Summary
- Chevrolet missed an opportunity to bring back the K5 Blazer as a two-door SUV, but Flat Out Autos created a modern version that looks like it came straight from Chevy.
- The converted Silverado, known as the KR2, is not only visually appealing but also functional, with wider fenders, off-road suspension, and a removable carbon fiber roof.
- While a modern K5 Blazer would likely be popular and profitable for Chevy, their focus on EV development may prevent them from investing in a new internal combustion engine vehicle like the Blazer.
When Chevrolet introduced the current Blazer in 2018 for the 2019 model year, it was reinvented as a two-row midsize crossover with Camaro-inspired sporty looks. It’s not a bad model, per se, but since it was yet another crossover in an already crowded segment, it never particularly stood out, either. Therefore, we think it was a missed opportunity for Chevrolet to bring the K5 Blazer back as a two-door body-on-frame SUV like the original model and be a formidable competitor to the Jeep Wrangler. But alas, It was Ford that was able to capitalize on this first with the Bronco, and this window of opportunity for Chevrolet to introduce a Wrangler rival is slowly fleeting.
But what if they actually did revive the Blazer as it was intended to be—a two-door or available four-door body-on-frame SUV with off-road chops that match or exceed both the Bronco and Wrangler? Well, there’s no need for us to do any imagining because Flat Out Autos turned a Chevrolet Silverado into what they call the KR2—a modern take on the K5 Blazer that the American automaker should’ve made, but decided to make the Blazer a nondescript crossover for the modern times.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including GM Authority, Chevrolet, and Goodcarbadcar.
If Chevrolet Made A Modern-Day K5 Blazer…
We’re impressed by the fact that the automotive shop’s conversion of a Silverado 1500 pickup looks like an OEM-quality job. It’s as if Chevy themselves actually made a modern K5 Blazer. In order to achieve this, it involved more than just improving its looks, but also doing some structural revisions to make it look better proportioned and make it look like a modern-day K5 Blazer.
Not Just A Looker, But Also Functionally Better
The affordable Silverado 1500, base WT (Work Truck) in regular cab to be precise, has been fitted with wider FiberwerX fenders that add seven inches to its width, putting it on par dimensionally with the Silverado ZR2 crew cab. A set of 17-inch Method Race Wheels wrapped in 37-inch Nitto Trail Grappler tires have also been fitted to improve both the looks and the off-road performance of the truck.
It’s not only a better pickup from the looks department, but it also is functionally better as well thanks to long travel off-road suspension by Dirt King, while the removable roof that truly harks back to the original K5 Blazer—which, by the way, is made out of carbon fiber, comes from Sankuer Composite Technologies. Topping it all off is a RIGd Supply rear tire carrier just to fully complete that SUV look.
Better Performance On And Off-Road
Take that carbon fiber roof away, and you’re left with seating for two at the rear bed. This exposes the roll bars as well as the red leather seats to spruce up the interior of what was otherwise a barebones interior since this is the WT trim of the Silverado. It’s also worth mentioning that if you carefully check out the photos, the proportions of the Silverado have also been altered.
Apart from the wider fenders, the shop also made alterations to the vehicle’s chassis itself. The chassis has been shortened by 22 inches and to achieve that open-air rear section that the K5 Blazer had, Flat Out Autos cut the back of the cab open for the open-air back seats.
Specifications
|
Engine |
5.3-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
10-Speed Auto |
|
Horsepower |
467 |
|
Torque |
440 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
4WD |
(Specifications Sourced from Flat Out Autos)
If you think this is just a conversion from a pickup into a modern-day take on the K5 Blazer, Flat Out Autos will also improve the pickup’s performance by adding an optional Whipple supercharger under the hood. The Silverado WT base vehicle is fitted with a 5.3-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 and is fitted to a 10-speed automatic. According to Flat Out Autos, with the supercharger, the engine produces 467 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque.
What It Would Take For Chevy To Build One
Now that we’ve seen what’s possible if the K5 Blazer was brought to modern times, what would it take for Chevrolet to bring it to market? Actually, from a capital investment perspective, probably not much, but this is just pure speculation. That’s because just as with Ford’s Bronco, the K5 Blazer won’t need a completely new platform from scratch.
