Chevy’s new Colorado ZR2 Bison goes where others cannot

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is an extreme off-roader you can use right out of the box

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a brand-new collaboration between Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), aiming to provide an extreme off-road vehicle that you can use right out of the box.

As an off-road machine, the regular ZR2 was already pretty impressive with front and rear electronic locking differentials, Multimatic shocks, and an available 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine, but the Bison takes it a few steps further.

AEV’s treatment has added five hot-stamped Boron steel skid plates covering all the vitals of the truck, including the oil pan, transfer case, gas tank, and front and rear locking differentials. This will ensure that the underside of the vehicle stays protected when trudging across the road less travelled.

The toys don’t stop at stamped steel, though. You also get 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires wrapped around 17-inch aluminum wheels, all sitting beneath wider fender flares. In between the wheels is a 3.5-inch wider axle, with a 3.42 gear ratio, all lifted two inches taller than the standard Colorado.

The traditional bowtie grill has been swapped out for a breathe-through Chevrolet script, and will help the 186 horsepower, 369 lb.-ft. turbodiesel get all the air it needs. A six-speed automatic drives power to all four wheels, by way of the Autotrac transfer case. And if all of this dirty excitement isn’t enough for you, a snorkel is also available from AEV to help air filtration on dusty trails.

The 2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison will go on sale next January, with a limited factory warranty.