Every enthusiast has been waiting for Chevy to get onto the Raptor bandwagon. Now the bell has been answered and it has revealed the 2023 Silverado ZR2. As Chevy has had success with the Colorado ZR2 it plans to apply that same recipe around its full-size Silverado. Though it may not be on the same level, the plan is to battle the Ram TRX and Ford Raptor.

To begin the Silverado ZR2 will have a revised off-road suspension. It will feature Multimatic DSSV dampers and both front and rear electronic locking differentials. Approach and departure angles will also be better because of the design of the front and rear bumpers. 

A revised Silverado will be the basis for the 2023 ZR2

The best part is that in 2022 the Silverado gets a revised interior and refreshed front and rear fascias. So a revised Silverado will be the basis for the 2023 ZR2. Hopefully, the interior will be on a par with the Ram 1500. Also, the hope is that the fascias will completely change the unpopular design of the current Chevy truck. 

What some may find disappointing is there will not be a diesel option. According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Chevy says this is because of the more severe approach angle. The packaging precludes Chevy from making the diesel work. So it will be only gas-powered engines.

At the top will be the 6.2-liter L87 V8 hooked to a 10-speed automatic transmission. That engine cranks out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Below that will be the 5.3-liter L84 V8. There might also be a supercharged Silverado in the works. Ford’s next Raptor will offer both a V6 and V8 and, of course, the Ram TRX has the mighty Hellcat Hemi under its hood. Since the whole point of the segment is a blistering V8 we might see the ZR2 with that supercharger yet.

If Chevy sticks with the un-huffed 6.2 it will be down on power from the TRX

If Chevy sticks with the un-huffed 6.2 it will be a few hundred horsepower behind the TRX. That could be a buzz-kill for GM fans. Ram is considering a non-supercharged TRX and Ford is rumored to include a PowerBoost hybrid V6 layout for the next Raptor. If all of that is true then the ZR2 would be competing more with those entry-level choices. 

It is speculated that the 2023 ZR2 could run under $60,000. Depending on what Chevy finally offers this may or may not be competitive with the TRX and Raptor. Muscle Cars and Trucks also hints that there may still be a Silverado ZR2 Bison in the works. That could actually be what the Raptor- and TRX-fighter enthusiasts are looking forward to will be. 

The plan all along was to debut the ZR2 in 2021 for a 2022 launch

| GM plan all along was to debut the ZR2 in 2021 for a 2022 launch. But with the COVID-19 crisis, it all has pushed the timeline back as it has done with virtually everything else. It’s the same story with the Silverado and Sierra refresh. It was expected to arrive in 2021 but now it is looking at 2022 as the more likely release date. 

If you need a visual for what the 2023 ZR2 might be, the Chad Hall Racing Silverado at the 2019 SEMA Show could be close. While it featured the 2019 front end that has been panned, the rest of the modifications may portend what a lot of the ZR2 may end up incorporating.  MotorBiscuit will keep you up to date on what GM’s plans are as soon as we receive them