SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/643686
CHEVROLET COLORADO ZR2 CONCEPT, FEATURING THE 2.8L DURAMAX TURBO DIESEL. TAKING OFF- ROADING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. CHEVY COLORADO ZR2 Chevrolet's vision for the future is simple. They want to ramp up what it means to "have fun" in one of their trucks, and that starts where the pavement ends. Chevrolet is putting their hopes in the mid-sized Colorado ZR2, a conceptual spin-off of the popular Z71. Chevy's Tyler Moffett was the creative designer for the Colorado ZR2, a radical departure for the automaker that has a stance that is four inches wider than a production Z71, meaning it extends to approximately 80 inches from door to door, a substantial footprint for any truck. More specially, new front and rear fascias were designed to increase the approach angle to 30.7 degrees and departure angle to 22.7 degrees for off- road driving, something typically seen only in purposely built vehicles. To further handle the uneven desert terrain, the ground clearance gets lifted two inches and the undercarriage will be protected with skid plates. While the unusually wide track obviously enhances stability. Flip-out tow-hooks made from lightweight aluminum and a factory-built winch is also part of the concept. "The design of the ZR2 concept is all about functionality, " said Tony Johnson, Chevrolet's marketing manager. Of course, no serious off- road truck would be complete without beefy suspension and the ZR2 carries mono- tube coil-over shocks by KING that offer remote- mounted fluid reservoirs. All-new front control arms enhance the ride even more. Other concept features include electronic-locking front and rear differentials that deliver torque to 275/65R18 off-road tires on custom 18-inch aluminum, bead-lock wheels. Then there are the wheel flares that cover the large tires and increased track width, giving the ZR2 a super aggressive stance. Like all proven off-road vehicles, the ZR2 also sports custom rocker guards for tight places. Taking cues from the SCORE Baja trucks, a matching spare wheel/tire combination is mounted on the bed and features a quick-release handle, alongside trail accessories like a 48-inch Hi-Lift jack and other components from GearOn. A new grille, blacked-out headlamp housings, and a 044 SCORE JOURNAL