GM expands high-end Chevy Silverado HD lineup with new ZR2 off-road model

DETROIT — Common Motors will proceed to check the value ceiling of its extremely worthwhile full-size pickup vans because it spends billions to transition to all-electric automobiles.

The most recent mannequin revealed Thursday is the Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 ZR2, a brand new off-road mannequin for one in all GM’s most costly pickup vans. The corporate additionally unveiled a special-edition “ZR2 Bison” model in partnership with well-known off-road components provider American Expedition Automobiles.

Automakers comparable to GM, Ford Motor and others have been rising off-road automobile choices as a method to increase income on their vans and SUVs with far much less funding than a brand new automobile.

“ZR2 has been an enormous success for us,” mentioned Michael MacPhee, director of Chevy truck advertising. “The efficiency/off-road area is the fastest-growing in pickup proper now. So, it is a pure extension for us to construct that to the HD area.”

MacPhee declined to reveal anticipated revenue margins for the upcoming automobiles, which is able to start manufacturing at a Michigan plant this summer time.

The brand new ZR2 vans are along with related fashions of smaller pickups such because the Chevrolet Colorado and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a smaller sibling of the 2500 mannequin. MacPhee mentioned present ZR2 fashions are the fastest-turning automobiles of the model’s premium trims and convey within the highest variety of new prospects.

The corporate declined to reveal actual pricing for the brand new ZR2 pickups, saying they are going to be “aspirational however attainable.” The present Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 begins at about $74,000 for a comparable mannequin. GM additionally at present presents a Z71 off-road bundle of the big HD truck that may simply high $80,000.

The ZR2 automobiles function a number of off-road parts, programs and capabilities. Even when house owners do not use the vans for his or her meant use instances, off-road automobiles have grown in reputation for his or her extra aggressive seems to be and taller experience peak.

The HD ZR2 vans will probably be supplied completely within the 2500 four-door crew cab configuration. The usual 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine will produce 401 horsepower and 464 foot-pounds of torque. A 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel with 445 horsepower and 910 foot-pounds will even be out there. GM mentioned diesel is anticipated to make up a majority of the gross sales, prefer it does for present HD fashions.

GM’s burly fossil fuel-powered pickup vans are helping the automaker in investing $35 billion in electrical and autonomous automobiles between 2020 and 2025.