At first glance this may seem like GM’s answer to Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor. Well, it’s not – not yet at least. The new Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Concept, which is debuting today at the 2009 SEMA Show, features a widened body, tall stance and powerful LS supercharged engine and GM says it’s ready to “hit the berms, dry washes and gullies of the Baja Peninsula.”

Based on the extended cab/short box body, the Silverado ZR2 Concept gets custom bodywork with carbon fiber fender flares that cover the 35-inch tall Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires and widened stance. Power comes from GM’S LS crate supercharged V8 making 550-hp. The Silverado ZR2 rides on 20-inch BBS RD wheels.

Will it enter production? Most likely. GM says that  ”some of the components are being explored for possible inclusion in upcoming models.”

Make the jump for the press release.

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Concept:

Press Release:

Silverado ZR2 concept
At a glance, it”s clear the Silverado ZR2 concept wasn”t designed to haul flowers back from the nursery. With its widened body, tall stance and powerful LS supercharged engine, it is ready to hit the berms, dry washes and gullies of the Baja Peninsula.

The Silverado ZR2 is based on an extended cab/short box body. The custom bodywork includes carbon fiber fender flares that stretch outward to cover the 35-inch-tall Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires and widened stance. Much of the truck”s body is made of carbon fiber, including the front fenders, extractor-style hood, rocker extensions and tailgate, which features large, debossed CHEVROLET lettering as a nod to Chevy trucks of the past.

The pickup box, which is protected with a spray-on liner, features a unique locking storage system mounted to the extruded aluminum Cargo Management System rails from Chevy Accessories.

Many of the carbon fiber parts, including the hood, are clear-coated, rather than painted, to show off the intricate weave pattern of the high-tech, lightweight material. The parts that aren”t clear carbon fiber are painted Dune Metallic, a color that blends with the desert terrain. A large, more prominent grille is also part of the package and is a vision of what designers would like to see in a production or accessory part. It is very functional, feeding cool air to the 550-horsepower LS supercharged crate engine from GM Performance Parts.

The combination of 20-inch BBS RD wheels ““ reminiscent of historic Chevy truck wheel ““ and aggressive Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires connect to the chassis via BDS shocks and a four-inch lift kit to help negotiate those desert trails. The new front fascia dramatically improves approach angle and skid plates protect the chassis.

The interior features more carbon fiber details on the dash, along with black leather and suede-trimmed seats with contrasting stitching to those trail runs more comfortable.

“There”s more to this concept than meets the eye,” said Dewar. “Some of the components are being explored for possible inclusion in upcoming models.”

- By: Kap Shah