Yeah, some positive news from GM! A four-truck strategy would blow the competition away and offer a wide variety of choices for the truck-shopper. Full size HD, full size half-ton, midsize, and a true compact. Front wheel drive and 4 cylinder will do for a person who commutes during the week and hauls light things like a canoe to the lake on weekends. But I'll wait and see if it really happens. It'll give GM the lead if they can bring the quality assurance up due to recent NHTSA/recall woes and the rollout/sales of the 2014 K2XX half-tons. I hope the Coloranyon twins fall somewhere in the middle between this proposed ute and the Silvierra twins in terms of price, fuel economy and interior dimensions.

The perfect truck for Roadwhale ;)

Link to the report by Jalopnick doesn't work. There is probably more to the story.

Making smaller trucks to meet CAFE regulations is a slippery slope. Innovating tomorrow won't cut it in this market.

Don't do it. It's the Subaru Brat all over again. Money loser.

The link to Jalopnik:

http://joborras.kinja.com/the-next-chevy-luv-will-look-like-the-current-chevy-luv-1533246670/@andrewpcollins/

@Liam,
Not that useful really. We have had similar mini pickups here and they have failed. I think the Mini Vans maybe a better bet.

So long as GM doesn't try and make it another Mini-Me truck with the ridiculous grilles it should be a seller.

The little Cruze diesel would make this a really nice little truck. Even a 1.6 diesel would be sufficient.

I can forsee mini trucks making a come back if CAFE bites really hard and the price of fuel rises steeply. There was always a market, but they will need to be made in a country with cheaper labour.

A 1 600lb payload is even bigger than some Rams and on par with many 1/2 ton pickups. I would think a 2 000lb tow capacity isn't out of the question.

This size truck hasn't been a big seller in Australia either. But, if the US didn't have the Chicken Tax a few thousand could be imported every year to satisfy needs.

Not much appeal for the insecure small sausage contingent.

Most people wanting a small hauler also want seating for 4.

I can see GMC bringing this truck to the USA. They are showing all the signs of the "old GM".
Volume to keep #1 sales.

"Our friends at Jalopnik are reporting they've had some fruitful (and possibly off-the-record) conversations with GM engineers who have discussed the likelihood of a small Chevrolet LUV-type compact pickup truck — like the long-running Chevy Montana LUV that's made in Brazil — making it to U.S. shores."

Mark Williams, Fix the link and go over it again. I got the link to work and like I suspected there was more to the story.

All it said was that a Luv would be made for overseas. Then the writer gave his opinion that the truck could do well here, not that it was making it's way here.

As a secondary commuter vehicle, it is a great looking practical unit. Most people that commute do it by themself.
I had a nissan pick-up standard cab, for commuting it worked great for the small jobs, easy to get in and able to carry a decent load. What is not to like.

Agreed, Lou, though I admit I'd prefer an extended cab so my 50# dog can sit behind me. I won't carry him in the bed.

It won't be long and my 2 sons will be of age to drive. A little trucklet like this with a diesel would be perfect for them. Great mpg and not enough HP to get them into trouble but enough capacity for them to haul bikes and ski equipment.
Room for 2 so they can't be distracted by a cab full of friends.

This thing is built on the same platform as the Sonic which is built here in the States. So it's not an outrageous idea. If GM decides to sell something like this here it'll obviously be CAFE provoked and no sooner than '16 model year. The Sonic is a little turbo 4-cylinder (1.4) that would get the job done well and like @Big Al says, a 1.6 Diesel would be a good choice in this. I would rather have a little bit bigger BOF pickup, but this would work well for a lot of people i think.

Good strategy hedge, if the full size half ton market takes a dive, replace with the colorado/canyon twins, this becomes the small truck. Commuter, parker, home depot warrior, kids first car hand me down. Makes sense to me, I'd like to see it.

@commenters

Are you ready to fork over north of 25K for a trucklet?

As far as I am concerned, this is the largest truck boys under the age of 24 should be allowed to own or drive (unless they are in the military or on a farm).

Skippy's mandated 50 MPG pickup is on its way. Say good by to V8 torque!

This thing wouldn't work here but a revived el Camino with a camero grill and styling could.

"Yeah, some positive news from GM! A four-truck strategy would blow the competition away and offer a wide variety of choices for the truck-shopper. Full size HD, full size half-ton, midsize, and a true compact...."

