CES 2022: Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss confirmed

General Motors has confirmed that its forthcoming all-new, all-electric 2023 Chevrolet Silverado EV will include an off-road-focused Trail Boss tough truck.

To serve as a more utilitarian and affordable alternative to the trail-blazing GMC Hummer EV, the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss was confirmed as part of the US auto giant’s presentation at the CES tech-fest in Las Vegas.

The big, silent Boss is expected to come to market in North America late next year as part of the EV pick-up’s launch range, however GM is yet to release details of the new TB, teasing us with an official image as if to prove that the electric Silverado will be no shrinking violet when it comes to tackling gnarly off-road terrain.

The image reveals a series of blacked-out exterior features including most of the front fascia, wing mirrors and alloy wheels as well as what looks to be an increased right height, chunkier tyres, red recovery points and a silver skid plate bumper insert.

Going by the factory modifications made to the current combustion-engined Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss, the suspension will not only be longer in its travel but also beefier in its componentry thanks to Rancho monotube shock absorbers front and rear.

The V8-powered Trail Boss also scores a locking rear differential, all-terrain skid plates and more aggressive 18-inch rubber than the LTZ Premium model also sold in Australia through General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV).

As for the local prospects of GM offering the electric version of the Silverado Down Under, a GMSV spokesman was noncommittal, telling carsales: “The Silverado EV is another vehicle in the General Motors line-up that demonstrates our vision of an all-electric future.

“However, GMSV is not making announcements about the new model or other products at this stage.”

Some US outlets are suggesting the Silverado Trail Boss could be offered with the GMC Hummer EV’s CrabWalk mode.

Chevrolet has already confirmed the Silverado EV RST First Edition will feature four-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, adding weight to CrabWalk speculation and also throwing in the possibility of ‘Extract Mode’ – GM’s take on height-adjustable off-road suspension.

Like the rest of the Silverado EV range, the Trail Boss will be underpinned by GM’s Ultium modular EV architecture – just like the Hummer – which should result in power and torque figures of around 495kW and 1058Nm respectively, as well as a 600km-plus driving range.

This is well down on the 745kW claimed for the Hummer, but should still be enough for a sub-five-second sprint from 0-100km/h.

If the Silverado EV does receive the green light for factory-backed right-hand drive conversion, don’t expect it to arrive in Australia any time soon given the searing demand already witnessed this week in the US.

GM has confirmed that the order book for the first variant of its EV pick-up, the RST First Edition, was filled in just 12 minutes after opening online.