GMC May Bring Back ZRX Street Truck

Is GMC planning to build a street-focused version of its midsize Canyon pickup?

If the documents our patent sleuths have uncovered are accurate, the answer could be a definite maybe. On August 15 of this year, General Motors filed a trademark application for the name “ZRX.” Sounds sporty, we know!

This name was actually used in the early 2000s, applied to a street-focused, limited-production version of the brand’s now-defunct Sonoma pickup. Remember those? Unfortunately, so do we.

Back in the day, ZRX models featured GM’s venerable 4.3-liter V6 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission routing torque to just the rear wheels. A street-tuned suspension with special shock absorbers, unique bodyside decals, bed rails and a few other add-ons helped these trucks standout from run-on-the-GMC-mill Sonomas.

If you don’t remember it, you likely do remember the S10 Xtreme, which was Chevy’s version.

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Regrettably, no sketches or other artwork was included with this trademark application, just those three consonants typed out in a serif font on an otherwise blank page. What might a reborn Canyon ZRX pickup look like? Well, your guess is as good as ours, but it would almost certainly be rear-drive only, feature a lowered suspension and come with plenty of dress-up goodies, things like a tonneau cover, bed rails and, of course, the requisite decals. Regrettably, any significant performance upgrade seems unlikely, although we’ll gladly take the Silverado’s turbocharged 2.7-liter 4-cylinder. With 310-hp and 348 lb-ft of torque, it just seems like the right fit.

Pickups are big business these days as more and more drivers shift away from traditional cars. If GMC offers a street-tuned version of its capable Canyon midsize truck, it could bolster the division’s sales totals, though likely only a little. But hey, every unit counts in the annual new-vehicle delivery derby.

Do you want to see a new ZRX pickup truck on the market? Would you consider owning one if it’s reborn? Leave a comment down below.

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