VIA Motors XTRUX Electric Truck: 2013 Detroit Auto Show Live PhotosVIA Motors XTRUX Electric Truck: 2013 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos

What does an 800 horsepower electric truck look like?
Just that little bit meaner than any other production truck, as it turns out–if Via Motors’ XTRUX electric truck is anything to go by.
The wildly powerful range-extended truck was unveiled at this week’s Detroit Auto Show. Loosely based on the Chevrolet Silverado, continuing the GM theme to all Via’s products, the truck is then equipped with a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and two, 402-horsepower electric motors.
Its 5.3-liter Chevrolet V-8 is a little unorthodox as range-extending engines go, but the XTRUX is hardly your average working vehicle anyway.
Despite the gas-guzzling powerplant, Via Motors claims the XTRUX will do 100 mpg on a typical drive cycle, though that doesn’t necessarily mean an EPA rating will return similar numbers. The battery-only range is around 35 miles, not dissimilar to a Chevrolet Volt, and the generator kicks in when battery capacity reaches 20 percent.
The transition from battery to generator power is apparently seamless to those inside, despite the huge engine up front. A built-in iPad provides the drive with up-to-date information on the battery status, but can also send data about the truck’s condition to Via, for troubleshooting purposes.
The exterior may not stand out like a bright orange Ford Raptor, but with 800 horses it hardly needs to shout. Instead, you get matte white paintwork and dark gray detailing, plus a set of chunky alloy wheels.
There’s no word on price yet, but we suspect there’ll be more than a few people willing to pay for such a unique vehicle.
For even more from the show floor, check out our Detroit Auto Show page.
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