GMC is planning to bring back an all-electric version of the iconic Hummer in the autumn of 2021. In an incredible turn of events one of the most controversial cars ever produced will go from being hated by environmentalists for its disproportionate gas consumption to a green option thanks to its electric batteries.
GMC is planning to rival Tesla and its Cybertruck and even Ford, which we reported is working on an electric F-150. GM was originally planning to reveal the Hummer trucks on May 20, but the coronavirus crisis canceled that physical event and the automaker hasn’t yet set a date for an expected virtual reveal this autumn.
In the typical ‘go big or go home’ style of Hummer, the car will have a maximum power of 735 kw thanks to three electric motors, which corresponds to an astonishing 1,000 horsepower and should propel the bulky SUV from zero to 60mph in just under 3 seconds. According to officials the mighty Hummer will have a jaw-dropping 11,500 foot-pounds of torque. The trucks, at least in some future versions, might be capable of 350-kw DC fast charging, with a possible EPA range of up to 400 miles.
The Hummer sports utility truck (SUT) combines a roomy cabin—along the lines of a crew cab—with a modestly-sized pickup bed. The Hummer SUV is essentially the same vehicle from the side pillar forward, but it has a tall body, although it might have a shorter wheelbase. Overall, the Hummer models appear sized at the small end of today’s full-size pickups and SUVs, but GM has resisted confirming anything about dimensions.
The new model should be similar to where Hummer left off with the H2 before the brand’s discontinuation in 2009, rather than reaching back to the blocky Hummer H1 that started it all in the 1990s for inspiration.
The EV will have removable roof panels as one of its distinct features. When removed there will be no connection between the windshield header and roof structure. Top models in the lineup will also have a four-corner air suspension with multiple ride heights and capability modes.
The Hummer SUV and SUT will be among the first few vehicles to be built on GM’s Ultium propulsion system. The GMC Hummer EV models are built with a body-on-frame approach that, GM has emphasized, is different to the skateboard layout some other EV makers are using and allows its trucks to share some of the same components with unibody cars and crossovers.
At WhichEV, we are definitely intrigued to see how the new Hummer will look and if the incredible power promised will be delivered by GMC.