Rightly or wrongly, automakers are betting more than ever on off-road-focused variants of their pickup trucks. In all economic logic, this is a good way to increase profit margins thanks to sustained demand for this type of product. After the Ford Ranger Raptor and the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter, it is now the turn of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison to want to have its place in the sun on steep trails.
Without having the mechanical arguments of the Ranger Raptor equipped with a biturbo V6 of 405 hp or the evolutionary aspect of the Tacoma Trailhunter, offered with a hybrid mechanics of 326 hp, the suitor relies on its chassis to stand out.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GENERAL MOTORS
Multimatic shocks designed specifically for off-roading complete the package with robust skid plates fixed under the frame.
Having angles of attack (38.2 degrees) and ramp (26.9 degrees) far superior to those of its rivals, it puts on huge boots 35 in. in diameter provided by the manufacturer OD. They are of the “beadlock” type, so they can be screwed to the rims to prevent them from slipping. Multimatic shocks designed specifically for off-roading complete the package with robust skid plates fixed under the frame. Note that the leaf springs remain present at the rear, unlike the Ranger and Tacoma.
This Colorado ZR2 can only be enhanced with the 2.7L turbo four-cylinder engine producing 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission and two locking differentials. It goes without saying that for attacking the less hospitable paths, these intermediate pickups definitely make more sense than the full-size ones due to their more compact format.