Andrew talks ICON at TruckYeah.Jalopnik.com
This Unofficial 2015 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Is Your Cheap Mini-Ford Raptor – Andrew P Collins
GM fired us right up with the tough-and-tidy 2015 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 off-road concept, but all we get in showrooms are the flaccid Z71 trim and pointless “Trail Boss” package. If you want to see the Colorado turned into a solid off-roader that you can still drive every day, the...
Folks have been throwing lifts and leveling kits on the 2015 Chevy Colorado since the first few rolled off the assembly line, but ICON Vehicle Dynamics (not to be confused with Jon Ward’s ICON 4×4 outfit) has put together an off-road package for the truck that gives us all we really wanted out of the ZR2 idea: a really clean, complete, and adjustable suspension setup that improves capability without making the Colorado look ridiculous or undrivable on the road.
For about $4,200, their Stage 5 Colorado/Canyon Suspension System gives the truck 2.5″ remote reservoir coilover shocks just like the ZR2. Those keep damping consistent and help shocks stay cooler in heavy use, while a Compression Damping Control Valve (CDCV) lets the driver adjust the suspension’s firmness on the fly.
- Wheel travel increases by 25% over stock
- Lift height is adjustable from 1.75″ to 3″ on a 4WD Crew Cab
- Uses Eibach springs, FK rod ends, tubular uniball supports, and fully rebuildable shocks
- Every “stage” option is completely bolt-on
- Kits accommodate wheels up to 8″ wide with 5.25″ of backspace and 32″ by 11″ tires without cutting the truck’s body
If you don’t need the higher performance of remote reservoirs or adjustable compression, you can get a Stage 1 kit for $1,800. Equipment and price increase incrementally through Stages 2, 3, and 4, which you can check out on ICON’s site.
For my money, I’d throw the Stage 5 setup on an RWD manual-shift base Colorado, get some great tires for another $1,000, and have a brand-new desert-devouring prerunner pickup for about $25,000. There’s your GM mini-Raptor right there—forget the pipe-dream ZR2 concept and ridiculous-looking Reaper.
Alternative Off-Road Built Chevrolet Colorado
Images via ICON Vehicle Dynamics
Andrew P. Collins is Jalopnik’s off-road and adventure guy. Shoot him an email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @andr3wcollins to talk trucks.
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