WATCH: GMC Hummer EV tackles world's toughest off-road trail

General Motors has released a new video of its 2021 GMC Hummer pick-up testing on some of the world's most unforgiving terrain.

Filmed in Moab, Utah, the video shows late-stage pre-production development mules undergoing final calibration of off-road hardware, including the adaptive air suspension, stability control, rear steering and virtual all-wheel drive.

As part of the testing, engineers are shown finessing the Hummer's One-Pedal Driving feature which enables the driver to accelerate and decelerate with just the accelerator pedal.

Developed for extreme off-road scenarios, the one-pedal set-up is said to help the driver safely negotiate steep climbs, rock crawling and other challenging terrain without having to balance braking and accelerating.

Another new feature fresh to the tough Hummer is what GMC has dubbed Extract mode. This allows the big EV to jack its air suspension up by a lofty 152mm. The Extract mode is said to be tailor-made for clearing large boulders or fording deep water.

Key off-road numbers for the GMC Hummer EV 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.

GMC has announced the Hummer pick-up will initially be available with a three-motor set-up packing an incredible 745kW. Peak torque is unclear, but is thought to convert to about 1400Nm.

Despite a kerb weight thought to approach 3000kg, the US truck-maker says its range-topping version will be capable of a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) sprint time in less than 3.0 seconds.

A less powerful two-motor version will also be available and will produce 466kW and torque of around 1000Nm.

Hummer hasn’t provided acceleration figures for the less powerful version, nor has it revealed what size Ultium battery it will use, but both versions will be capable of covering up to 500km when they arrive in North American showrooms.

The entry-level version, meanwhile, will feature a smaller battery that is yet to be detailed but will reportedly offer a 400km range between top-ups.

All models can be equipped with an Extreme Off-Road pack that adds 18-inch wheels, 35-inch off-road tyres, an electronic limited-slip front diff and a rear e-diff.

Beefed-up half shafts and off-road cameras complete the upgrades.

Inside, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.4-inch infotainment system.

GM’s latest Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving aids will also be offered. In the US at least, they’re claimed to provide for up to 320,000km of hands-free highway driving.

There’s no claim for charging times, however all but the most basic version comes with 800-volt electronics allowing batteries to be charged at up to 300kW.

The sold-out Edition 1 is priced at $US112,595 ($A159,400) and is due to roll into US showrooms later this year. It will be followed a year later by the $US99,995 ($A141,525) Hummer EV3X, about the same time that the SUV version arrives.

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.

At this stage there’s no confirmation of right-hand drive production of the GMC Hummer SUV or pick-up for Australia, where it could one day potentially be sold by the GM Specialty Vehicles network.