On November 19th, 2014, Chevrolet unveiled the Colorado ZR2 concept at the 2014 Los Angeles International Auto Show.
Foreshadowing the production-intent 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 off-road truck, the 2015 Colorado ZR2 concept was featured in the Extended Cab body. Chevrolet officially used the tagline “Taking off-roading to the next level” during the concept’s debut.
Following its debut, GM Authority’s Manoli Katakis reflected that the ZR2 concept “looks more like a production show truck than a non-production concept truck.”
Various features designed to improve off-road capability separate the Colorado ZR2 Concept from lesser Chevrolet Colorado models. The ZR2 concept featured the following notable equipment:
Exterior
- Extened Cab cabin
- Noticeably higher ground clearance
- More extreme approach and departure angles at 30.7 and 22.7 degrees, respectively. By comparison, the 2015 Colorado Z71 has an approach angle of 25 degrees and a departure angle of 21 degrees
- New front fascia featuring integrated, flip-out aluminum tow hooks and a built-in winch
- New rear bumper treatment that deletes the the CornerStep bumper for a better departure angle
- Custom 18-inch aluminum multi-spoke bead-lock wheels
- 275/65R18 off-road tires
- In the bed:
- Full-size matching spare wheel/tire assembly with a quick-release handle
- Protective spray-in bed liner already available on production Colorado models
- GearOn accessories
- 48-inch Hi-Lift jack
- Cyprus Green with Henna Orange accents
- ZR2 badges
- Hood insert
Chassis & Suspension
- Mono-tube coil-over shock absorbers by King Off-Road Racing Shocks designed for greater suspension travel.
- The shocks feature remote-mounted fluid reservoirs that add to the capability of the 2015 Colorado ZR2 concept. The reservoirs for the front shocks are accessible and mounted in the wraparound portion of the front fascia. They are complimented by front control arms specific for the ZR2.
- Front and rear electronic-locking differentials capable of splitting/distributing torque
- As such, the footprint of the Colorado ZR2 is wider than that of the base models. The center section of the wheel design has a raw aluminum appearance with black accents, while the bolt-on bead-lock cover is orange-anodized aluminum.
Interior
- Ready-to-go auxiliary toggle
- Four additional toggle switches: two for winch in and winch out operation and and two for the electronic front- and rear-locking differentials
- ZR2 decals all on the seat headrests and rubber floor mats
- Unique off-road features in the driver information center (DIC)
Powertrain
- 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-4 LWN engine estimated at 181 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 369 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm
- Six-speed automatic transmission
When the Colorado ZR2 Concept was unveiled, the ZR2 nameplate was 20 years old.
Chevrolet first introduced the ZR2 package in the compact S-10 pickup in 1994. Soon after, it was added to the S-Series Blazer in 1996. The package was available through 2003 on the S-10 and in 2005 on the Blazer. It also made it to the last-generation Silverado in concept form.
