Manoli Katakis 
We recently brought to light that General Motors will significantly improve its trucks from the 2021 model year onward, starting with interior improvements for the T1 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks. However, that’s just the beginning. Sources familiar with General Motors truck plans have indicated that the pickup portfolio will include more off-road variants, as market demand continues to push further into this space. And we’ll see that with the Chevrolet Silverado ZRX.
MC&T has learned that Chevrolet aims to take the fight to both the full-size Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ram 1500 Rebel by fitting the Silverado with improved off-road suspension, Multimatic DSSV dampers, rear and front electronic locking differentials, as well as improved approach and departure angles. If this sounds a lot like the formula for the Chevy Colorado ZR2, it’s because it is. We expect amazing off-road capabilities from the Silverado ZRX.
However, like the smaller Colorado, don’t expect anything in terms of power upgrades. General Motors currently has two perfectly fine supercharged small block V8 warheads in the arsenal with the 650 hp LT4 and 755 hp LT5, but the company continues to be hyper-conservative in applying them.
Meanwhile, FCA has the opposite strategy with the upcoming Ram Rebel TRX, as it will be fitted with the famous 700+ horsepower Hellcat supercharged V8 engine. And the people love it.
As a small breadcrumb, General Motors recently trademarked the “ZRX” name to use on automobiles during the weekend of the 2019 Woodward Dream Cruise. Further details, such as pricing and reveal date, are unknown at this time. That said, rollout is scheduled for the 2022 model year. Considering what Chevrolet did with the Colorado ZR2, we may very well see this vehicle in concept form before the real thing.
Outside speculation is that ZRX would be a type of street performance truck, as it first appeared in the 2000’s as a trim level for GMC Sonoma, which came with a unique suspension system and bodywork. We understand that this new application will bear no historical relevance to a street-oriented performance pickup.
Without any power upgrades, this would mean that the forthcoming Chevrolet Silverado ZRX will, at most, feature a naturally aspirated 6.2L L87 small block V8 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s good for 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty for most people, but shy of the 450 hp/510 lb-ft EcoBoost output of the F-150 Raptor. If Chevrolet does not price the Silverado ZRX accordingly, its efforts in providing the market an off-road truck could be seen as too little, too late.
That said, the USP for the Silverado ZRX is the likelihood of offering the 277 hp, 460 lb-ft 3.0L Duramax LM2 diesel engine. This is significant because where Ford and Ram both offer diesels in their full-size pickups, they so far have kept them out of their off-road variants. Whereas Chevrolet has shown it’s not shy in doing so with the smaller Colorado ZR2. Lastly, Chevrolet has built a relationship with American Expedition Vehicles with the special Colorado ZR2 Bison project. We wouldn’t rule out a second collaboration between the two companies with the incoming Silverado ZRX.
Will the truck be available with a regular cab configuration? I prefer the classic look of the regular cab and the short wheel base makes for better off roading and parking in the city
We’re not sure at this time. GM does make regular cab versions of the Silverado and Sierra, but only sell them in certain Arabic markets like the UAE.
This is a funny article. Chevys new truck w a 6+ liter motor can’t keep up with ford 6 cyl turbo. That is not a competitor. If ford put a big motor in their truck it would waste the Chevy. Rewrite your article. It’s lacking in impartially. Ford dominates for a reason. It’s a better truck. In every way. Had both but will not buy Chevy again. It’s not up to par with a ford. Owner of 2 f150s,1 f350 and a ford ranger.
Hate the message, not the messenger.
You are certainly entitled to your biased opinion. My “old” 2016 Sierra with a 6.2 smokes Raptors. On video. On youtube. So don’t lie. And it’s not a better truck. That’s only your opinion. In mine it is not. GM makes the best truck. Even the ZR2 beats Raptors. On video. So you can keep your bias, but it has been proven otherwise.
I agree ! And actually I like both ford and Chevy!! “BUT” Chevy will always be my favorite I just love the way a Chevy rides and I’ve had a lot better luck with my Chevrolet than any ford I’ve ever had! But that’s also just my opinion I’m sure others could say the same about fords. I think it’s luck on weather you get a well built truck or not you can buy two of the same trucks on same day drive same way same places and miles and one of them could go before the other Chevy or ford or dodge even Toyota!! But again that’s just my thought in the matter
Your comparing a naturally asperated motor to a boosted motor and your focus is on displacement? Typical Ford fan.
Does Ford still know how to make big motors? Yea, the 7.3 right?
It’s a big motor alright, but I wasn’t talking about size. But it’s all that to.
Let’s see, Ford’s 7.3L (Big Block) produces 430 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 475 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, while GM’s 6.6L (Small Block) throws down 401 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 464 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.
So despite having an extra 0.7 liters of displacement, the Ford 7.3L only manages to produce an extra 29 horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque compared to the GM 6.6L. On top of that, Ford’s bigger engine produces it’s peak power 300 rpm later.
With all that room for intake volume, port length, (big) valves and extra cubes, what happened to Ford’s clean sheet motor advantages?
Ooh yeah, they are over their dismal other V8 offerings. Good job FOMOCO!
By the way, as for your “It’s a better truck. In every way.” Rivets are for sky scrapers, at least they were, about 100 years ago.
Then there’s this.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/ford-2019-top-executive-pay-much-more-than-profit-say-what/
Its Chevy so it won’t even be close to the Raptor. Yeah they make a cool concept truck but once it goes into production it’ll become all watered down and crappy just like every other Chevy product.
I think it’s great that other companies are trying to keep up with Ford. Ford understands the market and then others follow after they know it’s safe. Kind of like how the Camaro was finished until the Thunderbird and Mustang showed retro styling was favored in the market. Then Dodge saw an opportunity with the Challenger. It stinks that there is still Ford bashing when domestically Chevy and Dodge consistently struggle to keep up.
This just goes to show, yet again, GM is still behind the curve and will remain there. While Ford and RAM already figured out the non-powerplant pieces of a true off road truck and have moved on to upgrading their powerplants, GM is still trying to put together a real off road full size. As a GM fan this is one of the most frustrating parts about all of this. If they really want to compete and be taken seriously in this space, they need to release this truck in 2022 with an option for a supercharged 6.2L.
I currently own a 2014 Raptor that is stroked and supercharged with 757 hp and 800 ftlbs of torque. I don’t run it off road but I do smoke Stock v 8 cars in the quarter mile. It turns 12 ‘a and runs about 165 mph top end and I love it. It’s bad to the bone. Watch it on YouTube Badass Raptor full pull it took 3rd place in the 7,500 super street against 3/4 ton all makes 311.2 ft.
I would like to see all the information ,As this Chevy ZRX is on developed stages !
I have more information to report soon. Be sure to check back daily!