GMC Hummer EV revealed as a big, expensive beast

The mighty Hummer has been recreated by General Motors as an electrified super-truck priced beyond $150,000.

Revealed today in the US, the GMC Hummer will come to market a year from now as a battery-electric dual-cab pick-up to rival the Tesla Cybertruck.

There is also going to be an SUV, but that wasn’t revealed today and won’t be launched until 2023.

There is no word yet whether the GMC Hummer will come to Australia under the umbrella of GM Specialty Vehicles.

The Hummer EV will be based on GM’s exclusive Ultium architecture, lithium-ion battery packs and e-motors.

It will launch with the Edition 1 powered by a triple-motor powertrain claimed to produce 745kW and 15,600Nm!

Be wary of that torque figure though, as that is multiplied through the transmission to be an at-the-wheels number rather than what’s originally generated by the e-motors.

GMC claims a 0-96km/h (60mph) acceleration time of around three second using a ‘watts to freedom’ mode that “unleashes the full acceleration of the EV propulsion system”.

The Edition 1 will be priced at $US112,595 ($A159,400) when it rolls into US showrooms in the third quarter of 2021. It will be followed a year later by the $US99,995 ($A141,525) Hummer EV3X.

The $US89,995 ($A127,370) dual-motor EV2X is due in the second quarter of 2023 and the $US79,995 ($A113,220) EV2 in the second quarter of 2024.

The GMC Hummer EV is the third GM BEV to roll out as the auto giant ramps up its commitment to electrification, following on from the Cadillac Lyriq production preview and the Buick Electra concept.

Hummer was originally best known for the Humvee military vehicle. It was purchased from AM General by GM in 1998, which planned to launch a family of Hummer SUVs. That fell apart during the GFC and the brand was shuttered.

It has now been brought back under the wing of GM’s heavy-duty GMC brand and this is its first EV.

The blocky exterior styling definitely evokes its heritage. The six-section light-bar grille and H-motifs are other styling cornerstones.

Heavy-duty off-roading will be a core attribute of the GMC Hummer EV via an e4WD system. A crabwalk mode steers all four wheels up to 10 degrees diagonally to negotiate tight situations, while extract mode pumps the adaptive air suspension up 149mm to help overcome obstacles like boulders and deep water crossings.

The battery is protected by steel plate to ensure protection in challenging off-road conditions. There are up to 18 cameras offering the driver views of the surroundings, including underbody looking forward and rear.

“We had one goal for Hummer EV: build the most capable factory truck – ever,” said Al Oppenheiser, GMC Hummer EV chief engineer.

“It’s an absolute off-road beast with a unique e4WD drive system that provides manoeuvrability unlike anything GM has ever offered before.”

Oppenheiser, incidentally, is best known in Australia as the long-time chief engineer of the Chevrolet Camaro.

Key off-road numbers include up to 400mm ground clearance with extract mode extended, a 49.7-degree approach angle, 38.4-degree departure angle and 32.2-degree breakover. Water fording is up to 800mm.

As yet, with plenty of development work still to be done ahead of launch, GMC isn’t announcing payload or towing capabilities.

The GMC Hummer EV will come with 400-volt and 800V DC fast-charging ability up to 350kW, enabling a range of about 160km to be stored in as little as 10 minutes. The total range is estimated at more than 560km on a full charge.

The Hummer EV will roll on 18-inch wheels and 35-inch tyres standard but will be capable of taking 37-inch rubber.

It will be available with the latest-generation GM SuperCruise semi-autonomous driving system.

The Edition 1 will come with features that give an indication of how a future model and options line-up will be structured.

Equipment includes a drive mode control that tailors torque splits and four-wheel steer settings. There is also adaptive ride control, removable roof panels that can be stowed in the ‘frunk’ (front trunk), a 13.4-inch infotainment screen, a multifunction tailgate and power rear drop-glass window and tonneau cover.

The Hummer EV will be built in Detroit at a plant refurbished with a $2.2 billion (AU$3.113 billion) investment.