A variant of the current Chevy Colorado ZR2 has been spotted undergoing testing with several peculiar elements that make us wonder whether we are looking at a potential prototype for a Colorado ZR2 Bison.
Spy Shots
These spy shots, originally shown in the beginning of May, show a prototype Colorado ZR2 with revised front and rear bumpers, along with a snorkel mounted on the A-pillar. Though a significant amount of camouflage is covering the front end of the tester, it would appear that it features revised headlights, grille (probably with CHEVROLET written across such as on the Colorado ZR2 AEV concept), and front bumper.
The side profile appears to show even more aggressive fenders, while the rear end features a camouflaged bumper that seems notably different from that on the current, production Colorado ZR2.
All that makes us believe that we are looking at a prototype version of an upcoming, more extreme off-road version of the Colorado ZR2, believed by many to be called Colorado ZR2 Bison. It’s also speculated that the Colorado ZR2 Bison will closely resemble the Colorado ZR2 AEV concept introduce at the 2017 SEMA show in Las Vegas.
The Link
Linking the Bison name and the Colorado ZR2 AEV concept is the American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) logo. Notably, the logo includes an image of a bison.
AEV logo on the headrest of the Colorado ZR2 AEV ConceptÂ
Background Info
Chevrolet hinted at a Colorado ZR2 with more rugged capability in November 2017, when it showed off the Colorado ZR2 AEV concept, which featured a more rugged suspension system from Chevrolet/General Motors as well as specialty long-range equipment from American Expedition Vehicle (AEV).
The concept featured the following suspension equipment from Chevrolet Performance:
- Front and rear jounce shocks
- Plunging front half-shafts
- High-angle upper ball joint
- Increased stiffness high-angle tie rods
- Long-travel rear leaf spring suspension
- Anti-wrap link
- Rear differential cover
- Specially tuned Multimatic DSSV shocks
In addition, the AEV Concept also included the following AEV-specific content:
- AEV front and rear off-road bumpers
- Complete underbody skid protection
- Expedition bed rack
- High clearance fender flares
- High-rise snorkel
- AEV DualSport beadlock wheels
- 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 Mud-Terrain tires
- Front and rear high output LED auxiliary lighting
- ARB refrigerator/freezer
- Equipt aluminum storage cases
- NATO-style fuel cans
- James Baroud USA awning (in the bed)
- Recovery shackles
- Hi-Lift jack
- Warn 9.5xp-s winch
- MAXTRAX
Then, in early April 2018, Chevy parent firm, General Motors, filed a trademark to trademark the term “ZR2 Bison” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), giving us another hint that it has something brewing for the ZR2 Bison name. That filing came in October 2016, when GM filed to trademark “Colorado Bison” with the USPTO.
It was also rumored that Chevrolet showed dealers a production version of the ZR2 Bison during its national dealer meeting in April 2018. According to meeting attendees, the production-intent version followed the ZR2 AEV Concept very closely, while lacking some of the concept’s over-the-top elements, such as a bed rack system as well as the integrated air-compressor set-up. It should, however, be noted that such items could be ordered from AEV to make a vehicle close to the original Colorado ZR2 AEV concept shown at the 2017 SEMA show.
Discussion
Discuss the Colorado ZR2 Bison in our Chevrolet forum.
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Comments
Did you not post this before?
If you want the snorkel for your Colorado AEV already offers it direct.
No it will not fit the Canyon.
“Did you not post this before?”
No.
Interesting that the AEV snorkel doesn’t fit the Canyon.
Not made for the fender. This could change later at AEV but there will be no GMC AT4 version.
I know a couple people who have already installed the snorkel.
It will be interesting if the grill will carry over to the 2020 Colorado. This truck is hiding the AEV changes but it also is hiding the 2020 refresh.
Note the nose appears rounder. It could be padding but I expect the fenders to be a new design unlike the full size again.
I guess I just thought you had posted this before.
Needs to use the new Silverado/Sierra 2.7L turbo I-4. All the power of the V6 Colorado and the torque of the duramax from a single engine. The Ranger Raptor wouldn’t stand a chance.
How about giving it the 3.0 liter diesel and a Hummer H3-like body and calling it a GMC Jimmy? Could be sold around the world against Jeeps and Land Cruisers.
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