Zac Quinn 
Ford and Ram have their Baja-racing-inspired half-ton trucks that we know to be the F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX. Each feature forced induction, 35-inch tires (or bigger), and suspension systems designed to control the forces between gravity, the earth, and three metric tons of weight about to land on it. Of course, GM has the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, which aims to scratch that itch for their truck fans. But, despite its big price tag, it lacks a supercharger, and with smaller 33-inch tires, its stance and ride height isn’t as extreme as the others. However, the Michigan-based Blacklake Research & Development does have a solution for you. It’s called the XT-1, and now we get a closer look at it with a walkaround.
Blacklake XT-1: Supercharged Silverado
The Blacklake XT-1 takes a standard-issue Chevrolet Silverado and upgrades it to be one of the most excellent pre-runner-inspired trucks we’ve ever seen. A lot of thought was put into the vehicle’s design to replace parts such as the fenders and bed and ensure that it keeps an OEM finish throughout. The bumpers are steel-reinforced composite with shackle mounts. When going under the truck, almost everything has been re-engineered to create a competent off-roader that can be just as comfortable on the pavement.
Since GM won’t build a supercharged Chevrolet Silverado, the Blacklake XT-1 has you covered with a Magnuson-Lingenfelter TVS2650 Supercharger attached to the Silverado’s stock L87 6.2L V8 engine. Altogether, the horsepower is boosted to a whopping 650 ponies under the hood, matching that of the LT4 V8. In addition, the Blacklake XT-1 has a plethora of accessories, including a Warn Zeon platinum 12S wireless remote winch, AMP Research power step running boards, and Blacklake and SPOD 8-channel solid-state accessory control.
The Blacklake XT-1 bridges a line between a pre-runner trophy truck and your everyday Silverado. With all of its features, it seeks off-road superiority beyond the Ram TRX and F-150 Raptor, while maintaining a comfortable interior that usually doesn’t make it into trucks that feature this level of capability. However, the price to pay to be able to chow down on this beast of a rig is undoubtedly a big one as the XT-1 comes at the cost of $250,000 USD. The selling point is that the owner of a Blacklake XT-1 is unlikely to cross paths with another, and will likely be the envy of the TRX and Raptor drivers at the off-road park.