G.M. Has not made a HD (class 7, 8 ) for many years.

these things are all over the place in Mexico and they actually use their trucks for work. FOrd puts much heavier springs in the F150 for the mexican market since they work and overload their trucks on a regular basis. This thing in a mexican version could have some capability for parts store runners etc. if its around 15K or less, might sell well.

That thing is UUUUGLY!!!

@Robert Ryan

Yeah, I can see where the practicality of this car-truck and the Chevrolet Express City compact cargo van can overlap as far as price, fuel economy, payload etc., but just the thought of a little trucklet...

@Mark
This could be the big opportunity for GM to get back into the medium duty (class 4 and above) and cover all the truck bases and put away the competition given what Ford is doing or planning to do with the F650 and F750. Yeah, I know, wishful thinking.

How long is that bed? 42"? 4'? Canoe won't fit. Bike won't fit - with the gate up anyway. Doubt 4'x8' plywood/drywall could be accommodated. Snowboard? Skis? Maybe with a rack. But then you are trading off MPG for capacity. And buying accessories to achieve anything approaching reasonable capacity.

Weed wacker? Either disassembled or hanging out the back. Riding lawn mower? Don't think so. Quad? Maybe with the front wheels on the back of the cab. Try a mower or quad with the gate down and the "truck"'s front wheels would be off the ground. You'd end up pulling a trailer - with a light front drive tow vehicle. Talk about compromise.

How do they 'work' those vehicles in the 3rd world? Looks to me like it is suited for a hay bale. One hay bale. Probably with the gate down at that.

Gotta like reasonable capacity with reasonable mileage. Don't think they've got that balance here. It would be interesting to see what introducing that "truck" would do to the market. Get RAM off their 2-truck strategy? Bring back a slimmer Ranger? Or just clog the less than 1500 segment with sufficient noise that RAM and Ford stay away?

Trying to convince myself that a trailer behind a not-huge SUV gets my utility dealt with. Storing the trailer(s?) for the other 340 days opens a different can of worms.

I think doing a b-segment pickup like this for the US would be missing the mark, but a C-segment truck based on the compact work vans could work- if appropriately styled (this isn't). The mechanicals under the Transit connect, Doblo and city express can handle some payload. Once the light work vans become more accepted and established (and they will), there might well be an audience for this, both commercial and private.

Forward looking statements such as the word "could" should be the first indication its just a tease.

@oOOOo- the bed is 66x55". That's as long as the bed on most full-sized crew cabs and wider than a midsize. Mower- no problem. 4x8 sheet- fits the same as in every other truck with less than an 8ft bed- on the tailgate. As a light work truck, does it say "Look how profitable my business is"? no. If that's your thing (and I've never understood the guys with the jazzed up, flashy work trucks) then you need to look elsewhere. Perhaps something with a Hemi.

I would buy a vehicle like this car-based Chevy. For me, I am looking at buying a Sonic or a Spark, so I am obviously not comparing this to a full-size pickup.

A LUV-type vehicle would give me more versatility than a sub-compact sedan or hatchback. I have no need to pull a trailer, and I won't buy a vehicle unless it gets 30 - 35 mpg on the highway.

I'm fine with these mini vehicles that have a cargo area NOT being called "trucks" to avoid endless rants from diesel one-ton owners who can't imagine anything else with that label. I view the LUV as a car with an especially useful trunk (that just happens to be open).

I would pay a few thousand over a comparable B-class sedan or hatchback for a LUV yet not more.

I would be interested if a 4x4 option is made available and with a 2.0 diesel to pull my john boat and get 38mpg.

hell Big Al, 1600 is more then the 1150 pounds I seen on a Ford crew cab Harley Davidson.

But if it's in Austraulian pounds, it can do it. Sure mate, whatever.

Some day they will actually test max payload and see how certain models really hold it.

As for a little truck like this, at the risk of getting flammed, I say make it fwd, and you can have atleast some room in the center for person #3.

@TRX4 Tom
We don't use pounds. We've standardised to the rest of world.

There's a system of measurement available to all for free.

It's called metrifacation. This system is based on a decimal system, ie, 10.

It might make it hard for some on this site who have 6 fingers;)

The small Brazilian trucks are very useful and great as lifestyle vehicles. Their payload is around 800kg (~1760lb), since they come with leaf springs rear suspension. All have extended cab options.

The Fiat Strada has a looking differential option for the front wheels and a 4 door version.

The VW Saveiro even looks good.

All come with 1.4 to 1.8 gas engines, but the Stradas exported to Europe were fitted with very small diesel engines.

I drove once a Strada with an 1.8, and it was quite agile.

