The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 has debuted as the new flagship off-road entrant in the automaker’s light-duty pickup portfolio.
Like the mid-size Chevy Colorado ZR2, the Silverado ZR2 features advanced Multimatic DSSV dampers, which feature three separate spool valves and three fluid flow chambers for enhanced damping control. Retuned springs work in conjunction with the dampers to deliver increased maximum front and rear suspension travel, while front and rear e-lockers further enhanced the truck’s loose surface traction and rock crawling capability.
Many readers will immediately notice the Silverado ZR2’s high-approach steel front bumper with removable end caps, which gives the truck a more aggressive exterior experience and also enables an improved 31.8-degree approach angle. Other off-road-focused equipment includes 18-inch off-road alloy wheels wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires and additional underbody skid plates. Finally, the exit area for the dual exhaust system has been relocated in front of the rear bumper, reducing the chance that it will get dented or damaged when off-roading and rock crawling.
Cosmetic add-ons for the Silverado ZR2 include various exterior and interior ‘ZR2’ badges, a new black hood insert, a unique grille with integrated lighting and a “flow-tie” emblem. The only available engine option will be GM’s 6.2L L87 V8 engine, which produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. It will come standard with the GM 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive, of course. A new Terrain Mode setting is also standard and allows for one-pedal driving when rock crawling.
Chevy says the max payload of the Silverado ZR2 is 1,440 pounds and the conventional trailer weight rating is 8,900 pounds. It will be available to order in the four-door Crew Cab body style only. It will also feature the redesigned 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 interior, including a standard 13.4-inch-diagonal color touchscreen and a 12.3-inch-diagonal configurable digital instrument cluster.
Dom Lester, General Motors’ chief engineer for Performance Variants and Motorsports, says the Silverado ZR2 was engineered using lessons learned from racing a near-production Chevy Silverado ZR2 prototype in the Best in the Desert racing series with the Hall Racing team, and from visiting Moab, Utah with camouflaged prototypes.
“Chevrolet has been competing on some of the most grueling, toughest off-road courses with a prototype Silverado ZR2 in the Best in the Desert race series,” said Lester. “We applied what we learned in racing and Moab testing to the new ZR2 to offer a supremely capable and confidence-inspiring package, but one that doesn’t beat you up on the highway with its ride quality. It’s equally capable and comfortable.”
Pricing for the 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2, along with availability information, should be disclosed in the coming weeks or months.
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Comments
This truck makes sense if starting MSRP is low $60s
Confirmed: Front and Rear Diff Locks!
The high res photo shows a rear locker button and a front + rear locker button on the center console row of buttons.
Photo also show a 33″ tire on 18″ wheels.
So them saying it has one wasn’t enough? So many people love saying the word “front locker” so that 0.2% of people who actually have a use for one can use it and the other 99.8% can just talk about it at their kids soccer games or the local starbucks. Would have rather they put in a good limited slip and electronic traction control, that would have covered 99.9% of the people who own this trucks uses with out such expensive development costs and added breaking points if some knuckle head wants to turn it on once on pavement.
Anyone who buys a product to use it for anything other then it’s intended purpose is… wait for it… a knuckle head!
Can’t fix stupid!
F150 FOUND DEAD
Greening of the skin indicates possible cause of death may be excessive envy.
Level of want is high with this one
The Trail Boss looked already looked good. But this one is a beauty.
Nice to see dedicated hard buttons and not all touchscreen in the interior. If you ever had to use a touchscreen on rough roads, you’ll know what I mean.
As a model 3 owner i can attest, buttons and switches are a GOOD thing.
That being said, I would love supercruise on the zr2 vs just the high country. I love autopilot for boring highway driving
The current Trailboss already looked good, but this this one is a beauty.
So glad to see dedicated hard buttons on the interior. If you ever driven on rough roads and used touch screens, you’ll know what I mean.
This truck is going to give the Tremor and Rebel nightmares tonight. Now if they would just offer an optional factory supercharger we would be golden.
Yea I doubt that dude and I am a GM fan.
Slick looking truck. The updates on the exterior is great, but the new interior is a leap up from the current interior.
I love the truck. Huge improvement on the interior. But the freaking Bowtie is way too high! Ugh I so hope it looks better in person.
I hope so too. In fairness when I first saw the current generation front end I was like no!. It definitely grew on me, especially when I saw it in person.
It’s been interesting to see how the Bowtie and GMC emblems have been getting higher with each re-design. I guess the good news is they can no longer go any higher without putting them on the hood lol. I agree it would have looked better slightly lower but l still think this is a good looking truck.
In 5 years we will have hood ornaments again, and luckily no one will be able to steal them bc they will be too high to reach!
