SPIED Video: Is This Chevy’s Ford Raptor Fighter? This May Just Be The Silverado 1500 ZR2!

Could this be the long-rumored and awaited new Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2, the next level of GM’s off-road pickup trucks? Perhaps, it’s the next iteration of the Silverado 1500 Trail Boss? Let’s take a closer look at this prototype.

The Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 truck lineup is getting a significant update for the 2022 model year. We have seen many prototypes with camouflaged or covered front, rear, and interior components. This prototype is a bit different because it has a unique front end and appears to roll on larger tires.

The lower front-end features a larger skid plate and has no visible lower air dam or chin spoiler. The fenders appear a bit wider than those on a regular Silverado 1500 test truck. There is a large bulge on top of the hood, and the all-terrain tires appear to have a larger diameter. While the actual tire size is not visible in these images, some angles suggest these tires could measure 34 to 35 inches tall. Does it mean that we are looking at a Ford Raptor’s or Ram TRX’s direct competitor? This truck may not be as extreme as the Raptor or the TRX, because the fenders do not appear to be three inches wider on each side for additional wheel travel. Still, this may very well be a Silverado 1500 ZR2 – the next step above the current Trail Boss’s off-road capability.

We do not know what’s under the hood, but the rear dual-exhaust system suggests there is an internal-combustion engine that’s powering this truck. I am guessing that the engine lineup will be focused on the 6.2L V8 that is tuned to around 450 horsepower.

This prototype is riding on an independent front and a solid rear axle with leaf springs suspension. These images do not yet provide a view of the shocks. I am expecting that the Silverado ZR2 would use the latest DSSV Multimatic spool valve shocks, a larger version of the system that is currently available in the Colorado ZR2. GM has been testing these shocks on a racing Silverado truck for some time. Here is a closer look at the racing truck.

Here are several more views of this Chevy prototype truck. Let us know in the comments below: could this be a production Silverado ZR2 or a Silverado Trail Boss or a Silverado ZRX?

Here is the video with the latest spy shots.