With the Ram TRX and the Ford F-150 Raptor duking it out in the high-performance off-road segment, Chevrolet’s Silverado ZR2 has contently preferred to go about business in its own unique way. Trading raw speed for backwoods prowess, the folks at Chevrolet have already seen strong demand for its bow tie badged bruiser. However, more power and more capability are the defining hallmarks of the segment, and Chevrolet has begun teasing the latest addition to the family, the Silverado ZR2 Bison.
Bigger ZR2 Bison Aiming For Bigger Prey
For now, the only view of the truck that we get to see is the front fascia, but despite GM’s attempts at hiding it in the shadows, there are still some core details that stand out from stock ZR2s. The front bumper is all-new and has allegedly been redesigned to help provide higher amounts of approach angle. The grille is blacked out and it appears that the headlights have been slightly tweaked for this particular application. The cherry-red tow hooks have also been deleted, but we suspect that American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) will have something to replace those (they did make a set of hooks on a Jeep that could be lifted by a helicopter.)
The real question though is what will be powering the ZR2 Bison with rumors suggesting that it could be exclusively offered with GM’s 3.0 liter Duramax inline-six diesel. The smaller Colorado ZR2 Bison is a diesel exclusive, and this would help promote family ties. That said, diesel prices have rapidly risen, and Chevrolet could be motivated to also offer the 6.2 liter V8 instead (or along with it) in an attempt to reach a broader pool of customers.
When Will We See The ZR2 Bison?
Other than the shadowy video, Chevrolet is keeping key details to itself but the ZR2 Bison is slated to make its official debut this summer. Look for the Silverado ZR2 Bison to follow the same tire tracks as the Colorado ZR2 Bison when it comes to equipment with a purported list of features posted by the forum GMInsideNews appearing to offer a rudimentary blueprint of what owners can expect.
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.