Will General Motors introduce an all-new 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison model next year? It’s all but officially confirmed at this point. Also, the Chevrolet fleet order guide confirms a redesigned new “LZ0” 3.0-liter Duramax I6 turbo-diesel. Here are all the details.
2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison?
The all-new 2022 Silverado ZR2 is just now reaching dealerships and new customers as we speak, and rumors about the upcoming 2023 ZR2 Bison version of the Silverado begin to swirl. The 2022 model is a 6.2-liter V8-powered lifted Silverado truck on 33-inch tall tires and DSSV Multimatic spool-valve shocks. Chevrolet appears to take a similar approach with this truck as they did with the Colorado ZR2 Bison. The powertrain and suspension remain mostly the same, but an ultra-tough boron-steel skid plate and bumper package by AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) is added to it. Think of it as a ZR2 with additional protection to enable long-distance off-road travel and rock crawling.
Where are these rumors coming from? Here is one place – ChevyZR2.com forum. This thread shows an alleged screenshot from an internal dealership ordering system that lists Silverado ZR2 Bison (Q81) package options. This is basically a dealership leak. These include front, transfer case, fuel tank, and rear differential skid plates. It also lists Bison Edition front and rear bumpers.
The public GMFleetOrderGuide.com currently has 2023 Silverado 1500 ordering information, but the Silverado ZR2 Bison Edition is currently not listed. The new Bison Edition is unconfirmed by Chevrolet. We will let you know when we hear new information about this.
Although, there’s something else that is confirmed officially for the 2023 Silverado 1500. Look below.
New 3.0L Duramax I6 Turbo-Diesel
The 2023 Silverado 1500 lineup is getting some minor updates according to the official GMFleetOrderGuide.com. One of the most significant changes is an upgrade to the 3.0-liter Duramax I6 turbo-diesel engine. The current generation of the popular 3.0L straight-six is referred to as LM2. The next generation of the engine is referred to as LZ0.
The next generation of the engine is labeled “NEW!” in the guide. However, the new power specifications are not yet listed. The current LM2 3.0L Duramax is rated at 277 hp @ 3,750 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm. This engine is currently mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission.
The new 2023 turbo-diesel engine will have an additional 10-speed automatic transmission option, this transmission is called the MQB 10-speed. It is listed to handle up to 627 lb-ft of torque! What!? 627 lb-ft of torque. This is the official transmission rating listed on the GM site as you see below.
Does it mean that the new 3.0L Diesel will make over 600 lb-ft of torque? This is unlikely. The transmission is typically rated to handle more torque than the engine is able to produce. However, a torque number over 500 lb-ft from the new diesel H.O. version is highly possible. Jeep has a new 3.0L straight-six gasoline twin-turbo engine with 500 lb-ft of torque. Now, it’s GM’s turn to answer with an even more torquey small diesel!
