spy shots Chevrolet ZR2 Bison Prototype Caught!

[Zane]

Zane Merva

Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com

5/7/18

 

Our trusty Spy Photographer has just caught the all new ZR2 Bison undergoing testing. We first talked about the Bison in early April when GM first registered a trademark. 

 

Here's what our photographer has to say followed up by the photos they captured. 

 

Quote

 

ZR2 Bison and The AEV Connection
Reports from Off-Road.com first announced GM’s trademark filing of the name “ZR2 Bison” in early April, and then predicted that the Bison was to be a production version of the Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept that debuted at last Fall’s SEMA show.  The ZR2 AEV Concept was the product of a joint effort between Chevrolet and famed upfitter American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), creating an extreme off-road version of the ZR2.  The ZR2 Bison moniker quickly makes sense when considering that the AEV logo includes an image of a bison.

 

Disguised ZR2 Bison Prototype Shows Several ZR2 AEV Concept Cues
The new, disguised prototype truck shows several design cues suggesting that we’re looking at a production version of the Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept that debuted at last November’s SEMA show in Las Vegas

• The ZR2 prototype gets a new front fascia, with a reworked grille sporting a thick crossbar—just as we see on the SEMA concept (which is emblazoned boldly with “CHEVROLET”).  

• The front bumper also looks to be redesigned, with a visible addition beneath the front grille mesh—that may point to an integrated winch.  The concept’s aggressive bull bar doesn’t appear to be installed on this prototype, but may be available as an optional upgrade through AEV.

• The front and rear fenders are both camouflaged—the front by a heavy vinyl bra, the rear by graphic wrap—likely hiding the concept’s more aggressively-flared, high-clearance wheel arches.  

• Another of the concept’s traits shows up on this disguised prototype—an A-pillar-mounted snorkel intake system.  The rear bumper is thoroughly camouflaged, as well.

• Unlike the crew cab configuration on the ZR2 AEV Concept, the prototype caught testing was an extended cab ZR2, suggesting that the Bison will be available with both of the Colorado’s cab styles.

 

More Than An Appearance Package
The ZR2 AEV concept was equipped with a revised suspension design for more extreme off-roading capability.  Among the changes that were listed in the concept’s design brief were:  a long-travel leaf spring rear suspension, specially tuned Multimatic DSSV shocks, stiffer high-angle tie rods and high-angle upper ball joints, and front and rear jounce shocks.  The functional goal for these upgrades is greater strength and durability, greater suspension travel, and greater wheel articulation.  These upgraded dirty bits will reportedly migrate to the production ZR2 Bison.

 

Production ZR2 Bison Shown At Vegas Dealer Meeting
Off-Road.com published reports from dealers confirming that Chevrolet showed a production ZR2 Bison, and that it followed the ZR2 AEV Concept very closely.  The witnesses said the ZR2 Bison that was shown lacked some of the over-the-top elements of the concept—like the bed rack system, and the integrated air-compressor set-up—but that similar items could be ordered from AEV to get very close to the concept shown at SEMA.

The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is expected to go on sale later this year.

 

 

 

 

[L86 All Terrain]

Why doesn't GM build a cool 1/2 ton already, or even offer a "special factory order"? I mean, do we really need special editions of special editions in the Colorado line, but we can't even option an LT4 in a Denali? I have no desire to drive a 1/4ton. Hopefully Ram builds the Hellcat truck soon then I am saying good-bye to GM for a while, until they make a cool full-sized truck again. SS454, Syclone, AWD SS etc. Great for doing something different, but in the wrong truck line IMO. 

[MikeNH]

The name written across the grill will be ugly. Chevrolet is too long a name for it. Ford can do it on the Raptor but the new Silverados that have that grill look horrible. 

[Cowboyman]

47 minutes ago, MikeNH said:

The name written across the grill will be ugly. Chevrolet is too long a name for it. Ford can do it on the Raptor but the new Silverados that have that grill look horrible. 

Sure looks that way doesn't it.....I agree with you on all counts.

[PhantomSierra16]

Looks like a GMC Canyon to me ???

 

and im Okay with that 

[MaverickZ71]

An AEV ZR2?  Whoa!  Sorry Ford Ranger Raptor and Jeep Scrambler pickup, I'll catch ya on the flip side.  Especially if the 'Bison' comes with a 3.0L Duramax and the others don't offer a diesel.    

