at 3,800 RPM and 470 Nm at 2,000 RPM, while the 2.5L Duramax produces 150 hp at 3,800 RPM and 350 Nm at 2,000 RPM.

The Extended-Cab variants, which were used on the off-road ride-and-drive, featured part-time four-wheel-drive transmissions with a choice of three ratios – 2-High, 4-High and 4-Low. The ratios are selectable via an electronic switch strategically located behind the gear lever. Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) in the rear axle is standard on all four-wheel-drive variants.

The Colorado also comes with PBA (Panic Brake Assist) and CBC (Concerning Brake Control). Together, these systems work to create best-in-class balance and stability–on and off the road–making the all-new Colorado a very safe vehicle under all conditions.

Since it debuted in the Philippines a couple of months ago, the Colorado has become one of the more popular trucks, especially for motorists who never want to miss out on any of the action off-road adventures offer.

She said: “We are confident the media will be impressed by the all-new Colorado’s combination of superior on- and off-road performance, comfort, refinement, user-friendly features and safety in a tough and highly-durable package, and that it will be a very popular truck in other ASEAN markets, as it has been in Thailand since it was launched."

Enjoy these photos! :)