The adoption of electric powertrains has fundamentally altered the automotive landscape in numerous key ways. One of the biggest elements that distinguishes EVs from their internal combustion counterparts is the otherworldly power figures that electric motors can produce — with quite a few new EVs generating torque numbers that would have sounded laughable only a decade ago. For proof of this, look no further than Chevrolet’s newly-unveiled Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept.
An Automotive Inevitability
Unveiled at the ongoing Mint 400 off-road race, the Silverado EV ZR2 racer concept was practically an inevitability. Back in January of 2022, Chevy debuted its Silverado EV. In April of 2023, the American marque then debuted the first-ever Silverado HD ZR2. So, in our eyes it was only a matter of time before Chevy combined the two, giving way to a Silverado EV ZR2 platform.
A Very Natural Partnership
To bring the racer to life, Chevy called in help from Chad Hall, primary driver and owner of Hall Racing. Though Chad doesn’t have the most extensive race history with Chevy, the competition experience he does possess clearly speaks for itself. He began in 2017 by competing in a stock production class, campaigning a Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. In the intervening years, he’s managed to finish 53 of 54 races entered.
Turning A Pickup Into A Desert Racer
Developed over the course of just five months, this concept racer actually uses approximately 98% GM production parts. To ready the Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept for desert racing duties, the team at Chevy have bestowed the electric pickup truck with a heavily-upgraded suspension setup with a substantial lift fore and aft, and Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve continuously adaptive dampers which afford over 13” of suspension travel front and rear. On top of off-road race wheels shod in massive 37-inch BF Goodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain tires, the team has also treated the concept to full underbody skid protection, locking differentials, fender flares, rock sliders, a headache rack, roof-mounted auxiliary lights, and a custom front bumper supporting an additional set of auxiliary lights.
Otherworldly Power Figures
While its state-of-the-art adaptive suspension and suite of off-road hardware are no doubt impressive, what really makes the Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept shine is its powertrain. At the heart of the pickup are three electric motors that collectively crank out a whopping 1,100hp and an even more impressive 11,500ft-lbs of instantaneous torque — figures that put even the top-of-the-line Cybertruck Cyberbeast to shame…and by a pretty hefty margin.
Straight From The Horse’s Mouth
“Working with the Chevy engineers is always a good day at the office,” said Chad Hall, primary driver and owner of Hall Racing race team lead. “What we learn from racing is applied to vehicles consumers can buy. An off-road race like The Mint 400 is equivalent to a lifetime of vehicle wear and tear.”
Spec Sheet
Brand: Chevrolet
Collaborator: Hall Racing
Model: Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept
Powertrain: Tri Electric Motor
Max Horsepower: 1,100HP
Max Torque: 11,500FT-LBs
Suspension Travel: 13”
Pricing & Availability
To demonstrate its capabilities, Chevy has entered the Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept into the Mint 400 off-road race, where Hall Racing will campaign the concept in the Open Production EV class. While the concept isn’t for sale or earmarked for production, Chevy has announced that later this summer it will be releasing the 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss, which marks its first off-road oriented EV variant.
Recap
Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept
Chevy rolls out a ridiculously powerful Silverado EV ZR2 Off-Road Race Truck Concept that generates 1,100hp and 11,500ft-lbs of torque — a vehicle that’s now being put to the test by competing in the ongoing Mint 400 race.