Looks Really good, love the color, I think they should have tucked up the rear bumper a bit though. Soo glad GM D͇i͇d͇ ͇N͇o͇t͇ put an atrocious cell phone looking center IP! 😅
Bring on the ZR2.R (LT5) 😃😃😃
Exterior is looking better, interior is class leading, ZR2 Is a huge welcome but wish there was a high performance version and also bummed out that no pano sunroof.
when can I order a zr 2
I had a feeling after the past few years of less the great quality that GM would bounce back eventually. Now they just need to put the Camaro ZL1 engine in there and holy smokes this thing would be insane. The foundation is already there with the 6.2L. If they dont add a supercharger eventually from factory then some buyers will most likely get it done aftermarket.
Man, can we please just go back to the 2018 like frontend? That bowtie at the top of the grill just looks silly. The sawed off frontend is just too frumpy for me.
Love it and want one sooo bad but I have to have a Standard Bed. I am sure it only comes with a short bed – hope I am wrong.
Short bed only. I prefer the look and functionality of the standard bed as well.
So it looks like the raptor and TRX Still trump this thing
Basically. This thing was ripe for the LT2.
Its not meant as a TRX or Raptor competitor tho… 🤷♂️
I disagree. The ZR2 has more towing capacity and payload than either of them. Should be better at “truck things”.
I buy a truck to haul and tow, not drag race (TRX) or run desert races (Raptor).
My biggest disappointment is the V8’s not getting and upgrade. There is so much more they can do with them, yet chose to leave them be.
So I’m assuming we can expect their Raptor/TRX competitor to be called the ZRX? This ZR2 is more competitive with the new F-150 Tremor. I’m a little underwhelmed, we need a full fledged Raptor/TRX competitor!
Hopefully that’s still to come at some point in the future. This is still a very cool truck with a lot of potential IMO. Imagine this with a 2″ level/lift, 35’s and a bit more stance! If this truck sells well, and I think it will, GM will be more likely to take the next step into Raptor territory.
They don’t need a Raptor/TRX fighter, that is a small market that is saturated. They went after a larger market, the back country and over landing crowd. This is a light duty Power Wagon that can also run faster off road and take some small jumps. Most of the country lives where there aren’t places to desert run, so why go after that market? This keeps more of the truck abilities that an actual truck owner would need, just wish it wasn’t only offered in the box checking version as that neuters’ the payload and towing. I still wouldn’t go this route but it would be nice if it was offered with less luxuries (cooled leather seats in an off road truck???).
Cooled seats is exactly what I want lol
A truck payment that exceeds my house payment…Hmm. Think I’ll wait three years and get it half price
Saying the Raptor/TRX market is “saturated” simply isn’t true. If that were true you would see these trucks stacking up on dealer lots with deep discounts. I honestly think GM would sell out of this type of truck very quickly if offered. I also think it can be done at a profit, Ford wouldn’t still be selling the Raptor after all these years if wasn’t paying off. The brand image alone is worth the price! I appreciate your enthusiasm for defending what’s currently available but why so much resistance to change and improvement? The ZR2 is a great truck and will sell very well, but why stop there? People have literarily been begging GM to build a Raptor competitor for years! I personally think it’s a no brainer!
@Commonsense: You need to remember, there are a lot of GM critics (especially here) that won’t let an opportunity go to waist to bash GM for leaving anything out no mater how small it may be.
Sun roof, or “moon roof” 😲 for example, the wife drives a loaded 2010 Lincoln MKX🙄, with a sun (or moon roof). How many times has it been opened? Can’t tell you, not because it’s been that many times. No, because I can’t remember it ever being opened!
GM is constantly bashed for not offering one, yes it would be nice to be able to special order one but they do lower the head room correct?
The trend these days with new models is to build the premium models first to start the ROI since the first buyers are normally anxious and more then able to afford their E-ticket price. Later on the lower priced models, standard cab, LT, WT models, will show up on dealer lots.
I was really hoping for more. I believe it looks better but maybe I’m forcing myself to like it… I’m leaning towards either the 4th or 5th gen ram over this despite being a “chevy guy”. GMs designs just don’t do it for me anymore. Also the 5.3 isn’t competitive anymore compared to the 5.7 or even the 5.0 Ford.
Disappointed in the lack of a supercharger…..The truck is nice, but without the supercharger…..not sure I’d pony up for this AND still getting my ass kicked in power. 🙁
Hey GM. Wouldn’t you like to put a 2.7T V4 engine on the Traverse? Of course, that would require lowering the torque a bit.
This is it? I mean really this is actually it?
If it still sports AFM and weak valve train structure just count me OUT. GM has got to dump this phony fuel economy booster. 1mpg savings and engine weakness = not for me
They finally have round wheel wells
Wow…A crew cab ZR-2!!!!! Can’t wait to take the neighborhood with me!!!!!!!!………NOT!!!!!! Why the hell not a single cab…..,OR AT LEAST a double cab?????? What the hell are you guys thinking???????