A radical off-roader dubbed the Chevy Beast will headline the American automaker’s lineup at the 2021 SEMA Show this week.
The Chevy Beast is based on a Chevy Silverado 1500 chassis and is powered by the automaker’s supercharged 6.2L LT4 V8 engine, which is rated at 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The LT4 engine is paired with a GM 10-speed automatic transmission in the Beast, linked up to a two-speed transfer case.
Another headlining feature of the Chevy Beast is the suspension, which is comprised of long-travel shocks and a newly developed five-link rear end. The off-roader also boasts a widened, 91-inch track, which contributes to more stable handling and optimal driver control during high-speed off-road driving, the automaker says. It rides on massive 37-inch-tall off-road tires mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels, which hide a Chevrolet Performance Big Brake upgrade system.
Engine | Supercharged 6.2L LT4 V8 |
---|---|
Transmission | 10L90 10-speed automatic |
Driveline | 4WD, 2-speed transfer case |
Front Suspension | Concept upper and lower control arms and fully adjustable racing strut assemblies with remote reservoirs |
Rear Suspension | Concept 5-link with Panhard bar and fully adjustable racing shocks with remote reservoirs |
Front Brakes | Chevrolet Performance Brembo® front disc brakes with six-piston calipers |
Rear Brakes | Disc brakes |
Wheels | 20 x 10-inch Raceline RTM260M Avenger True beadlock |
Tires | 37 x 13.5-inch AMP Terrain Attack M/T |
Wheelbase, in | 126.9 |
Overall Length, in | 204.0 |
Front Track, in | 91.0 |
Rear Track, in | 91.0 |
Max Front Suspension Travel, in | 12.0 |
Max Rear Suspension Travel, in | 15.5 |
Ground Clearance, in | 13.5 |
Approach Angle, degrees | 45 |
Departure Angle, degrees | 46.5 |
Breakover Angle, degrees | 35 |
Inside, the Chevy Beast has a “minimalist, functional design,” featuring a quartet of Recaro performance seats with four-point harnesses, as well as two seven-inch-diagonal LCD screens that monitor vehicle functions and performance data, including body pitch and roll. Tubular doors help keep the weight down and build on the minimalist exterior and interior design.
A pair of spare tires is mounted in the vehicle’s bed, while a purpose-built off-road LED light bar from Baja Designs adorns the roof. Chevy says the Beast was designed to have almost no front and rear overhangs as well, maximizing the vehicle’s maximum approach and departure angles for traversing steep grades.
“There’s nothing else like The Chevy Beast,” said Jeff Trush, GM’s program manager for Pace Car and Specialty Show Vehicles. “It delivers a ton of performance and capability, which makes it adept at conquering rough terrain — and it flat-out flies in desert running.”
“The Chevy Beast concept sets a new standard for off-road performance,” he added.
The Chevy Beast is one of several new production and concept trucks the automaker will display at the 2021 SEMA Show this week. GM Authority will be present at the SEMA Show covering the Chevy Beast and other Chevrolet vehicles on display, so be sure to subscribe for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news, SEMA news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I saw that earlier this morning.
They need to build this on the new Colorado Platform that is coming out.
Watch out Wrangler and Bronco…..Lets Go Chevy, Hell Yeah!!!
You took the words right out of my brain!
Why would the wrangler and bronco need to watch out for something gm will never do? They have made it quite clear electric is there future not this. If they actually wanted to compete in the off-road segment they would of done it already.
GM is too focused on EV when ICE will be popular for another generation or more. Tesla, until this year, never made money except from selling carbon credits to OEMs like FCA.
GM will never gain Tesla like value. That’s all based on speculation and personality cult
I know this is not production ready but it would be a good start for a life style vehicle to challenge, TRX, Raptor and to a later extent the jeep and Bronco.
They need a cheaper smaller version for better volume to go after the Bronco and Jeep. This is the heart of the market and a vehicle like shown here would be too expensive.
I’ve been pitching the rebirth of the Hummer HX concept for a while now and I agree they need a mid size.
I call it the “Apache ZR2” or “Apache HX”, Apache is probably not socially acceptable now a days but they can call it what ever they want, if they would just build it!!! 👍
If gm cared at all about the off-road segment they would of done something about it years ago but they haven’t.
One doesn’t care until they do, then it’s all about what they do. One thing is for sure, GM has always looked out for the aftermarket industry more so then just about any other manufacturer.
It is one reason once GM puts a motor into production, for instance, they leave it alone for a number of years. It is why the aftermarket makes products for them, there’s a lot of them out there. They don’t have to chase several EPA certs for basically near similar products, they are all covered under one.
