GM has filed to trademark the Sidewinder name, GM Authority has learned.
Filed on October 5th, 2022 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the application is assigned serial number 97620755. The application carries a Goods and Services description of “Electronic controllers for steering systems for motor land vehicles.”
It’s unclear at this time exactly what the Sidewinder name will be used for. However, one possibility is that it will be applied to some new steering control system for off-road vehicles.
For those readers who may be unaware, GM developed a weird off-roading prototype called the Chevy Sidewinder back in 1964. The main draw of the Sidewinder was an articulating chassis that could provide both roll and yaw in three separate segments, enhancing the vehicle’s off-road prowess. The engineers thought that the multi-jointed vehicle moved like a snake, and as such, dubbed it the Sidewinder.
1964 Chevy Sidewinder
Critically, the Chevy Sidewinder incorporated several familiar components, including a Buick V8 engine, and with its 15 inches of ground clearance and massive 48-inch tall tires, not to mention that wild articulating chassis, the Sidewinder was capable of traversing some pretty rugged terrain. The project, however, never moved beyond the prototype stage.
Now, it appears as though GM may be looking to its past in branding some of its future off-roading technologies. The GMC Hummer EV is already well-equipped when it comes to rough-stuff features, including its Crabwalk drive mode. Perhaps the Sidewinder system will be a similar feature for future Chevrolet electric vehicles like the Chevy Silverado EV.
For now, though, we’ll have to wait and see what GM decides to do with the Sidewinder trademark, so stay tuned.
In related GM trademark news, GM has filed to trademark the Electra GS name, which is expected to be used with future Buick electric vehicles with a sportier flavoring. GM has also filed to trademark the GMC Granite name, once again expected to be attached to some future, outdoorsy subcompact crossover.
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Comments
The 64 gm Sidewinder reminds me of a vehicle that was bought by the U.S. Army back in the early seventies. It was named “Gamma-Goat” and could go up 50 degree slopes, wade through any reasonably slow moving river current and carry a ton of supplies. If you ever saw the movie “Stripes” with Bill Murray the bad guys have one.
Probably crabwalk for the Silverado EV Trailboss. Just like how WTF mode for the Hummer is WOW in the Silverado.