The upcoming Canyon AT4X will be GMC’s version of the Colorado ZR2.
GMC
GMC teased an upcoming hardcore off-road version of the Canyon, dubbed the AT4X, in an image shared Thursday. Likely to be similar in setup to the Chevy Colorado ZR2, the AT4X is also our first look at the 2023 redesign of General Motors’ two mid-size trucks.
The company says the next-generation Canyon will be revealed this summer, which is when we’ll also get details on the upcoming AT4X. But it shouldn’t be too hard to guess the formula. The new GMC Sierra AT4X is likely the red-badged version of the Silverado ZR2, Chevy’s most capable and enthusiast-oriented off-road full-size truck. Since the ZR2 version of the Colorado exists, a GMC-badged version is an easy sell.
Road & Track writer Brian Silvestro drifting a Colorado ZR2.
Karl Stone
From the teaser, we can tell the new version will take a similar approach to the existing ZR2. The truck is clearly lifted compared to a standard current Canyon and has big rocker protectors to prevent dirt and rocks from scuffing its paint. It rides on special wheels that GM confirms are bead-lock capable, wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires. An earlier report from Muscle Cars & Trucks suggests that 33-inch tires could be on the menu.
We hope and expect to see the return of the dynamic spool-valve dampers from the Colorado ZR2, too. Those dampers, which we called the most clever shocks you can get on any car, allow the ZR2 to have a remarkable ride on-road despite its shocking wheel travel and composure over all sorts of nasty terrain. We also expect to see significant underbody protection, a variety of electronic off-road aids, and electronic locking differentials at the front and rear. Official details, though, won’t be available until summer.
Keyword: GMC Is Launching a Hardcore Off-Road Version of the Canyon