We’ve now seen the Colorado ZR2 testing all over the place - on roads, the snow - and now photographers have captured the truck testing in the hot desert climate. Although Chevrolet has not formally announced the production of the ZR2 version of the new mid-size Colorado truck, the number of times we’ve seen it testing point toward its place in the bow tie’s truck lineup.

The biggest question at this point might be exactly when will we see this truck offered? Chevrolet hasn’t formally confirmed the ZR2’s production, but considering this truck would be a direct competitor to the already announced 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, this desert testing would indicate Chevy is finishing up its endurance testing and will offer the truck for 2017.

We first saw the ZR2 concept in 2014 at the LA Auto Show, where it was fitted with the 2.8L Duramax diesel currently offered in the Colorado and Canyon. The concept was also fitted with about a 2-inch lift for its larger off-road tires and its aggressive off-road suspension, highlighted by King remote-reservoir coilover shocks. It’s unclear from these images, or the previous ones we’ve seen of prototype test trucks, if the Kings will remain, but the truck has a similar profile to that first concept we saw in LA.

The truck also features the same aggressive wheel arches with reduced overhangs as the concepts. The larger, more aggressive tires are fitted onto this test truck as well. What’s unclear at this point is whether the truck will be powered by the 3.6-liter V6 or the 2.8-liter turbodiesel - or if both power plants will be available. 

As we noted, we expect the ZR2 to appear by the end of the year, but we’ll have to be patient for the formally unveiling, which, at this point, seems like only a formality.

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