Photo: Chevrolet
Since it was introduced in 2010, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has had an easy go of the specialty off-road market. Sure, the Ram Power Wagon and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon are stellar at tackling rocky terrain, but they lack the panache that the Raptor exudes with its street-legal trophy truck attitude. That all might change with a new vehicle reportedly coming from General Motors.
Rather than using Ford’s own recipe against it with a factory-tuned, full-size pickup truck, GM Authority is reporting that GM plans to take a different route with its off-road performance truck by using the all-new 2015 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon as a starting point. As popular as the Raptor has proven to be, a smaller, lighter and more nimble off-road truck has the potential to be an even bigger hit with enthusiasts.
Details are slim at this point, but in our heads, we’re imagining a truck that would combine the the brute strength of the F-150 SVT Raptor with the go-anywhere capabilities of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. In addition to their off-road prowess, neither of the Raptor or Wrangler Rubicon is cheap, and we expect the same to be true for whatever type of package GM cooks up for the Colorado and Canyon. If done right, there’s even the possibility of GM finally reviving the ZR2 designation for these trucks.
Assuming that GM holds off on introducing such a model until the standard versions have gained traction on the market, waiting another year or two for this model could even bode well for the idea of a proven diesel off-roader. Don’t forget that the 2016 Colorado and Canyon will offer a 2.8-liter diesel engine in addition to the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the 302-hp, 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 that will be available at launch.
As shown above, the Colorado (and Canyon) will offer the Z71 package to satisfy the off-road desires of most adventure seekers, but for anyone looking for a more serious truck, reports of this new performance model is definitely good news. Although the Colorado and Canyon will be on sale by this fall, there is no word as to when we can expect performance versions of these mid-size trucks. The sooner the better, we say.
Details are slim at this point, but in our heads, we’re imagining a truck that would combine the the brute strength of the F-150 SVT Raptor with the go-anywhere capabilities of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. In addition to their off-road prowess, neither of the Raptor or Wrangler Rubicon is cheap, and we expect the same to be true for whatever type of package GM cooks up for the Colorado and Canyon. If done right, there’s even the possibility of GM finally reviving the ZR2 designation for these trucks.
Assuming that GM holds off on introducing such a model until the standard versions have gained traction on the market, waiting another year or two for this model could even bode well for the idea of a proven diesel off-roader. Don’t forget that the 2016 Colorado and Canyon will offer a 2.8-liter diesel engine in addition to the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the 302-hp, 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 that will be available at launch.
As shown above, the Colorado (and Canyon) will offer the Z71 package to satisfy the off-road desires of most adventure seekers, but for anyone looking for a more serious truck, reports of this new performance model is definitely good news. Although the Colorado and Canyon will be on sale by this fall, there is no word as to when we can expect performance versions of these mid-size trucks. The sooner the better, we say.
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