Photo: Instagram
First shown in 2011, the Holden Colorado is about to gain a performance-oriented variant for the 2018 model year. The big reveal is scheduled for December 8, and the newcomer will be known as Walkinshaw Wildfire.
But first, let’s talk about the name. Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) will change its handle to Walkinshaw in 2018. As for Wildfire, a trademark was filed with IP Australia by Walkinshaw Performance on October 20, 2017, for five classes of goods and services, including land motor vehicles.
Teased by Ryan Walkinshaw on Instagram, the Wildfire will up the ante with a more aggressive front end and an exclusive tray cover. The Clayton-based company will come as standard with flared wheel arches, four-wheel-drive, and off-road tires developed by Continental.
The Australian brother of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 also ushers in a more capable suspension system, though it’s not known if the American workhorse's spool-valve dampers will be integrated into this particular application. The big news, however, is what hides in the engine bay.
That would be the LF3 twin-turbo V6 the Cadillac CTS V-Sport uses, packing more than 300 kW from 3.6 liters displacement. While it may not be as fuel-efficient as the 2.8-liter Duramax inline-four turbo diesel in the Colorado pickup truck, the LF3 has more torque (340 pound-feet or 583 Nm).
As we wait for Walkinshaw to premiere the Wildfire, it’s worth highlighting that the Ford Motor Company won’t let General Motors have its way in the Land Down Under. The Ranger Raptor is confirmed to arrive in 2018, expected to boast a high-output version of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission co-developed with General Motors.
The donor vehicle for the Wildfire will continue to be made in Thailand at the Rayong manufacturing facility, while the go-faster bits and bobs will be fitted by Walkinshaw Automotive Group’s workforce in Clayton South, Victoria.
Teased by Ryan Walkinshaw on Instagram, the Wildfire will up the ante with a more aggressive front end and an exclusive tray cover. The Clayton-based company will come as standard with flared wheel arches, four-wheel-drive, and off-road tires developed by Continental.
The Australian brother of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 also ushers in a more capable suspension system, though it’s not known if the American workhorse's spool-valve dampers will be integrated into this particular application. The big news, however, is what hides in the engine bay.
That would be the LF3 twin-turbo V6 the Cadillac CTS V-Sport uses, packing more than 300 kW from 3.6 liters displacement. While it may not be as fuel-efficient as the 2.8-liter Duramax inline-four turbo diesel in the Colorado pickup truck, the LF3 has more torque (340 pound-feet or 583 Nm).
As we wait for Walkinshaw to premiere the Wildfire, it’s worth highlighting that the Ford Motor Company won’t let General Motors have its way in the Land Down Under. The Ranger Raptor is confirmed to arrive in 2018, expected to boast a high-output version of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission co-developed with General Motors.
The donor vehicle for the Wildfire will continue to be made in Thailand at the Rayong manufacturing facility, while the go-faster bits and bobs will be fitted by Walkinshaw Automotive Group’s workforce in Clayton South, Victoria.
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