Video: 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Utility Custom Truck

Why are you here for the Colorado ZR2? So that's a good story. I'm actually a ride and handling engineer with the small car programs at GM, but because of all my extensive experience with the Hummer and the H3, I got pulled in on this great program as a subject matter expert for the rock crawling aspect of the ZR2. So I think we remembered you from the H3T in particular, which was a great truck. We loved it, but now it doesn't exist anymore. (Todd) Correct. (Mark) So talk to us about this vehicle. This looks pretty special. (Todd) It's pretty cool. We started this thing off, it was a ZR2 extended cab vehicle that was used for a lot of the development. And as some of the newer pre-production models rolled in this freed up for us to do some cool things. We started off by putting a 1 inch body lift and some bigger 33 inch dirt track tires on it. (Mark) These look familiar to me. What are those? (Todd) Those are H3 tow hooks. So we built some frame extensions, bolted those right in as a recovery point, added a whole new cross member support for recover receiver hitch for a winch recovery. Hardwired the winch, also put a hole here for a flag bracket when you go to silver lake sand dunes. And yeah, so I'd like to keep the shields or custom or stock everything else is stock ZR2. So what kind of parts and pieces do you keep inside? (Todd) Well right now we have a off-road Jack, toolbox, and all our tool bags, and we're joking phase two of this project we're going to have some custom storage units back there to hold all our tools and stuff. (Mark) But this is what's eye-catching about this. So you've got a ZR2, 33 inch tires, but this is a service cab. So it's got, You can put anything in it. (Todd) Well it's a service body. We actually recovered it from the parking lot at work. It was used for some testing, kind of left to die. So yeah, all sorts of compartments for ratchet straps. And what are these? I noticed them. (Todd) We made some custom where we want to maintain the integrity of the box off-roading so we have custom rocker guards, and this is kind of the electrical center. We added a second battery. It's tied into the alternator air compressor winch, and to come are some spotlights. (Mark) Fantastic. So that's excellent. And then we had to open up the wheel opening a little bit. Oh yeah, I noticed that. So it's a little bit longer. (Todd) A little bit longer and taller. (Mark) These are ZR2 flares. (Todd) Those are flares. It took two to make one, but you know it still looks like a ZR2 so, (Mark) That's fantastic. And you did some custom work here on the temperate. (Mark) We took a bumper, we trimmed it off so it fit on the service body, added a winch for recovery. (Mark) Got a spare tire. (Todd) Spare tire. (Mark) What's in the safety bug? (Todd) Oh, fluids and different things that we might need. (Mark) High lift Jacks, spare drive shifts. Not a bad idea. Yeah. So, you can lock this all down too. This whole thing can lock down which we like to. We don't have to worry about our stuff in parking lots or whatever. So just more... (Mark) Excellent. That's fantastic. So any thoughts about making this a production option? I mean a box to leave on a ZR2? You know, I don't, I don't think there's any plans right now, but I think, you know, there'll be a select few people that think, like we do think it's really cool. So. (Mark) I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in something like this. (Todd) Maybe. (Mark) Thank you very much for your time. Very cool truck and well, I'm sure we'll be talking a lot... (Todd) I hope so. (Mark) in the future as well, too. (Todd) Thanks. For right now, if you want more about this vehicle or any other pickup truck, go to Pickuptrucks.com.