Supercharging Our Dreams: Chevrolet's 2018 Silverado Performance Concept
Halloween is over, but there’s at least one automotive costume worth mentioning — the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado Performance Concept. However, counter to most versions of dressing up, it’s what’s on the inside of this truck that matters.
Exterior design wasn’t forgotten — the Silverado is lower than a standard 1500 model and additional ducting helps cool what’s lurking beneath the hood. Air inlets add a bit of menace to the slate gray bodywork, too, which replaces any trim piece that could have been chromed. There is also a hint of red from behind the wheel spokes, denoting upgraded six-piston Brembo brakes. But it’s the 450 horsepower bestowed onto the truck via a new supercharger that makes all the difference.
As far as concept vehicles go, the Silverado Performance is maybe the least extravagant and most realistic example we’ve seen in a while. It maintains the mid-level 5.3-liter V8 but adds a supercharger borrowed from the 6.2-liter LT4 small block. We’d prefer to have seen that unit wedged into this pickup instead, as it would have made the final power specs even more impressive. But you can always buy and install that unit a la carte if you really want to.
The 5.3-liter is more reasonable and makes it seem like GM might be ready to call out Ford’s Raptor at any given moment. In fact, the Silverado includes other performance touches like a competition data logger and 22-inch wheels wrapped in performance-grade rubber. It appears well thought out, without being impractically ambitious.
Unfortunately, General Motors is unwilling to confirm production plans. As things stand, this remains nothing more than a concept pickup. But we can’t help but think it would make a great addition to Chevy’s lineup, likely stealing a few prospective Raptor buyers from Ford in the process — which is mighty high praise for a pickup that hasn’t even been built yet.
[Images: General Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Meh, a sportsy truck if (steering angle==0) { floor it; } else { big toe; }
Why keep mentioning the Raptor? I mean, other than it's high output engine, they couldn't be more different. This is obviously not an off-road focused truck as the Raptor is. This is more like an F-150 Lightning, which of course isn't part of its lineup right now, although I don't see why not since it would be easy to drop the Raptor's high output engine into a lowered 2wd truck.