Manoli Katakis 
The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison is the most off-road capable mid-size truck GM has ever offered, far and away. Thanks to the expertise from American Expedition Vehicles, the two companies take the standard ZR2, and increase its fortifications with hot-stamped boron steel skid plates, as well as steel rail protection on both bumpers and side skirts. Yet AEV says they can take things further still.
“Our plan is to offer a bigger tire kit with Bison. We’re looking at doing something like a Bison Plus or whatever you want to call it,” said American Expedition Vehicles Marketing Manager Matt Feldermann to MC&T. The ‘Bison Plus’ name is tentative, and would only be offered through AEV as a standalone package rather than General Motors assembling Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison trucks with the package.
“The ZR2 Bison Tray Bed we showed at Overland Expo West had a set of our new high-clearance fender flares which allow for a 35-inch tire with no lift. So you can take full advantage of everything that went into your ZR2 suspension geometry, and put on a bigger tire. So there’s a (comparatively) lower center of gravity.”
Feldermann also mentioned that AEV pushed for a bigger tire on the Colorado ZR2 Bison when the vehicle was still in development, but didn’t make financial sense for GM.
“We wanted a bigger tire than 31 inches (on the ZR2). But it was a battle with legal that the design team just wasn’t going to win. They would have to go through a completely different set of tests for this one-two-thousand unit build, so they weren’t going to spend the millions on the R&D,” he said.
Pricing for the high-clearance fenders and 35-inch tires has not yet been announced, but AEV will be showing off two Colorado ZR2 Bison pickups with the special package this November at the 2019 SEMA Show. Additionally, Feldermann notes that AEV offers other ZR2 Bison components off the shelf, such as its high-strength hot-stamped boron steel skid plates, bumpers and winch mounts.
“We don’t want to get into the business of building Bison clones… but we’re offering the Bison components separately. So if someone wants to buy the skid plates or the bumper they can do that.”
I am curious as to when we can expect this product to be released. I would like to purchase it ASAP.
Soon! AEV tells us pricing will be announced in February.