Shock Doctrine

The Zr2 Delivers Real Off-road Capability, Thanks To A Trick Suspension.

- Bob Sorokanich

JUMPS ARE ALMOST UNIVERSALLY DISCOURAGED at a new-car launch. At events introducing the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram Power Wagon, organizers politely but firmly requested attendees keep four wheels planted at all times. Chevrolet, on the other hand, chose to roll out the new Colorado ZR2 on a Trophy Truck-style course with multiple dirt ramps. This wasn’t just tacit approval—it was an open invitation to take flight.

It also underlined a point: The ZR2 means business. This new off-road package widens the regular Colorado’s track by 3.5 inches, raises the ride height by two, and fits 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac off-road tires on distinct 17-inch aluminum wheels. Electronic-locking differentials front, center, and rear; painted-stainless-steel tubular rocker protectors; and a full suite of skid plates back up the gnarly look.

The real trick up the ZR2’s wheel well, though, is an exclusive Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) damper, supplied by racing juggernaut Multimatic. Conventional shock absorbers can’t be tuned in as many ways as the spool-valve dampers. Multimatic’s offer six distinct damping profiles on the front axle and four at the rear. Those different profiles come into play depending on the suspension’s position, making it adaptable to street driving, technical rock crawling, and high-speed offroading, all through a single, fully mechanical damper.