Yahoo Autos The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Will Be Your Favorite Off-Road Truck
It's been two years since Chevy first started teasing us with its mid-sized off-road pickup concept, but the wait for the real deal is finally over. The Colorado ZR2 comes with a much wider track, a lifted suspension and Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve dampers off a Camaro Z/28, functional rockers and modified bumpers for better clearance. You can spec it with a 3.6 V6 with 308 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque or a Duramax diesel offering 181 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft, both of which are mated to an 8-speed automatic. Used as a normal pickup, the ZR2 will tow up to 5,000 lbs. or carry 1,100 lbs. of payload.
Nine drive configurations will be available, ranging from basic 2WD through Auto 4WD to the most capable version, which comes with 4WD and low range, a locked transfer case, and locked front and rear differentials.
There's an "Off-Road Mode" button, which (in combination with the traction control switch) allows the throttle response, the shifter, the anti-lock brakes, the traction control and the stability control settings to be adjusted to your liking. More importantly, Chevy says the Colorado ZR2 is "about a foot narrower and 500 lbs. lighter than full-size off-road trucks," which should make it more capable in tight places in the wild.
Chevy's fancy suspension packs two spool valves providing both compression and rebound damping for daily driving, plus a third, piston-mounted spool valve for compression damping off road. The front dampers also have a separate rebound valve in case the suspension approaches full extension. The 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in Goodyear's 31-inch Duratrac tires.
The ZR2 has two inches greater ground clearance, and steel-tube rockers for when that's not enough. There's also an aluminum skid plate protecting the radiator and engine oil pan, as well as another shield guarding the transfer case.
The bed-mounted spare tire carrier seen at the LA Auto Show will be available as an option, looking cool while also improving the ZR2's departure angle.
Sounds like something that wants to get muddy.
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