The original HUMMER is well known as a civilian version of the HUMVEE (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) used by military forces, mainly American. The HUMVEE is the spiritual successor of the jeep used in earlier wars.
GMC has developed an all-new 21st century HUMMER (the last one was discontinued in 2010) which lays claim to being the world’s first fully electric supertruck. Its powertrain will produce an estimated 1,000 horsepower and 15,590 Nm of torque, giving a 0 – 97 km/ time that will be around 3 seconds. Designed and engineered to cross the roughest type of terrain, it has 330 mm of suspension travel to give exceptional off-road capability.
Even before GMC’s electric HUMMER supertruck goes on sale at the end of this year, the company has revealed another model – the HUMMER EV SUV – which will make its debut in 2023. The SUV is the next chapter in the company’s revival with only EV products.
“The GMC HUMMER EVs were envisioned to be the most capable and compelling electric supertrucks ever,” said Duncan Aldred, Global Vice-President of Buick and GMC. “The new HUMMER EV SUV is the next chapter, which will offer many options for customers to tailor the truck to their lifestyles, while continuing to encourage them to forge new paths with zero emissions.”
Starting with Edition 1
Driven by General Motors’ next-generation Ultium Platform, the new EV SUV will launch with an exclusive Edition 1. This will give the customer a choice to equip the vehicle for optimal driving range or maximum off-road capability. As standard, the Edition 1 will have 22-inch premium wheels, assist steps and floorliners.
Customers will be able to opt for the Extreme Off-Road package with 18-inch wheels and 35-inch-OD MT tyres, underbody armour and rock sliders, a front eLocker and virtual rear lockers, heavy-duty ball-spline half-shafts, UltraVision with underbody camera views and other high-tech features.
The SUV’s look is rugged, like the pick-up truck, but has a different rear design with a full-size spare tyre mounted in the classic SUV fashion. Inside, a similar 5-passenger layout from the pick-up remains and includes a large and useful rear cargo area.
Crabwalk and Extract Mode
GMC is highlighting the superior capabilities of the new SUV while are possible with the HUMMER EV’s signature features such as CrabWalk, a revolutionary setting utilizing 4-wheel steer to drive diagonally at low speeds – like a crab. This will give a capability no other competitive SUV can offer. There is also Extract Mode which is a first-of-its-kind system that makes full use of the Adaptive Air Suspension to raise the vehicle about 150 mm to get over tough obstacles. This is extra ground clearance in addition to the already tall ride height.
Although it has a 3220 mm wheelbase, it can turn within 10.8 metres with 4-Wheel Steer. Impressive departure and breakover angles also allow it to be driven up and down steep slopes without difficulty.
An immersive interior puts the driver at the centre of every moment, including customizable, multisensory user features and an open driving experience with the standard Infinity Roof with removable Sky Panels, I-Bar and rear drop glass.
830 hp, 15,592 Nm
GM’s Ultium Drive System offers up to 830 horsepower and up to 15,592 Nm of torque (GM estimated) — enough power for super-fast 0 to 96 km/h sprints in a time claimed to be approximately 3.5 seconds. The 20-module Ultium battery system can take the vehicle up to a 48 kms, GM engineers estimate, on the Edition 1 (with standard equipment).
Additionally, all HUMMER EV SUV models will feature the enhanced version of Super Cruise, an optional driver-assistance technology offering hands-free driving on more than 320,000 kms of enabled roads, and a new automatic lane-changing feature, where the system can determine when a lane change is optimal and initiate the manoeuvre, while following signaling protocols.
Production and pricing in 2023
Production will begin in early 2023, and GMC is able to indicate the starting price of the Edition 1 which will be US$105,595 (about RM436,265 at today’s exchange rate). When equipped with the Extreme Off-Road Package, the starting price will be about 4.7% more.
GMC (a division of General Motors) will compete in the inaugural Extreme E championship which starts this April. The event will be an ideal showcase for the company which is embarking on electrification with its all-electric Hummer EV which was unveiled last October.
