Global Courant 2023-05-31 18:30:45
Rating: 2023 GMC Canyon AT4
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Chevrolet is ready to release its baby Bison.
The 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison is a high-performance version of the all-new pickup that Chevy says is “the most capable mid-sized truck.”
Chevy already has a Silverado ZR2 Bison that sits atop the full-size pickup performance ladder and offered a ZR2 Bison version of the previous-generation Colorado.
Both were developed with the help of American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), the off-road vehicle parts specialist, and build on the standard ZR2 trim, which is far from standard.
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The Colorado ZR2 Bison is the highest performing version of the mid-sized truck. (Chevrolet)
The Colorado ZR2 is equipped with a 310 hp four-cylinder turbocharged engine and a suspension system designed for high-speed off-road driving.
The Colorado ZR2 Bison has five skid plates under the body. (Chevrolet)
It features a special type of shock absorber originally developed by Multimatic for on-road racing cars, but has since been developed for use in off-road trucks.
It uses a series of control valves to precisely control fluid flow in the shocks to optimize their damping characteristics depending on the input. This allows them to provide a controlled and smooth ride, but also to deal with the kind of shocks a truck takes when going over big bumps and even when jumping.
Shock absorbers, left, help keep the truck from bottoming out during high-speed off-roading. (Chevrolet)
The Colorado ZR2 Bison keeps the shocks but adds a set of Multimatic shock absorbers that prevent the suspension from bottoming out in the most extreme riding conditions. The Colorado ZR2 Bison is now the only truck to come out of the factory with this type of feature, which is usually installed as an aftermarket part.
The Colorado ZR2 Bison is equipped with an off-road launch control system. (Chevrolet)
The traction management system has also been upgraded with a launch control system that works on dirt and allows the driver to hold down the brake and accelerator pedals and then release the brake for maximum acceleration. After one try, it even learns the coefficient of friction of the surface and adjusts itself to optimize the effect on the next try.
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Additional equipment includes AEV-designed steel bumpers, with provisions for a front winch, and a set of five boron steel skid plates to match its 11.9 inches of ground clearance.
The Colorado ZR2 Bison has 11.9 inches of ground clearance. (Chevrolet)
The Colorado ZR2 Bison rides on a unique set of 17-inch wheels with 35-inch mud-terrain tires and comes with a bed-mounted tire carrier for a full-size spare tire with a tire pressure monitoring system so you know if it’s full when you hit the trail.
A full size spare wheel carrier mounted on the bed has a tire pressure monitoring system. (Chevrolet)
The Colorado ZR2 Bison will compete against the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota Tacoma TRD pro when deliveries begin in the fall.
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Chevrolet hasn’t announced pricing for the Colorado ZR2 Bison, but the Colorado ZR2 starts at $48,295, and the Bison package for the Silverado ZR2 costs $7,895.
Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital’s automotive editor.
