Chevrolet continues to refine and test the all-new 2022 or 2023 Silverado ZR2 and make significant improvements to the Silverado Trail Boss. Our spy photographer just captured both undergoing last-minute testing – giving us a closer look into the Silverado’s all-new front-end redesign.
[Scroll down for over a dozen new spy photos of these trucks!]
2022/2023 Silverado ZR2 & Trail Boss
Our Spy Photographer Reports:
A Literal Window Into The Silverados’ New Front-End Design Elements
These two prototypes—conveniently labeled #1 (The Trail Boss) and #2 (The ZR2)—have new cut-outs in the front bumper camouflage, providing our first view of the outer edges of the Trail Boss and ZR2 front bumpers. On the facelifted Trail Boss prototype, we can see the revised front bumper sculpting and the new air-curtain vent that does away with the “sideburns” treatment of the current Silverado’s air-curtain aerodynamic pass-through.
2022/2023 Silverado ZR2 & Trail Boss
Silverado ZR2’s Off-Road-Friendly Design Revealed
The Silverado ZR2 prototype still has the phony plastic caps at the bottom corners of the camouflage, attempting to mimic the Trail Boss’ design, but the new camo exposes the dramatic design differences between the two trucks. While the Trail Boss’ front bumper has a rather low chin that runs the full width of the front-fascia, the ZR2 gets a bold central skid plate, leading up to a an all-new bumper that leaves nearly all of the front tire tread open to deal with rocks and rough terrain. This Silverado’s minimalist front bumper will clearly yield vastly improved approach angles, and looks undeniably similar to the Colorado ZR2.
Additional ZR2 Design Differences
While revealing the ZR2’s vastly different front bumper design, this new prototype also gives us our best look at additional design details. We can see that a unique grille design resides behind the camouflage mesh of the ZR2. Unique LED fog lights also appear to reside near the red tow hooks, right where the minimalist front bumper begins to stretch upward along the front tires.
Different Rubber For The ZR2
The Trail Boss prototype continues to ride on the current model’s 275/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, but the ZR2 is fitted with Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT (Maximum Traction) tires. The ZR2’s tires are also a bit taller, revealed to be 275/70R18s on an earlier prototype. The result is a 33-inch tire, instead of the 32-inch tires fitted to the Trail Boss.
2022/2023 Silverado ZR2 & Trail Boss
A Literal Window Into The Silverados’ New Front-End Design Elements
These two prototypes—conveniently labeled #1 (The Trail Boss) and #2 (The ZR2)—have new cut-outs in the front bumper camouflage, providing our first view of the outer edges of the Trail Boss and ZR2 front bumpers. On the facelifted Trail Boss prototype, we can see the revised front bumper sculpting and the new air-curtain vent that does away with the “sideburns” treatment of the current Silverado’s air-curtain aerodynamic pass-through.
Silverado ZR2’s Off-Road-Friendly Design Revealed
The Silverado ZR2 prototype still has the phony plastic caps at the bottom corners of the camouflage, attempting to mimic the Trail Boss’ design, but the new camo exposes the dramatic design differences between the two trucks. While the Trail Boss’ front bumper has a rather low chin that runs the full width of the front-fascia, the ZR2 gets a bold central skid plate, leading up to a an all-new bumper that leaves nearly all of the front tire tread open to deal with rocks and rough terrain. This Silverado’s minimalist front bumper will clearly yield vastly improved approach angles, and looks undeniably similar to the Colorado ZR2.
2022/2023 Silverado ZR2 & Trail Boss
Additional ZR2 Design Differences
While revealing the ZR2’s vastly different front bumper design, this new prototype also gives us our best look at additional design details. We can see that a unique grille design resides behind the camouflage mesh of the ZR2. Unique LED fog lights also appear to reside near the red tow hooks, right where the minimalist front bumper begins to stretch upward along the front tires.
Different Rubber For The ZR2
The Trail Boss prototype continues to ride on the current model’s 275/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, but the ZR2 is fitted with Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT (Maximum Traction) tires. The ZR2’s tires are also a bit taller, revealed to be 275/70R18s on an earlier prototype. The result is a 33-inch tire, instead of the 32-inch tires fitted to the Trail Boss.
Full Suspension Details Still A Mystery
Earlier spy shots of the underside of a Silverado ZR2 prototype revealed evidence of some form of remote-reservoir rear shocks. The brand and spec of the shocks was still obscured, so it’s not known if the prototype had a version of the Multimatic shocks found on the Colorado ZR2, or some other set-up. We haven’t gotten a detailed look under the 2022 Trail Boss, but the shocks appear to be something similar to what’s found on the current model. We can see that a more robust four-leaf-spring set-up has been applied to both the updated Trail Boss, and the more aggressive ZR2-style variant.
2022/2023 Silverado ZR2 & Trail Boss
Same Engines…For Now?
All audible signs point to the ZR2 being equipped with the same engine choices as the Trail Boss. However, with Cadillac now developing a supercharged variant of the 6.2-liter V8 for the Escalade-V, there appears to be a path to a fire-breathing Chevy truck to battle the F-150 Raptor R, or the Ram Rebel TRX. Only time will tell if Chevy product planners choose to follow that path, or leave the high-end, high-powered off-road heroics to the likes of the electrified GMC Hummer EV SUT.
Earlier spy shots of the underside of a Silverado ZR2 prototype revealed evidence of some form of remote-reservoir rear shocks. The brand and spec of the shocks was still obscured, so it’s not known if the prototype had a version of the Multimatic shocks found on the Colorado ZR2, or some other set-up. We haven’t gotten a detailed look under the 2022 Trail Boss, but the shocks appear to be something similar to what’s found on the current model. We can see that a more robust four-leaf-spring set-up has been applied to both the updated Trail Boss, and the more aggressive ZR2-style variant.
