Off-road special editions are all the rage in the pickup truck world. High-performance supertrucks like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX win headlines and fans. Chevrolet hasn’t entered that game. But it has its own unique approach to building an off-road monster.
Rather than building its own trail animal, Chevy has teamed up with the off-road enthusiasts at American Expedition Vehicles to build a 2023 Silverado pickup equipped for the wilderness.
It’s named after an actual beast of the wild. Meet the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison. It will carry an MSRP of $76,695, plus a $1,795 destination charge.
The two companies have teamed up before. Chevrolet notes, “The 2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison quickly became the most popular special edition package offered with the Colorado” midsize truck. So working together on a full-size truck seemed obvious.
Based on the 4-wheel-drive Silverado ZR2, it carries a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine good for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Power goes through a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Impressive Armor and Off-Road Angles
The Silverado Bison features reshaped bumpers for improved off-road angles. The front approach angle increases to an estimated 32.5 degrees (compared to 31.8 degrees). The departure angle improves to an estimated 23.4 degrees (compared to 23.3 degrees).
Ground clearance stays the same at 11.2 inches. But, should you underestimate an obstacle, the Bison is well-protected.
The AEV-stamped front and rear bumpers are constructed of 3-millimeter-thick powder-coated steel. Five press-hardened steel underbody skid plates, Chevy says, are “three-and-a-half times stronger than an equivalent cold-stamped high-strength steel plate.”
The whole thing rides on 18-inch AEV wheels paired with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.
A body-color grille bar protects the black grille. Chevy finished the Multi-Flex tailgate’s upper panel in matte black as well, so you know you’re looking at a special edition from behind.
Inside, headrests and floormats wear the AEV logo.
