2021 Chevy Colorado's New Face Roars Fiercely onto Autobuzz.com Blog Feature

The perfect sized and spec'd out truck for the pleasantly warm days of summer is enough to brighten anyone's day: even if it is time to go to the cubicle instead of the lake, you're in for a solid yet very smooth ride. It was last October when Chevy lifted the veil off the 2021 Colorado face-lift, and at that time it was only the ZR2 version that was shown to the public. This past week on the ultra-cool Carbuzz.com blog, there are some more newly released photos of the LT and Z71 trims featuring the updated styling.

 

At first glance, they look a bit less extreme than the hardcore ZR2 off-road variant that everyone loves, but still a bit more aggressive than the 2019 model thanks to the larger vents and bolder grille stance. The Chevy bow-tie emblem has seen some tweaking, and the tailgate has embossed “Chevrolet” lettering now in place of the previous model's bow-tie, which is identical to what is found on the rear of the Silverado. The air dam under the bumper has also been adjusted to improve overall dynamics, as the center part rises upward to improve the approach angle and the whole air dam can be removed if you need to.

Like the 2020 model, the 2021 Colorado is offered with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that produces 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, and a hefty 2.8-liter Duramax 4-cylinder diesel that cranks out 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. We hope you come down to visit us here at West Chevy of Knoxville and check out the three new colors, new wheel designs, and a one-inch lift kit that has all been added to the 2021 Colorado options list.

The Extended Work Truck trim is where the pricing tier begins on the low end, and the Base Extended Cab Version is expected to be discontinued. Production of this 2021 model will begin at the end of June, and we expect popularity to skyrocket as this is the avid and hearty truck owner's dream come true: stiff competition in the form of Jeep Gladiator and Ford Ranger have recently emerged, and this is why the ZR2's looks were toughened up a bit for this year's release.

One of the most exciting things to happen over the last few years was the new partnership with the experts at AEV to join forces and create the ZR2 Bison: with front and rear differentials locked and multiple forms of armor to protect the undercarriage, it can conquer any jagged rock or otherwise hurdle-infested trail. What some say was the raw inspiration itself for Jeep to scramble hard and create its Gladiator, this expertly equipped off-road machine inspired many to stand up and conquer the many tricky trails in their area!

Colorado ZR2 Bison Crowned as Overland Truck of the Year

The Overland Journal recently announced the star-studded winner of its very first overland Truck of the Year award, handing over the honors to the off-road conquering Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. The strong rivalry that needed to be overcome for this rallying victory was in the forms of the Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Jeep Gladiator, and Ford Ranger. This testing process involved thousands of clocked miles spend both on and off-road, and heavily weighed factors such as capability, reliability, durability, payload, and even efficiency.

After a rigorous number of test drives, it was unanimously decided that the Bison is “one of the most exceptional overland trucks ever sold in North America”. Chief Editor Scott Brady reflected that “just a list of its features makes it the truck we always wanted, and even better”. The front and rear locking differentials, winch-ready steel front bumper with ¼ panel protection, full-length rock slider, and class-leading suspension were elements that checked all the needed boxes for sheer domination. Production took place seeing a collaboration with class-leading experts American Expedition Vehicles as an extreme off-road variant of the Chevy Colorado ZR2 off-road pickup, and comes with a long list of features for those who prefer dirt heavily over the highway.

As those on duty this week at GM Authority illustrated for their blog, the Bison is equipped with one of two engines: the 3.6L LGZ V6 gas engine, which cranks out 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, or the 2.8-L LWN inline 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, which makes 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Under everything resides the GMT 31XX platform, the same frame as what the GMC Canyon sports. Still offered exclusively as a production variant of the concept that was originally the 2017 ZR2 AEV, the construction takes place at the GM Wentzville factory in Missouri.

The knowledgeable staff at Automobilemag.com were amazed at the raw and practical protection power of the extra skid plates, ground clearance, approach angles, bead-locked wheels, and remote-reservoir shocks bolted onto a truck, greatly expanding the limits beyond a typical weekend off-road-capable model. There are many trails and areas at the ends of the Earth that even the most capable 4X4's struggle to conquer, even with an experienced driver at the helm. This testing team never saw the going got tough after throwing ruts, sand traps, rocky paths, drop-ins, and jutting rocks in the way, and used the locking differentials to always swiftly bail themselves out of trouble.

All of us on staff here at West Chevy of Knoxville have an extreme passion for any truck, let alone those that are always out there pushing the limits. We are proud of the Bison for snagging up yet another award in an arena where normal will never cut it, and cordially invite you to check out the entire Bison line among others this February!

