When it comes to pickup trucks that are ready to roll off-road right out of the box, the Ford F-150 Raptor is one of the most obvious segment competitors. However, despite the Raptor’s popularity, GM has never offered a modern Chevy Silverado variant that could directly compete with it. Now, we’re getting a little insight into the reason why, thanks to a GM insider.
According to our GM insider, the idea of offering a variant of the Chevy Silverado that would serve as a direct rival to the Ford F-150 Raptor has been brought up more than once. However, every time the idea is broached, GM inevitably brings the conversation back to the business case. Basically, the reality of offering a Chevy Silverado to rival the Raptor would involve added complexity at GM’s plants, plants which GM depends on running smoothly.
Essentially, a widened, taller Chevy Silverado model would necessitate manufacturing plant modifications and extra costs, both of would would be too pricey or result in margins that would be too slim to offset the extra costs involved in development and plant modifications.
GM’s latest push into the EV space also throws a wrench into the plans, with resources directed towards EV development and production, rather than a Chevy Silverado to rival the F-150 Raptor. Additionally, GM already offers the high-performance GMC Hummer EV, which, although it may be battery-powered, is undoubtedly still a beast when it comes to off-roading.
That said, GM certainly isn’t reluctant to offer high-powered, internal-combustion-based utilities – the new Cadillac Escalade-V is certainly good evidence of that. However, it should be mentioned that the $150,000 Escalade-V still manages the biggest margin that a GM vehicle has ever seen.
For the moment, GM does offer the Chevy Silverado ZR2, which is fitted with a plethora of off-roading goodies, such as MultiMatic DSSV dampers, front and rear e-lockers, 33-inch off-road MT tires, skid plates, and a new high-approach steel front bumper that enable a 31.8 degrees approach angle. The Chevy Silverado ZR2 also boasts 11.2 inches of ground clearance.
However, while the Chevy Silverado ZR2 definitely has some off-roading chops, it’s framed more as a rock-crawler, as compared to the dune-jumping F-150 Raptor. This is most evident in the power spec, with the Chevy Silverado ZR2 throwing down 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque from its naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, and the Raptor making 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque from its twin-turbo 3.5L V6.
To exaggerate the issue, Ford is poised to launch the new F-150 Raptor R, which will make more than 750 horsepower from its supercharged 5.2L V8 Predator engine, the same powerplant found in the Mustang Shelby GT500. Check out the spy footage of the new Raptor R testing below, courtesy of our sister publication, Ford Authority:
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Comments
I don’t buy it. One has to assume that Ford had the same constraints, and they still made it work (including fat margins). Neither was focused on EV’s when this conversation started, not for many years into it. ZR2 is a rock crawler? With 33’s? There is no explanation for the lack of 35’s on that truck. I would love to know *the real* reason. Also, why wasn’t the ZR2 introduced with the Escalade-V power plant? If it’s costs, how can Ram do it? These things seem to be inexplicable.
Having said all that, I prefer the ZR2 to both the Raptor and the TRX — it’s more easily streetable (not as wide or as tall) than either of those rivals, is far more economical on gas than the Ram and far more responsive on the gas than the Ford — horsepower be damned. Also key to consumer: when optioned up the same, the ZR2 Silverado is far less expensive than the Raptor or the TRX.
I can’t wait for the ZR2 to come with the baby Duramax. That will be perfection… once I add my own set 35’s. 33’s? WTF???
GM makes lots of excuses. the ZR2 is amazingly even uglier than the HD truck it’s grill is based upon. the 6.2 is somewhat more capable, but why let the numbers game from ford beat it? they make a 6.6, surely it can better the 6.2 if properly tuned, or better yet, why not use the Vette supercharger on the 6.2 and immediately get bragging rights into TRX territory. TRX for me, and I have always preferred GM until lately.
Your first paragraph was accurate but you’ve completely contradicted yourself in the second half of your comment. You want a “streetable” truck but the ZR2 is the most offroad capable GM product… it’s also the least offroad capable in the 1500 class compared to Ford/Ram… Sounds like you’d be better off in a Z71 or other trimmed Silverado.
Yes ofcourse the Raptor is more expensive it’s a far better product so much so you cannot even compare the ZR2 with it, the Raptor has a unique engine and starts off with 35″ tires, with optional 37s. Those two facts alone places the ZR2 alongside the F150 Tremor, both of which come with 33s and engines that can be had in lower trims. And no sorry you can’t even fit 35s on the ZR2 people have already tried that and have failed. Again, inferior product.
*Quote*. “Ford is poised to launch the new F-150 Raptor R, which will make more than 750 horsepower from its supercharged 5.2L V8 Predator engine,….”
With the current price of gasoline, you’ll need a big bank account.
people who buy $80 K + truck do not worry about the price of fuel, the fuel being available may be the problem.
Ford can make this work, as can Ram. GM can’t.
It’s the typical bean counting mentality that has been stifling that company for decades.
Bean counters who can’t move a beam to add 3” wide body to a truck and drop in an engine from the corvette line somehow can build a car that they loose 7K per unit sold (bolt), then replace every single battery to it…. With a free upgraded range, and build a new “factory 0” with superfluous solar panels, and is only running at partial capacity.