Edited May 8, 2018 by MaverickZ71

[MaverickZ71]

23 hours ago, 10SierraA.T. said:

Why doesn't GM build a cool 1/2 ton already, or even offer a "special factory order"? I mean, do we really need special editions of special editions in the Colorado line, but we can't even option an LT4 in a Denali? I have no desire to drive a 1/4ton. Hopefully Ram builds the Hellcat truck soon then I am saying good-bye to GM for a while, until they make a cool full-sized truck again. SS454, Syclone, AWD SS etc. Great for doing something different, but in the wrong truck line IMO. 

Agreed.  They can't possibly be thinking the "Trailboss" will totally satisfy this market, can they??

[L86 All Terrain]

42 minutes ago, MaverickZ71 said:

Agreed.  They can't possibly be thinking the "Trailboss" will totally satisfy this market, can they??

I would sure hope not. The GMC AT4 doesn't even fill my liking as a two-time Sierra All Terrain owner. I am not even asking for a Raptor competitor or special build like the Bison. But on the build sheet of my next SLT Sierra, give me a box to check that says: engine option LT4 upgrade * needed: brake upgrade, wheel size upgrade = $10,000CAD. I will happily pay it. How many guys are putting that into their K2's by buying their own Whipple charger and Brembo brakes? This is a lot of potential money GM is leaving on the table for a select few customers. Who would build their own when they could order a "factory modded" unit with a full warranty? I don't need Fox Shocks and special grilles. Just give me some warrantied power that will strike fear into anyone in a F150 or Ram, because currently there are a lot of tune-only Ecoboosts than can mop the floor with a 6.2L and that is just downright sad. 

 

To have so much emphasis and options on the Colorado line-up, but nothing but $5,000 sticker packages for the 1/2tons kind of ticks me off. But as long as people fork out big dough for the sticker pack "special editions", they probably have no desire to make anything truly special. 

[MikeNH]

On 5/8/2018 at 4:55 PM, 10SierraA.T. said:

I would sure hope not. The GMC AT4 doesn't even fill my liking as a two-time Sierra All Terrain owner. I am not even asking for a Raptor competitor or special build like the Bison. But on the build sheet of my next SLT Sierra, give me a box to check that says: engine option LT4 upgrade * needed: brake upgrade, wheel size upgrade = $10,000CAD. I will happily pay it. How many guys are putting that into their K2's by buying their own Whipple charger and Brembo brakes? This is a lot of potential money GM is leaving on the table for a select few customers. Who would build their own when they could order a "factory modded" unit with a full warranty? I don't need Fox Shocks and special grilles. Just give me some warrantied power that will strike fear into anyone in a F150 or Ram, because currently there are a lot of tune-only Ecoboosts than can mop the floor with a 6.2L and that is just downright sad. 

 

To have so much emphasis and options on the Colorado line-up, but nothing but $5,000 sticker packages for the 1/2tons kind of ticks me off. But as long as people fork out big dough for the sticker pack "special editions", they probably have no desire to make anything truly special. 

 

Yep. Standard protocol for GM full-size special trims seems to be black wheels and stickers. Fullsize trucks are GM's cash cow and they play it sooooooo conservative because of that. The 6.2 is only available on trims that cost far too much, the 5.3 is down on power compared to the other V8s and GM won't do anything groundbreaking on the big trucks. It kills me because I want to get into another GM truck next year but the reasonably priced trims are ugly as sin and GM won't do anything interesting with the trucks. 

[L86 All Terrain]

On ‎2018‎-‎05‎-‎09 at 5:20 PM, MikeNH said:

 It kills me because I want to get into another GM truck next year but the reasonably priced trims are ugly as sin and GM won't do anything interesting with the trucks. 

Yeah, they put a big poster out front of my dealer that says $11k off for Truck Month to get you in the door, then you read the fine print and the deal is ONLY on Elevation edition Dbl cabs. I am trying to buy another 2500 for my business, but the salesman after saying they had "great incentives and finance rates", quoted me a price $500 above the stickered MSRP LOL. They must think I was born yesterday and haven't bought a truck before. They will never straight up tell you that the deal is only on one model, they just beat around the bush to see if they can set a hook on you. 

[qwank]

On 5/7/2018 at 7:17 PM, MikeNH said:

The name written across the grill will be ugly. Chevrolet is too long a name for it. Ford can do it on the Raptor but the new Silverados that have that grill look horrible. 

Just remember who did it first though, wasn't ugly back then 

 

[Colossus]

From that ad:  "Because putting you first, keeps you first."
I wonder when they lost sight of that. 

[MikeNH]

2 hours ago, qwank said:

Just remember who did it first though, wasn't ugly back then 

 

 

That looks great. The new Silverado does not.