Gm Files Patent: Next-gen Chevy Colorado?

[C. Charles Hahn]

So over on GMInsideNews, there's a new breaking story posted:

 

Recently the U.S. Patent Office has been the source of several General Motors future product leaks. The government agency has been notorious as of late for publishing design patents on new GM products and it appears as if they have struck again. Yesterday GM was issued a design patent on what appears to be a new Chevrolet small truck.

 

The design patent is the brainchild of several GM designers. The majority of the designers listed on the patent list Brazil as their residency. This comes as little surprise as GM executives have mentioned in the past that South America would spearhead development on small trucks. The patent also listed two designers from the Detroit area.

 

According to the patent, the design was filed on November23, 2009, suggesting that this is a very recent project.

 

It is not entirely clear which Chevrolet truck this design is slated for. GMI sources have stated that Colorado replacement is in the works, but the program has been in flux over the last year. Last month spy photographers caught what they claimed is an all-new 2012 Colorado. The design patent seems to fit with spy shots- at least what little is visible in the shots.

GMI sources have also stated that a new Colorado will likely be produced at GM’s currently idled Spring Hill, Tennessee plant. Colorado and GMC Canyon are currently built in Shreveport, Louisiana; however GM left that facility behind in their June 2009 bankruptcy.

 

Sources at the Spring Hill facility have informed GMI that die kits for a “new small truck” will be arriving at Spring Hill towards the end of the year for testing. In the last few weeks several rumors have been going around the Spring Hill facility about a small truck.

 

Considering the patent’s Brazilian linage, it is entirely possible that the design is slated for use in South America and not for those of us in the North. However, based on what our sources have told us, we feel this is the next Chevrolet Colorado.

 

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f70/pat...colorado-93210/

 

Related articles:

 

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f13/spy...lacement-92291/

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f12/pic...ll-truck-92191/

 

Of course, the pics:

 

 

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

One can't help wondering if this could also be a hint at the styling direction for the new full-size trucks.... but that's a tough call at this point.

[darkfox1]

introducing the all new 2012 chevrolet luv.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

1st impression: It's got the "typical" Chevy Sedan front end look. Un-impressive. Also once again it looks to be too small to compete with the Tundra, Dakota, and Frontier.

[Royal Vader]

introducing the all new 2012 chevrolet luv.

 

 

No kidding.

The bed looks very much like early 70's Luv/Isuzu/Toyota.

[C. Charles Hahn]

1st impression: It's got the "typical" Chevy Sedan front end look. Un-impressive. Also once again it looks to be too small to compete with the Tundra, Dakota, and Frontier.

 

Agreed, my first thought was "Hey, they took a Malibu and made a truck out of it!"

 

And I'm thinking you meant Tacoma, not Tundra.

[amtz.zero]

I like the body of the truck. Looks tough. But I don't like the front clip. It should stay on the Malibu, IMO.

[truckofwinandawesome]

So over on GMInsideNews, there's a new breaking story posted:

 

Recently the U.S. Patent Office has been the source of several General Motors future product leaks. The government agency has been notorious as of late for publishing design patents on new GM products and it appears as if they have struck again. Yesterday GM was issued a design patent on what appears to be a new Chevrolet small truck.

 

The design patent is the brainchild of several GM designers. The majority of the designers listed on the patent list Brazil as their residency. This comes as little surprise as GM executives have mentioned in the past that South America would spearhead development on small trucks. The patent also listed two designers from the Detroit area.

 

According to the patent, the design was filed on November23, 2009, suggesting that this is a very recent project.

 

It is not entirely clear which Chevrolet truck this design is slated for. GMI sources have stated that Colorado replacement is in the works, but the program has been in flux over the last year. Last month spy photographers caught what they claimed is an all-new 2012 Colorado. The design patent seems to fit with spy shots- at least what little is visible in the shots.

GMI sources have also stated that a new Colorado will likely be produced at GM's currently idled Spring Hill, Tennessee plant. Colorado and GMC Canyon are currently built in Shreveport, Louisiana; however GM left that facility behind in their June 2009 bankruptcy.

 

Sources at the Spring Hill facility have informed GMI that die kits for a "new small truck" will be arriving at Spring Hill towards the end of the year for testing. In the last few weeks several rumors have been going around the Spring Hill facility about a small truck.

 

Considering the patent's Brazilian linage, it is entirely possible that the design is slated for use in South America and not for those of us in the North. However, based on what our sources have told us, we feel this is the next Chevrolet Colorado.

 

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f70/pat...colorado-93210/

 

Related articles:

 

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f13/spy...lacement-92291/

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f12/pic...ll-truck-92191/

 

Of course, the pics:

 

 

 

 

 

This Pleases me IMMENSELY! Lets hope the Plant manager at Spring Hill gets to mash Go on the Assembly line!

[Daryl LBZ]

If the new Silverado looks anything like the new Equinox or Traverse in the front end its gonna be hard for me not to want one.

[uh6tdrvr]

Id like to see an AWD Regular cab with the 6.2 in it! THAT would be a F'n ROCKET SHIP!