2022 Silverado ZR2 Will Be Called ‘Cheyenne’ ZR2 In Mexico

Because the Silverado is marketed as a basic fleet vehicle in Mexico the ZR2 will be called the Cheyenne ZR2 in the Mexican market.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado is going to be ushering in a host of changes. One of the more exciting changes is the offering of the ZR2 package on the full-size truck. We are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new trucks. But while we wait to drive the new truck our friends at GM Authority are reporting that the Silverado ZR2 will not be known as the Silverado ZR2 for buyers in Mexico. In the Mexican market the truck will be called the Chevy Cheyenne ZR2.

The reason for the name change has to do with how General Motors markets the full-size pickup in Mexico. In that market the Silverado is the more basic fleet-oriented model. Your basic work truck in Mexico is a Silverado. The more well-equipped versions of the truck that are used by consumers as a family vehicle are called the Cheyenne. Obviously the ZR2 model is not a basic work truck so it will be called the Cheyenne ZR2 in Mexico.

No matter what it is called it should still be a great truck. The Cheyenne ZR2 is expected to arrive on dealer lots in Mexico sometime around the middle of 2022.  The new Cheyenne and Silverado models for the Mexican market will continue to be manufactured locally at GM’s Silao plant in Guanajuato, Mexico. That same plant also exports trucks into the U.S. and Canada to support the Fort Wayne plant.

A Silverado By Any Other Name

If the Cheyenne name sounds familiar to you and you don’t live in Mexico that is because it was offered as a trim level here in the U.S. for many years, beginning in 1971. By 1988 the Chevy C/K 1500 was offered in three different trim levels: Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado. The Cheyenne was the base model work truck, and the Silverado was the top-of-the-line package. This is flip flopped in Mexico today. In 1999 Chevy did away with the C/K line and the new full-size trucks were called the Silverado. However, in Mexico the Cheyenne name was well-established and popular so the company decided to keep the Cheyenne name in Mexico. It is currently the only market to use the Cheyenne name.

Whatever it is called we are sure that Mexican buyers of the ZR2 will be just as happy with it as buyers in other markets. The Cheyenne ZR2 comes standard with the much-loved 6.2L V8 engine hooked up to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The suspension includes Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers. Other hardware upgrades include an enhanced 2-speed transfer case with Terrain Mode. The front and rear bumpers are steel, and the one up front has a high-approach design that enables an improved 31-degree approach angle. The departure angle is also enhanced thanks to a hidden dual-outlet exhaust. Unique skid plates are also included for extra off-road protection. The ZR2 will ride on 33-inch Goodyear M/T tires. It should be plenty to navigate any of the fantastic off-road trails in Mexico.

Images: Chevrolet

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.