Spy photos of future generation cars and trucks are nothing new, and sightings of stealthy test vehicles always increase as we shift from one model year into the next over the dog days of summer. So maybe the early summer heat is why the most recent spy photos and video of General Motors’ 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks originated in the cooler high-altitude country of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The spy video shows a few trim levels as several trucks appear clad in various amounts of camouflage. But are these trucks just carbon copies of previous models, or should we be excited about something new in the future?

2022 Chevy Colorado and 2022 GMC Canyon

For 2022, GM offers a pair of midsize pickup trucks, the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon. Both trucks share similar body styles, drive train options, and technology packages as corporate stablemates.

GM offers extended cab and crew cab versions of both pickup trucks with a mix of availability of long and short bed options. Comparable models carry similar pricing, but generally, the GMC Canyon is slightly more expensive than the Chevy Colorado. The base trim Colorado WT with two-wheel drive, extended cab, and a long bed starts at around $26,930 on Chevrolet’s online comparison tool. The similarly equipped base trim GMC Canyon Elevation starts around $28,295 using GMC’s comparison tool.

Both trucks feature an all-aluminum 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline-powered engine making 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque in base trim. Higher trim levels provide a choice between a gasoline-powered 308-hp 3.6-liter V6 with 275 lb-ft of torque and a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel that makes 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. 

Depending on the equipped engine and trim level, there is a choice between six-speed and eight-speed automatic transmissions. Four-wheel-drive versions come with a two-speed transfer case that allows lower gearing in offroad situations. In addition, an automatic locking rear differential is available to provide traction to both rear wheels in slippery conditions. 

A slow reveal as the release date approaches: should we be excited?

The Fast Lane Truck crew recently acquired video evidence of some camouflaged midsize GM crew-cab pickup truck prototypes testing on the twisty roads of the Colorado Rocky Mountain high country. As the two hosts dissect the video looking for evidence to support their thoughts on suspected offerings in the coming model year, they quickly identify a tailpipe. A tailpipe lays to rest any speculation of an all-electric Colorado or Canyon, although the possibility of a hybrid remains. 

General Motors’ turbocharged 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder currently receives the most attention as a replacement for the 3.6-liter V6. The 2.7-liter turbo, available on GM’s full-size 1500 series trucks, makes 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. In the full-size 1500, the 2.7-liter receives an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined, the same as GM’s midsize trucks with the 3.6-liter V6.

Other The Fast Lane Truck speculations include the return of the Denali trim. There is also a raised hood section that gives the appearance of a non-functional air intake system that could support the insertion of the turbocharged 2.7-liter I4.