2017 Colorado ZR2
OFF-ROAD WARRIOR By ALAN RIDER Photographs By ANDREW TRAHAN
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OFF-ROAD WARRIOR
WHERE THE PAVEMENT ENDS, THE FUN BEGINS WITH THE TRAIL-READY CHEVROLET COLORADO ZR2 consulting engineer on the project. His background in extreme mobility sus-
pension systems was particularly important as he worked with the group dedicated to developing the Colorado ZR2. In essence, the Colorado ZR2 had to be a standout performer in mobility—slowspeed crawling over rough terrain—as well as motivity, which is the faster desert running at higher speeds.
NEW CHALLENGES
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f you could design the ultimate off-road vehicle from scratch, you’d probably start by figuring out what you wanted to do with it and then adding all the right hardware—big tires, fender flares, stout skid plates, locking differentials and the like—to achieve your goal. Which is what a small team of engineers did in creating the brand-new off-roadready 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 pickup. Moreover, the Colorado ZR2 will stand apart by offering exceptional on-road ride comfort along with versatile off-road performance, effectively a segment of one.
GREEN LIGHT Like most eagerly awaited new models, this Colorado variant traces its roots to a concept vehicle, the ZR2 prototype revealed at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The enthusiastic response set in motion an intense developmental timeline. Legendary race truck designer Bryan Kudela, who has decades of experience in off-road vehicle dynamics, developing vehicles for off-road racing, rock crawling and rock racing, was tapped as the
The team quickly realized that neither the automaker’s Michigan nor Arizona proving grounds had terrain that could sufficiently challenge the ZR2. Fortunately, it was nothing that a few months with a rented bulldozer couldn’t fix. A mere 90 days later, the Yuma, Arizona, facility had both a six-mile highspeed desert course, the Saguaro Trail, and a slow-speed rock-crawling layout, Dynamite Hill. Both were direct byproducts of the ZR2’s field testing. “Every time we were out in the field and came across a piece of terrain that was particularly challenging, I measured it and made a detailed profile,” Kudela said. “Then we just recreated it on the new course at the Yuma Proving Ground.” The result was a demanding testing regimen that helped replicate the most extreme conditions and use that a potential customer could dish out. “From Day One, we just started beating the heck out of it to see what it could do,” said Brad Schreiber, vehicle dynamics engineer for the Colorado lineup.
PRETTY AMAZING For all its visible off-road hardware, Kudela is quick to point out that the Colorado ZR2—
BONUS CONTENT See more photos of the Colorado ZR2 at Chevrolet.com/NewRoads
which will be offered in both extended cab and crew cab body styles—is the real deal.
“This is not just a flashy appearance package—everything we put on it has a purpose,” he said. “We really concentrated on the functional attributes.” The design and content that separates the ZR2 from the top-of-the-line Colorado Z71 model on which it’s based starts with a more aggressive grille and hood as well as unique front fascia and modified front and rear bumpers that dramatically improve approach and departure angles. New fender flares cover the large 31-inch tires on 17-inch alloy wheels, while skid plates and rock sliders that protect the sides of the body round out the obvious additions. What’s less visible is the choice of a new 3.6L gasoline V6 that produces a V6 bestin-class 308 horsepower or an available Duramax® 2.8L turbo-diesel that puts out a best-in-class 369 lb.-ft. of torque. An 8-speed (V6) or 6-speed (diesel) automatic transmission and shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive with low-range gearing are matched to the engines. Front and rear electronic locking differentials are standard, as are hill descent control and an OffRoad Mode that alters engine and transmission calibrations to suit the terrain. “When you see the ZR2 it doesn’t look that extreme, yet what you can do with it is pretty amazing,” Kudela said.
NO COMPROMISES In addition to the hardware, Schreiber says it’s the ZR2’s modified suspension, which makes the truck 2 inches taller and gives it about a 3 1/2-inch-wider track, that’s the key to its capabilities. More to the point, he says the real secret lies in the truck’s Multimatic®-brand shock absorbers.
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Where to hit the trail
The specially engineered Multimatic suspension system enables incredible off-road capability along with on-road comfort and handling.
Because the 2017 Colorado ZR2 was built for playing in the dirt, we asked legendary four-wheel-drive trainer Bill Burke for advice on some of his favorite off-roading areas across the U.S. This is the first time the supplier’s highly tunable DSSV (Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve) technology has been used on an off-road vehicle. The technology is descended from suspensions originally used on Formula One race cars and high-performance street machines like the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. “We can actually modify several different zones of the damper’s stroke, so we had the ability to tune the suspension for a wide variety of different situations,” said Schreiber. The result is a no-compromises truck that’s just as adept at high-speed desert runs, lowspeed rock crawling and tight two-tracks as it is on any city street. “One of the key takeaways from the ZR2 is that the Multimatic dampers allowed us to develop extreme off-road capability without sacrificing onroad ride comfort and handling,” Kudela added. This wide dynamic range leads to a very practical payoff for truck buyers. “Most people don’t have the means to buy an off-road-ready vehicle and park it five days a week while they go to work,” Kudela said. “This is a truck they can commute in every day and then jump in on the weekends and go have fun.” LA Motorsports stunt driver Roger Richman, one of the first people outside of GM to drive the ZR2, summed up his experience this way: “I’m very impressed with the whole vehicle, especially its suspension,” he said. “Whether we were running through sandy washes at full throttle or slowly picking our way along a boulder-strewn trail, it took the toughest punishment we could dish out and it just kept going.”
SURPRISE ME
2017 Colorado ZR2 Key Features SUSPENSION Engineered to provide outstanding off- and on-road performance.
DIESEL ENGINE
Anza Borrego Desert State Park/California Considered a Southern California secret, this arid playground offers more than 500 miles of roads, some of which includes a harshly beautiful lunarlike landscape. Nearby Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area has even more desert.
White Rim Trail/Utah Situated in Canyonlands National Park’s Island In The Sky district just north of Moab, this 100mile trail offers stunning scenery at every turn. Campsites along the trail book up early, so it pays to plan ahead.
Rausch Creek Off-Road Park/Pennsylvania Sometimes referred to as the Moab of the East, this 3,000-acre park two hours northwest of Philadelphia offers everything from easy trails to extreme rockcrawling venues. Check out “instructional” trail rides held monthly.
Alpine Loop Trail/Colorado In an area known as the Switzerland of America, the 75 miles of old mining trails through the San Juan mountains offer a combination of relatively easy off-road motoring and expert-only 4WD sections. Highlights include two 12,000-foot passes and seven ghost towns.
Hot Springs Off-Road Vehicle Park/Arkansas Located near the resort town of Hot Springs, you’ll find more than 1,200 acres of trails ranging from relaxing jaunts to those that require big tires, locking differentials, a spotter and intense concentration.
Segment-exclusive available Duramax 2.8L turbo-diesel delivers 369 lb.-ft. of torque.
E-LOCKERS Segment-exclusive front and rear electronic locking differentials enable excellent traction on uneven surfaces or to climb rocks.
DESIGN Wider stance and higher ground clearance than baseline Colorado. Learn more at Chevrolet.com/ colorado-zr2-offroad-truck.html
Ultimately, Kudela believes the capability of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 will come as a real surprise to the market. “Once people see what the ZR2 can do, I think we’re going to convert owners of other off-roadready pickups in droves,” he said. n
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NEW ROADS
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