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2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Production Officially Under Way

Back in September 2022, GM Authority reported start of regular production (SORP) for the off-road-ready 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 was set for April 10th, 2023. However, in May, GM Authority learned ZR2 production had been delayed and would start in mid-May instead.

Sources close to the matter have now confirmed to GM Authority that the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 did indeed begin to roll off the assembly line in mid-May 2023. The 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X was also subject to the same production delay.

Side view of the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2.

Production of all 4WD 2023 Chevy Colorado models was slower than expected in May 2023. Dealerships said this resulted from problems with parts supply causing a 10 percent constraint, meaning production was 10 percent lower than originally planned by The General.

The 2023 Chevy Colorado debuts the all-new third generation of the familiar pickup nameplate. GM gave the truck a complete overhaul that includes new exterior styling, a fully renovated interior space, and a new powertrain in three different tunes depending on trim level.

Rear three quarters view of the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2.

The General has equipped the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 to fill the role of the “Desert Runner” for the Colorado lineup, riding on 17-inch Aluminum wheels wrapped in 33-inch OD MT tires. In addition to sporting the updated 2023 Chevy Colorado exterior, the ZR2 also features a unique MIC Black grille and Flowtie badge.

The new Colorado ZR2 also includes Black finish for the sideview mirrors, hood applique, window surrounds, rear bumper, and grille bar. The tailgate houses the new StowFlex storage system to increase available storage compartments within the vehicle.

Rear three quarters view of the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2.

Colorado ZR2 with the Desert Boss package

As the off-roading variant of the all-new model year, the Colorado ZR2 includes cross-country features like Multimatic DSSV dampers, ZR2-specific chassis upgrades, and aluminum skid plates. The truck offers an approach angle of 38.3 degrees, a departure angle of 25.1 degrees, a break-over angle of 24.6 degrees, and 10.7 inches of ground clearance, the most ground clearance of the 2023 Colorado lineup.

Buyers can also choose to upgrade their truck’s trail-conquering capabilities with the available special-edition Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss package. This package adds 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, a new off-road bumper and front fascia, a roof-mounted light bar, and an underbody camera system with up to 10 camera views, including a segment-first underbody camera, plus unique decals and emblems.

Interior view of the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss.

For motivation, the third-gen Chevy Colorado ZR2 is powered by the High Output calibration of the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, rated at 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Four-wheel drive is also standard, and the performance-tuned engine comes paired with the updated GM 8-speed automatic transmission.

Under the body panels, the Colorado ZR2 rides on an updated version of the GM 31XX platform like all other 2023 Chevy Colorado trims, while production takes place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.

The Bow Tie emblem on the 2023 ZR2 Desert Boss.

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Comments

  1. What difference does it make that production has started!! They still can’t ship them to the dealers, mines been built for over 20 days with no shipping date yet…

    Reply
  2. Hopefully I’ll get to see one at a local dealership before summer is over

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  3. Still waiting for my Z71?

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  4. @Mike24: Same here. All of this is part of my reasoning on not jumping on a new model to soon to see bugs/reviews/comparisons/etc. Also, since I’m not in a hurry, I can wait another 1-2 years to keep my options open. Nissan and Ford are not appealing to me so Chevrolet, GMC and Toyota are my top three but I REALLY want to see and test drive the ZR2 as it is my top pick. Then again, just test driving ANY Colorado right now would be nice but there are zero at any dealerships around me. 😤

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  5. Yeah I’m also in no hurry to replace my 2014 Silverado just yet. But the Zr2 has caught my eye.

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  6. I have been waiting on my ZR2 build since originally entered in system back on March 28. Hope mine is ready to be assembled soon with this news. Keep having to adjust my financing with all the delays.

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    1. djs i put a down payment on 2023 zr2 late febuary they accepted it march the 8th gm said they are well in to production on the zr2 mid may called my dealer they said it is not true that they didnt start production so what is going on are they building them or not

      Reply
  7. I ordered mine ZR2 back on March 22nd and have not yet gotten a production date. Hopefully it will be soon. I did to test drive a 2023 GMC canyon a couple of weeks ago so I have an idea of what’s coming.

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  8. All these guys waiting on their ZR2/AT4X’s, so many lockers to never be used (and no, please don’t use it during an ice or snow storm on the roads). It is a shame these vehicles have been chosen as the image purchase for the suburban dads at their kids baseball games. The severity of a situation a truck needs to be in to have any use of a front locker is something 99.98% of its owners will never be in, but it goes great in a conversation over a double frap latte discussing how it is more useful than the long travel suspension of a raptor.

