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Does This Concept Foreshadow A Future Chevy Tahoe ZR2?

General Motors offers a wealth of off-roader models, with no end in sight when it comes to new trail-ready iterations of The General’s most popular vehicles. That includes next-level off-roader models under the ZR2 sub-brand, with just a few recent examples being the Chevy Colorado ZR2, Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2, and Chevy Silverado HD ZR2. The question is – will GM offer a new Chevy Tahoe ZR2 as well? If so, what might it look like?

Black Chevy Tahoe badge on the Chevy Tahoe SUV.

At present, the most rugged Chevy Tahoe available is the Z71, which rivals the likes of the Ford Expedition Timberline. Meanwhile, the Wagoneer, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia don’t offer off-road specific trim levels.

The Chevy Tahoe Z71 is already equipped with a wealth of equipment that enhances its off-road prowess, including a performance front skid plate, red recovery hooks, a high-approach front bumper and fascia, 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with Technical Gray pockets and 20-inch all-terrain tires, and available Adaptive Air Ride suspension, as well as black roof-mounted side rails and black assist steps. That said, an even-more capable Chevy Tahoe ZR2 would be a unique offering in the segment.

2022 Chevy Tahoe Z71 Overlanding concept

Which brings us to the Chevy Tahoe Z71 Overlanding Concept. Making its formal in-the-metal introduction at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the 2022 Chevy Tahoe Z71 Overlanding Concept takes the SUV’s off-roading utility even further thanks to a selection of components from the Chevrolet Accessories and Chevrolet Performance catalogues.

2022 Chevy Tahoe Z71 Overlanding concept

Highlights include 18-inch beadlock wheels with a body-color matched beadlock ring and 33-inch OD Mud/Terrain tires, A-pillar off-road lights from Lumen, black tubular assist steps, optional Magnetic Ride Control, and Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. There’s also a new cat-back exhaust, illuminated front and rear door sill plates, and the black roof rack cross rail package topped by a High Country 80-inch Premium Tent.

2022 Chevy Tahoe Z71 Overlanding concept

Although this concept is a few years old at this point, it may very well be where the Tahoe nameplate is headed when it comes to a next-level Chevy Tahoe ZR2 model. Naturally, we’ll be there to cover any updates as they happen, so remember to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Tahoe news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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

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Comments

  1. The ZR2 shocks along with front and rear lockers running the Diesel. Count me in.

    Reply
    1. Skip the front locker and keep the front traction based system but add the shocks. The front locker would only need to be used by maybe a small handful of people at best (these SUV’s already go off road a heck of a lot less than the trucks) and you need to be in a very sticky situation where a front locker is any benefit. For those 10 people they can add one aftermarket instead of having one designed and tested OEM and have to cover those costs across the range and drive up prices even more. All it is is a talking point by suburban dads at starbucks that their truck has front and rear lockers. A traction system is far superior for most people and will get them through what they need.

      Reply
  2. I like the Tahoe a lot. I don’t think the current gen styling matches a off-road variant very well though.

    Reply
  3. What are you talking about?? The 2023 Sequoia has the TRD Pro which is far better than the Tahoe Z71. Tahoe is lacking in off road and a lackluster 5.3 and 6.2 engine.

    Reply
    1. At least it offers v8s. Hybrids are for pusies

      Reply
  4. Nice idea. But, with the current engines and all the electronics, this just won’t cut it out in the boonies. GM needs to build a REAL offroad variant. Not just in the Tahoe, but all across the the truck line up. The competition is building trucks that blow GM’s doors off. GM seems to be creeping up on the Off Road idea. Nothing has come close to what an Overlander should be. Been a Chevy truck guy for 60 years. Always took My new Chevy, and built it the way I wanted/needed! These new trucks just aren’t designed to allow this to happen any longer. Without spending thousands! Oh, for a real offroad base Chevy again. All this new tech. is nice. But at $100,000.00, it’s harder and harder, to justify the cost to even get started. I guess I will stay with my one ton Square Body K30. Bring this truck back!!!!!!

    Reply
    1. Um, vehicles today are far more reliable first off. You’d be hard pressed to take a vehicle with 100k miles on a big road trip or out in the back country without multiple spare parts (ignition switches, distributors/stators, tools to take apart a carb, etc). Electronics aren’t an issue in most cases these days and it is rare they fail catastrophically.

      Competition is blowing their doors off offroad? What are you talkng about? Toyota is behind, Nissan isn’t relevant. Ford and Dodge have one trick pony desert type trucks that would be hard pressed to keep up with a ZR2 in the type of offroading most people do. That desert truck is saturated, GM went a different route that caters to more people and is more useful. Ever seen the payload capacity on a Raptor or TRX versus the ZR2? You can use the ZR2 far more than either of those trucks and leave them stuck in places a ZR2 would get. Sure, get them in the desert and those two trucks are running away from the ZR2 but that is small piece of offroading and the ZR2 can certainly hold its own until you get big bumps/jumps.

      They make cheaper off roaders, there are custom trims of the Trailboss versions. GMC needs to do something on the lower end but I think they are more towards the luxury offroading and leaving Chevy to the lower end.

      Giving the ZR2 goodies to the lower end would open up that sales market to those who would actually use the truck more and need it. Really they should give the selectable rear locker and shocks to the lower end and keep the front traction based system as that is all 99.999% of the people need, a front locker is pretty useless for all but a small handful of people. That would by my ideal truck. Mid level LT, ZR2 suspension with a selectable rear locker (though the G80 hasn’t let me down yet). Plus with the lower options it would gain a few hundred pounds of payload, that has been what I have needed most lately. I have had between 1600 and 2200 lbs in the bed of my truck the last two weeks, so payload is key for normal truck duties while still getting to the back country and exploring or hunting.

      Reply
  5. Sure, why not…GM always has room for another $100K SUV…

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  6. Nice , needs a solid rear axle and no 3rd row opt , as a car camper -overlander .we have no need ,want or will ever use a 3rd row .we want payload no 3rd row = more payload,towing

    Reply
  7. Too huge for an off-reader.

    They need a small to midsize off-road truck and SUV like a Bronco or Wrangler.

    Would also like to see them do something all-electric like the Rivian R1S, but more affordable.

    Reply

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