When the next generation Chevrolet Colorado was announced last fall, it was heralded as the start of a new era in mid-size trucks in the US. Aside from the diesel engine and manual gearbox we were promised, the Colorado might also get a Ford SVT Raptor-rivaling off-road variant.
SVT thoroughly redesigned the F150’s suspension to make a capable “pre-runner” style truck. Up front, new control arms and revised geometry gave an impressive 11.2″ of travel, controlled by a triple-bypass FOX Racing shock. In rear, revised leaf springs, a reinforced rear axle housing, and more FOX Racing shocks allowed for just over 12″ of travel. The entire suspension package also widened the track width by seven inches, for increased roll stability, and raised the suspension about two inches over a standard 4×4 F150. Composite bodywork wrapped the widened suspension up nicely, and changes were made to the F150’s stability control to allow for more curious use of the new capabilities, though when toying with one at a friendly local rallycross track down here in San Marcos, Texas, we found that the stability systems would still nag during modest maneuvers. But the package was downright impressive, where SVT made the package work was in the suspension tuning, especially with the triple-bypass FOX Racing shocks, something typically reserved for desert prerunner and race trucks.
A bypass shock has a series of “bypass valves” along the shock piston’s travel, which bypass shock oil around the piston and through a valve that controls the rate of flow, with each bypass allowing for a different rate of flow. This allows different amounts of damping at different points of a shock’s travel, where as a standard shock has the same damping over its entire length of travel, by allowing fluid to bypass the shock piston and flow through the different bypass valves at set locations along the piston’s travel. More information and detailed photos of an external bypass shock can be seen here.
This gives the Raptor its secret sauce: soft dampening at lesser lengths of travel allow for the suspension to quickly absorb small bumps at speed — gravel, ruts and other minor deformations — while still being able to slow the compression travel of the shock as the truck lands larger hits and jumps, preventing the suspension from bottoming out. Perhaps the only weakness of the SVT Raptor was its size, and more noticeably, its weight.
This is where the upcoming Colorado can make a difference. While offroad packages are no stranger to compact trucks, with Toyota’s TRD package standing out in the Tacoma, most really only equip you for mild jeep-trails. The emphasis on travel and suspension dampening are unique to the Raptor. But where the F150’s size and weight are ultimately weaknesses, the Colorado’s compact size and relatively low weight would make the platform a great choice for the Prerunner suspension design used in the Raptor. Less weight translates into better handling, better braking, lower center of gravity, and less of the suspension travel being used to absorb the energy of the vehicles body weight as it inevitably attempts to land a 75 mile per hour jump at a motocross track.
GM also refreshed the trademarks on the ZR2 moniker, not long ago. S10 fanatics will remember the ZR2 as a healthy offroad package for the second generation S10, including 1″ wider track, 3″ taller ride height, upgraded front differential and rear axle, and a few other additions. It would make sense that the ZR2 moniker could return with the Colorado and Canyon should this Raptor-fighter appear.
How about a RAM HELLCAT?
Anyone with an SRT-10 must have collector’s insurance. WhataTruck!
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/most-fun-for-25000-200406-dodge-ram-srt10-page-6
Back in 08 when Car and Driver went looking for used performance bargins they found a guy using his SRT-10 Ram for carpentry work.
There’s a guy around here with an SRT-10. Next time I see him, I’m gonna stop and say hi.
Sorry… the movie Kill Bill has ruined the image of anyone driving a RAM truck for me. “My name is Buck”…..
That’s good, because it was a Chevrolet.
Ah… Must be my biases rearing their ugly heads. That, and the gaudy spoiler.
http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/Media/580×348/7b/7b21c74f47f84f3d9d4f8834153be196.jpg
If you want to feel good about RAM, go watch Twister
Twister – a 90 minute Dodge Ram commercial
Totally was, everybody remembers that red truck. It can do anything, including hold people and their giant cell phones.
If they give it some power, this is going to be great.
Not with them wimpy plastic bumpers and tiny engine.
If they don’t fix at least those two problems then its just going to be a power wheels toy for adults.
I agree. It’s not cool looking.
Put an LSA in there.
I like the way the Colorado looks, but the offroad/ZR2 version should come with an ARB style front bumber and factory mounts for winch and lights. I’d gladly pay Chevy $2500 for a GOOD front bumper and winch package, so long as it came with GOOD integrated winch controls in the dash AND on the key fob.
oh, you can open the side door on your minivan from your keyfob? I can pull your minivan up into a tree with my key fob.
and yes, LSA FTW.
gimmie a crew cab option for the little girl’s flower print car seat and I’ll write the check right now. My TRD X-cab is getting a little long in tooth, anyway.
