High-performance desert racing will never be the same again, according to Chevrolet Performance. Making its official debut this week at SEMA Show in Las Vegas 2021 (Nevada, USA), the Chevrolet “The Chevy Beast” Concept is billed as the ultimate off-road vehicle, with seating for four lightened and with a powerful V8 in its midst. front wheels.
According to Jim Campbell, vice president of performance and motorsports at General Motors (GM), “The ‘The Chevy Beast’ concept takes the popularity of high-performance off-road pick-ups to the next level. It is a vision for a new dimension of Chevrolet’s ability to perform from a brand that has pioneered performance and supported customization for all of our customers for more than five decades. “
Based on the chassis of a short-bed Chevrolet Silverado and powered by a 659-hp supercharged crate engine, “The Chevy Beast” is the company’s demonstration of everything Chevrolet brand trucks and components Performance can do. To begin with, the chassis was shortened and a fully customized 4130 Chromoly (ultra-high-strength steel) tubular safety frame was integrated onto it.
The 6.2-liter V8 engine (LT4) supercharged by a volumetric compressor is paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox (10L90) that sends all the power from the block to a two-speed transfer case. The set sits on 20-inch Beadlock wheels wrapped in 37-inch off-road tires. It also has a larger brake upgrade system, another courtesy of Chevrolet Performance.
The team then completed everything with a lightweight body that was developed and designed to be as small as possible on the skeleton. Still, “The Chevy Beast” is home to a pair of box-mounted spare wheels, which are left open to prevent dust and sand from collecting as the Dakar-Rally buggies would.
Onboard, meanwhile, practically everything has been personalized, predominantly minimalist and functional surfaces. Highlights are a set of four Recaro racing seats, with four-point harnesses, as well as a pair of seven-inch LCD screens that monitor vehicle functions and display performance data, including the pitch and roll of the body itself. It is not an F-150 Raptor, it is a competition off-roader.
And making mention of the suspension, Chevrolet states that “The Chevy Beast” has an off-road suspension created especially for off-road use, with a five-link rear configuration. It also received 91-inch (2,310 mm) widened axles to achieve more stable handling and better overall control during high-speed desert races. A set of additional LED lights is also not missing.
“There’s nothing quite like ‘The Chevy Beast,'” says Jeff Trush, director of GM programs, Pace Car and Specialty Show Vehicles. “It offers a ton of off-road performance and capabilities, making it a born expert at conquering rough terrain, and it flies at full speed in the desert.” Sadly, it won’t make it to production, but several of its pieces could find their way into an adventurous-cut production model.