Take Advantage Of What Chevy Already Has
As demonstrated by Flat Out Autos, the Silverado’s GMT T1XX platform already serves as a solid foundation for what could be possible for a modern-day K5 Blazer. The resulting vehicle is bigger than a Bronco or a Wrangler, but the K5 Blazer was also a full-size two-door SUV in the first place.
Not A Lot Of Capital Investment Is (Probably) Needed
With the existing GMT T1XX platform, Chevrolet doesn’t need to do a lot of major engineering in order to make it fit into a modern K5 Blazer. This is why we think that the American automaker doesn’t need to spend a lot of money to mass produce an all-new K5 Blazer. The Bronco, for instance, uses the T6 platform of the Ranger and in overseas markets, the Everest.
Ford’s T6 platform is already a solid foundation to start with and with the popularity of the Bronco, we think that the capital investment poured by Ford into the Bronco’s development program was easily recuperated. Not to mention the fact that the engines that the Bronco uses are also in the Ranger, and Chevrolet could do the same thing with the Silverado and the modern K5 Blazer.
Why Chevy Probably Won’t Build One
Considering these scenarios, it would be a no-brainer for Chevrolet to not build a modern-day Blazer K5, right? Actually, when you think about it, this vehicle will most likely increase the sales of its SUVs without spending a significant amount of money on development. Especially with the fact that Chevrolet already has the right engines and platform for a full-size two-door SUV, the parts commonality will also mean not a lot of investment would be needed in terms of production.
Today’s Blazer Isn’t A Stand-Out Model
The Blazer in its current form doesn’t suck, but it isn’t a standout either. The market is already full of midsize crossover SUVs with both two and three-rows, while the market for rugged off-roaders is still popular and should be a room of opportunity for growth for Chevrolet. Ford says they’ll be releasing more Bronco variants as sales of its off-roader continue to close the gap with the Wrangler. Chevy releasing a competitor in the segment, especially one that builds upon the iconic image of the original K5 Blazer could surely be a hit–even more so than a run-on-the-mill two-row crossover you can get in dealers today.
But GM Is Also Laser-Focused On EVs
However, as you’ll probably notice, Chevrolet’s parent company General Motors or GM has been very aggressive in its push for electric vehicles (EVs), with the most recent being the new Equinox EV. Though this is just a theory, we think that the intense capital that they’re pouring into battery plants, supply chains, as well as the BEV1, BEV2, and BEV3 platforms using the Ultium electric drivetrain and battery architecture means that fewer dollars and manpower are being allocated by the automotive group to the development of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Then again, EV sales have been slowing down (albeit still growing), which led GM to likewise reduce its speed in adding more EV models to its lineup, as well as delay the production commencement of new EVs such as the new Silverado EV and even a Blazer EV.
Here’s Why Chevrolet Needs To Build A Modern-Day K5 Blazer
The sales of midsize off-roaders remain strong, and with the K5 Blazer having a strong fanbase, we don’t see the market for this segment to saturate, either. It’ll most likely once again attract Chevrolet fans who haven’t bought a vehicle from the brand, probably waiting for a successor to the K5 Blazer for decades already.
Not A Lot Of Investment For A Potentially Popular SUV
Because of this, a modern-day K5 Blazer will also help add more growth to Chevrolet’s bottom line without a lot of capital investment. From a business standpoint, the amount of potential profit relative to what the automaker will invest will be good. In addition, today’s Blazer isn’t just another two-row midsize crossover that barely stands out in its segment. However, the automaker also has its hands full in the development and production of EVs, which means that their priorities are probably shifted away from ICE vehicles.
Opting For Conversion Isn’t Cheap
There’s another reason why you would also want to wish for Chevrolet to make a modern-day K5 Blazer successor–affordability. That’s because the Flat Out Autos conversion isn’t cheap. If you want this converted Silverado, you have to fork out $178,000. Add the superchargers, spare tire, and bed cover, which are also optional extras, and you’re looking at $202,000 for what is essentially a heavily modified base-level Silverado WT.