GM Authority Features 2020 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Live Photo Gallery

It was 3 years ago now that the Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept was shown for the first time to the public at SEMA, where the response was overwhelmingly positive. This makes perfect sense to all of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville since it is truly a rig that can be taken to the harshest of extremes and not even feel a ding. With built-in collaboration derived from expert aftermarket off-road manufacturer AEV, the 2020 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is loaded to the gills with protective equipment and other features that make it the optimum choice for tackling the roughest of outdoors.

The well-versed folks on staff at GM Authority cranked out a great feature last week that took a close-up look at ZR2 Bison through a live photo gallery shown here. Up front the fun begins with an exclusive “flow-through” grille bar stamped with Chevy lettering. Below the grille resides a custom AEV front bumper, while fog lamps exclusive to the model are situated at the bumper's outer edges. The 2020 ZR2 Bison is also available with an AEV air snorkel, keeping the sensitive bits of the engine free of massive dust particles during less than optimum conditions.

There's a two-inch lift, yielding upwards of 8.6 inches of suspension travel in the front, and 10 inches of suspension travel in the rear. When you are dealing with off-road situations, every single little impact and rut in the road affects your ride, and lurching around endlessly can make for a tough trip through the outback or woods. Multimatic integrated spool-valve dampers work overtime on the Bison to keep extra shaking and movement under control, and AEV 17-inch wheels are bestowed with the rolling duty of keeping this capable and crank-daddied rock climber afloat just wherever it wants to trawl.

The power is gleaned heftily from the naturally aspirated 3.6-Liter LGZ V6 engine, which churns out 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, while paired to the GM MST 8-speed automatic transmission. You can also opt for a ZR2 Bison with the 2.8-Liter LW 4-cylinder diesel, which doles out 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque while pairing to the GM MYB 6-speed automatic transmission. No matter which color you pick, you’re going to love it on your ZR2: the selections are Red Hot, Satin Steel Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, and what is probably our favorite: jet Black. You can choose from the Extended Cab/Long Box configuration, and the Crew Cab/Short Box configuration to get what suits you, and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed: If you are planning on going where streams flow bountiful and obstacles are plentiful, there is really no better and well-equipped detour around what STANDS in your way aside from the Bison!

2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison Test Drive Proves It to Be Most Off-Road Ready in its Class

Auto journalist Gary Gastelu has completed in-depth tests of just about every type of vehicle in existence, and we knew that he was going to enjoy getting his hands on the pre-customized Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. All of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville have long admired the work that American Expedition Vehicles has done on cars for years now. The Brute Double Cab was an amazingly-built Wrangler Unlimited that was converted into a pickup, and a close look at its custom accessories let one know that they could work wonders with something such as the ZR2.

The raw goods are a steel set of bumpers with a winch mount in the front, wide black fender flares, black 17-inch alloy wheels, a Chevy branded grille, and five boron steel skid plates. All the additives mean about 200 extra pounds added to the truck, but it is evenly enough spread so the balance is not too upset. Gary immediately billed the ZR2 as “the most off-road capable vehicle Chevrolet has ever made”. Thanks to front and rear locking differentials, a two-inch lifted suspension and Multimatic “spool valve” dampers the truck is capable of anything ranging from high-speed off-roading to taking jumps and crawling over obstacles such as rocks.

The official ground clearance for the Bison is 8.9 inches, which at first may not sound impressive but is measured under the suspension mounts instead of right in the center of the truck. The Bison is available in extended and crew cab versions and with either a 3.6-liter V6 or a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel. As Gary began his test drive he thought that the control layout was spot-on, and what it is missing in luxury elements is ideal with off-road handling in mind.

This video does a great job of getting all of the ways underneath and showing us the five boron skid plates that prevent the underside from taking a severe beating during off-road duty. The track that the Bison was tested on was far from a breeze: rocks of all sizes were strewn all over, and you see the truck navigate a massively washed out puddle turned-into-stream. Gary is even shown catching sizable air on a tabletop, putting about everything you could imagine to the test during landing. The bison is a rather limited-edition truck for the 2019 year, but we want to invite you to the lot here this fall: check out the full range of trucks for sale, and see which one will be the perfect fit for your growing family or business!

An Off-Road Beast Even Greater Than the ZR2 Bison? AEV's Plans to Double Down

By very obvious leaps and bounds, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is the most off-road capable mid-size truck offered within the entire ranks of the automotive market! With an expertly-laden boost from Montana-based experts American Expedition Vehicles, the standard ZR2 underwent a drastic transformation with hot-stamped boron steel skid plates, as well as steel rail protection on both side skirts and bumpers. It provided so much protection and clearance that it enabled the Colorado to conquer the utmost in unforgiving terrain.

