The USPTO continues to be an early indicator of what automakers have in the works well before the details are made official. Looking at just General Motors, names like Corvette Grand Sport, GMC Granite, and “StowPro” are all examples of what could be in the works. Just as well, MC&T recently came across a trademark by GM for the “Sidewinder” name, and it could be intended for a future off-road truck like the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss or perhaps even a ZR2.
General Motors “Sidewinder” Trademark: What It Could Be
The trademark was filed relatively recently, on October 5, 2022. It’s designated under “Electronic controllers for steering systems for motor land vehicles.” Our first thought is that the name, paired with the fact that it’s for a steering system, indicates that it’s something similar to the Crab Walk found on the Hummer EV. Though, as we’ve seen with patents filed from both Ford and Rivian, there’s quite a lot that one can do with the powertrain of an EV, and having more than just one motor to spin the wheels.
Image via GMC
In case you didn’t know, a Sidewinder is a type of rattlesnake that moves by sliding its body diagonally forward. It’s also an air-to-air heat-seeking missile used by NATO fighter jets during dogfighting.
So, with that name choice for a mechanism that involves the steering system, it’s pretty safe to assume that it will be a form of the Crab Walk. However, as the Sidewinder is a desert rattlesnake, we could also speculate that the feature will be found more specifically on the possible Silverado EV ZR2, which could follow behind the Trail Boss. In fact, it could even be a Chevrolet re-brand of the Crabwalk mode found in the Hummer EV, just going off our gut instinct.
The main indication that we have regarding the possible existence of the Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 is a concept design published by General Motors Design (pictured: top). The sketch features off-road tires, a pronounced bash plate, and higher ground clearance. The concept design gives the impression that the EV will be ready to do some off-roading. It certainly will be a welcome addition to GM’s electric vehicle portfolio.
Image via Chevrolet
