HTML Code here

Tougher off-roader has been worked over by a company known for its work on Jeeps.

Chevrolet has revealed the newest addition to its Colorado line up, the ZR2 Bison.

Co-developed with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), a firm best known for modifying Jeeps, the ZR2 Bison picks up a number of off-road focused additions over the ZR2.

Chevrolet claim AEV went over the vehicle and “identified parts of the truck that would be most vulnerable off road and set about strengthening them.”

The result of their efforts is the headline inclusion of five individual steel skid plates designed to protect the engine, oil pan, fuel tank, transfer case and front and rear locking differentials.

Other additions include a Chevrolet-lettered grille, AEV designed wheel arch flares and 17-inch wheels, AEV stamped steel front and rear bumpers, front winch provisions and rear recovery points, as well as fog-lights.

While Chevrolet is yet to release official figures, both approach and departure angles should both be improved thanks to the new bumpers.

Inside, the only change is the AEV logo stamped on both the front seats and floor mats, with the interior is otherwise the same as the ZR2 model.

The ZR2 Bison will be available with the choice of either a 230kW, 373Nm 3.6-litre V6 petrol or a 135kW, 500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel.

Mark Dickens, director of engineering for performance variants at Chevrolet, said the ZR2 Bison was developed in response to an increased desire for hardcore variants of existing 4×4 utes.

“It’s a growing trend, where people load up their trucks, and go out for maybe six days, and run through all kinds of terrain, where they need the ability to crawl up over stuff, and go long distances across all kinds of varying terrain.”

This growing trend has already led to the creation of cars such as the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, as well as the upcoming US-spec Ford Ranger Raptor.

Chevrolet have yet to announce prices for the ZR2 Bison.