Chevy’s midsize Colorado pickup truck has already received a facelift, so an all-new model is right on the horizon. Now, after a prototype of the regular version had been spotted back in May, our spy photographers were able to capture the vehicle in off-road ZR2 guise. Given how much camo this truck is wearing, you might think it would be difficult to confirm that it is in fact a ZR2. And to an extent, you’d be right, but there are a few things that give it away. For one, the taillight covers have “ZR2” markings on them, although they’re written backwards, which means they’re likely on the inside of the covers.
Additionally, the truck appears to feature the same high-riding stance, chunky tires, and Multimatic dampers as the outgoing truck, solidifying the ZR2 speculations even more. In terms of what’s actually new, the Colorado test truck features new side rock rails, an updated wheel design, and a slight tweak to the overall styling that comes complete with new lighting elements. There were no shots of the interior, but if nothing else, there’s a good chance it will at least get some more modern tech.
It is unclear what engine will be powering this new Colorado ZR2, but it’s safe to expect something similar to the existing model. Reports suggest that the truck will ride on the GM Global B platform, and will get the 2.7-liter inline-four from the GMC Sierra. In that truck, the powerplant is good for 310 hp and 472 Nm of torque, which would be a decent increase over the outgoing ZR2’s 308 hp and 373 Nm of torque. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is expected to go on sale sometime next year with the ZR2 coming after, although no official release date has been confirmed.
