New GMC Hummer EV: 986bhp electric 'super-truck' revealed

The new GMC Hummer EV has been revealed, reviving the nameplate for a 986bhp pick-up that will offer “unprecedented off-road capability and extraordinary on-road performance”, the firm claims.

The Hummer brand, which sold a range of road vehicles based on the military Humvee from 1992 and 2009, has been resurrected by owner General Motors as a new sub-brand to its GMC marque for a range of electric off-road vehicles for the US market. The Tesla Cybertruck rival that will start the range will go into production late next year ahead of sales beginning in 2022.

The pick-up’s design blends Hummer’s traditional boxy style with some modern styling elements. Design director Phil Zak claimed it “reimagines an instantly recognisable silhouette for a modern, all-electric future”.

The Hummer EV will use GM’s new Ultium Drive electric powertrain tech and feature three motors built into two drive units. These will combine to produce a “GM-estimated” 986bhp and 11,500lb ft, although that torque figure is likely to be arrived at via the torque-multiplying effect of the vehicle's gear ratios, with the realistic comparative figure somewhere closer to 1000lb ft. Either way, the Hummer EV will have a 0-60mph time of around three seconds. Power will be sent to all four wheels using an e4WD system, with torque vectoring used to distribute it as needed.

The batteries will be arranged in a 24-module double-stacked layout, and although GM has yet to reveal their storage capacity, it claims the Hummer EV will be able to travel more than 350 miles on a full charge. The 800V system can be charged at speeds of up to 350kW on a DC fast charger.

Al Oppenheiser, the Hummer EV’s chief engineer, claimed the vehicle will be “an absolute off-road beast”, with the e4WD system giving it “ manoeuvrability unlike anything GM has ever offered before”.

The machine features adaptive air suspension, with an ’Extract Mode2’ system that raises the ride height by 149mm to aid navigating uneven terrain. As standard, it sits on 35in off-road tyres, although it can accommodate 37in versions. To aid with off-roading, the underside of the car is strengthened with steel plates in places.

The Hummer EV has four-wheel steering as standard, which offers a new Crab Walk mode that allows its to travel diagonally at low speeds. 

GM claims the Hummer EV will feature an industry-leading 18 different camera views, which will include cameras underneath the vehicle. There are also special displays in the infotainment and driver information screen that can show torque output, pitch and roll angles, friction circle and other readings to aid off-roading.

The vehicle will be equipped with GM’s Super Cruise 8 driver assistance system, which, the firm says, allows for hands-free driving on specially enabled roads, along with automatic lane changing.

The Hummer EV will initially be launched as a special Edition 1 model that will feature a Drive Mode controller with a number of drive modes and the ability to adjust torque between the front and rear axles.  

It will also come with a new Infinity Roof as standard, which uses transparent panels that can be removed and stored in a specially sized front luggage compartment. The rear glass can also be lowered, and a tonneau cover is available for the pick-up load bed.