Trail Boss

General Motors Trademarks “Z71 Trail Boss”
Designation Suggests More Serious Off-Road Models

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Of the Detroit Three, the off-road offerings from General Motors are typically the least aggressive. Since the discontinuation of the Hummer brand in 2010, GM hasn’t had a dedicated line of serious off-road vehicles. Chevrolet’s Z71 package and GMC’s All Terrain trims add upgraded shocks and other upgrades but nothing on the order of the F-150 Raptor or the Ram 2500 Power Wagon. However, that may not be the case for much longer. According to a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, GM filed for a trademark application for “Z71 Trail Boss” this month. The filing additionally identifies “light duty pickup trucks” as the use for the trademark.

This leaves the door open to using the designation for either the Silverado or the midsize Colorado. The extent of the hardware that would accompany the trim is unknown, but the showing of the Colorado ZR2 Concept with remote-reservoir shocks and an integrated winch certainly indicate that GM would like to give its trucks a greater measure of off-road credibility. What would you rather see: a Raptor-fighting Silverado Z71 Trail Boss or a Tacoma TRD Pro foe in the form of a Colorado Z71 Trail Boss?

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2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Gets New Tires
Ambitious-Sounding Name Offers Modest Hardware Updates

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A few months ago, we reported on General Motors’ trademark filing of “Z71 Trail Boss” and almost immediately, our minds went down the rocky trail of the possibility of the awesome ZR2 concept shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show coming to showrooms. Unfortunately, the reality of the Trail Boss is quite a bit more modest.

The production Z71 Trail Boss is a $3,320 package consisting of the GearOn cargo management system, a transfer case shield on 4WD models, front recovery hooks, 3-inch round rocker steps, black bowtie logos front and rear, and black fender flares. The biggest difference from your run-of-the-mill Z71 is the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 265/65R-17 all-terrain tires.

If there’s any silver lining to the somewhat anti-climactic reveal of the Trail Boss (at least to hard-core truck enthusiasts) is that it still leaves room for an eventual production version of the ZR2 concept. Maybe we shouldn’t be so greedy for a high-performance off-road version only months after the Colorado’s debut, but after seeing the ZR2 concept, we can’t un-see that awesomeness. C’mon Chevy, please tell us the Trail Boss isn’t the end-all, be-all 4WD Colorado. For those of you that are still interested, the Trail Boss will go on sale in Spring 2015 and will be available in all the configurations of the Z71, including 2WD, 4WD, and crew and extended cabs.

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Well that turd swirled down the toilet rather fast , I guess it's to much for GM to actually do more than a sticker package for an off road truck .

Quick to assume this is the production version of the ZR2 concept.

#1 It's not named ZR2, because it isn't.  Nor is it intended.
#2 The ZR2 RPO has considerable cache', GM's well aware what today's market expects from the ZR2.
#3 A model with planned sub-model variants is rarely if ever launched with all sub-models from the start.  All manufacturers do this for a vehicle  that will have multiple sub-models throughout the planned life cycle of the platform.  This keeps the product fresh years after the initial launch. Toyota 1794, TRD Pro.  F150:  Platinum, Harley, Limited, Raptor.  Mustang: Shelby GT, GT350, GT500. Camaro 1LE, ZL1, ZO6.  Corvette ZO6, ZR1.
#4 The ZR2 concept was shown with the the 2.8 Duramax powertrain.  As previously announced this powertrain will launch in the '16 model year.
#5 Inventory is still building at dealers from the launch, is less than a year old with what is likely to be a five to eight year platform life cycle.
#6 Patience, this concept a great response. GM produced the concept for a reason. Wheels are in motion.

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#6 Patience, this concept a great response. GM produced the concept for a reason. Wheels are in motion.

Like so many concepts I'll believe it when I see it. For example, Jeep Gladiator. We have been teased so often with great concept rigs that I just don't get my hopes up anymore.

A concept vehicle is just as the name implies, a CONCEPT. A concept vehicle is made to showcase new styling and new technology. They are usually shown at auto shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not ever make it to production. A concept would never go into production directly, but would have to undergo many changes before the design is finalized for the sake of practicality, safety, regulatory compliance, and cost.

Exclusive First Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Boss

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Building on the success of the all-new '15 Colorado, Chevy has begun introducing special editions of the vehicle, which cater to a consumer's desire for a customized ride that fits their unique personality. It all started with the '15 Colorado Z71 Trail Boss, and the company has wasted no time in introducing us to the updated '16 Trail Boss (along with the Midnight edition for the more street oriented crowd, more on that next issue). With lots smooth talking and a lot of bribery we were able to get our hands on the one and only '16 Trail Boss in existence (don't worry, they assure us that more will be built soon).

The Trail Boss is built off of Chevy's legendary Z71 off-road package and adds unique features that improve both appearance and functionality. It is offered in extended and crew cab configurations, with the choice of a long (6-foot 2-inch) or short (5-foot 2-inch) bed. It can also be had in two-wheel or four-wheel-drive, and with the 2.5L inline four-cylinder, 3.6L V-6, or the 2.8L Duramax diesel engine. Unfortunately, the only drivetrain option not available is the manual transmission, which to us is unacceptable (but understandable).

At its base, the Z71 off-road package adds a G80 automatic locking rear differential, off-road suspension with twin-tube shocks, all-terrain tires, front recovery hooks, hill descent control, a transfer case skid plate, fog lights, and projector headlights. Checking the Trail Boss box on the order form cranks it up to 11. Black, three-inch round rocker steps provide an aggressive look, help with ingress, and protect against rocker damage on tough trails (though Chevy doesn't officially claim that last part). However, we found the steps to be a bit of nuisance when getting out of the truck. Also part of the Trail Boss package are black fender flares, black Bowtie emblems front and rear, a spray-on bedliner, and all-weather floor mats with the Z71 logo. Adding functionality to the Trail Boss are aggressive 265/65R17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires, which are wrapped around custom black 17-inch wheels. A sport bar is mounted in the bed and holds a pair of LED off-road trail lights for those times when your adventures last well past the sun's quitting time.

From behind the wheel, the Trail Boss drives just like any other Colorado. The Z71 suspension is soft enough for comfortable daily driving, yet tuned just right for the mild trials that it's intended for. We bombed around on some simple dirt trails, graded roads, and tore-up two-track, and the Trail Boss handled it phenomenally, only occasionally bumping the air dam into the trail (we're keeping our fingers crossed for a removable version on the next Trail Boss). The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires are a great addition to the truck and provide enough traction to get you deeper in trouble than you probably wanted to be. We're still annoyed that the transfer case selector is hidden behind the steering wheel and easily confused for the headlight switch, but its operation is quick and easy once you find the knob.

Overall, we're extremely pleased with the direction that Chevy is headed with the Colorado Z71 Trail Boss. This truck provides a quick and easy way to get outdoors in a pickup that has excellent looks, loads of capability, and is completely covered by the factory warranty (and financing). And the fact that the '16 model has been introduced so quickly after the '15 went on sale, and with even more content than before, reinforces their commitment to this lifestyle. While we're excited for the '16 Trail Boss, we're even more interested in what the future holds!

More images and video here... Truck Trend

It appears that the big 3 are really getting serious about getting putting out designs that actually look good and work. The government must be releasing more information from Area 51.