The brand new Silverado HD ZR2 and ZR2 Bison can go off-roading on the weekend and tow as much as 18,500 lbs through the work week
by Michael Gauthier
April 13, 2023 at 09:00
by Michael Gauthier
Off-road targeted vans are coveted by younger and prosperous patrons, and this makes them a no brainer from a enterprise perspective. Nonetheless, Chevrolet has by no means supplied a rugged heavy-duty pickup.
That’s altering at the moment with the introduction of the all-new Silverado HD ZR2 and ZR2 Bison. Designed to sort out the good open air, the fashions full Chevrolet’s trifecta and provides the bowtie model an adventure-ready pickup within the mid-size, full-size, and heavy-duty segments.
Supplied solely in a 2500 Crew Cab configuration, the vans are designed to mix the “off-road efficiency our clients have come to count on from a ZR2” with the “towing and payload capabilities our HD clients demand.” As a part of this effort, the ZR2 has been geared up with an off-road targeted suspension that options distinctive higher and decrease management arms, new steering knuckles, and Multimatic DSSV dampers. The suspension has additionally been lifted by roughly 1.5 inches (38 mm) and this offers the vans as much as 11.8 inches (299 mm) of floor clearance.
Extra: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD Debuts With Up to date Appears, Classier Inside, And Upgraded Diesel
The upgrades don’t finish there because the Silverado HD ZR2 has an aluminum entrance skid plate and a bigger metal switch case skid plate. Consumers will even discover a rear e-locker and 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, which is a primary for a Chevy truck. Whereas a entrance locker isn’t included, officers used a media briefing final week to say the truck’s stability management system supplies 95% of the identical functionality.
One factor patrons will discover is a brand new off-road driving mode. It adjusts throttle and transmission settings in addition to tweaks the “anti-lock brakes, traction management, and stability management to optimize their efficiency for off-road driving.”
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Due to the raise and 35-inch tires, the truck seems to be much more aggressive than the mainstream variants. Nonetheless, these aren’t the one styling upgrades because the ZR2 sports activities a singular grille with a “flow-tie” emblem. Consumers will even discover black fender flares with built-in mudguards.
In addition to the particular touches, the vans have side-mounted mattress steps, a DuraBed cargo field, and a nook step rear bumper. They’re joined by an influence tailgate and an out there Multi-Flex tailgate.
Chevrolet didn’t say a lot in regards to the inside, however the truck may have Jet Black and Graystone leather-based in addition to darkish trim. We will additionally see yellow distinction stitching in addition to a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.4-inch infotainment system.
Silverado HD ZR2 Bison Is Even Extra Excessive
The Silverado HD ZR2 Bison was developed in collaboration with AEV, and it sports activities a clearance-maximizing metal entrance bumper with built-in restoration factors in addition to provisions for a winch. A metal bumper will also be discovered again, whereas there are stamped metal underbody skid plates to guard the steering rack, exhaust, and switch case.
Rounding out the highlights are gloss black 18-inch AEV wheels and Bison badging on the mattress. The mannequin additionally sports activities AEV logos on the entrance headrests.
An Off-Roader That Can Tow Up To 18,500 Kilos
The Silverado HD ZR2 comes geared up with a 6.6-liter V8 fuel engine that develops 401 hp (299 kW / 407 PS) and 464 lb-ft (628 Nm) of torque. It’s linked to a 10-speed Allison transmission and a typical four-wheel drive system.
Nonetheless, almost 70% of shoppers are anticipated to go for the out there 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8. It’s the plain alternative because it develops 470 hp (350 kW / 477 PS) and 975 lb-ft (1,320 Nm) of torque. It additionally comes paired with an Allison transmission and four-wheel drive.
Since 96% of Silverado HD clients tow, the corporate ensured the ZR2 can tow as much as 18,500 lbs (8,391 kg). The mannequin additionally sports activities a payload capability of as much as 3,397 lbs (1,541 kg), which is barely 179 lbs (81 kg) lower than the mightiest 2500 4WD.
The Silverado HD ZR2 and Silverado HD ZR2 Bison will go into manufacturing this summer time and be inbuilt Flint, Michigan. Officers have been mum on pricing and would solely say the truck could be “aspirational however obtainable.” In fact, obtainable is subjective because the Silverado 1500 ZR2 begins at $73,395 and the heavy-duty truck will undoubtedly be much more costly.