Flex-fuel Chevy pickup achieves 30mpg

General Motors has launched its car-based 2011 Chevrolet Montana pickup in South America, Latin America and Africa, the controversially styled light-duty hauler a capable lugger, despite its meagre output.

"The Montana is a stylish, car-derived pickup with a modern, dynamic shape," said president of GM South America, Jamie Ardila.

Sharing underpinnings with Brazil's new Agile hatch, the two-door, two-seat Montana is powered by a 1.4-litre flex-fuel (petrol/ethanol) four-cylinder engine delivering a paltry 71kW/128Nm. The figures mean acceleration to 100km/h is a somewhat leisurely 12 seconds, though GM says despite its modest pace, the Montana can still heave up to 758-kilograms -- the same as US rival, Ram's V8-powered 1500 two-wheel drive.

Montana is suspended by a semi-independent rear/ MacPherson strut front suspension arrangement and can achieve fuel economy figures on the combined cycle of 7.8L/100km.

With US-built Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon models' production expected to end by 2012, Montana is unlikely to pack the punch required to fill the gap in GM's US model range, the brand more likely to receive global next-generation Colorado models, the same vehicle that will be sold Down Under in the very near future.

The new Holden Colorado will compete locally with the likes of Ford's new Aussie-designed T6 Ranger / Mazda BT-50 (both of which will be unveiled later this week at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney), stalwart Toyota HiLux and all-new Volkswagen Amarok, also to be unveiled to Aussie audiences at AIMS.

As an approximate conversion, the swoopy-styled Chevrolet Montana sells for $18,990 in entry-level guise, running through to $25,990 for the full-fruit nav and airbags package.

Thankfully, a lack of interest from right-hand-drive markets means we're unlikely to see the Aveo-styled ute in Australia any time soon.

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