Supercharged LT4 Powered Chevy Beast Hits SEMA
The Beast was built to be the ultimate desert-running off-roader.
Awesome Concept
Desert-running off-roaders were a thing at SEMA this year, with Ford's Bronco DR catching a lot of press for its use of the automaker's Coyote V8. But we'd argue that the appropriately-named Chevy Beast is far cooler, even if it is only a concept at this point. Chevy built the Beast specifically to demonstrate the capability of Chevy trucks and Chevrolet Performance components, and needless to say, it's pretty darn awesome.
Photos: Chevrolet
Video Game Vibe
The Beast is built on a short-bed, four-door Silverado chassis that's been shortened, but it certainly doesn't look like it has any kind of pickup roots. Rather, its custom bodywork gives it more of a video game military ride, the sort of thing you'd drive around in a post-apocalyptic world while fighting aliens.
Photos: Chevrolet
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Specs
The AWD Beast rolls on 37-inch tires and sports some pretty impressive off-road specs, including an approach angle of 45 degrees, a departure angle of 46.5 degrees, and a breakover angle of 35 degrees. The Beast touts 13.5 inches of ground clearance, has a wheelbase of nearly 127 inches, and its front and rear track width comes in at 91 inches.
Photos: Chevrolet
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Plenty of Power
The Beast isn't just powered by some lame engine, either. Rather, it's packing GM's supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 crate engine up front, which makes an even 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, which is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Power flows to all four wheels, as one would expect from something like this.
Photos: Chevrolet
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Go Anywhere
No word on how much the Beast weighs, so it's hard to imagine just how quick it is. But that likely isn't the whole point, as this thing was built to take four passengers just about anywhere they want to go. With 12 inches of front suspension travel and 15.5 out back, that shouldn't be a problem, either.
Photos: Chevrolet
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Spartan Cabin
Regardless, this is no luxury off-roader - the cabin is rather spartan, with four Recaro seats and nothing else besides the sort of stuff that's required for driving. It's somewhat of a breath of fresh air in a world where even pre-runners are being fitted with a bunch of amenities that they don't really need for racing.
Photos: Chevrolet
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Pound for Pound
Pound for pound, the Beast is a pretty awesome rig that any off-road enthusiast would love to have in their garage. We imagine that this thing is a total hoot to blast through the dunes in, but unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if GM has plans to actually build and sell it to customers - unlike the Bronco DR - at least for now.
Photos: Chevrolet
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