General Motors is cooking up a new Chevy Silverado ZR2 off-roader pickup, and now, a Silverado ZR2 prototype has been caught on camera undergoing some real-world testing.
The new Chevy Silverado ZR2 can be seen wearing heavy camouflage as it exits a parking lot and hits the road, posing right in front of our camera and giving us a nice, close look.
From the off, the front end is high off the ground, providing plenty of ground clearance. It looks as though this Chevy Silverado ZR2 prototype sports a heavy-duty skid plate underneath the engine to protect vital components. We also notice the lack of any prominent front air dam.
The rear fascia will introduce revisions as well, which, combined with the new front end, will offer generous approach and departure angles.
In the corners, this Chevy Silverado ZR2 prototype runs a set of five-spoke wheels finished in black and wrapped in knobby Goodyear Wrangler tires.
Also notable is the lack of a hood bulge, as seen in previous Chevy Silverado ZR2 prototype spy photos, thus suggesting that earlier images captured wind turbulence between the hood and camo, rather than any sort of new hood treatment to accommodate a supercharger.
Further details include new lighting elements front and back, as hidden under the prototype’s covers.
As for the Chevy Silverado ZR2’s off-roading chops, those will come by way of new suspension components, offering greater off-roading capability compared to the Silverado Trail Boss. The new components will include new Multimatic DSSV dampers, offering improved specs compared to those in the Chevy Colorado ZR2.
We also expect the Chevy Silverado ZR2 to come with front and rear electronic locking differentials.
As for the engine spec, the Chevy Silverado ZR2 is expected to initially be available with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87, which currently produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
Final touches will include a revamped interior layout, per the upcoming 2022 Chevrolet Silverado refresh.
Look for the new Chevy Silverado ZR2 to launch either late in the 2022 model year, or possibly for the 2023 model year.
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Comments
I just hope the damn thing comes with 35s and tapered front and rear bumpers. its hard to tell from the camo. also the ground clearance seems unimpressive for what its going to compete with. Still going to reserve final judgement.
Even the Raptor doesn’t have factory 35s, they are 34 and front and rear both rub. Rears rub at max articulation, front will rub when in full lock and just entering a steep driveway
The just released ’21 Raptor has 35s with 37’s being optional so they must have made some changes to their wheel wells. You are right in saying the outgoing model would rub under certain conditions.
Please Chevy, don’t screw this up. You are sooo close to getting it right this time!
They always find a way.
In my mind, I read that as Jeff Glodblum
Wasn’t the ZRX postponed till 2023 due to Covid? I’m still hoping this is just the new TrailBoss. Considering the front bumper treatment the Z71 Tahoe received maybe so.
I’m guessing this is the Trail Boss. I can’t imagine a caravan that includes the Denail, LT and ZR2, but excludes the Trail Boss.
It is hard to tell if the rear bumper has steps or not. If it does, then it is probably a Trail Boss. Time will tell. I hope it is a ZR2.
This test mule does have the rear steps, you can see them in the rear shot that is straight on
If they do a ZR2 type full size they need to copy the formula of the Colorado version.
What is that? Keep it affordable. GM does not need an $80k truck that only a few can afford. Option this and price it in a reasonable range to where you will sell more than 20,000 a year.
The Colorado ZR has been a hit as it came in $10k under what was expected and can be had today for under $40k. It is still selling great and you see them everywhere vs a Raptor that is a once and a while sight outside dealer lots.
How often you see Raptors has a lot to do with where you live, I live in Utah and see Raptors everywhere. I assume much of the West would be the same. I also see Colorado ZR2’s everywhere, clearly a successful truck. I agree they need a ZR2 version that is more affordable but I also think they need an all out no excuses wide body, long travel, supercharged ZRX. I think many Chevy guys are tired of watching the game from the nosebleed section. Yes the numbers would be lower but it pays off in brand perception and enthusiasm. Take Corvette for example, they always (eventually) have everything from mild to wild. Do you think they would have nearly the following they do if they didn’t produce their bad boy models?
Also money is in volume.
Making low volume models with high prices are mostly for image. Most companies doing this are ones struggling. Ford is in trouble and FCA did it to try to attract a company willing to take on their problems.
I get it these are cool vehicle’s but at the end of the day what is financial gain?
GM was like this and they made some really cool cars with the GM Performance division. But yet they still bankrupted.
Running a company is not always fun if you do what is right. It is about making money not just pleasing the feelings of a hand full of people. Several of the largest and most profitable automakers got there with few fun vehicles.
Yes I will take the Corvette. It is a higher volume vehicle than the Raptor and it makes a bunch of money. The difference between the models is small as they just bolt in a new engine and better brakes with stickier tires.
The trouble with the truck you want is at the end of the day the price is out of reach of most and the development cost are crazy if you do it right. Then there is no money in it. Vehicles are not built just for feelings alone. That is fools gold in the real world.
Sorry if I speak as an adult but it has to be said. Trust me I would love to see more cool trucks but I also see the other side of reality. It is more important to build the brand vs model.
I understand your stance and agree in part but I will have to respectfully disagree about the ZRX. I think it makes perfect business sense since this model is the very definition of building the brand. You can’t blame Fords struggles on the Raptor. The Raptor has done wonders for the F-150 brand, just like the ZR1 did for Corvette, just like the CTS-V did for Cadillac. In addition to brand perception I would go to Vegas with the odds they are making money with them as well. GM has the budget and ability to build a no excuses ZRX, what they are lacking is the desire. With their focus clearly shifting towards EV’s I have some real concerns about GM’s truck division moving forward. (hopefully I’m wrong) Will I be happy to see a more capable but still affordable ZR2?…Of course I will. Do GM guys deserve even more with a full on ZRX Raptor competitor?…Absolutely!
