For most of us, off-road parts only have one application, and that is to enable us and our rides to take on challenging terrains. As it turns out, General Motors has found a whole new application for Chevrolet Performance’s off-road racing components. Earlier this month, the automaker introduced GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), which was commissioned by the U.S. military.

The company used Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 as the foundation for its new military-grade vehicle. General Motors also revealed that almost 70% of GM ISV’s ensemble is made up of Colorado ZR2’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. General Motors partnered with Ricardo Defense, a global engineering firm, and developed the ISV in just 18 weeks.

Back in June 2020, the U.S. military paid $214.3 million for 649 examples of the ISV and also directed the automaker to produce up to 2065 vehicles over eight years, if needed. The GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle gets a four-wheel-drive configuration, and it is powered by a 2.8-liter inline-four cylinder Duramax engine, which comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The military vehicle gets a front-engine layout and features an open cockpit design that is capable of carrying up to 9 passengers. The off-roader also has a lightweight construction, and at 5000 lbs, GM ISV can be slung-lifted by a Blackhawk helicopter and can even be transported inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

The vehicle rides on GM’s MultiMatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) dampers that were carefully tuned by the automaker to offer more suspension travel. We already liked the Chevy Colorado, but now it turns out that with a few off-the-shelf parts, this mid-size pickup truck can be modified into a battle-ready beast.