Chevy Gains Ground In Supertruck Game: High-Performance ZR2 Model In The Works

Here at Chuck Hutton of Memphis, the summer holiday season is an excellent time to get excited about trucks: hauling the jet skis and wakeboards out to the lake, that mulch project you may have been putting off, and thinking about moving someone to college efficiently are all easier with the assistance of an ideal rig. GM is now making detailed plans to get into the supertruck game and has confirmed that they will soon debut a high-performance Silverado ZR2 model that could rival the F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX.

A short teaser found online featured a truck driving through mud that was posted on various social media sites, but doesn't reveal too much besides the name. However, you can definitely make out a V8 engine roaring underneath the music. The Colorado ZR2 is the current offering for off-road fun from the Chevy lineup and has gained much appreciation for its long-travel suspension, which is based around a set of Multimatic velocity-sensitive dampers that mechanically adjust their stiffness depending on road input. 

These dampers allow the truck to catch air at high speeds off road. The Silverado ZR2 teaser does not indicate that the truck will incorporate the same technology, but Chevy has built an off-road racing Silverado that some have assumed was a test bed for an upcoming model that had a bit more in common with the ZR2's form and function. 

It is not yet officially known how much power will be under the Silverado ZR2's hood, but it is guaranteed that the suspension will be top tier, as the ZR2 still depends on the standard V6 and turbodiesel inline-four offered on other models. A detailed look at today’s Silverado lineup reveals a 420 hp 6.2-liter V8.

With spool valve shocks to boost its off-road ability and an underside that is armored to handle the roughest of terrain, the ZR2 also boasts a look that boosts function. The most precise handling in damping control, greatly improved cooling function, and the ability to handle off-road conditions are sure to fully equip this new truck for the challenges that boulders, rocks, and fast-running streams present. The Motor Trend staff claimed “something wicked this way wheels”, and they couldn't be more spot on!