Chevy is one of the most popular pickup trucks in North America, and it is, in fact, the pickup truck in general. Despite its popularity, not many drivers know the meaning of the word Silverado. Here’s a look at its history and what its exact name means.
A Brief History of the Chevy Silverado
Although Chevy used to build trucks, the Silverado story is a newer one. According to , the first generation Silverado debuted in 1998. The Silverado replaced the C/K series of full-size trucks that were in Chevy’s lineup. The idea behind the Silverado was that the trucks were more powerful and had better specs than their peers.
. These engines were powerful for the time, and the more powerful V8s could reach over 300 horsepower. This was a winning strategy for the Detroit automaker, as the company sold about 650,000 units annually. The first generation ended in 2007, and Chevy has continued to upgrade the truck as the years have gone by.
The Silverado is currently in its fourth generation, and many of the latest updates have to do with technology. However, Chevy has also continued to upgrade the truck’s engines, and the automaker has also introduced a variety of new customization options. However, what cannot be customized is its name, as the Silverado name has become iconic.
That’s what the Silverado stands for in the Chevy truck name
Lots of automakers want their cars’ names to evoke certain ideas or themes, and General Motors has done just that with its full-size trucks. The GMC Sierra, which belongs to the Silverado, is likely named after the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a mountain range in California and Nevada.
Similarly, Silverado is named after a mountain town in California. Also called Silverado, the city is closely associated with the nearby Silverado Valley. Both the city and the valley got their name from the early settlers who came to California in search of riches.
The word “Silverado” is actually Spanglish. It’s a combination of the word “silver” and the Spanish term “El Dorado,” a legendary city made of gold.
A bright future ahead of her
The Silverado pickup truck isn’t made of silver, but it is made of high-quality materials, which is probably why it’s such a popular truck. Chevy has continued to put the Silverado in the full-size category. This means it sits between the Colorado, which is in the mid-size pickup truck segment, and the Silverado HD, which is in the heavy-duty segment.
However, the Detroit-based automaker isn’t content with the status quo, and it already has the Silverado’s future planned. Later in 2023, it will introduce Chevy, the all-electric version of the full-size pickup truck. It will debut in 2024, but other details about its release are currently unknown.
Just like the regular Silverado, the Silverado EV is very powerful and capable. Its range estimates aren’t official yet, but it should be able to get 400 miles on a single charge.
It will also be able to tow in excess of 10,000 pounds, though the automaker aims to eventually double that number. Standard trim should cost around $40,000, and top trims will cost more than $100,000.
