Colorado rolls over Rodeo runout

It gets complicated this car game. Just because a car wears Brand A's badge, it doesn't mean it's been built nor even designed by Brand A. What one company might call a spade, another company will sell as a shovel.

The most recent manifestation of this badge-engineering confusion is set to hit Holden dealers - via Holden's once-trademark LCV nameplate, Rodeo.

As reported earlier this year (more here), Holden has effectively lost the rights to use the Rodeo name on its light commercial range locally. Owned by Isuzu, the Rodeo nameplate is set to re-appear Down Under on essentially the same vehicle -- only it won't be sold in Holden dealers. Meantime, Holden will continue to sell essentially the same vehicle, only it'll wear a new name... Colorado...

And, adding to the confusion, Holden dealers will continue to sell existing Rodeo stock -- including the recently-announced 60th Anniversary special edition.

Confused? You're not the only ones.

Holden this afternoon confirmed it would roll out the new Colorado nameplate sooner rather than later. In fact, limited stocks of the new model Colorado are already arriving in Holden dealers.

In confirming the Colorado range, Holden announced the release of a new range-topping "sports variant", dubbed LT-R. It has also sharpened pricing across the Rodeo, err… Colorado range. Indeed, Holden spokesperson, Kate Lonsdale, called the pricing realignment "significant."

The full Colorado line-up is listed hereabouts. The new range kicks off with the 2.4-litre petrol 4x2 DX model at $19,990. Though this is $500 more than the current Rodeo DX, the new version (and pricing for all Colorado models) includes air conditioning. According to Lonsdale, a non-air-equipped DX will be offered at $17,990.

At the top of the range, the Colorado LT-R effectively replaces the Rodeo LT variant. In manual turbodiesel 4x4 Crew Cab form it'spriced from $45,990 -- $1000 less than the outgoing LT model. Rear-wheel drive LT-R variants are priced from $34,990, $1500 under the vehicle it replaces.

In the transformation from Rodeo to the Colorado, Holden has tweaked the styling and made some interior trim changes. The new KLT-R (pictured) gets new interior treatment as well.

Holden says detail external changes include new fenders, front and rear styling and a new bonnet on turbodiesel models.

Save for the addition of antilock brakes (with electronic brake distribution) as standard on the LT-R models and the LX 4x4 variant, mechnical changes are, however, minor.

We'll bring you more details on the new Colorado range when Holden formally introduces the LCV range soon.

Holden Colorado pricing
(note: RRPs, include aircon)

4x4 Crew Cab Pick Up:

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