Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles joined
forces to create the Colorado ZR2 AEV concept for SEMA last year and it appears
the truck could soon be going into production.
Off-Road.com reports the production model will be
called the Colorado ZR2 Bison and it was recently shown to dealers at the Find
New Roads Experience in Las Vegas. According to one dealer who spoke with the
publication, the truck will be “nearly identical to the concept vehicle with
some minor differences.”
Chevrolet declined to confirm the report but the
concept was equipped with off-road bumpers, extended fender flares and AEV
beadlock wheels with 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 Mud-Terrain tires. The truck also
sported LED auxiliary lights, underbody skid plates, a bed rack and a snorkel.
Rounding out the highlights were an ARB refrigerator, a Warn winch and a
built-in air compressor.
While the Colorado ZR2 isn’t a slouch off-road, the
company installed a revised suspension which included specially tuned Multimatic
DSSV shocks and long-travel rear leaf springs. The suspension also had
high-angle tie rods, plunging front half-shafts and a high-angle upper ball
joint.
All of these components won’t carry
over to the production model as the report suggests the Colorado ZR2 Bison will
eschew the snorkel, bed rack and air compressor. It’s probably safe to assume
the Warn winch and refrigerator are also a no-go.
While the concept was powered by a 2.8-liter Duramax
diesel engine, the production model should also be available with a 3.6-liter
V6 that produces 308 hp and 373 Nm of torque. It has
significantly more horsepower than the diesel which develops 186 hp and 500 Nm of torque.
The Colorado ZR2 Bison is expected to arrive in
showrooms shortly but it will likely be expensive as the standard truck starts
at US$ 40,995.
