Remember way back in 2002 when Chevrolet introduced four-wheel steering on its trucks? It seems that they're revisiting that idea on the electric Silverado.
For those of you still enjoying some semblance of youth, Chevy created Quadrasteer on its 2002 pickups. It was a great idea that reduced the turning radius from 37 feet to 22 feet, which made the trucks using it almost as maneuverable as sedans. That was especially a pretty big deal if you were towing a trailer. Unfortunately, the price tag Quadrasteer carried as an option offset the benefits, at least in the eyes of consumers, most of whom weren't willing to shell out the extra $5600 for four-wheel steering. If you want all the dirty details on the Quadrasteer's demise, read Benjamin Huntington's full story on the subject here.
But, as the saying says, tomorrow is a new day. Fast forward from then to now. Times, tech, and sensibilities have all changed. And with most, if not all, major auto makers moving aggressively into the electric vehicle market, they're all exploring new technological tricks and toys to make their EV offerings stand out from the competition. For Chevy, part of that means a second look at the Quadrasteer concept.
Earlier this week Chevrolet revealed the Silverado electric pickup will be available with Four-Wheel Steer and 24-inch wheels. Similar to Quadrasteer, Four-Wheel Steer is a chassis feature that enables the vehicle to steer all four wheels, enabling increased agility and tighter turning radius at low speeds, improved handling and stability at higher speeds, as well as great trailering dynamics.
Designed as an EV from the ground up, the Silverado electric pickup harnesses the best of the Ultium Platform and Silverado’s proven capability. The fleet and retail versions of the electric Silverado will offer customers a variety of options and are expected to be in high demand. Customers can receive the latest updates on the electric Silverado here and here.
