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Chevrolet is expanding the performance envelope of the Colorado with the ZR2 AEV concept and ZR2 Race Development Truck. Revealed at the SEMA Show, the trucks demonstrate the capability of Colorado and its off-road performance variant, the Colorado ZR2, according to Chevy.
“Colorado has reignited the midsize segment with class-exclusive features and performance,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of truck strategy in performance vehicles and motorsports for Chevy. “Some customers want even greater capability, and the ZR2 AEV concept and ZR2 Race Development Truck showcase the efforts we’ve made to explore how owners can get even more from their trucks.”
The Colorado ZR2 AEV concept, created in collaboration with off-road manufacturer American Expedition Vehicles and featuring the available 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine, elevates the already capable ZR2 for even greater adventures.
The ZR2 AEV concept and the ZR2 Race Development Truck feature a Chevrolet Performance development suspension that includes:
- Front and rear jounce shocks, plunging front half-shafts, high-angle upper ball joint and increased stiffness high-angle tie rods
- Long-travel rear leaf spring suspension, anti-wrap link and rear differential cover
- Specially tuned Multimatic DSSV Shocks
The concept’s unique content includes:
- AEV front and rear off-road bumpers, complete underbody skid protection, expedition bed rack, high clearance fender flares and high-rise snorkel
- AEV DualSport beadlock wheels
- 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 Mud-Terrain tires
- Front and rear high output LED auxiliary lighting
- ARB refrigerator/freezer, Equipt aluminum storage cases, NATO-style fuel cans and James Baroud USA awning in the bed
- Recovery shackles, Hi-Lift jack, Warn 9.5xp-s winch and MAXTRAX
ZR2 Race Development Truck
The ZR2 Race Development Truck builds on the ZR2’s desert-running capability with a long-travel version of the stock truck’s DSSV shocks, according to Chevy. These are tuned for high-speed off-road use, adding unique parts validated by Chevy Performance Engineering and off-road racer Chad Hall in the Best in the Desert racing series:
- 1.5-inch body lift
- 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires
- Rear shock skidplates
- Rear differential skidplate
- Steel driveshaft
- Wheel spacers with extended-length wheel studs
- Off-road air intake and performance exhaust
The ZR2 Race Development Truck also shares the 3.6-liter V-6 and segment-exclusive eight-speed transmission with ZR2. Both trucks leverage the electronic locking front and rear differentials, Off-Road mode and additional elements from the regular production ZR2.
Colorado celebrates its three-year anniversary this month, with more than 250,000 sales in 36 months, according to Chevy.