Building a truck like this is not just a simple engine swap.
First off the development cost are high. Just the engine swap is a battery of test and emission testing with staggering cost.
To do a wider stance requires a whole new suspension. New control arms and rear axle unless you take the cheap way out with just wheel off set.
The tooling for the body if you go wide body is major as new dies need to be made.
Then there is the added content like lockers front and rear. Skids, and all the other things needed to make it live.
Why does the Bison get no engine or tire upgrade cost of new testing. The testing alone for the front bumper was more than AEM could cover without GM help. The fill panel under the headlamp for the Bison was millions just for the tooling.
The image and profits for GM are not on a limited edition truck few can buy. Sure it is good for marketing but little else.
The Z71 and now the Trail Boss is where the volume and money is. If you are going to spend money make options on these so people can choose what they pay for a truck they really will buy.
All the folks here I am willing to bet none will ever buy this truck if priced at Raptor levels. Even if there is one that is not enough.
Fords got many troubles. Out standing government and bank loans. Trucks with aluminum bodies proving to hurt the profits on their volume trucks.
These trucks are cool like a complete Hail Mary pass. But if you play the game right it should not depend on a non profit high end model.
GM right now has a truck line that is one of the most profitable vehicle lines in the world. They have little need for the Hail Mary.
Right now GM’s main focus is to get the new trucks out with the better interior and get them in good numbers at the dealer. That is where the money is.
The GM truck brand is far from broken and bench racing is not a factor when it comes down to counting profits.
I work in the performance industry and I am a Gear Head. Do I with we had a Raptor killer emotionally. Yes. But when it comes to the economics there is much more that needs done.
Do we really want GM to become another lifeless, always playing it safe manufacturer like Honda? Personally I like companies they take a few chances. Being in the performance industry I’m surprised your taking a hard stance against a Raptor competitor. I know your about the economics of building one but it’s not the near impossibility you make it out to be. If they wanted to save money they could team up with some of the many aftermarket companies already building nice long travel kits. PaxPower even builds a great looking wide body kit. They will build the entire truck for you but it would be more affordable and have a much better warranty if done through GM. Yes this truck would be out of reach for many but I think you are underestimating how many people would step up to the plate. Look no further than the already sold out Hummer EV at 112K.
Please make one for the GMC brand as well. GM left making the premium ZR2 potential on the Canyon
Hurry and reveal these things.
Introduce the Single Cab Short Bed from the other markets already!
>Still leaf springs.
Oh, look at how much I suddenly don’t care about it.
A multilink rear suspension was good enough for cars in the 60s but apparently it’s still not good enough for a $60k pickup in 2022.
I guess won’t find me in anything newer than a 2006 Chevy unless it’s a Ram or Tesla.
C4 corvettes used leafs and the C4 zr1 would beat ferraris all the time. Leaf springs are lighter/more durable than multi-link and always will be. The problem with leafs is controlling torsion and 3rd order vibrations. There are multiple after market solutions for this.
Anyone notice that the new 4 leaf springs apear to only have the extra leafs on 1 side of the wheel? It would be interesting to see if that reduces torsion and unwanted leaf flexing significantly. If it does, there would be no need for a multi-link suspension, and chevy could tighten up the tolerance on their shock dampening rate
That’s a trailboss
Very possible since I see no evidence that it’s running the Multimatic DSSV shocks. If it’s actually a ZR2 it would appear to be a very small step up from the TrailBoss. It does have more aggressive skid plating, no air dam and what appears to be 33’s but that could simply be an upgrade package within the TrailBoss line. Time will tell, I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.
I would agree. The truck doesn’t appear to be a ZR2 to me. The photos show a low hanging, non-DSSV shock and a front bumper that doesn’t expose the front wheels for rock crawling like the ZR2 bumper for the Colorado does.
I wonder if there will be levels to the Silverado ZR2.
Entry level with the 6.2, DSSV shocks and wider track, wider body. Higher level with everything from the former, but with the LT4.
I like Andrew’s idea. Keep it simple and “affordable”.
They need to go ahead and make a version with the same LT4 as the CT5-V Blackwing.
Emotionally I want a Raptor fighter, I have since the first Raptor came to life. It sucks when your team (GM) doesn’t even come to the game. However, with the Trail Boss, they are onto a much larger part of that market. The TB is killing it on the sales floor, and the full size ZR2 will capture the next level of off road buyer. The portion at the very top of the pyramid where the Raptor and TRX sit is where the very cool kids live, but there isn’t a lot of people willing to pay to play at that level. Certainly not enough to justify the cost of fielding a pickup like that. Look at the elite vehicles that each OEM puts out, I bet Dodge and Ford would love to have a Corvette fighter in their arena. I am sure they and their fans are put out that they don’t play at that level. They don’t because there is no money in it. Dodge would still build a Viper if there was.
If GM was the only one with a TrailBoss / AT4 type entry it would be a good strategy, but Ford already has an FX4 with an F-150 Tremor on the way and Ram has the Rebel. We don’t currently know enough about the ZR2 to say if it’s going to be a step above the Tremor. I think as GM fans we too often get sucked into giving them a pass. The Raptor has proven year after year there are enough people willing to pay. The truck market is the biggest segment in the automotive industry. If a halo model can’t be justified in the truck market it can’t be justified anywhere. I just hope GM doesn’t think they are giving us that halo truck in the form of the Hummer EV, it’s not exactly what most of us have been looking for.
I am interested to see what this truck will perform like. I like the naturally aspirated 6.2L engine, but would like a power bump and it be able to run 87octane.
Lockers front and rear with spool valve shocks and 33s is pretty cool.