The GMC Canyon looks better, IMO. Hope they offer a package for it.
I see a lot of Raptors around, this will have to be awfully impressive to displace them
re: “This allows different amounts of dampening …”
It’s damping … Damping … DampinG … DamPinG … DAMPING!!!
If it’s ‘dampening’ it’s leaking oil.
Much appreciated!
@carguy67 – looks like the incorrect use of the word “dampening” has caused that to happen to your shorts.
One needs to “dampen” one’s response to prevent bottoming out too hard.
Not quite. If it’s leaking oil, it is indeed ‘dampening.’ But if it’s deadening vibration, it can be ‘damping’ *or* ‘dampening,’ confusingly enough. It’s sort of a context-sensitive parallel to ‘flammable’ and ‘inflammable.’
Should be interesting. I’m wondering what engine will power the new Raptor and what kind of fuel economy it’ll muster?
I would not be surprised to find an Ecoboost V6 under the hood, first.
I always liked the FX4 Level 2 Ranger, as it added the Alcoa forged rims (which looked great) and the rear LSD.
Reportedly this was also the best riding Ranger with the big soft tires, and upgraded Bilstein shocks.
FX4 is my favorite Ranger and F150 trim.
Here goes GM, again making toys its budget doesn’t need. ZR2 anyone?
Hopefully, Toyota, Nissan and others are paying attention. It would be great to have more competition in the off road small pickup niche.
@The Laine,
Too small a niche for them. They are more interested in producing work vehicles with much greater Off Road abilities
Toyota and Nissan already make specific off road versions of their small pickups RR.
@Thelaine,
Global versions are much more orientated towards work use on or off road They used to have TRD versions of the Hilux,,supercharged 4litre V6, but they did not really sell
They could have sold me one RR. Anyway, have some mercy and stop taunting me with the Hilux. Not my fault we get the shtty one.
GM already had a Raptor fighter, Avalanche which makes the Raptor look like a 5 year old with a hello kitty backpack. Bring back the Avalanche, throw in the LSA from CTS-V and call it a day. Also resurrect Hummer while you are at it. A new H3 based on the lighter new mid-size truck platform and fuel efficient 3.6L V6.
“GM already had a Raptor fighter, Avalanche which makes the Raptor look like a 5 year old with a hello kitty backpack.”
That’s not the Chevy Avalanche I know…
Seriously. The Raptor is way more like a first grader with a Dora the Explorer lunch box.
Agreed, it achieves very little
Now you are making me feel bad for liking the Raptor. I can’t help it. The Molten Orange color and the 6.2L make me happy. I would never buy one though. My personal choice would be an F150 FX4 SuperCrew with the 5.0L and almost every option box ticked.
I had a friend whose father bought an avalanche when we were in high school. He took it to the car wash and water leaked in through the windows. When he brought it back to the dealer they gave him rain guards to fix the problem.
Build quality aside I always liked that truck for its versatile folding rear seat that made it a not quite a pickup truck SUV thing. It’s what the Ridgeline strived to be. An off road truck however it was not.
I have an Avalanche. I love my Avalanche. But, a Raptor fighter it is not. I don’t think it is the truck you think it is.
@alluster – the Chevy Avalanche is a failed SUV fighter.
Resurrect the Hummer?
You are aware that the H2 was built upon a Tahoe chassis and the H3 was a tarted up Colorado?
Lou, you are aware how dumb you sound making crap up no?
What mechanical/chassis component does the H2 share with a Tahoe, certainly not the frame which shares no specifications with one from a Tahoe, so what? Hint, nothing.
And you do realize the H3 has many more reinforcement sections over a colorados frame?
Day in and out people ask for a SUV built off a midsize truck platform, so even if the H3 was exactly like the Colorado and did lack optional factory front and rear lockers, what would it matter?
At least its not a liberty.
A Colorado SUV already exists and uses the 2. 8 Diesel
http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1354053876/385/8008385.jpg
Da Fuk?!
*Goes to Thailand and takes photo of two year old Colorado variant there.*
Look! Raptor fighter new Colorado!
Seriously, that just looks like it has a bunch of SE Asian area stick on crap glued on.
ZR2 is a trademark, not a patent. Otherwise, good for them. It appears to be largely another vanity project for a company that could use some.
I think it looks like some kind of space rover.
If GM follows Ford’s technique of longer A arms to increase wheel travel this truck will be as wide as a stock full sized truck.
I’d be okay with that since the Raptor would be too wide for most trails I go on.