Meet The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2: The Pick-Up with a Supercar Suspension

Meet the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, new performance variant of the Colorado pick-up suspension system that packs a supercar and, would you believe, the Duramax diesel engine.

Colorado ZR2 combines agility and maneuverability with a number of off-road features and technologies create the most capable pickup in the segment. Compared with standard Colorado, ZR2 has a wider track and suspension revoked. functional rocker has also been added for better performance over rocks and other obstacles while the bumper has been modified for better off-road clearance.

Colorado features both differences electronic locking front and rear and off-road applications first cancellation technology Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV).

Multimatic Inc., based in Markham, Ontario, is a well-known maker of Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) high performance dampers as used in motorsport champion vehicles, including recent Formula One winner. The first volume production vehicle equipped with a silencer DSSV is the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z / 28.

Chevy engineering teams partnered with Multimatic to achieve unprecedented balance of performance both on and off-road.

Compared with the deflected disc valving-general in most reducer, ZR2 employs a spool valve that offers improved manufacturing precision and repeatability along with improved ride and handling performance both on and off-road.

reducer DSSV Colorado ZR2 is a position-sensitive. aluminum body houses them every two spool valves provide compression and rebound damping are optimized for everyday driving. During extreme off-road use, the third, piston-mounted spool valve provide additional, unique adjustable, compression damping. Front dampers also employ separate rebound valve, which comes into play when the suspension approaches full extension.

Visually, the production version of the Colorado ZR2 similar to the concept shown at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. consumer response to the concept was so outstanding, the team knew they had to carry as much as the original design into production as possible.

Compared with the Colorado Z71, ZR2 have more aggressive side profile, with the suspension revoked two inches for greater ground clearance. Steel-tube, protective functional rocker will be standard equipment on ZR2, and strong enough to protect the body side of the truck, dragging the stone surface.

The ZR2 also equipped with 17 x 8-inch aluminum wheels, in a pattern exclusive to ZR2, wrapped in Goodyear Duratrac 31-inch off-road tires for exceptional traction.

The front and rear track has been widened by 3.5 inches (89 millimeters), with new cast-iron control arms for greater durability in off-road situations. As a result, the ZR2 offers greater wheel travel and stability while traversing steep grades.

The front bumper of the ZR2 has tapered ends, to increase the tire clearance when approaching obstacles. The bumper also integrates a thick, aluminum skid plate protecting the radiator and engine oil pan, while the transfer case is protected by an additional shield. Above the bumper, the ZR2 features a more aggressive grille and hood – with black insert – to complement the other exterior changes. A bed-mounted spare tire carrier, seen on reveal vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will be available as an accessory.

The ZR2 also features the most sophisticated four-wheel drive system in the segment. With class-exclusive, electronic-locking differentials front and rear and Chevrolet’s AutoTrac transfer case, the ZR2 offers nine drive configurations:

• 2WD
• 2WD, locked rear differential
• Auto 4WD
• Auto 4WD, locked rear differential
• 4WD Hi, locked transfer case
• 4WD Hi, locked transfer case and locked rear differential
• 4WD Lo, locked transfer case
• 4WD Lo, locked transfer case and locked rear differential
• 4WD Lo, locked transfer case, locked front and rear differentials

Extensive work was done to integrate the electronic lockers and allow them to seamlessly interact with the traction control, stability control, and hill-descent control. In addition, a new “Off-Road Mode” button, in combination with the traction control switch, allows the anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control calibrations to be tailored to different driving conditions. Off-road Mode also alters the throttle progression and shifts calibrations to give the driver better control and responsiveness.

The ZR2 shares its powertrains with the 2017 Colorado, and it will be the only extreme production off-road truck to offer the choice of gas or diesel engines.

The all-new 3.6L V-6, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, yields 308 horsepower and 373 Nm of torque, while the Duramax diesel engine produces 181 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque and will provide excellent range to overland drivers.

For the development of the Colorado ZR2, Chevrolet developed new off-road test areas at General Motors’ Yuma, Arizona Proving Ground.

The Yuma Proving Ground is located on 971 hectares of land in southeastern Arizona. Opened in 2009, Yuma features a range of tracks, laboratories and courses.

The new off-road facility has plenty of off-road simulations, including high-speed road desert; Low speed, crossing a river stone loose; and steep, technical climbs the hill and descent.

Yuma Proving Ground new off-road course allows teams to test multiple iterations of the components on ZR2 is one day. These components are then tested real-world facilities such as Moab, Johnson Valley, and Rubicon to ensure ZR2 is trail-ready straight from the factory.

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