Chevrolet’->ke199s Thailand division recently rolled out an off-road concept->ke169 version of the global Colorado->ke1193 pickup truck. Called the Colorado Xtreme, the pickup offers a one-off look with plenty of upgraded parts built to tackle any the outdoors. Though this exact truck->ke1311 isn’t heading to production, GM says this hints Chevy’s future design direction.

“These show vehicles were created to inject excitement and passion into the critical pickup truck and SUV->ke145 segments, and reinforce Chevrolet’s commitment to the Thai market,” says GM->ke1024 Thailand and Chevrolet Sales Thailand Managing Director Marcos Purty.

Vanchana Unakul, general director of Engineering for GM Thailand and Southeast Asia, followed up by saying, “The two vehicles have the same platform but completely different personalities. The show trucks are an exploration into the platform’s significant potential and versatility.”

While the U.S. might not see get the Colorado Xtreme, rumors are still swirling about Chevy offering a hard-core ZR2 off-road package for the Colorado. Such a truck – if built correctly – would compete with the Ford F-150 Raptor. So in anticipation of the Colorado ZR2, let’s take a look at Thailand’s version of the Colorado Xtreme. Perhaps GM will share some of the design elements.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme.

Exterior

Okay, so we’ve already seen a hard-core off-road version of the U.S.-spec Colorado, but Chevy has yet to debut it. In fact, it was back in November of 2014 when the ZR2 concept debuted at the LA Auto Show. The concept truck packed a high-riding suspension with remote reservoir shocks, meaty Goodyear tires, and custom steel bumpers front and rear. The front bumper included a winch and two recovery tow points. The hood also featured a heat extractor for better cooling of the 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel.

Thailand’s version features a similar hood vent, but takes the truck’s appearance to a new level. The front bumper is similar to the ZR2 Concept’s, but features an integrated LED light bar, fog lights, and more pragmatic tow points ready for D-ring shackles. The truck also features large fender flairs, side step bars, a snorkel for the engine, a roof rack, and sports bar over the bed rails. The truck rides on mud tires mounted on five-spoke beadlock wheels.

If the truck does make production, we’d expect the snorkel, roof rack, and beadlock wheels to be absent.

Interior

The global Colorado now wears a similar interior as the U.S.-spec truck. The update makes the cabin feel much more homey thanks to the large, eight-inch infotainment screen with MyLink software, chrome trim, leather coverings, and upgraded switchgear. The three-spoke steering wheel and gear shifter are two of the most obvious differences. Off-roaders will appreciate the Xtreme’s main addition – a built-in inclinometer perched atop the dashboard.

Chevy says this truck, like its U.S. counterpart, now features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Drivetrain

Chevy makes no mention of the drivetrain within the Colorado Xtreme, but the likely engine is the 2.8-liter Duramax. In its current over-seas configuration, the four-cylinder turbodiesel makes 200 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That’s a full 19-horsepower more than the U.S.-spec version, though torque remains the same. That’s likely thanks to stricter emissions ratings here in the States. Delivering power to the wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Colorado Xtreme uses a part-time, electronically controlled transfer case to send power to the front axle. When the going gets tough, the driver simply selects 4WD and the transfer case engages the front driveshaft, which in turn, powers the front axle.

Conclusion

The Chevy Colorado Xtreme concept is a fantastic glimpse at what we hope Chevy will be bringing with the production Colorado ZR2. The beefed-up suspension, larger wheels and tires, metal bumpers, recovery winch, roof rack, sports bar, and LED off-road lights all make the package a significant upgrade to the standard Colorado.

What’s more, the Colorado’s midsize dimensions make it better suited for tight trails and more technical off-road maneuvers. In other words, it can go places the Ford F-150 Raptor can only dream of. Even still, the Colorado Xtreme (and hopefully soon the ZR2) can tackle the high-speed desert running the Raptor is known for.

Let’s just hope this Colorado concept isn’t relegated to the “should have built it” category of GM’s files. Especially here in America, the truck and SUV market is exploding, prompting automakers to offer better and more capable machines. Chevy would be wise to incorporate the Xtreme’s styling and features into a production-ready pickup. Here’s hoping it gets built!