Walkinshaw offers 4500kg tow rated road rocket

Walkinshaw Performance has put a $21,990 price tag on its scorching supercharger kit that delivers muscle-car performance to the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

The kit, co-developed with Harrop Engineering since 2019, adds up to 146kW and 215Nm to the Silverado 1500’s L87 6.2-litre V8 engine, taking it beyond 400kW and to 740Nm of torque.

Testing of the supercharged Silverado at Heathcote dragstrip in central Victoria delivered 0-100km/h times as fast as 4.76sec and 400m runs as low as 12.66sec at 177km/h on 98 RON fuel.

A standard Silverado tested on the same day ran 14.06sec over the 400 metres at 158.6km/h, and a 6.13sec 0-100km/h.

Testing on Harrop’s hub dyno, a standard Silverado LTZ delivered 260kW and 525Nm at the hubs.

A supercharged Silverado Trail Boss upped that to 385kW and 713Nm, while a supercharged LTZ fitted with the Walkinshaw Fury pack – including newly-developed headers and a cat-back exhaust – improved that to 406kW and 740Nm.

Walkinshaw’s engineers also claim an average 11.5L/100km fuel consumption in testing, while the supercharged engine also complies with Euro V emissions testing standards.

Key elements of the kit include an Eaton TVS 2650 supercharger in a custom housing designed and manufactured by Harrop that replaces the standard intake manifold with twin water to air intercoolers on each bank.

The kit does not come with any other mandatory fitments such as driveline strengthening, suspension tuning, bigger brakes or different tyres.

Plenty of options are available from WP for the Silverado, including the Fury and Fury 2 packs.

The kit is covered by a warranty up to 36 months/100,000km, with deliveries starting before Christmas.

The kit is designed for the current-gen Chevrolet Silverado LTZ and Trail Boss converted to right-hand drive for General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) by Walkinshaw Group.

The standard GMSV Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ is priced from $114,990 plus on-road costs, while the LT Trail Boss starts at $106,990 plus ORCs.

The supercharger kit can be fitted to a new Silverado before delivery, or to a vehicle already in service.

Walkinshaw Performance has developed a bespoke calibration and control system to maximise the supercharger kit’s performance while also validating to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards.

The calibration is available in three grades depending on the level of modification of the vehicle it is fitted to.

Crucially, the calibration retains standard Silverado encryption and security features while diagnostics and dealer features retain their normal function.

A key feature of the kit is a unique bypass control module that stops great gobs of power being dumped all at once when the throttle is pressed. It also allows the retention of features such as fuel-saving auto start-stop.

“It’s been calibrated by our drivetrain engineers to make the driving functionality as smooth as possible, it doesn’t surge,” WP managing engineer David Kermond told carsales.

Determined to deliver an OEM level of reliability, WP also tested the supercharger in a wide range of conditions including Outback heat and Alpine chill.

Towing up to the Silverado’s 4500kg braked capacity was also a key part of the test program.

“There have been thousands of hours gone into this supercharger kit,” said Kermond. “This isn’t an aftermarket kit for us.

“The objective was to build the best OEM quality supercharger for Australia, so the average punter can turn his car on and have all the power on tap that he wants, but also have the warranty and the driveability.

“The driveability is key.”