They would have to make them in Mexico, to sell them in Brazil, Mexico, US and Canada without taxes. They won't be competitive fron Brazil with the chicken tax and import taxes.

But those trucks miss many important security features, like airbags, ABS, etc.

I personnaly don't preject this Compact being on the market for no more than a few years as far as for Personal sales, prehaps this could be better suited for Fleet Buyers in which companies could use this for the Fuel Economy of a Compact car and the versatility of a Pick Up, most Garden Nurseries come to mind or maybe some other Logistics related businesses that could rely on the use of a vehicle in this configuration.

A compact truck COULD do well here, but not like that FWD abortion. What we need is a smaller version of the Colorado/Canyon twins. BOF, RWD or 4WD, based around the 2.5L gasser with an option for the 2.8L diesel. No more than 190 inches in length, so it can fit in these modern-day, so-called "two car" garages. And it needs to be squared-up (front & cab) to look like a truck should. I hate this rounded "eco"garbage.

I made a mistake selling my last Ford Ranger and I miss it. Seems all of today's pickup trucks are NOT made for someone shorter than most men. I can hardly see into the beds, let alone get something out of there without standing on something! WHY did most all manufacturers get rid of the smaller pickup truck?? Do they really think no women want to drive one? I'm not sure Chevy has the answer, but I'd like to see trucks out there I can truly use.

I would be interested in purchasing a
Micro Truck but not for anything less than
45 MPG. I HAVE A Malibu that gets upward of 31 MPG.

With cafe numbers only climbing in the future, little trucks like this probably will be common. If chevy brings something like this montana/tornado here, you can bet ford will have some kind of true compact, poss. a front wheel drive like this chevy. Base price for this truck in mexico is around $15,000. Good starting point. Let the small truck wars begin !!!

I have a 2012 2500 ram with the hemi. Really like it, except for the gas eating. I live on a farm, so a little errand truck to go long distance would be perfect ! Otherwise it could be a vw jetta diesel......

I don't like the idea of FWD trucks because the front wheels that drive the truck lose traction as the load over the rear wheels increase. This is the reason all trucks that haul heavy loads have RWD, 4WD, or AWD. FWD pickup trucks from the past like the Subaru Brat, VW's Rabbit-based truck, or the Dodge Rampage were only good for very light hauling and didn't do well in the market place. Today FWD cargo vans like the Ford Transit Connect, RAM Cargo Van, Nissan NV-200, and the upcoming Chevy City Express have great cargo capacity while getting middling MPGs, but I would argue they can't carry a heavy load as well as trucks with some form of RWD. FWD trucks make great delivery vehicles for light loads like Taxi's, flowers, bread, or pizza. Most people with light duty trucks usually don't haul heavy loads but on those rare occasions when you do, it's nice to have a RWD truck that can handle the job.

I like it. It's all I need to commute to work, and go fishing on the weekend. The bed looks the right size for a couple of mountain bikes, or camping gear. You don't need a half-ton for that.

If it was available, yes I would be very interested. All I need it for is light weight small things, never anything heavy and large. Just for around the garden and town. Please bring it on and sell me one.

It's about time they bring out a true compact pickup. The new midsize Chevy Colorado and its GMC counterpart are great disappointments. I had a 1976 Chevy Luv and it was great.

I bought a 2015 Sonic that I thought would be an excellent base for a Ute-like truck. The new Colorados are nice, but they're bigger than I need, and they're expensive! I'm 5'8" tall, and the current Silveradoes are useless to me from a utility standpoint, due to the bed height and tailgate height. A little Montana sized truck would reopen a segment that has been closed for a little g time, with a price point well below the Colorado, and with excellent CAFE offset capability. I can remember what a smash those first Datsun pick-ups and Toyota HiLux pickups were, as well as the Chevy LUV, Ford Courier, and Chrysler Ram D50s and Mitsubishi variants were. GM could lead like a BOSS in this segment. I will give my Sonic, which I enjoy very much, to GM for 6 months - free of charge- if they give it back to me as a functional little pickup! #GMsmalltrucks #CHEVYtrucks
-Ted Turner
Hollywood, MD
brdwtrmd54@yahoo.com

I saw a chevy mini truck from mexico many years ago and also pictures of them in south america and fell in love with them. I can't figure out why they aren't in the U.S. I've have a chevy luv since 1979 and have always loved them. Many people I've talked to would like a comeback of mini-trucks. I like the one pictured above. It looks like the one I saw in my home town which borders Juarez, Mex. There are many mini-trucks like the Montana but can't bring them across because of the clean air equipment.