Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles have teamed up to create a new no-frills, punch-you-in-your-mouth special-edition model based on the Colorado ZR2. Fittingly, the model goes by the name “Bison.” The upgrades to the burly Colorado are mechanical by nature, though it does have a sprinkling of vanity additions as well. The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison goes on sale in January 2019.

What Makes the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison Special?

For a pickup with the capabilities of the Chevrolet Colorado, it’s amazing what a few mechanical upgrades can do to elevate the pickup’s level of functionality. Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles collaborated in turning that vision into reality. The result is a special edition Colorado that builds off of what the standard Colorado ZR2 can do and adds more off-road versatility to the whole package.

The Colorado ZR2's ability to run roughshod over trails and mucky roads sits at the heart of what Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles tried to do in creating the Colorado ZR2 Bison. Knowing what the Colorado ZR2 is already capable of — it’s a class leader in towing with a maximum capacity of 7,700 pounds — Chevy and AEV improved the pickup’s all-around functionality. The same Boron steel material can also be found in the front and rear bumpers. For its part, the front bumper also has a built-spot for a winch, which would come in handy when the Colorado ZR2 wants to flex its class-leading towing capacity. Over on the other side, the rear bumper has integrated recovery hook-ups. The fender flares are larger, too. A bit more clearance comes with that, which is exactly what the Colorado ZR2 Bison needs to properly fit the 17-inch wheels that Chevrolet is offering specific to the model. Those wheels are wrapped in 31-inch tires.

The upgrades fall in line with the menu of mechanical features the Colorado ZR2 already has. The compact pickup didn’t earn the status as one of the most capable trucks in class for no reason. It has front and rear locking differentials, a two-inch factory suspension lift, and Multimatic DDSV dampers. For those interested in adding more features to what Chevrolet and AEV have already thrown in, there is an option to go straight to AEV to score a few more optional equipment, including that snorkel in the photos, which isn’t part of the Bison package.

It’s not a new look entirely — Ford does it too on Raptor versions of the Ranger and F-150 — but it does give the Colorado ZR2 Bison a distinct appearance compared to standard versions of the model. Speaking of distinct appearances, there’s also an option to cover specific sections of the Bison’s body with AEV branding.

That’s the extent of the upgrades that you’ll find on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. Neither Chevy nor AEV touched the pickup’s engine so expect to see the standard 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Bison is also available with the optional 2.8-liter turbo diesel that delivers 186 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque and is connected through a six-speed automatic transmission.

It hasn’t said how much the special edition model is going to cost, but with the Colorado ZR2 fetching $40,400, expect the Bison to cost a bit more than that. Whatever happens, the arrival of this model should give rivals like the Ford Ranger Raptor and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro something to think about.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado.

Read our full review on the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.

Read our full review on the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept.