You aren't going to pressure anyone to admit anything. I had a chance to talk to a couple of GM officials. This is their exact quotes on ZR2 production:
Mark Reuss: "There's a very good chance"
Ed Welburn: "We're working on it...stay tuned'
Immediately after the ZR2's unveiling, and the press crush had died down, interviews were done, and the crowd moved on to it's next press conference, another manager from General Motors had another individual who specializes in customizing trucks for off-road use combing through the undercarriage for feedback, and recommendations and they were taking notes....and there was evidently a lot of additions and changes recommended.
Although I'm answering your question, this goes out to everyone. There's more to creating a vehicle than simply unveiling it on a turntable, then sending it down an assembly line destined for the showroom, and anyone expecting this truck within this model year (let alone a mere month or 2) needs a reality check.
A "CONCEPT", is just that...an "idea". It's NOT a finished product, it's NOT ready for production, and it's ALWAYS there for feedback for those whose feedback is VALUABLE to the car maker. Feedback isn't just simply some run of the mill person saying "I'd buy it!", it involves people who actually live and breathe the stuff. Often times, these people are let in before a vehicle is unveiled to the general public. Then often, a company gets more advice from other highly regarded outside people to fine tune the vehicle (remember the 10 disciples for the 5th gen Camaro?).
When you see a "concept" unveiled at a show, that's exactly what it is... even if it looks production ready. It's just an idea hence the term "concept".....only the most vivid imaginations and wishful thinkers would see a car identified as a concept and think that the car maker's really attempting to mislead you, and is actually sneaking something into production.... things simply don't work that way.
In this case, the ZR2 is an idea (with an intent to eventually put this "concept" into production in this case), and they are soliciting feedback from those in the offroad community (as in BUILDERS of the things and familiar faces, not random people) for ideas. Then they will put some of these ideas in play based on cost (there IS a price target on this, where they want the damn thing to be reasonably affordable).
Then when they decide what they can and can't add, then all these things have to be tested and certified....and that takes time. Things like skidplates, shocks and tuning, a tire and rim combo that maximizes the ability of the truck, maybe even adding moldings over the wheel lips for more aggressive tires, or perhaps using thinner tires with more aggressive tread. Although they had at least a couple of SEMA guys crawling over the ZR2 after the LA intro died out, they will no doubt get more feedback when the ship the thing to Detroit and have additional off road builders, press, and others go over the vehicle and make suggestions.
The ZR2 is meant to be the Colorado "Raptor". But it's meant to do everything better (any of you guys read about Raptor's propensity to bend it's frame or have it's bed start touching the cab after heavy use?). The only way it can be better is to go to the guys who do this (and build this stuff) every single day. Car companies also do things like this when creating performance versions of their "muscle cars".
SRT, Hellcat, ZR1, Z/28, Z06, GT500, & GT350, and even Raptor have all had feedback from key people outside of their respective companies. ZR2 is no different.
From the feedback and the suggestions they are getting on ZR2 that I personally saw, I can safely say the truck is going to be completely badassed!
Hope this has been informative.