Well the world is not funded by the Raptor and TRX.
GM was more about building the Corvette products that deliver volume and cash.
I too wish they had a Jeep fighter years ago but there were more important but boring things to build.
Many forget that GM had some really great products in the GM Performance division but they still went broke.
This vehicle is not something that will make it to market as it is. This is just a show vehicle but the under pinnings could produce something interesting.
I still think a smaller cheaper volume off road vehicle would be a much more profitable move. Something with Hummer like removable panels.
I agree with everything you said. I just wish gm would do something for the off-road segment besides the hummer ev but at this point I doubt it will happen. The wrangler and bronco are only going to gain in popularity over the coming years. Now jeep is offering that extreme recon package for not only the rubicon but also Willy’s I just want gm to be in to.
I have been disappointed for years. But I also get the big picture. At this point now we have this EV thing looming and I suspect major investments will be held for them. They will be easier to do in different variations and different volumes.
Ford will just get the Bronco established and then have to change it over. Jeep already is showing their EV models.
GM is playing the long game here and I expect GMC will see a Jeep challenger in a small Hummer EV that will be priced with the Jeep an Bronco.
I had hopes for a ZR2 Colorado based Challenger to the Jeep but it got canceled.
GM has 30 new models coming in the next 3 years and I expect some surprises will be involved.
Funny, the Colorado ZR2 has been available for several years and has won comparisons against the Gladiator and Raptor.
The trx rival is already here, the GMC hummer ev.
No way man. The hummer ev is not going to attract that crowd. First it’s price is crazy high also most off-roaders are not to keen on ev right now one main reason charging stations where they go off-roading at. In my personal opinion I don’t consider the hummer a rival to the raptor, TRX, wrangler, or bronco. I think the hummer crowd will be the people that want a fancy expensive ev.
This obviously has taken elements from GM Defense vehicles. I wonder if there will be a new full sized Blazer?
Gm defense should work with Mack defense to make an off-road truck.
Hmmm…. it uses a Silverado 1500 chassis, uses a supercharged 6.2, 10-speed auto, long travel suspension and 37’s. I suppose it’s possible they would build something this wild, but GM has a long history of building concepts that never see the light of day. The 91″ track width would have to be reduced, but this looks like a perfect recipe for a Silverado ZRX. Could we be looking a future ZRX in disguise? In a perfect world we would get both the ZRX and it’s wild sibling the Beast!
And there were times they built concepts and they failed miserably too. SSR…..
I hadn’t thought about those trucks in awhile, it’s pretty rare to see one these days. I will agree not all ventures are successful, but by the same token, nothing ventured nothing gained. This concept uses a lot of parts already in production. With the success of the off-road market I could easily see this be the underpinnings of a future product. Being Silverado based, I think the most likely recipient would be the long awaited ZRX. I have been to SEMA many times, GM typically has one of the most restrained truck displays. I’m glad they are going to have at least one exciting truck in their booth this year!
Here is the problem here. This is not a production vehicle or even close. Also factor in the cost here as this if it was produced would be at the least $70,000+.
The trouble is it takes a lot of money to build a models anymore. It could easily go several billion even based on a existing platform so volume over a number of years is needed to cover it..
GM has already announced the present full size trucks will be replaced if I recall around 2025. If anything is to happen it will be there. The trouble is they need a smaller cheaper model to challenge the Jeep and Bronco vs a full size. The segment is in the lower end not the higher end.
They will not invest a few billion for a couple years.
I’m not suggesting this is due for immediate release, I would honestly be surprised (but happy) if produced at all in it’s current form. Whether it be this generation or the next, this concept is a good sign for future off-road models however. As far as here and now, GM could easily produce a hotter version of the Silverado ZR2 without breaking the bank. If return on investment is the concern the long travel components could be shared with the new 2025. Simply use the existing supercharged 6.2 and wider fender flares for tire coverage. The custom wide body and 700+ hp motor could wait for the new generation of trucks. I agree GM needs a Jeep/Bronco competitor, that said, this concept is simply too big for that class. Lets face it, GM was asleep at the wheel for way too long in the off-road market. I’m just glad they are now seeing the light!
Lol the ssr oh man I forgot about that abomination.
Looks pretty silly to me. What’s it for? Weekends in the woods playing “Army”?
Hot and wild concepts but they just seem to lose their way when it comes to production vehicles.
If they put the LT4 in this, why didn’t they do it for the AT4X and Denali? This would justify the steep price points, instead we get the same engines an LS, SLE gets but for $40k+ more!
I could see a more affordable version with 2.7-5.3 being built.