Hardcore off-roader, comfy highway cruiser
Several years ago I had the opportunity to ride with the legendary Ivan “Iron Man” Stewart in his trophy truck on a portion of the Baja 500 off-road race route in Mexico.
Trophy trucks, like NASCAR stock cars, may slightly resemble production vehicles but beneath the skin they are not even remotely similar.
Both have tube-frame chassis, full roll cages, extremely powerful V8 engines, monster brakes and very special suspensions.
I was reminded of that Trophy Truck ride in the desert while at the wheel of the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.
The strongest memory of Stewart thrashing that race truck over terrible terrain was the ability to absorb huge bumps. At one point we went airborne for what seemed like 100 metres.
As we were coming back down, I braced for the impact — but there wasn’t one. The big truck simply absorbed the impact, literally. It was as if we landed on a giant pillow.
Credit long travel suspension and some pretty sophisticated shock absorber technology.
Fast forward to the spring of 2018. The Colorado ZR2 displays a similar ability to laugh off rough stuff. Peek under the wheel wells and you will see a strange-looking yellow shock absorber, except it does not look like a normal shock absorber.
It appears to have a second cartridge or tube attached to the main body. The label says Multimatic DSSV Position Sensitive Spool Valve Damping.
Multimatic is an Ontariobased motorsport engineering firm with close ties to the automotive community. So close, Ford entrusted Multimatic to develop and produce its GT street/race car.
These sophisticated shock absorbers alter the flow of the hydraulic fluid inside in real time, altering the compression and rebound damping on the fly.
The ones on the Colorado ZR2 provide six different damping curves for the front suspension and four at the rear, instead of the single one on conventional shocks.
The bottom line is that these trick shocks provide a great wide range of compression and rebound rates throughout the range of the long travel suspension unique to the ZR2.
They absorb bumps like no other and provide excellent onroad ride and body stability as well as exceptional off-road capability.
The sophisticated Multimatic dampers can also be found beneath some of the world’s most expensive and revered cars — like the Aston Martin One-77. The technology is used in Formula One, LeMans and Indycar racing.
If it seems I have spent an inordinate amount of time and words on shock absorbers, you are right.
But they are the single feature that makes the ZR2 unique among Colorados. That, and added height.
What we have here is the world’s largest rally car — a jacked-up truck with all the mods necessary for serious offroad competition, or an adult toy of the highest order.
Thanks to MultiMatic, the ZR2 is just as happy crawling around a rocky creek bed, rocketing down a back road trail —
or cruising down the highway.
Other modifications to the ZR2 include:
A five-centimetre higher ride height (getting in can be a chore)
Front and rear tracks have been widened by nine centimetres
Electronic locking differentials front and rear Strengthened control arms Numerous skid plates to reduce damage from rocks and other objects
Modified bumpers at both ends for better clearance
A lower final drive ratio The ZR2 also comes with active tow to help you align the trailer carrying your other toys.
In addition to the extra height, visual clues marking the ZR2 include a unique grill and hood, black trim and 17-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 31-inch tall Goodyear off-road tires.
Other than that, this is a Chevrolet Colorado, a mid-size (but still pretty big) pickup. It is available with a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel or a 3.6-litre V6.
The test unit had the latter and it provided more than adequate punch for this 4,400 pound truck.
The crew cab body style means lots of passenger room but a fairly small (five-foot, twoinch) cargo box.
A longer box is available with the extended cab version, but comes at the cost of rear seat room.
The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is a unique combination of hardcore off-roader and comfy on-road pickup . . . thanks to some Canadian engineering.