2009 SEMA Show - Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Concept

There was another surprise at the Chevrolet 2009 SEMA Show sneak preview last night. Chevy unveiled the Silverado ZR2 concept, an aggressive truck designed to take on the likes of the new Ford Raptor.

The Silverado ZR2 features a widened body and tall stance clearly intended for heavy duty off-road use. It rides on 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires with 20-inch BBS RD wheels. A new front fascia is designed to facilitate approach angle, and skid plates help protect the chassis underneath. BDS shocks and a four-inch lift kit help the truck negotiate big rocks and desert trails.

Of course the big news is under the hood. The air scoops and larger grille are designed to feed cool air into the 550-horsepower LSA supercharged motor -- the same engine found in the critically acclaimed Cadillac CTS-V.

Taking a page from the Corvette ZR1, the Silverado ZR2 incorporates extensive use of carbon fiber. Much of the extended cab/short body is made of the high-tech, lightweight material including the front fenders, hood, rocker extensions and tailgate. Many of the carbon fiber parts, including the hood and tailgate, are clear-coated rather than painted to show off the intricate weave pattern. The rest of the truck is is painted a contrasting Dune Metallic color.

While the exterior is clearly intended to suck up the abuse from tearing down trails, the interior of the Silverado ZR2 concept seems designed to coddle the occupants and cushion them from the torment going on outside. There is more carbon fiber, of course -- along with black leather and sude trimmed seats with contrasting stitching.

This is definitely a truck designed for the serious business of traveling off-road very quickly. Let's hope Chevy decides to bring it to production to challenge the Raptor. That would definitely make things interesting down in Baja.

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