In throwback, Chevy Silverado gets a 'Rally' model

Automakers used to be promiscuous creating 'rallye' editions -- the 'e' at the end to sell the idea the vehicle was imbued with performance like European rallye cars.

Most, though, were without meaningful enhancements, just stripes and furbelows.

Got old and silly and was discontinued. Chrysler Group resurrected it for the 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye Appearance Group, at least being candid that it's merely cosmetic.

Now General Motors' Chevrolet brand has ventured into the same waters, almost, with a Rally -- no 'e' -- edition of the Silverado pickup truck.

It has the same engines, transmissions and so forth as all the other trucks, just lots of obvious exterior trim and many of the options that Chevy says you'd probably buy anyway.

Gives the 2015 Silverado 'new attitude,' the brand says.

Actually, the Rally gear was available in some regions on the 2014 Silverado, but goes nationwide on 2015s.

Chevy sees it as an innocent way to give a truck buyer a fancier look teamed with popular options. Never mind that a truck seems about as out of place sporting a 'rally' or even 'rallye' badge as a Hummer-based stretch limousine would seem at a fuel economy contest.

The name might seem hard to reconcile, but the idea seems dead-on. Trucks are fast becoming heavy-duty cars, with all the finery and technology offered on family or luxury sedans. Ford's 2015 aluminum-body F-150, for instance, has a model with massaging seats.

And trucks for years have been some of the most-customized vehicles on the road.

Here's Chevy's deal:

Rally 1 package is mainly for lower-end models -- Work Truck, and LS -- and has two big, black hood stripes as well as a body-colored grille with black bowtie Chevy logo,

Enormous hood stripes are part of the 2015 Silverado Rally Edition equipment.(Photo: Chevrolet)

black door handles and outside-mirror caps.

It's $540 -- well it's listed as $1,140, minus the $600 'package discount,' emphasizing that you're getting a bargain.

A version of Rally 1 is available on the more-premium Silverado LT, and to the back trim it adds 17-inch-diameter aluminum wheels, trailering package with hitch and locking rear differential, rear defroster and backup camera.

The Silverado LT buyer, though, is more-often expected to pick the Rally 2 suite of features. Price is $7,160 or $7,260, depending on cab configuration -- minus the discount of $1,350 for buying the items simultaneously, for a net price increase of $$5,810 or $5,910.

Big difference in price from Rally 1, but a big difference in equipment, too.

Rally 2 includes the exterior trim, trailering package, rear defroster and backup camera of the LT Rally 1 group, plus 22-inch black alloy wheels, black tubular side steps and a pair of wide black hood stripes. Also, 10-way power driver seat, dual-zone climate control, remote start, and Chevy MyLink radio with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

Large-diameter, dramatic-looking wheels are a popular accessory for personal-use trucks, and Chevy could be counting on the striking 22-in black wheels to sell a lot of Rally 2 packages. Standard truck wheels typically are 17-in. diameter.

Dealers can begin ordering Rally packages Sept. 4 for extended-cab models, early October for crew-cab models.

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