After putting the 2023 Colorado ZR2 through its paces on a test drive, Chevrolet Performance engineers showed the media a disguised ZR2 Colorado. But we found the name “Bison” on a label on one of the tests DSSV Dampers on the truck, even though it didn’t say it was the new ZR2 Bison. The Bison is now a version of the ZR2 with better performance. Its unique long-travel suspension and 35-inch tires make it about two inches taller than a normal ZR2. It’s no longer an accessory device. Nevada’s McCarran International Airport—After a three-day off-road trip from Las Vegas to Reno through the Nevada desert, Chevrolet Performance experts showed us a beautiful disguised ZR2. The enormous 35-inch LT315/70R-17 tires on beadlock-capable rims were prominent, but a quick look under the car showed that it was much more than just a regular ZR2 with bigger tires. Taller By Two Inches First, the truck was about two inches taller than the ZR2 parked next to it. Half of that is because the radius of the 35s is an inch bigger, and the other half is because the suspension rise on the 35s is an inch more. The engineering sample “take-apart” Multimatic DSSV dampers, along with the high stance and bigger tires, suggest that the suspension on this new ZR2 model will be tuned in a certain way. But the new high-performance ZR2 looked like it had more suspension travel than the standard 9.9 inches in front and 11.6 inches in back. Also adding to this idea were the front and back hydraulic bump stops with the Chevrolet Performance brand. These were added to soften the landing and absorb the extremes of compression travel when driving off-road at high speeds. They were also there, so the car stood higher and had a wider gap between the fenders. Why It Appears to Be a Bison to Us Why do we think this ZR2, even though it has a higher octane number, is a Bison? This year’s accessories show version is the new ZR2 Desert Boss, which can turn the Bison into a high-performance version. The name “Bison” was written on one of the ID stickers on one of the tunable engineering-sample DSSV dampers. This was the second and most exciting thing that was found. Inside, there wasn’t much to see besides the new seat trim, which was black with a hint of red. No names or badges that were sewn on could be found. We only had a quick look under the hood, and it wasn’t something we planned to do, but we didn’t see anything that stood out. 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque come from the regular ZR2’s 2.7-liter turbo engine. However, the standard plastic cover is still there, and software and turbo boost can be used in less obvious ways to boost the engine’s output. We are now delighted No matter the truth about the engine, we’re excited about the idea of a genuine ZR2 Bison with noticeable speed gains. Based on the prototype we saw, which has a more prominent stance, 35-inch tires, and a long-travel suspension with hydraulic bump stops, the new ZR2 Bison will be precisely that. We’ve seen the performance wars between mid-size trucks now in full swing.
