The current Chevy Colorado ZR2 is a hot-selling off-road-focused pickup, and now the U.S. military wants to up that ruggedness quotient by creating an Infantry Squad Vehicle for tactical and combat duties. The GM Defense arm of the Detroit automaker just received a contract to build 650 of them, and what you see here is one of the prototypes that, well, looks nothing like a Colorado. It takes the frame and suspension of the pickup but essentially loses the body, doors, and roof. The ZR2 ISV gets a new front end with an exposed radiator, angular rear fenders, and a cabin that amounts to a structural rear cage and a set of rearward and outward-facing jump seats in the back. To keep costs low, the ISV uses GM parts bin components and guts from the Chevy Performance Parts catalog. Under the hood is the ZR2’s optional 2.8-liter four-cylinder turobdiesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission for shifting duties. The ISV holds nine soldiers with gear thanks to those four jump seats and five more in the first two rows, all within the Colorado’s original dimensions. GM is confident it will fulfill the stringent needs of the U.S. military, but this sucker also looks like it might also get commandeered for action movie duties.
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Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
