2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2 Won’t Kill Raptors, But It Can Make Them Run Away

Is it time for Chevrolet to bring something to tame the Ford Raptor? The ZR2 model for the Silverado truck is out, but it is not available with a high-performance engine. The company is working on this project. So far, they are not announcing how it progresses and when we can expect such a vehicle. But, our insiders shared new details about the 2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2. This is the new nameplate used for the project. Well, the codename is the clear association to the Raptor-killing orb. They might make a mistake here – the asteroid was the space body that wiped out dinosaurs and other old raptors.

Let’s put astrology and history discussion aside – the hint is clear. Chevrolet needs to launch a truck that will rival Raptor R. The ZR2 is a match to the regular Raptor. But Ford and Ram brought the game to a whole new level with their high-performance trucks, and General Motors now needs to respond. Of course, the big truckmaker has a lot of potential and resources for that. The only question is if the bosses are willing to give a green light to the next phase of the 2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2 development.

2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2 Engine

The best fit for the 2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2 is a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. We can find it under the hood of the Cadillac Escalade V Series model. There, the powerplant produces 680 hp. Engineers might try to squeeze a bit more power to get in the same level with Meteor’s rivals. Both Ram TRX and Ford Raptor R can do more than 700 hp. The difference is not big, but 680 horsepower is not enough for the exclusive 700-hp club.

For this amount of power, the truck will need further upgrades. Special brakes, suspension, tires, and exhaust system will support massive outputs and provide a smooth ride. All-wheel drive is standard and a power router is a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The truck will sprint to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Ram TRX and Ford Raptor R are tied at 3.7 sec.

2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2 Price

One of the downsides of the 2024 Chevy Meteor ZR2 will be the price. You can’t pack regular equipment with a high-performance engine. We already mentioned there will be special suspension, exhaust system, and other upgrades. Also, the interior needs to be comfortable for adventures and trips on the Meteor. So, the price of the truck will definitely hit a six-digit realm. Raptor R is already there, while the Ram TRX is a bit cheaper. There won’t be too many optional features the company is going to offer for the heavily-loaded vehicle. Aftermarket upgrades will be available, but those are going to break the warranty.

Verdict

The race in the high-performance truck market is on. This is not a highly profitable segment, but it is more there for showing off. The Meteor is a new name we hear about and it definitely indicates a Raptor-killing object. You can also find other names, such as Desperado. All of them are based on the ZR2 package and a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 is an obvious choice. All other things are more or less predictable, but we can’t be sure about the final product.

For a long time, Ford Raptor was a leader in the off-road half-ton truck segment. Now, it has competition. Plus, new high-end models arrived after FCA launched the TRX package with the Hellcat engine for the Ram 1500. We thought General Motors is losing the battle, especially when Ram took over #2 sales spot from the Chevy Silverado. GM still sells more trucks, since GMC Sierra is also their product and Silverado’s mechanical twin.

The development of the performance pickup, no matter how it will be called, has nothing to do with new compact trucks. Chevrolet might bring back El Camino or Avalanche in this purpose, or GMC Syclone is about to return.