Naming a car like “Beast” usually means it’s going to be outrageous, or at least it should be. And that’s exactly what the Chevy Beast concept truck is. It started out as a Silverado pickup, then Chevy engineers were let loose to build the monstrous desert buggy you see above.
Yes, you read that right, the Beast started out as a Silverado. Apparently, engineers used a short-bed Silverado chassis to start with. Then they shortened that frame for improved approach, landing and departure angles. The whole measures 204 inches long with a wheelbase of 126.9 inches, both numbers are over 20 inches shorter than a Silverado. But then it also got wider. The Beast has a track width of no less than 91 inches. That’s 17 inches wider than a Ford F-150 Raptor, and almost as much wider than a Hummer EV. The team also built a custom chromoly steel safety structure and, of course, fitted it with aggressive bodywork, off-road lighting and tubular doors.
Some of Beast’s prodigious width is in the huge 37-inch tires on 20-inch beadlock wheels, but some of it is probably also a byproduct of the custom long-travel suspension on the truck. The biggest changes are at the back. The leaf spring arrangement has gone in favor of a five-link live axle with coil springs. At the front is an independent wheel suspension with modified wishbones. All four corners get off-road shocks with an external reservoir. Chevy says the front suspension has 12 inches of travel and the rear 15.5. The approach, landing and departure angles are 45, 35 and 46.5 degrees respectively.
The beast is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 that produces 650 horsepower. It’s mated to a 10L90 10-speed automatic transmission, like you’ll find in a Camaro ZL1, and naturally has a low-range transfer case to send power to all four wheels. Stopping the truck is done with a Brembo six-piston front brake caliper brake upgrade package sold by Chevrolet Performance. Also worth noting is the fact that the engine and transmission are also available through Chevrolet Performance.
The interior also received some attention. All four seats are Recaro sports seats and come with four-point seat belts. Instrumentation is provided by a pair of 7-inch screens.
Obviously, this truck is a one-off for Chevy to have a little fun, as well as show off some of the parts the company sells through its catalog. As such, you won’t be able to buy a Beast anytime soon. But we suppose if you have the money and the skills, you might be able to custom build something similar.
Related video: