Preview Photos: Chevy Finalizes Preparation of New Trail-Ready Colorado
Chevy’s certainly been making some serious waves in the mid-and-small-size pickup segments lately, and given the constant competition and fierce one-upsmanship that tends to define the pickup game, we’re of the opinion that it’s no small feat. At the top of the Chevy pickup roster recently has been the Colorado, a popular update to Chevy’s long-running reputation for sturdy and reliable small trucks. Emerging in recent years to begin a climb to the top of sales and critics’ lists, the Colorado currently continues an exciting evolution that stands at the center of a worthwhile attempt to bring Chevy’s pickup expertise to as many specialized segments as possible.
With such concerted effort clearly going into maximizing the range and capability of the Colorado design lately, it only makes sense that evidence of some exciting new entries in the model’s lineage have been popping up in the eager sights of industry journalists. Recently, photographers captured some tantalizing images of a new Colorado variation that bears a striking resemblance to the Colorado ZR2 off-road concept that was shown at the Los Angeles auto show in 2014. As some of Chevy’s competitors have been busy in the specialized off-road arena, we can only assume that an official version of the Colorado ZR2 is very close to bringing some fierce competition to the segment. Of course, it’s only cause for celebration here, and Chevy’s recent successes in the pickup market have got us feeling more confident than ever about seeing some of the best that the company has to offer.
The new photos also showcase of good handful of the additions and adjustments we can expect from this new, trail-ready Colorado. Featuring a reduced front bumper area and a heavy-duty skidplate, clearance and underbelly toughness are clearly issues that have been considerately addressed. Larger off-road tires are standard, of course, and upon inspection seem to be situated in a wider configuration which should also help to add to the new variation’s sturdiness off the pavement. The ZR2 concept featured the company’s highly efficient 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine, and critics believe that it will likely arrive to power the new model alongside a current-standard 3.6-liter Duramax gas option as well. How far the company will go in bringing the concept’s specialized front and rear differentials and monotube shocks to bear is still yet to be verified, but we find it unlikely that Chevy will miss the opportunity to bring one of its most well-received recent concept vehicles as fully to life as possible.
While we prepare ourselves to receive the rough-and-ready new trail version of the Colorado, the standard version continues to stack up some impressive numbers in sales and industry recognition. We’ll be waiting to share all the news with you as it arrives, and be sure to catch up with us soon if you find yourself curious to investigate the excellent new Chevy Colorado. We’ll be ready for you on both fronts here at Apple Chevy!