The Extreme E championship is for vehicles powered only by electricity and a specially-developed all-electric inspired by the Hummer EV will be used. Development of the vehicle and the racing team entering it is Chip Ganassi Racing, a team which has won in many iconic races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“I can’t think of a better fit than showcasing the look of GMC’s HUMMER EV in Extreme E with Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. Vice-President, Performance and Motorsports. “Both GMC HUMMER EV and the Extreme E series are designed to be revolutionary – to challenge perceptions of electric vehicles and to showcase their true capability.”
Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price, the crew for the GMC-Chip Ganassi Racing entry.
GMC association with Chip Ganassi racing will be for a number of years. This year, the team will have noted off-road racers Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price as drivers in the Extreme E event. The event regulations specify that there must be one male and one female member, and both must also perform driving duties.
The GMC Hummer EV production model which has 1,000 horsepower.
Global championship
The 5 rounds of the Extreme E championship will take place in some of the world’s most remote locations. Each round will take place within an area no larger than 10 square kms. Routes will be designed to incorporate existing obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps without the need to adapt the natural setting, thereby avoiding negative impact on the environment.
The opening Desert X Prix round takes place in AlUla in the northwest of Saudi Arabia on April 3 – 4. The calendar for the rest of the year is as follows: Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal – May 29-30
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland – August 28-29
Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil – October 23-24
Glacier X Prix: Patagonia, Argentina – December 11-12
An interesting aspect of the event will be the way the vehicles are ‘refuelled’ as they require electricity. A special hydrogen fuel cell generator has been developed in collaboration with AFC Energy, and this technology will allow Extreme E vehicles to recharge using zero emission energy, with the only by-product being water for utilisation elsewhere after each round.
Hydrogen fuel cell generator will provide electricity to recharge vehicles on-site during the event.
Raising awareness of climate change
One of the main goals shared by Extreme E’s founders, partners and participants is to raise awareness among spectators of the challenges facing society as a whole, such as climate change, humankind’s interaction with the environment and the protection of threatened animal and plant species.
“This new racing format is an opportunity for us to show that our high-performance tyres keep delivering even under extreme conditions. But Extreme E is also a radical new initiative for raising awareness of the challenges facing the modern world. It is this unconventional mix of adrenaline, entertainment and sustainability that makes this series so exciting. That is why we became Founding Partners and sponsors of the series in January and why we are really looking forward to the test phase,” said Sandra Roslan, Extreme E project leader at Continental, one of the founding partners of the event.
Hummer – that’s a name which immediately brings to mind a huge vehicle that served the military (mainly the American one) as well as the civilian version which had a niche of its own. ‘Hummer’ was actually the civilian name used by General Motors but the model was discontinued after 2009 when its sales diminished so much that the business was no longer viable.
Although GM tried to sell off the business, it did not succeed and just kept it in the ‘drawer’. Now, that name has been revived with a completely new model from its GMC subsidiary. However, unlike the original fuel-guzzling monster, the new Hummer not only doesn’t require conventional fuel at all but it is also a zero emissions vehicle.
The original Hummer
Electric supertruck
GMC engineers have developed it as an electric supertruck with the company’s Ultium Drive and batteries. An estimated best-in-class 1,000 horsepower and estimated 15,592 Nm of torque are generated by three separate motors within two Ultium drive units that provide 4WD capability. 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration is claimed to be around 3 seconds which is pretty quick for a pick-up though that can be expected of a super EV truck.
800V DC fast-charging compatibility of up to 350 kilowatts enables nearly 160 kms of range to be available after recharging for 10 minutes. A full battery back is said to be good for up to 550 kms.
Superior off-road capabilities
Aiming to out-do other electric trucks that are also appearing lately, the Hummer has 4-Wheel Steering, Adaptive Air Suspension with 149 mm of variation, and underbody armour. The 4-Wheel Steering system has CrabWalk which allows the rear wheels and front wheels to steer at the same angle at low speeds. This enables diagonal movement of the vehicle for greater manoeuvrability on difficult terrain.
As standard, the Hummer comes with 35-inch MT tyres and customers can specify up to 37 inches. The tyres complement the vehicle’s off-road capability which includes climbing vertical obstacles 455 mm high and driving through water more than 600 mm deep.