But they can’t move a beam for a wide body truck
Ford sells 13000 Raptors a year. A fraction of their F series sales, more importantly a small amount for any one model to justify the costs. gm manages four brands and has to put capital where it makes the most sense to the dismay of Chevy fans. How many sales could Chevy get given the small size of this market?
The ZR2 is a capable enough off-road truck, perhaps long overdue in it’s release. Most Raptors make a trip to Costco and never see the dirt.
Years ago I watched a contractor install materials in a grossly inappropriate manner. I pointed out that the installation would fail (as others had before) because it wasn’t done as designed and tested. He said “This is how my daddy taught me to do it.” I responded “Well, it’s wrong.” He looked and me and said “Are you calling my daddy a liar?”
That’s substantially where GM is today. Outside of the EV program, if they haven’t seen those who came before them do it, they’re not going to make an effort to go beyond their comfort zone. There’s just no entrepreneurial spirit there anymore.
The Chinese told Barra that GM doesn’t need a Raptor competitor so they never built one.
It’s b*llsh*. FORD can do it. And RAM. Congratulations to both of them for making nice vehicles.
As most of you don’t own a ZR2, I would suggest you find one and drive it. It’s not as radical as a Raptor or TRX. Which makes it much more livable as a daily driver. It’s ride quality beats out the high country.
It’s in a class of its own in the market. If they strip the options out like ford does the base Raptor a lot of the complaining will stop regarding its price. But all will basically be sold loaded. All Raptors sold are 80k before markup. This truck is 73 loaded to the moon with the whopping 3 options you can check.
As someone who owns one, I wouldn’t change a thing with this truck. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need 14” of Baja suspension to off-road or more accurately, drive to work. You end up sacrificing more then you gain.
Ditto on the ZR2 being the better truck. (Yes I actually think it’s better. Wide bodies are harder to maneuver. Not a good thing off road. It’s also more controlled and has front and rear lockers) that said, this response that GM execs are giving is infuriating. I guarantee you Chevy engineers back in 2016 had a ZRX (as we believe the project was called due to the military concept truck) concept in 2016. Do they think we’re dumb?
unless you live near the sand dunes or desert why do you need a dune jumper ???
Because GM hates fun.
I’m guessing you all forgot about the Chevy reaper…. The direct answer to the raptor…. Smh 😂
Keep shaking your head. The “Reaper” was aftermarket – not produced by GM.
Two words for GM…….NO BALLS!!!!!!!!!!
GM is going after the people who buy stock and they are the ones big into saving the planet so gm has $$$ to do future development. just check gm vs ford as far as the stock price goes.
Unfortunately much of that stock money comes from the FED through quantitative easing….. fake interest in a company that’s sucking up to all the right people. It has nothing to do with sales or market share. We’ll see where their stock is this time next year, now that the FED has shifted to quantitative trimming, and these large funds that recieved this money are seeing blue collar people pull their 401K’s and switching funds because of ESG’s.
GM said a few years ago it was giving up chasing market share at any cost at the expense of stockholders.
Not sure why people doubt the response, Ford isn’t making a ton of money on their trucks and neither is Dodge. GM is just smarter it is a business decision and it isn’t good business. The amount of work, development and costs for something that Ford only produces 15% of F150 production (give or take) isn’t there, especially as ICE vehicles wind down. The market for that type of useless vehicle is not that great and two competitors now it is saturated. Same can be said about the wrangler and bronco. It is a niche vehicle that GM never needed to produce, the ZR2 is a much better choice except it is aimed at those who will never use or need it at the fully loaded box checker process point. If they put it on an LT trim it would A) sell much better and B) actually get used as it was designed and be useful to those who could actually utilize this type of truck. Instead it will run around suburbia, pulling the occasional wake surf boat and commute back and forth to work while the owners and 20″ black wheels and complain about it not having massaging seats.
Reading this article is just one excuses..I am tired of them all. GM got caught napping when they made the new model. Playing catch up to Ram now . Chevrolet used to mean something now it means coming in last.
I love GM, but the “bean counters” as always, have the last say..
the argument of justifying the ZR2 not being supercharged or having a wide body would sound a whole lot better if we didn’t already have the trail boss which is literally almost the same truck. The gap between the competitors’ regular off-road trucks and the TRXs or the Raptor Rs of the world is humungous, meanwhile GM gap from the Trailboss to the ZR2 is marginal. That’s why a lot of people are disappointed with the Zr2, knowing it could have been so much more.
Because GM is now the no fun, PC, EV only automotive manufacturer of the future.
Government bailouts always have strings attached.
Chevrolet has a real ZR2, it’s called a COLORADO !
It maybe a mid-size truck, but it does the job… BOWTIE POWER Y’all.
Not a surprise at all, just more proof GM technical ability is far behind the pack, they’ve always been stuck in the past. The simple fact that the Silverado ZR2 only comes with 33″ tires already makes the Raptor comparison a stretch, it’s equal clearly is the Tremor. And no you can’t even fit 35s on the Silverado without major surgery…