Americans: the new Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is very angry

Americans assemble! This is your new 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, and doesn’t it look angry?

For all you non-American folk out there, the Colorado is Chevrolet’s smallest pickup, although just to confuse things it’s actually known as a ‘midsize’ truck. Well, you wouldn’t want anything small, would you?

All trim levels of the Colorado have undergone slightly different facelifts to differentiate them, but it’s the all-conquering, off-road ZR2 version that we’re interested in here. Just look at that face.

The ZR2’s front grille looks a little like the one Chevrolet applied to the new Camaro SS, but it works far better combined with those chunky tyres and ginormous skid plate. Plus, round the back there’s a return to the old-school CHEVROLET lettering across the tailgate. Fantastic stuff.

Elsewhere there aren’t too many changes to report. The ZR2 retains its off-road stance thanks to a two-inch lift kit and a 3.5-inch wider track than the road-focused Colorados. There’s also Multimatic position-sensitive dampers, standard front and rear electronic locking differentials, off-road rocker protection, cast iron control arms and an Autotrac transfer case.

Oh, and the facelift brings red tow hooks as standard – because pulling.

Apparently there have been no significant changes to the interior either, and we can assume that the 308bhp 3.6-litre petrol and 181bhp 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engines remain. That diesel may sound a little puny, but the torque figure stands at a decent 369lb ft – that’s 94lb ft more than its petrol-powered sibling.

You’ll also have noticed the pretty bad-ass racing truck in the gallery above. We don’t have any details yet other than the fact that it’ll make its first appearance at the 2019 Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic. Looks mega though, doesn’t it?

The standard ZR2 will then be unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. What do you think, US of A-ers?