For crossing difficult and unknown terrain, the Hummer has UltraVision, a system of front and rear underbody cameras with live ‘virtual spotter’ views to help drivers spot obstacles and place wheels on and off the trail. There are up to 18 camera views available from the vehicle.
Prepared for autonomous motoring, the Hummer will have optional Super Cruise, a driver assistance feature that can support hands-free driving on more than 322,000 kms of enabled roads. There will also be a new automatic lane-changing feature where the system can determine when a lane change is optimal and initiate the manoeuvre, while following signalling protocols.
Minimal original design elements
GMC’s designers drawn minimally on the original model’s monolithic appearance, instead aiming for something that looks futuristic and bold with a pick-up profile. “Its design visually communicates extreme capability, which is reinforced with rugged architectural details,” said Phil Zak, Design Executive Director.
Emphasis on technology
The interior is also given premium appointments and as expected, technology is emphasised. For example, off-road widgets display vehicle functions and terrain status through the infotainment and driver information screens. The driver can be informed of torque output, differential locker engagement, tyre pressures, pitch and roll angles, friction circle, torque vectoring and more.
Open-air driving is an option, made possible by the Infinity Roof and removable transparent Sky Panels that can be stowed in the storage compartment at the front of the vehicle. The MultiPro Tailgate opens with 6 functional positions, while the glass panel at the rear of the cabin and the tonneau cover can be opened at the touch of a switch as both are powered.
4 versions, starting from late 2021
There will be at least 4 versions of the Hummer with the first one known as Edition 1 going on sale in the fourth quarter of 2021. This will be the most expensive version at US$112,595 (about RM467,000) and will be the only one available for at least 12 months. Another version will be launched in late 2022 which is currently projected to cost less than US$100,000 (RM414,000).
In early 2023, the third version will be available, and then a fourth version will be in showrooms a year later, in 2024. The fourth version will have two motors and be priced at under US$80,000 (RM332,000).
It’s been almost 10 years since the last Hummer was produced and for a while, it seemed that a company in China would take over the brand which started in 1992. However, that never happened and General Motors, the brand owner, stopped production and marketing after 2010. Although sold mainly in America, the Hummer was an iconic vehicle globally because of its looks and size and perhaps the fact that it was a civilian version of a military vehicle.
In May 2020, GM will revive the Hummer with the unveiling of an all-new model although statements by senior GM executives indicate that it will be a model name rather than a brand as it used to be. The vehicle will be sold under the GMC brand and it will be a totally different type of Hummer because it will have an all-electric powerplant instead of the 6.2-litre engine (the Hummer H3 had a smaller 3.5-litre powerplant).
It will be GMC’s first all-electric truck, a rival to Tesla’s Cybertruck which Elon Musk says already has 250,000 orders from people who paid refundable US$100 deposit. Starting off with the theme of ‘Quiet Revolution’ in advertising spots starting on May 20, the HUMMER EV, as it will be known, will have 1,000 bhp, 15,592 Nm of torque and a claimed 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of 3 seconds. And without the noise and unhealthy emissions Hummers of the past generated but expected to still have superior capabilities off-road.
The HUMMER EV will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant which has received a US$2.2 billion investment to make it the company’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly factory. GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pick-up with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle unveiled by Cruise in San Francisco last week. Somewhere in the production schedule would also be the HUMMER EV which GMC informs will be initially available during the fourth quarter of 2021.
GMC has been around for almost 120 years as a truck manufacturer. Its current range includes SUVs like the Terrain (above).
GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing US$2.3 billion to manufacture battery packs – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck. It will be interesting what size of battery packs the HUMMER EV will have – would it guzzle electricity the way the original Hummer consumed fuel at a rate of around 4 kms/litre (even the ‘lighter’ H3 did 7 kms/litre at best). That consumption figure was one of the reasons why Hummer sales died quickly as fuel prices rose, taking the company down with it.
The Toyota MegaCruiser (left) and Dongfeng HUV were almost certainly inspired by the original Hummer.
