More power and refinement for Rodeo

March 19, 2007, 4.30pm. A significantly more powerful and more refined 3.0-litre diesel engine and increased towing capacity on 4×4 diesel models – up by as much as 30 percent over the outgoing model – are key features of Holden’s new Rodeo ute, which has just gone on sale in New Zealand.

Towing capacity on diesels is now 3000kg with a braked trailer – up 500kg on manual gearbox and 1000kg on auto versions of the old model.

Holden will continue to offer Rodeos powered by the 3.6-litre petrol Alloytech V6 developing 157kW and 313Nm. Petrol Rodeos have a 2500kg towing capacity.

The new vehicle’s bodywork is a facelift of the previous Rodeo, and sits squarely between the smaller Ford Ranger and the larger Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara.

Body variants include single cab/chassis, Space Cab and Crew Cab.

The new truck, sold in LX and more luxurious LT variants, gets more aggressive frontal styling – along with a bonnet air scoop on turbocharged diesel models.

The new diesel engine, with common-rail fuel-delivery technology by Denso, answers the two most frequent customer criticisms of the previous Rodeo – the fearful clatter and din from the diesel engine, and its relative lack of power.

The turbocharged 3.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel develops maximum power of 120kW, and peak torque of 360Nm with the five-speed manual gearbox, or 330Nm with the four-speed automatic.

That’s respectively 25 percent and 29 percent more than in the previous Rodeo.

Rodeos are being sold with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed auto gearboxes, and 4×4 models have shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive engagement.

All Rodeos run disc front/drum rear brake set-ups with ABS and electronic brake force distribution.

Holden says the manual diesel can achieve 8.4 litres/100km fuel economy (down from 8.6 on the previous model), and the automatic nine litres/100km.

The Rodeo is a key vehicle for Holden in New Zealand – it’s its second-biggest selling model behind the Commodore.

Holden sells 46 percent of its Rodeos to rural customers.