Locations such as the red rock deserts of Arizona and punishing trails of Mt. Moab come to mind when brandishing a truck equipped with these goodies! Here in Tennessee, we have Windrock Park, the largest privately owned riding area in the nation. Known for always keeping the rider in mind, they offer more than 300 miles of trail riding and hiking, camping and events. This is one of those places that means it if it says “extremely difficult” on a trail grade: dangerous cliffs and large boulders are just a few of the things you'll encounter while on course here.

When asked exactly what they had in mind to even further prepare the Bison for the tests of the trail, AEV Marketing Manager Matt Felderman said that a bigger tire kit is in the works. The ZR2 Bison Tray Bed that was displayed at Overland Expo West had a set of our new high-clearance fender flares which allow for a 35-inch tire and zero lift. There is a lower center of gravity at play, and the driver can take full advantage of everything that went into the ZR2 suspension, as well as the addition of a bigger tire. These larger tires were first pushed as an idea during the initial development of the AEV addition, but at the time just did not seem feasible.

The development team wanted a bigger tire than 31 inches, but there were a completely different set of tests for this one-two-thousand unit build, and millions would have been spent on the research and development end. Actual pricing for the 35-inch tires and high-clearance fenders have not yet been officially announced, but AEV will be proudly displaying two Colorado ZR2 Bison pickups with the special package this November during the 2019 SEMA show.

Many will want to take note that AEV also now offers other ZRT Bison components straight off the shelf: you can order bumpers, winch mounts, and high-strength hot-stamped boron steel skid plates “ala carte”. Once you get a slight taste of an upgrade variety that can rapidly up your trail hound status, it becomes addictive and could be the ultimate “gateway” to this amazing and expertly-designed package that prepares you for the demands of the off-road trek!

2019 Chevy Colorado Bison Deemed “Wonderfully Designed and Off-Road Capable” By New Atlas

Bison are definitely at home on the open prairie, running through tall grass and over hills. Clint Eastwood himself was one of the American icons that showed through his pictures just how beautiful the High Plains are, and the solitude as well as the struggle for survival than can encompass existing there. Chevy has partnered with AEV to create the Colorado mid-sized pickup truck that has the ability to wander in the same locations that a bison would, and those on staff at New Atlas were excited to test the ZR2 packaged AEV Bison in the crew cab with the diesel engine.

The parts are put on by Chevy, but the experts at AEV add the expertly-placed off-road gear, and it's now a fierce enough contender to compete against the likes of vehicles such as the Gladiator. A standard ZR2 is already well-stacked with off-road gear, but where AEV really shows their full-on expertise is with the duty of shielding. The Colorado receives boron skid plates that protect everything vital underneath the truck, including the transfer case, transmission, both differentials, and fuel tank. There is a more aggressive grille, new interior stitching and badges, wheel flares, and boron steel AEV bumpers.

This is the only Chevy truck that has both front and rear locking differentials, and you are already riding on larger 31-inch tires and a beefier suspension ideal for 4 x 4 setup. AEV claims that the use of boron steel is what enables the skid plates and bumpers to take a hefty amount of abuse and still bounce back relatively unscathed. They have a high amount of resistance for gouging, and also possess a high yield strength that allows them to return to shape after bending on top of low mass. The AEV boron plates actually aren't that much heavier than the aluminum-alloy plates they replace on the standard ZR2.

After you account for everything, you're adding about 200 pounds more weight to the vehicle, and the Bison's suspension spring rates are tuned to properly compensate for the extra weight. The New Atlas testing team chose a virtually impossible hill in the wilds of Wyoming that requires a lot of raw power, clearance, and ability to absorb shocks to conquer. The team realized that they had picked a hill that had a severe lack of breakover clearance, and although the Bison was able to get down with no problem, getting up was a different story.

As was the case with the Gladiator Rubicon, this location was simply so challenging in regards to wheelbase that “If you're stuck, you're stuck”. Many who have ran the Bison hard in areas such as Moab and the Sierras have professed just how capable and trail-dominating it is. It was still decided upon that this is a truck that lives up to its reputation and looks to the fullest when put to the test, and we hope you come to see the Bison along with the rest of our extensive truck lineup right here at West Chevy of Knoxville this back to school season!

