As crossover buyers are probably aware, Chevy recently introduced a 2023 update for its Blazer, which brings sharper styling and extra tech goodies. However, there’s still no SUV revival in sight, so a digital artist has taken the matter into his own hands. The result is a 2024 Blazer ZR2 rendering that brings back the spirit of the K5 Blazer off-roader, allowing the name to once again give the Ford Bronco a run for its money.
This isn’t the first time when we discuss a digital alternative direction for Chevrolet’s two-row crossover—the previous take on the matter brought a sportscar that built on the Camaro factory styling. And, given the fact that many enthusiasts look at the success of the revived Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler and see a missed opportunity for GM, it probably won’t be the last.
Chevrolet introduced the Blazer nameplate with a simple yet effective recipe, building an SUV on top of a full-size truck chassis. And while the 1969-1972 original and the 1973-1991 Gen II used the K5 Blazer designation, the Gen III (1991-1994) lost the alphanumeric particle but kept the full-size pickup underpinnings.
The model was replaced by the Tahoe in 1995, with this bloodline still being present in showrooms (the Gen V landed in 2020).
However, the kind of comeback discussed here would slot in between the full-size Tahoe and the 2019+ Blazer mid-size crossover. And, before anybody points out that we’re talking Traverse territory, we’ll remind you that’s a unibody crossover whereas the K5 revival would involve a Silverado truck chassis. And this is where the pixel work steps onto the scene.
The 2024 Chevy Blazer ZR2
This is the work of digital artist Oscar Vargas (aka wb.artist20), who is a big fan of the K5 Blazer and has rendered multiple modern incarnations, including some that target the GMC Jimmy sibling of the full-size Chevrolet.
The pixel master built this new Blazer on top of the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, the off-roading special that comes in standard with features such as Multimatic DSSV Dampers, 33-inch off-road rubber, and a 6.2L V8 churning out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
While that V8, an asset that’s missing from the 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor mid-size, body-on-frame star, by the way, is still present, this K5 Blazer even packs beadlock wheels to keep the even meatier tires in place.
And, if you zoom in on the front fascia, you’ll notice the light clusters have been restyled to pay homage to the said Gen II Blazer.
A real-world version of this is already in the works, but with a GMC twist
There are quite a few shops around the U.S. that love to play with truck platforms and SUV bodies. Not GM, though, since the carmaker has electrification plans instead (2024 Silverado EV, anybody?) and we might expect a Blazer SUV to return once it deploys a full range of EVs.
And, based on that aftermarket fact alone, we would’ve given this rendering a generous RPM (real project in the making) potential rating. However, if we switch the plot over to the said GMC Jimmy, the number goes to 10/10, since conversion has already been announced.
During last November’s 2021 SEMA show, Arkansas-based Flat Out Autos announced a modern Jimmy two-door that’s most likely based on the T1 platform serving GM full-size SUVs and trucks like the Silverado—you’ll find this in the second Instagram post below and we’ll remind you that the builder had previously delivered multiple top-notch projects, including a modernized K5 Blazer.
And there’s more—Chevrolet Performance revealed the Off-Road Concept—initially called Beast—at the event, with this building on the Silverado with the help of a 650 hp LT4 supercharged V8 and, more importantly for our story, tubular doors.
And yes, Oscar decided to gift this new-age Blazer ZR2 with the said type of hardware, so you can better enjoy the great outdoors in this collective digital dream.
Update: Flat Out Autos debuted their Chevy K5 Blazer ZR2 2024 (KR2) at SEMA 2023
The Arkansas-based aftermarket developer brought its Chevy K5 Blazer ZR2 2024 conversion, which it calls KR2, to SEMA 2023. The transformation is complex, ranging from off-roading gear to a supercharged 5.4L V8 and a plush interior.
