Hummer. Just the name is polarizing. On one hand, the Hummer is one of the most capable and historic military vehicles of the 20th century. On the other, it’s really, really big for a Walmart parking lot and for sure overkill. To say the Hummer has a reputation would be an understatement. You either love the big, boxy, extremely off-road capable behemoths, or you hate them. Could the completely revamped 2022 GMC Hummer rekindle this waining nameplate?
Having just watched GMC’s buzz reel for the brand spanking new Hummer EV “electric super truck,” I would say a solid if tentative “yes.”
Here’s what we know so far.
2022 GMC Hummer EV: Fast, Capable, Luxurious
GMC makes no bones about the electric Hummer’s capabilities. Right off the bat, it boasts 0-60 times of 3 seconds. Let that sink in. THREE (3) seconds.
For a frame of reference, the 2019 Ford Mustang GT hits 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and weighs, we’re guessing, more than a thousand pounds less. Of course, electric vehicles are renowned for massive torque and acceleration, but this number should easily rival the forthcoming Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, and Bollinger B2 electric pickups.
So yeah, this is a muscle car on enormous, vein-popping steroids. And it looks to be a beast offroad. Now that you’ve read this far, take a minute and, if you haven’t watched the video about this super truck below, do so.
Ok, we’ll admit, that’s a pretty sexy…pickup?
2022 GMC Hummer EV: A Pickup Truck, Kind Of?
The Hummer EV is, for all intents and purposes, a pickup. But we’re guessing it’ll be used in work scenarios like farms about as often as the H2 went to war. That said, yeah, it’s a pickup in the same way the Tesla Cybertruck is a pickup. It has a bed. Beyond that, there are some spectacular numbers.
First off — 1,000 horsepower. Because, well, why the heck not? If you’re going to rocket off stoplights drag racing against Corvettes in a pickup, this might be the one. All this wallop comes thanks to General Motors’ all-new Ultium batteries and power from Ultium Drive, GM’s proprietary EV drive units. And let’s not forget huge amounts of torque on tap. GMC released the astonishing figure of 11,500 lb-ft of torque generated by three separate motors within two drive units. We understand that this is a wheel torque rating, which is a little misleading. But, the Hummer EV should produce a very healthy 1,200 lb-ft of torque.
And here’s where the design makes some sense. All that torque and horsepower could come in genuinely handy when you get off-road. Of course, it won’t do you much good if you can’t get this beast out of the city. With an estimated 350-mile range, the Hummer EV starts to look like a real possibility for over-road travel.
GMC Hummer EV Off-Road Modes
This is where things get really interesting. Let’s start with the most innovative first — crabwalk mode.
The Hummer EV literally has a mode that lets it travel diagonally. It does this by turning all four wheels. I’ve yet to be in a situation offroad in which I thought “if only I could crabwalk.” But then again, it’s never been an option. And when the going gets really dicey, options are a good thing.
Beyond that, GMC gives drivers some great options for off-road driving that seem to have a gaming-inspired user experience. Among these (more specs released today are also below) is UltraVision4. It includes new front and rear underbody cameras with live “virtual spotter” views to help drivers navigate obstacles and place wheels on and off the trail. The underbody cameras are packaged to help protect against damage and equipped with a wash function to help clear debris. HUMMER EV offers up to 18 camera views from the vehicle to help increase awareness of surroundings.
It packs an Adaptive Air Suspension with available segment-leading Extract Mode2 capability. This enables the driver to raise suspension height approximately 6 inches (149 mm) to help the HUMMER EV negotiate extreme off-road situations such as clearing boulders or fording water.
Big 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires come standard. If that’s not enough, the Hummer EV can accommodate 37s. Worried about curbing this bad boy? Don’t — it can scale 18-inch verticals and drive through water that is more than 2-feet deep.
Underbody armor, consisting of steel plates strategically located around the battery pack and more, helps provide protection in extreme off-roading conditions.
2022 GMC Hummer EV: Interior Luxury, Open Air Motoring
Of course, all this off-road goodness wraps an interior befitting of socialite royalty.
Hummer claims “premium, technical interior materials.” This boils down to a 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch diagonal driver information center display.
Inside, carefully executed and clever details such as the distinctive “H” motif seen in a number of elements. “The reimagining of conventional displays communicates the vehicle’s capability and technology via exterior lighting and interior user interfaces,” Hummer notes in its release.
Hummer seems to have taken pains to connect passengers with the outdoors, or at least give them the option. As such, the Hummer EV has a power rear drop glass window and removable panels for an open-air driving experience. Even the bed offers some convenience with a power tonneau cover.
2022 GMC Hummer EV: Specs, Pricing
The HUMMER EV will be the first full-electric vehicle in GMC’s portfolio and is powered by GM’s new Ultium battery system. Production begins in late 2021, at GM’s Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center — a nearly 40-year-old facility repurposed and retooled with a $2.2-billion investment devoted to electric vehicle production.
All these impressive numbers and new tech aren’t going to come cheap, or all that soon. The $112,595+ Hummer EV Edition 1 trucks are already sold out and don’t hit the market until the Fall of 2021. The most basic Hummer EV speced trucks, still at a steep starting price of $79,995, won’t see the light of day until the Spring of 2024. With the attention span of most consumers these days, and the speed at which technology and vehicles are accelerating, that’s an extremely long ways off.
For now, we look on in awe of this monstrous vehicle. It looks supremely capable on and off-road and signals that the electrified future is, indeed, knocking on the door. If you want to get your name on the reservation list for a Hummer EV truck of your own you just need to put down a refundable $100 deposit on GMC’s Reservation Page.
