Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is the most extreme Chevy truck ever

Chevy’s latest truck was built to rock.

The Colorado ZR2 is a serious off-roading version of the small pickup.

The ZR2 features a 3.5-inch wider track and 2-inch lift compared to other Colorados, giving it 10.3 inches of ground clearance, which is more than a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon offers. It rides on a unique suspension featuring spool valve shocks made by Multimatic that use technology developed for Formula One race cars and the Camaro Z/28 and provide varying levels of damping depending on wheel position.

The body has been modified to offer improved approach and departure angles, although by exactly how much has not been revealed. A full complement of skid plates and steel tube rockers is standard, and a bed-mounted spare tire carrier is available to protect that crucial lifeline from being damaged underneath in the middle of nowhere.

The ZR2 will be available with either a 308 hp 3.6-liter V6 or the Colorado’s turbodiesel four-cylinder that puts out 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and locking front and rear differentials. There’s also a locking transfer case, and a total of nine drive modes that cover everything from high speed desert running, to rock crawling and trips to the mall. The tow rating tops out at 5,000 pounds, and the ZR2 can carry a payload of up to 1,100 pounds.

Pricing for the ZR2 has not been announced, but its closest competitor, the full-size Ford F-150 Raptor starts at $49,520, so it will likely undercut that by a significant margin. The ZR2 will be offered in both extended cab and crew cab versions when it goes on sale next year.