Colorado

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
Sports Car

It wasn't too long ago that if you wanted a factory-spec hardcore off-road pickup truck, the only game in town was the Ford F-150 Raptor. Today, that list has expanded to include the Ram Rebel, the upcoming GMC Sierra AT4, and if you want something smaller, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which we previously sampled for a week. Although Ford has yet to confirm it, a US-spec Ranger Raptor is also coming fairly soon. It will be the most serious competitor the Colorado ZR2 has had so far, and Chevrolet may already be preparing an answer.

AutoGuide managed to dig up some interesting information by way of the United States Patent and Trademark Office filings. Apparently, Chevrolet trademarked earlier this month the name ZR2 Bison for the use of "Motor land vehicles, namely, trucks." In the past, Chevrolet has trademarked the name Colorado Bison, though nothing has come of it yet, if ever. So, what exactly could the ZR2 Bison be? Most likely it'll be a trim package, assuming this is even being planned. Often times, automakers trademark names they might or might not use, just to be safe. But given the upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor, Chevrolet could also very well be preparing its Colorado ZR2 for battle with an improved and even more off-road capable trim.

Could it be called ZR2 Bison? Something else entirely? Heck, will an upgraded ZR2 even happen? To answer the last question, most likely yes. As for the first two, who knows. In any case, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 versus Ford Ranger Raptor matchup is something we can't wait to see happen.