The GM Infantry Squad Vehicle, or ISV, is an absolute beast, built to drop from a helicopter and transport a nine-soldier squad to the battlefield. As we covered previously, the GM ISV is basically a Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison from the waist down, including the diesel powerplant under the hood. However, the ISV’s engine tuning differs significantly from that of the civilian-spec Colorado, with roughly 20 percent more power on tap.
We recently sat down with the chief engineer at GM Defense, Performance Variants and Motorsports, Mark Dickens, who spoke to GM Authority in an exclusive interview at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. During the interview, Dickens highlighted a few key differences between the GM ISV and civvy Chevrolet Colorado.
“Since we don’t have to worry about emissions on the ISV, it has 20-percent higher output than the 2.8L,” Dickens told GM Authority Executive Editor, Alex Luft.
The 2.8L in question is the turbo-diesel LWN four-cylinder, part of the Duramax engine family. In the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, this oil burner throws down 181 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 369 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. Given those figures, the GM ISV should make approximately 217 horses. The GM ISV also mates it to the same GM Hydra-Matic 6L50 MYB six-speed automatic transmission as the standard civilian-spec Colorado.
“It’s wicked fast,” Dickens added, referencing the ISV.
Additional components shared between the GM ISV and civilian-spec Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison include:
- Long-travel Multimatic DSSV dampers
- Long-travel rear leaf springs
- Jounce shocks
- Front and upper control arms
- Steel driveshaft
- Underbody skid plates
- Ball-spline half shafts
The shared parts will allow GM to more easily scale production of the ISV, and thus make it less expensive to bring to market.
Earlier this year, GM Defense LLC (a division recently established within GM) was awarded a $1-million contract to develop the new Infantry Squad Vehicle for testing purposes. GM is currently competing for the final contract with two other finalists.
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Comments
Similar to what a tune/delete would do from an outfit like GDE. I believe their tune nets a 35-40hp and 60-70lb-ft increase and when you’re easy on it a 10% MPG increase. Emissions go out the window though
I still wonder why its not having an Independent Rear Suspension ?
I still think the ISV is missing styling which can be unique and can be borrowed/made popular on civilian version ( example : Humvee to HUMMER kind of a transition )
Solid axle pros: durability, simplicity, less weight
Amen, Andrew. This is the perfect platform for a solid front axle trans plant. I’m sure, Dana or Dynatrac, or even Currie, would just jump on this, as a golden opportunity. Solid axles rule, in this environment. ‘nough said!