FourWheeler Network Features 2019 Chevy Colorado Bison Braving a Blizzard

The folks on staff at the Four Wheeler Network Blog was incredibly excited last month to put the ZR2 Bison to the test in an element that would surely show how capable it really is of slogging through any condition. The crew had previously familiarized themselves with the ZR2 during last year's “Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year” test, where it took home first place. The 2019 Bison received massive upgrades through expert Montana-based outfitter AEV that the group was itching to try out: on top of front and rear electric lockers, Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve shocks, a 2-inch taller ride height, and 3.5-inch-wider track width, the Bison also received a custom-stamped steel front bumper.

It also proudly boasts fog lights and space for a winch, rear bumper with dual recovery points and matching contours for the widened fender flares, hot-stamped Boron steel skid plates protecting the oil pan, fuel tank, transfer case, and AEV badging located throughout. The weather was a bit dreary, but the team was determined to pack as much adventure as they could into the time-space of the weekend. The 62-inch bed was more than enough space for the camping gear needed for the trip, but with heavy snow in the forecast, they chose to test the carrying ability of the back seat.

They easily stacked sleeping accommodations, photography, recovery gear, and the Dometic CFX 35W electric cooler into the back, and excitedly hit the road. The goal for travel was between Mojave and Bishop, California, on mostly dirt roads. They noticed that the first leg of their trip allowed for carrying speed through obstacles that would slow non-off-road-equipped vehicles to a snail's pace. When the trail eventually because very slick, steep, and riddled with rocks, the increased track width and skidplating allowed for much more confidence and stability, and AEV's 17-inch aluminum wheels came complete with Goodyear DuraTrac tires, known for their primo ability in mud and snow.

The team was literally stuck with the Bison in feet of snow, and nearly knee-deep powder and the poorest visibility in existence required the employment of both locking differentials to keep moving at all. What was rated highest and most useful after this trek were many components that one expert along for the ride admitted “would make him sell his Jeep”. The grabby tires, front and rear electric-locking differentials, and skidplates all were integral in allowing the truck to pass through the worst of winter conditions. Follow along closely with the gang's adventures here, and make sure to pay us a visit here at West Chevy during the spring to check out the capabilities and off-road candor of the mighty ZR2!

West Chevrolet’s Wild Summer Truck Report: 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Test Drive

Appropriately named after what is unquestionably one of the most rugged and adventuresome states in the nation, the Colorado is the new king of the action-driver's / off-road niche. This is a vehicle for achieving high speeds in the desert, crawling over looming rocks in the wild, and your routine-seeming daily commute as well. Here in Knoxville, we have the Smokies close by and accessible for multiple off-roading opportunities, and some of the most fun you can have during summer is in the wild with a more-than-able machine.

The well-equipped ZR2 comes standard with front, rear and center differentials, 31-inch tires, a 3.5-inch wider track than the previous Colorado Z71, and a 2.0-inch lift. Just about everyone that has test driven this beast agrees on one very important fact: the shocks in this truck are out-of-this-world superior. They are Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers, and their original development was intended for use in Indy and F1 cars. Inside are spring-activated spool valves, that are used to prevent extreme overheat.

As compression takes place, the shocks gradually become stiffer. If you are in a truly extreme off-roading situation, you will be able to actually catch air with confidence. The landing is nearly always the toughest part of jumping in an actual truck, but the most skilled of ditch and creek desperadoes claim that they really enjoy the stickiness the ZR2 possesses right when it lands. If the feeling of a suave sports car is what you get a hankering for every once in a drive, you can leave the ZR2 in two-wheel drive, switch the stability control to Off-Road Mode, and attain more of a drift as you embark across dirt or other obstacle-ridden terrains.

You can get the ZR2 with the 308-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, or opt for the 4-cylinder turbo diesel for just over $3,000 extra. Either one you choose can be paired with an extended cab or crew cab body, and both are appropriately matched to automatic trannies. The very responsive V6 is great to use when you are in a situation needing very high speeds, but the diesel setup really shows its efficiency level when you embark for a highway cruise. For a diesel-driven option, this is really not that noisy of a ride, and you’ll also enjoy the heated seats, wireless charging pad, and built-in Wi-Fi that comes along for the ride. Every unit has a tow rating of 5,000 pounds, and payload ability of 1,100.

In essence, the Toyota Tacoma is a rival product that is a fairly trusty rock climber, but the real issue at stake is the power, and the ZR2 has much more of it. You’ll notice a better-rounded appeal in the ZR2 than the Ford F-150 Raptor as well, while the sales and service staff here at West Chevrolet will be happy to help you along with a lease or sale of one. Get ready to experience just how thrilling the warm-weather months can be with a truck that has 8.9 inches of ground clearance at the bottom of the rear shocks, and other cool features such as a bed-mounted tire carrier. This is the season to definitely savor what some deem as unexplorable, and the Colorado ZR2 is most definitely the truck to take you.