Is Corvette Z06's LT4 Headed for Silverado?
Chevrolet is ready to step up its off-road game against Ford's Raptor and Ram's TRX, but without confirmation of powertrain choices, it's hard to say how the future Silverado ZR2 will fair against its competition.
Trail Boss Extreme
After GM Authority reported its discovery of a trademark filing for the "Silverado ZRX" name, rumors have swirled about how Chevy plans to level-up Silverado's off-road game over its current Trail Boss package. The new Silverado trim is expected to take on the likes of Ford's F-150 Raptor and Ram's 1500 TRX. Check out what the rumor mill says Chevy has in store for its future high-performance off-roader...
ZRX or ZR2?
GM trademarked the ZRX name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2019. A name once used for the appearance package on the early 2000s GMC Sonoma's, reports suggested the ZRX nameplate would be revived. However, it sounds like Chevy is taking a different route; slated for the 2023 model year, Muscle Cars & Trucks says the new Silverado will adopt the ZR2 nomenclature from Colorado in order to maintain a unique off-road brand identity - suggesting "ZRX" was too close to Ram's "TRX". We'll stick with "ZR2" from here on.
Supercharged? Au Naturel? Diesel?
There's also been conflicting information about the engine expected to end up in the bay of the Silverado ZR2. At first, it sounded like a truck version of the Corvette Z06 LT4 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 was a no brainer. Cranking out 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the LT4 would be more than capable of competing against Ford's Raptor and Ram's TRX.
However, the future of the LT4 in the Silervado ZR2 is cloudy. Muscle Cars & Trucks can only confirm the ZR2 will not offer the 3.0L LM2 Duramax diesel engine, good for 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, due to space constraints under the hood. GM's ubiquitous, naturally aspirated, 6.2-liter L87 V-8 will serve as the base engine for the Silverado ZR2. Ideally, the supercharged LT4 will at least be offered as an option.
Image courtesy of Motor Trend.
Off-road Goodies
In lieu of the murky powertrain news, the Silverado ZR2 off-road equipment upgrades sound a little more promising. GM Authority reported the ZR2 will feature beefed-up suspension with MultiMatic DSSV dampers, front AND rear electronic lockers, and modified front and rear bumpers for improved approach and departure angles.
Image courtesy of Motor Trend.
Raptor v. TRX v. ZR2
For comparison, let's look at Ford's Raptor and Ram's TRX closer. The current Raptor uses a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic good for 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. The TRX, driven by a massive 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 and mated to an 8-speed automatic, throws down 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Assuming the Silverado ZR2 base engine is the 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 and mated to a 10-speed automatic, which makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, the ZR2 ends up last in the pack in terms of power output. However, should Chevy decide to surprise customers with an optional supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, the ZR2 will end up ahead of the Raptor, but still behind the TRX.
Price?
Due to COVID-19 delays, the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 release has been pushed back to the 2023 model year, so details will probably become more clear next year before the ZR2 launches in 2022. Considering the current Silverado Trail Boss package MSRPs at just over $50,000, it's reasonable to expect that the ZR2 package will graze the $60,000 threshold, if not a little more, depending on motor options Chevy ultimately ends up offering.
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