An extremely common tack for automakers to employ when introducing a snazzy new model is to debut the thing in its fanciest form. In other words, there aren’t many base models (or even high-volume trims) to be found on the floor of an auto show. With this in mind, it is doubly interesting to have spied a low(er) trim Chevy Silverado EV after having only seen the zooty RST model in all its colour-keyed glory at an abbreviated CES in Las Vegas earlier this year.
By most accounts, this test mule is an LT trim, identified as such by swaths of black plastic and fewer sporty styling addenda. Obvious disguise cues remain, like head- and taillamp coverings which attempt to camouflage their true shape, and it appears the truck has been stripped of its fender flares and lower body cladding. Think of this thing as the visual equivalent of those early morning paparazzi shots of famous people before they’ve had a chance to finish their hair and makeup.
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
Photo by Spiedbilde
The beefy eight-lug wheels are very visible, a detail hidden on the RST show truck by its snazzy wheel centre caps, while a mystifying ‘no step’ sticker has been applied on the rear flank near where the truck’s bumper assist step resides. We wouldn’t read too much into the latter since the step seems to have been simply covered up with gaffer tape in a fit of hurried camo application. Other Silverado EV gear — unibody construction, independent rear suspension — are present as well. Ditto for towing features such as a drawbar and seven-pin connector for a trailer wiring harness which are in their expected locations.
GM has been shouting that the Silverado EV will have up to 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque depending on drivetrain configuration. Base trucks will make roughly 510 horses and 625 lb-ft of twist. Certain models are expected to get well over 600 kilometres on a single charge of its jumbo battery.
Based on the Ultium component sets which underpin the GMC Hummer pickup (and, eventually, a myriad of other GM EVs), it has been reported that some models will have a battery pack sized in the neighbourhood of 200 kWh, a gob-smacking amount of capacity. For comparison, the largest Ford F-150 Lightning battery pack is 131 kWh and the vaunted Tesla Model S Long Range has but 100 kWh of juice on board.
Keyword: Spied! Chevrolet Silverado EV spotted prowling the streets