The current generation Colorado mid-size pickup has been a sales success for Chevrolet and it certainly makes a good first impression when equipped in ZR2 guise. However, the current generation is on its way out, with the brand revealing that a next-generation model is waiting in the wings. Aftermarket tuner Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) is preparing a potent send-off with the all-new 2022 Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme Off-Road.
Bold Graphics Eliminate Any Sleeper Notions
The Xtreme Off-Road starts life as a short box equipped Colorado ZR2 but this is far from a sleeper truck, with SVE making several additions that boldly project the truck’s personality to the world. The “Xtreme” part of its name will be familiar to those that grew up with mid-1990 GM products with this custom repurposing the name for this particular application. But unlike those street-focused trucks, this one is a trail-ready bruiser thanks to its bold bed graphics, 18-inch alloy wheels mounted on meaty Nitto Recon Grappler tires, as well as a new front grille with “XTREME” lettering.
The interior can be equipped with an optional leather package that adds color contrast red and white stitching, as well as “XTREME V8 Supercharged” logos on the headrests. This package also addresses a core complaint that we have always had with the ZR2 and that’s the truck’s rather plain interior appointments which are a notable step behind the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro which does a better job advertising its off-road message to visitors that slip inside the cabin.
The V8 Makes Its Return To The Colorado
These days, the bulk of Colorado’s on the road are powered by GM’s 3.6 liter V6 a familiar workhorse that has seen duty in countless GM vehicles over the years. However, older Colorados were available with a V8 option, and SVE has revived this tradition here on the Xtreme Off-Road. The stock V6 is gone, and in its place is a supercharged 5.3 liter V8 that once saw duty in older GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado models.
The engine in stock form made 355 hp but the addition of an in-house built supercharger and an air to water intercooler has raised the power figure to 750 hp which allows the truck to surpass the bigger Ram TRX in outright muscle. SVE didn’t release any performance figures but did reveal that the engine has also benefited from other upgrades including forged internals, an upgraded fuel system and CNC ported cylinder heads. All of this power is routed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic and the truck not only retains the stock DSSV dampers, but also benefits from a 4.0-inch suspension lift to help it maintain its composure when going through rough trails or rock crawling.
How Can I Get One?
Like other aftermarket packages that GM offers on certain models, interested buyers do not go through SVE directly, and must instead reserve it through their local participating dealership. Buyers that order the SVE package will have to deposit an additional $10,000 when going through the purchase process for their truck. Once that happens, the truck is shipped to SVE, with the company sending the completed truck back to the dealership a few weeks later.
While recent events have made the broader pricing picture hard to pinpoint, the final sticker should firmly be in the $80,000 range before the cost of the donor ZR2 (and any accompanying markups) are factored into the mix. SVE will be building only 50 of these trucks so buyers will have to act quickly if they want a chance to secure their place in the order books.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.