Report: 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Is Coming, But No Supercharger

What happened to the ZRX?

2023 chevy silverado zr2 concept prototype
image: GM Design – T. Moffett

Here is the latest on the next king of the Chevy Silverado 1500 off-road truck lineup. An unofficial report by MC&T states that GM is working on a 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 to lead the company’s full-size 4×4 truck lineup. There is a lot of good and not so good news. Also, the image above is by @generalmotorsdesign Instagram account. This is what they are calling a “tactical Chevy”. Let’s dig in!

2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2

Here is what we know from the report. The upcoming ZR2 Silverado 1500 will offer the latest DSSV shocks, front & rear lockers, improved approach and departure angles (due to new body work), and a 6.2-liter V8 engine. That sounds like the makings of a great off-road truck, but it is reported to not be a proper Ram TRX and Ford Raptor fighter. The reason being that the rumored ZR2 engine will continue to produce the same 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This is a great engine. We have tested it through the years with lots of success, but it’s not the fire-breathing 700+ horsepower monster to compete against the likes of the Ram TRX.

It’s not clear why GM is not throwing a supercharger on top of this engine, and/or making a gas/electric hybrid with loads more power.

The report says that a supercharged engine is under consideration, but it’s unknown if or when it will be green-lit.

Chevy Silverado 1500 off-road race truck

TFLtruck first brought up the concept of a Silverado 1500 ZR2 over two years ago in June of 2018. In that article, we asked you what your favorite future off-road truck might be. Majority of you voted for the Silverado ZR2 concept. However, we may not see anything like this for another two years or so.

What is the “tactical Chevy” design sketch all about? As you may know, GM has been working on several military contracts and concepts in recent years, and one of those is their Chevy Silverado ZH2 hydrogen fuel-cell 4×4 truck.

2022 chevy silverado 1500 zrx off-road ford raptor
Chevy Silverado ZH2 Concept (photo: General Motors)

The Silverado ZH2 represents GM’s continued development of a tactical electric 4×4 truck. The ZH2 concept was also shown to have the high-performance DSSV spool-valve shocks.

We also know that the latest Silverado 1500 desert race truck uses DSSV shocks as well. You can see this truck in action in the video below. By the way, the race truck also uses a base version of the 6.2-liter V8.

What happened to the ZRX name? The unofficial report says that the “ZR2” brand is well-known and respected – thanks to the Colorado ZR2. This is true. The ZRX name is too close to the Ram TRX name. While the TRX hints at the T-Rex predator. The “ZRX” does not have an intrinsic meaning. The “ZR2” does not have a natural off-road meaning either, other than it’s a code that has been used by GM on several off-road vehicles over the last couple decades. Remember the Blazer ZR2!

The report does not mention much about the 2023 Silverado ZR2 having a wider suspension stance, but their simple rendering of the future truck shows it with just slightly bulging fenders.

What do you think? Is GM on the right track when it comes to the king of their production off-road trucks?

Andre Smirnov
Andre Smirnov is an Automotive Enthusiast, Producer, Reviewer, Videographer, Writer, Software Engineer, Husband, Father, and Friend.