COVID has changed a lot of things, starting with our work habits, millions of Americans now calling home their office too. While we might not commute as much as we used to, the pandemic has also encouraged more of us to spend time outdoors. And that’s prodded automakers to launch an array of new off-road models.
Some are just gussied-up crossovers capable to handling the occasional bout with mud and ruts. But there are plenty of more serious off-road models, and that’s where the new 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison comes in.
It takes the already rugged Silverado ZR2 model just launched early this year and turns things up a notch, transforming the pickup into the sort of machine capable of handling pretty much anything you might throw at it.
It’s actually the second special package to result from a joint effort pairing the bowtie brand and Montana-based American Expedition Vehicles. The original product, the 2019 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison, gave a big boost to the image of the midsize pickup, showing it capable of standing up to the likes of the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
Now, with the upcoming launch of the Silverado package, Chevy hopes to take on the likes of the Ford F-150 Raptor R and Ram 1500 TRX.
It falls a bit short on the horsepower side but has plenty more going for it.
The next chapter
“Our most recent collaboration with AEV resulted in the much-acclaimed Colorado ZR2 Bison,” said Scott Bell, Chevrolet vice president.
“We’re thrilled to team up again to bring customers Chevrolet’s next chapter of off-road dominance, this time on Silverado. The 2023 Silverado ZR2 Bison unlocks the pinnacle of the nameplate’s off-road capability.”
Until now, the ZR2 was the toughest version of the Silverado Chevy has fielded and that says a lot. It features increased front and rear suspension travel, unique springs, Multimate 40 mm DSSV spool-valve dampers and front and rear e-lockers.
But the Bison turns a tough truck into an absolute brute adding:
- Five hot-stamped boron steel skid plates Chevy claims are 350% stronger than conventional, cold-stamped steel skid plates;
- Unique front and rear bumpers adding features like step pads and tow hooks, and capable of adding a front winch;
- Steel rocker panel protection; and
- 18-inch gloss black wheels shot in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.
Checking all the boxes
Bison is built for rock crawling. It increases the ZR2’s front approach angle from 31.8 to 32.5 degrees. Its departure angle, meanwhile, increases from 23.3 to 23.4 degrees. Both trucks share ground clearance of 11.2 inches.
Under the hood, the Bison boasts a 6.2-liter V-8 paired with a 10-speed automatic beefed up to handle the additional stresses. It’s a strong package at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque — though its more in line with the Ford F-150 Raptor, its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 putting out 450 hp and 510 lb-ft, than the Raptor R’s supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 which punches out 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque.
“The Silverado ZR2 Bison checks all the boxes,” AEV CEO and Founder Dave Harriton said in a joint statement. “We are confident off-road enthusiasts are going to love this truck.”
Look for the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison to go into production by “early 2023,” and reach showrooms by spring. Chevy says the new truck will start at $78,490, including delivery fees.
A truck for those buyers with ED.