Chevy’s right-sized pickup truck has earned more than a few fans, with the off-road crew coming onboard a few years ago when the model earned its ZR2 stripes. We’ve heard GM is planning some upgrades for the upcoming model year, musings which have been bolstered by these spy shots from our crack team of photographers.
Packing trick suspenders plus aggressive approach and departure angles, the current Colorado ZR2 can get into (and out of) certain off-road trails where larger weapons like the Raptor and Power Wagon cannot tread. The development mule shown here looks to incorporate the same tricks with a belligerent front end ready to pound dunes and rocks into submission plus a ride height which seems to tip-toe over the existing ZR2.
Those are Goodyear Territory A/T tires, an appropriate choice for this type of rig but can certainly be swapped for any number of robust off-road meats at any point during development. Its four-door Crew Cab body is obvious, as is the attendant short box. Today’s ZR2 is also available in an Extended Cab variant with a long box; both styles are the same overall length. It’s unclear if this mix will continue after the refresh given the general public’s thirst for Crew Cab pickups. Note those burly rock sliders along its flanks as well.
Various and sundry rumour mills are pointing to an entirely different powertrain in the next Colorado ZR2, showing up as the 2.7L Turbo which also appears in big-brother Silverado. In that truck, the engine makes 310 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, the latter figure representing a 70 lb-ft jump in 2022 compared to older models. That amount of power in a mid-size ZR2 would be endlessly entertaining.
If this comes to pass, it will likely spell the end of Colorado’s current engine options: a 3.6L V6 gasser which is adequate, a 2.8L diesel which doesn’t fit the personality of the truck at all, and a 2.5L four-banger that no one talks about. Also allegedly on tap for the refreshed Colorado ZR2? A so-called “Baja Mode” which will likely be just the ticket for blasting dunes in Glamis.
So equipped, this bowtie would make a great foil for the upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor. Let the games begin.
Keyword: Spied! A slightly taller ride height for the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2