Chevrolet will reportedly use the lessons
learned from the Colorado ZR2 pickup and apply them in creating a ZR2 variant
of the 2023 Silverado. It is claimed that the 2023 Silverado ZR2 will come
complete with new off-road-focused suspension that includes next-generation
Multimatic DSSV dampers. In addition, the pickup will allegedly sport front and
rear electronic locking differentials and be equipped with bespoke front and
rear bumpers that improve the approach and departure angles.
Muscle Cars & Trucks adds that the
Chad Hall Racing Silverado unveiled at the 2019 SEMA Show was actually
previewing the Silverado ZR2. That pickup truck came equipped with a unique
suspension setup, underbody plating and BFG all-terrain tires. Chevrolet was
apparently targeting 2022 as the launch year for the new ZR2, but this has been
pushed back to the 2023 model year because of the coronavirus.
In an ever-competitive market of
off-road-focused pickup trucks that includes the Hellcat-powered Ram 1500 TRX
and a potential Ford F-150 Raptor with the engine of the Shelby GT500,
Chevrolet won’t make any significant engine modifications to the Silverado ZR2.
As such, it will probably be offered with GM’s 355 hp L84 5.3-liter V8 and the
L87 6.2-liter V8 that is good for 420 hp and 624 Nm of torque.
If reports prove accurate, Ram does indeed
launch a non-supercharged version of the TRX and the new F-150 Raptor is also
offered with a PowerBoost hybrid V8 alongside the GT500’s engine, the Silverado
ZR2 should match up quite nicely.
