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GM Authority

Here Is The 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison

GM just pulled the sheets on the new 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison, expanding the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 lineup with a fresh next-level off-roader that follows in the footsteps of the Chevy Colorado ZR2.

Built in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison elevates the Silverado 1500’s off-road capabilities with a selection of upgrades and unique touches.

Highlights include new body components and underbody protection, with AEV-stamped steel front and rear bumpers made from 3-millimeter-thick steel, plus powder and e-coated protection. The underbody hot-stamped boron steel armor is said to be 3.5 times stronger than an equivalent cold-stamped steel plate, protecting the front, rear differential, transfer case, and fuel tank.

Further upgrades include heavy duty recovery points, integrated step pads, an available winch accessory, steel rocker protection, and exclusive gloss-black 18-inch AEV wheels wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.

Exterior design is enhanced further with a body-color grille bar and black grille design, signature ZR2 badging, a Chevy Flow Tie badge, and a matte finish for the standard Multi-Flex tailgate. Standard spec also includes the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Output is directed through the GM 10-speed automatic transmission. Front and rear e-lockers are included as well.

The suspension features standard Multimatic 40-millimeter DSSV spool-valve dampers paired with uniquely tuned springs that maximize front and rear suspension travel. Ground clearance in the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison is rated at 11.2 inches, matching that of the 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2. However, the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison provides a higher front approach angle (32.5 degrees versus 31.8 degrees), and higher departure angle (23.4 degrees versus 23.3 degrees) compared to the 2022 Silverado ZR2.

As for the interior, the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison gives a nod to AEV with a logo on the front headrests. There’s also a set of all-weather floor liners.

Pricing for the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison starts at $78,490, including destination freight charge (DFC). Production will get underway early next year.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Comments

  1. Infamous

    This Bison is a very sharp and capable truck, just like the previous gen Colorado ZR2 Bison. However, at $80k, that is quite steep. I don’t know too many people that are going to want to bash an $80k through the woods and tear it up. Hey, to each their own. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Raymond J.

      Just think about it, the $100k Escalade outsold the one that only cost $72k and who would have thought that there would be so many Reservations for the $112k Hummer EV, of course we know that the cost along with the shortage of materials is driving up these Sticker Prices, but we know at this point also that some of these price hike moves is based off of profit.

      Reply
      1. Infamous

        Certainly.

        The majority of the massive price increases of these goods are due to the shortage of said goods. When consumer products are tough to come by, the prices spike. With this being said, I’m certain that many corporations added another ~5-10% on top, just to pad their profits. Will we ever know for certain? Probably not.

        Reply
    2. WHEELS555

      !!!OMG!!!…….!!!$80,000.00!!!…Will The Insanity Ever Stop?…!!!OMG!!!

      Reply
    3. JD

      probably the same people that buy a TRX or Raptor, but most will never see anything more than an occasional dirt road. commendable they put actual lockers on this thing though. the positrac style system on other AT4’s is not as effective if it actually goes off road.

      Reply
  2. Gmman99

    Everything is to expensive

    Reply
  3. Mrknowitall

    Obviously this all-in, top-dog approach will appeal to some, but I would love to see the AEV Bison treatment on a TrailBoss (or even Custom TB). AEV will convert any trim level Jeep into their JL/JT350 and 370, as well as any 4wd Ram HD into a Prospector.

    Reply
    1. meh

      Then buy parts from AEV and do a conversion…

      Reply
    2. GMC Fan

      Well, when the Colorado first came out with the Bison, it was reported that ARV was somewhat limited on production capacity.

      Expanding this from the Colorado to the Silverado, Canyon and Sierra may have stretched that capacity and thus the limitations.

      If it’s not good enough, go out and piecemeal the parts and build your own.

      Reply
  4. Keith

    Until they get rid of DFM and ongoing lifter issues n their gas motors, or allow you to get the diesel in this truck, it’s another useless iteration.

    Reply
    1. Commonsense

      Lifter issues? You mean the 0.05% that you read about of all produced? There isn’t some conspiracy that the V8’s are horribly unreliable. Some have had problems, just like other manufacturers. Wish people would stop spouting false information just to pad their skewed view point. DFM is great, it is what is keeping the V8 around longer and is very reliable. AFM worked just fine too especially in the later versions.

      Reply
      1. Keith

        Right….you go ahead and roll the dice and get one with DFM and let us know how that works out for you…

        Reply
      2. Reno

        GM needs to own up to it and recall the effected trucks. (and I am a gm truck fan) Driving a brand new truck and having it conk out on the road leaving you stranded is not a minor issue. Talk to you chevy service manager and you will find out that it is WAY higher than .05% of 2020 and 2021 vehicles – and who knows what others. GM will not address it.
        Good news is that if you have 25,000 miles or more on your truck you have made it past the failure point and have the non-defective lifters.

        Reply
    2. Infamous

      My brother-in-law bought a 2019 GMC AT4 in 2020 with ~4,000 miles on it. When it hit ~5,000 miles, the thing began to sound like a 5.56 rifle. It eventually locked up tighter that a bull’s rear-end and conked out. GM has since fixed it at their expense. Regardless, a new truck should not have a catastrophic failure like this. 🙁

      Reply
    3. JD

      not sure if the engine out diesel oil “belt” is better or worse than DOD/AFM. both are pretty bad for longevity of the GM vehicles. But if you are handy and can get through inspections, at least the DOD/AFM is potentially deletable.

      Reply
  5. Diesel Guy NO EV

    Bring it down to at least 68.5K

    Reply
  6. USA 1

    I would bet that 95% of the people who buy this truck will not take it off road. It will be a street wheeler.

    Reply
    1. C8.R

      So as long as they make payments it does not matter what they do with it.

      Reply
  7. Steven

    I’d like to see a couple performance improvements to GM’s V8’s. Dynos are showing the new C8 intake manifold to be good for 15-20hp with gains as low as 3000 rpm’s. Also I think they could increase cam duration a touch and use DFM to maintain emissions and efficiency. Be nice to see a small bump in power and efficiency.

    Reply
  8. Fatone

    There is an “trying to hard to look tough tackiness” that is part of the Bison package. The ZR2 looks great. This not do much.

    Reply
  9. Jacqson

    Nice truck, too bad it’s the size of a small bus.

    Reply
  10. matt

    Why would anybody spend that much for a Silverado when you can get a TRX or raptor with more hp close to that same price

    Reply

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