GMC Hummer: a BIG comeback

April 23 2021 -

At the turn of the 2008 financial crisis, the Hummer brand was cursed throughout the industry. Rightly or wrongly, it symbolized the dark side of affluence with a heavy appetite for oil and what seemed to be a middle finger to all things green and eco-friendly.

The brand was sacrificed by General Motors (GM) during its restructuring.

Ten years later, GM brought the Hummer name back to the forefront, but this time with a mission of redemption. The name would be reborn as part of the GMC group and would be fully focused on electrification. The automotive world went wild.

Since then, we've had two introductions: the Hummer EV pickup truck and the Hummer EV SUV. Let's take a look at what's in store for us, because although we'll have to be patient, these two vehicles will become realities on our roads in the next few years.

Two styles, one vehicle

GMC is going to offer us two very distinct models, a pickup truck and an SUV. Although each will have its own particularities, we agree that we will benefit from the same architectural tools at one address as at the other.

The electric Hummers will be built on General Motors' new BEV3 modular platform. This platform uses the new Ultium battery technology developed by the American giant. Basically, the latter promises increased capacities in several areas, while making smarter and less polluting use of raw materials (e.g., reducing the amount of cobalt needed to manufacture it).

As far as capacities are concerned, it will play between 50 and 200 kWh, depending on the configuration, and we will be able to find systems at 400 or 800 volts. In this last case, it will allow energy recoveries of 80% in about 30 minutes.

As for the maximum power, it will be 1000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque (850 horsepower for the SUV). It will take 3 seconds to sprint to 0-100 km/h (3.5 seconds for the SUV). That's pretty crazy when you think about it.

But the performance won't just be in this form. It will be possible, for example, to remove the roof panels to drive in the open air. And what about the "crab walk" feature that will allow you to move diagonally with the vehicle (10 degree swivel of the rear wheels); as useful in a crowded downtown as in an extreme off-road situation where obstacle clearance seems impossible. Also, the ability to raise the vehicle 15.2 cm and then take advantage of 35-inch wheels says a lot about what will be possible with a Hummer EV; you still have to respect the name.

The versions

The first model to arrive will be the pickup truck in the fall of 2022 and the first variant will be named EV3X. The story will be the same with the SUV that will follow in early 2023 (with the Edition 1). The maximum range with this model will be 582 km. It will be 482 with the SUV.

After that, the EV2X livery will be used for the pickup truck. It will be equipped with two engines, one in the front and one in the back. Its range is currently announced at 482 kilometers, its power at 625 horsepower and 7400 pound-feet of torque.

Finally, the last model to arrive, still for the pickup truck, will be the EV2. It will offer the same power, but its range will be 402 kilometers. Of course, all of this may vary a bit between now and the model's debut. Also, we are still waiting for some information about the other versions that will follow for the Hummer EV SUV.

A lot of other features will of course be offered by the vehicle, like charging capabilities for other vehicles and accessories with the SUV, for example.

Until these products arrive on the market, we will have the opportunity to come back to you with other aspects to make you discover them more thoroughly.

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