CHEVROLET SILVERADO ZRX: EXCLUSIVE DETAILS

We recently revealed that General Motors would significantly improve its trucks starting in the 2021 model year, starting with interior upgrades for the Chevrolet Silverado T1 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks. However, this is just the beginning. Sources familiar with General Motors' pickup truck plans said the van portfolio will include more off-road variants as market demand continues to grow in this area. And we'll see that with the Chevrolet Silverado ZRX.

MC & T learned that Chevrolet was aiming to fight the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ram 1500 Rebel by equipping the Silverado with an improved off-road suspension, Multimatic DSSV shock absorbers at the rear and electronic lock differentials, as well as improved approach and departure angles. If that sounds a lot like the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 formula, it's because it does. We expect incredible off-road capabilities from the Silverado ZRX.

However, like Colorado, do not expect an energy upgrade. General Motors currently has two perfectly compact V8 block-fired warheads in the arsenal with the 650 hp LT4 and the 755 hp LT5, but the company continues to be very conservative in its application.

Meanwhile, FCA has the opposite strategy with the upcoming Ram Rebel TRX, as it will be equipped with the famous Hellcat supercharged V8 engine of more than 700 horsepower. And people love it.

Ariane's small wire, General Motors recently filed the "ZRX" brand name for use on automobiles during the Woodward Dream cruise weekend of 2019. Additional details, such as price and date of revelation, are unknown for the moment. That said, the deployment is scheduled for the 2022 model year. Given what Chevrolet has done with the Colorado ZR2, we could very well see this vehicle in shape before the reality.

Apart from speculation, ZRX would be a type of urban performance truck, as it appeared in the 2000s as a trim level for GMC Sonoma, which came with a unique suspension system and body. We understand that this new application will have no historical relevance for street-oriented performance gathering.

Without any power upgrade, this would mean that the future Chevrolet Silverado ZRX will feature at most a naturally aspirated 6.2L L6 V8 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission. It's good for 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It's a good thing for most people, but far from the 450 hp / 510 lb-ft EcoBoost output from the F-150 Raptor. If Chevrolet does not dry up accordingly on the Silverado ZRX, its efforts to provide the market for an all-terrain truck could be seen as too little and too late.

That said, the Silverado ZRX's USP offers the option to offer the Duramax LM2 diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft to 3.0 L. This is important because when both Ford and Ram offer engines diesel in their full-size pickups, they have them until here kept out of their off-road variants. While Chevrolet did not hesitate to do it with the smaller Colorado ZR2. Finally, Chevrolet has established a relationship with American Expedition Vehicles with the Colorado ZR2 Bison Special Project. We will not rule out a second collaboration between the two companies with the new Silverado ZRX.