Chevy Confirms ZR2 Trim Will Join The Silverado Lineup This Fall: News

Here's our first look from GM, at least

2022 chevy silverado 1500 zr2 ford raptor confirmed

The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 is just one in a series of updates coming in a few months’ time.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen some strong hints that the ZR2 trim — relaunched in 2017 with the midsize Colorado — would make its way up to Chevy’s half-ton Silverado later this year. Now, GM confirmed that Wednesday with the badge teaser shown above as well as a short clip sent through the company’s social media channels:

There’s really not much new information we can derive from that short teaser just yet. Fortunately, the camouflaged Silverado ZR2 trucks we’ve seen out in the wild give some of the game away. As you’d expect, many of the changes boil down to off-road kit, including a beefier front skid plate. The fenders also look more flared than on, say, a Silverado Trail Boss, and we may well see a more aggressive front end to match the Ford F-150 Raptor’s look. Whether GM will back that up with more power is a mystery at this point, but it wouldn’t be too farfetched to expect a bit more grunt from the 6.2-liter V8. Andre estimates the updated truck will put out about 450 horsepower, and I’d agree that’s a realistic expectation.

Now, the two pieces we’d really expect to set the Silverado ZR2 apart are the tires and suspension setup. Like its smaller sibling, the half-ton ZR2 should use GM’s DSSV Multimatic spool valve shocks. GM used it on a desert race truck in the past, so that sort of development coupled with real-world use on a Silverado makes its appearance on the production truck a virtual certainty. As for the tires, prototype trucks are rolling around on what look like Goodyear Wrangler Territory MTs. We see those same tires in the video above and that’s been more of a go-to for off-road trucks and SUVs lately. I’d call that a shoo-in for the ZR2 package, but tires are always subject to change based on an automaker’s whim and available supply.

Here is our take on the upcoming 2022 (or 2023) Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 off-road truck.

We should know much more in the coming weeks now that this official announcement is out.