Chevy Silverado HD ZR2 adds off-road prowess, performance

The heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pickup is getting some performance and off-road chops with Chevrolet's ZR2 package available for the first time starting with the 2024 model year.

The ZR2 will be offered on the crew cab Silverado 2500 HD, with a standard 6.6-litre gasoline V-8 engine or an available 6.6-litre Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine, Chevrolet said Thursday. The engines will be paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing 401 hp and 464 pound-feet of torque on the gasoline engine and 470 hp and 975 pound-feet of torque on the Duramax.

The max payload is 3,397 pounds for the gasoline engine and 3,193 pounds for the diesel version, Chevrolet said.

The truck will combine off-road and performance technology, including an off-road mode, Multimatic DSSV dampers, ZR2-specific front upper and lower control arms and steering knuckles, and a rear e-locker, Chevy said.

The Silverado HD ZR2 sits 1.5 inches (38 mm) higher in the front and rear than other Silverado HD models equipped with 4WD.

The diesel engine is also upgraded from the 2023 model's 445 hp and 910 pound-feet of torque.

Inside, the ZR2 will offer dark trim and leather accents. Interior technology includes a 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment screen, 12.3-inch diagonal driver information center, an available 15-inch head-up display and off-road inclinometer.

In addition, Chevrolet worked with American Expedition Vehicles, an off-road aftermarket equipment manufacturer, on a Silverado HD ZR2 Bison edition. The Bison will offer 18-inch AEV wheels in gloss black, unique front and rear stamped-steel bumpers and distinct exterior badges.

Michael MacPhee, director of Chevrolet trucks marketing, said adding ZR2 on the heavy-duty Silverado is a "natural extension" of a version already offered on the Colorado midsize pickup and the light-duty Silverado full-size pickup. The ZR2 package attracts younger and more affluent consumers to showrooms, he said.

"It's better at getting customers into our Chevy showrooms and getting them into our Chevrolet family," MacPhee said. "The high-performance, off-road trim is the fastest-growing subsegment of trucks. So we know that there's a big white space opportunity for us to go out and get."

Production will start this summer at General Motors' Flint Assembly in Michigan, Chevy said. Pricing will be released later.