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  9. is it just me or does “commonsense” seem like a angry human being…

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  10. I ordered a zr2 months ago. Hoping for July delivery but who knows. I’m hoping whoever gets their first zr2 tells this site Does anyone else have any other info?

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    1. John from Calgary Canada here. I have heard nothing on my ZR2 order.

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      1. Hey John,
        Also from Calgary. Can you let me know if you were able to get under MSRP and what sort of deal you were able to negotiate.
        Thanks, Mike

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        1. According to the dealer, no deals being offered as it is a new design.

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  11. My local dealer said they should receive my ZR2 by the end of July, placed the order late May.

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  12. My dealership said today june 14. ,2023 my truck should be finished being made early July. They expect to receive it late July early august. But I’m my opinion I’m not sure if that’s all horse$hit or what.

    Reply
  13. djs i put a down payment on 2023 zr2 late febuary they accepted it march the 8th gm said they are well in to production on the zr2 mid may called my dealer they said it is not true that they didnt start production so what is going on are they building them or not

    Reply
  14. Have driven a new Colorado Trail Boss and a Z71. Preparing to order a ZR2, I got quotes from 3 dealers all priced at MSRP. No budging. One dealer, the closest, includes an inhouse drive train warranty extended to 100K.

    Owning a vehicle with front and rear locking diffs, I know of their value for back country exploration, as I have throughout the Southwest US. Oh too, valuable just to get up to my hilltop home on an icy/snow packed driveway.

    Reply
  15. now the are telling me there is no spray in bed liner with the zr2 logo
    and no home link for garage door dont really care about the home link but come on the spray in
    liner is a big part of the zr2 logo lets get this zr2 out to the people who orderd them 3 months ago

    Reply
  16. Ordered mine as soon as they opened ordering at my dealer. Had a build date for the end of May. Was delayed to 2nd week of June. Just called my dealer for an update and delayed again to mid July. Kinda a pain because shipping to my location can take up to 4 weeks. Going to lose my camping trips for this summer unless I do ride alongs.

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    1. Update: Canceled my order… build date slipped AGAIN to mid August with delivery in September and that wasnt guaranteed. Great job GM.. Ended up finding something new locally

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      1. Bummer, but understandable since you had trips planned. What did you end up picking up instead?

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  17. Ordered my Zr2 in March from the 3rd largest dealer in the usa and have not even been acepted by GM yet for production. It will be a year old before i get it frustrating

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  18. I placed the order for my ZR2 in January, wasn’t accepted until April. Now rapidly approaching July and still no real word about it, either from Chevy support or my dealership (three times I’ve tried contacting the dealership in the last month and not a single word back from them – great customer service, there, and if I do ever get my truck I sure as hell won’t waste my time taking it in to the dealership for work.)

    I just want to know if I’m going to get it before winter rolls around; that’s what I ordered it for… replacing my old 99 Ranger with something newer, fresher, and hopefully needing far less maintenance for a few years.

    Reply
    1. Hi D,
      Are you in the US?
      Us Canadians are not hearing anything. Same thing, orders were taken in April. No updates so far and I am the first person who ordered 1 at my dealer.

      Reply
      1. Yeah, I’m in the US. Kinda disappointed since they’re STILL in the “figuring out the Target Production Week” phase after three months. Sadly, they may end up losing the sale if my truck isn’t ready by winter.

        Reply
  19. I see there was a production update article 5/12, then 6/12. Will there be one on 7/12? I am a little late to the game, ordered mine a couple of weeks ago. Just looking for any sort of timeline

    Reply
  20. I ordered a 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 in early march with a scheduled delivery date of June 22, 2023. Now, in mid July, they seem to have no idea when the truck will be delivered. However, they were very eager to accept my deposit when I ordered the truck. I’m very aggravated, but I don’t believe it’s the dealers fault. It is a GM problem, not delivering what they committed to.

    Reply
  21. Hello everyone,
    I just got notified that mine is being built.
    When it gets shipped is a different story.
    Hope everyone is well!!!

    Reply
  22. Placed my order mid january from Québec Canada, not even a slight hope of getting my ZR2 before hunting season 😡😡 getting realy pissed by GM promises!!!

    Reply

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