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HUMMER EV DESIGNER EXPLAINS WHY THE PICKUP TRUCK IS COMING BEFORE THE SUV

Hummer Is Traditionally Recognized As An SUV Brand, After All

2022 GMC Hummer EV Specs EV3 EV2 EV2X Specs Price Range

Those that remember the Hummer brand – hopefully fondly for the off-road capabilities of its vehicles – will remember them as being a peak SUV brand of the 2000s. With massive proportions, a military lineage, and premium price tags to boot, Hummers definitely lived up to their slogan of being “Like Nothing Else.” And, aside from the short-lived H3T, Hummers also weren’t pickup trucks. Yet GMC is ushering in the re-launch of the Hummer brand in the form of an electric (!) pickup truck. And we recently learned why.

Image Via GMC.

Power And Off-Roading Targets

“I think the capability aspect of the truck, and that the trucks are typically the more off-road variant between pickups and SUVs… it was done to get that initial capability out there. And it has a lot of range also,” said John Mack, lead exterior designer of the GMC Hummer EV in an interview with MC&T.

Mack additionally noted that the GMC Hummer EV pickup will appeal to the broad audience of truck buyers. Because, well, it’s a truck after all. It can of course haul more than the SUV can, which of course marks another box in the capabilities checklist.

The power difference between the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 pickup truck and the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV Edition 1 is massive, although both are massively powerful. The truck is the one with the headline grabbing power figures: 1,000 horsepower, and roughly 1,000 lb-ft of motor torque (11,500 lb-ft of wheel torque). Losing 20 inches of overall length, and thus losing significant area for battery packs, the maximum output for the GMC Hummer EV SUV is 830 horsepower. As we said, still a massively powerful SUV.

It’s worth mentioning that ICE vehicles don’t see these kinds of power drops with a fluctuation of wheelbase, suggesting that the power density and packaging of an engine does indeed have its merits. Then there’s the weight.

2024 GMC HUMMER EV ELECTRIC SUV
Image via GMC.

Massive Power Requires Massive Batteries (Requiring Massive Proportions)

The massive proportions needed to fit the 200 kWh battery pack of the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck means the vehicle will have a curb weight of 9,046 lbs, or 4.5 tons. That’s heavier than even the heaviest 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD, which would be a crew cab, with a dually axle, and the Duramax diesel engine, which comes in at 8,355 lbs by comparison. A Hummer H1 carried a curb weight of 8,117 lbs at its heaviest, while the “small” Hummer H3 tipped the scales at just 4,883 lbs.

That curb weight also means that the new electric truck is likely to carry a GVWR rating of 10,400 lbs, which would firmly make it a Class 3 commercial medium duty truck in the eyes of the US Department of Transportation.

MC&T first reported in November 2020 that the GMC Hummer EV could encroach on medium duty commercial vehicle weight classes, while engineers clarified there will be “multiple GVWR weight classes” of the supersized electric vehicle.

Despite the size and the heft, the 2022 GMC Hummer EV can still fire out of the hole with incredible force. Being an EV, its maximum torque is instantaneous, at zero RPM, and photos can be found on the internet of the behemoth pickup truck nearly popping wheelies off the line in acceleration test, likely in the aptly named Watts To Freedom Mode, or “WTF Mode” for short.

Meanwhile, the GMC Hummer EV SUV is proportionally larger than the late Hummer H2 in every way, which is remembered as a behemoth. Very on brand, if we do say.

2022 GMC Hummer EV
Image Via GMC.

GMC Hummer EV Pickup Truck Availability And Pricing

The 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 trim will be the most expensive vehicle GM will have on sale today, with a starting price of $112,595, before options. This range-topping trim level includes the three-motor system, Super Cruise with three years of service, high-definition surround vision, digital key, and more. Every Edition 1 model gets a white exterior, Lunar Horizon interior, and special “Edition 1” interior badging.

The GMC Hummer EV, in EV2 trim (Spring 2024), has a starting price at $79,995 for the base two-motor model – several thousand dollars more than the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The Hummer EV2X (Spring 2023), which has breakthrough features such as Adaptive Air Ride, Extract Mode and Crabwalk Mode will start at $89,995. For the three-motor Hummer EV3X trim (Fall 2022), customers will have to shell out $99,995. This trim adds torque vectoring, and Watts to Freedom Mode.

Based on what we see today, the base GMC Hummer EV price is closely paired against the upcoming Rivian R1T electric pickup truck, slated to start at just under $70,000. Except it will hit the market three years after the Rivian will, which is beginning production this summer.

Image Via GMC

GMC Hummer EV SUV Availability And Pricing

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV Edition will begin production in early 2023, with more basic models rolling out through the following year. The Hummer EV SUV will be built alongside the truck at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant starting in early 2023, rebranded as “Factory Zero” that’s currently undergoing a multi-billion dollar renovation to solely build electric vehicles powered by GM Ultium technology. The trim level strategy of the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV also mirrors that of the 2022+ Hummer EV pickup truck. Below is a breakdown of trims, pricing, range, and power output:

HUMMER SUV EV2
Price: $79,995
Availability: Spring 2024
Range Estimate: 250+ miles
Horsepower: “Up to 625 hp”
Torque: 7,400 lb-ft (est. wheel torque)
Motors/Battery: 16-module, 2 motor
DC Fast Charging (DCFC): 400 volts
Optional upgrade: 20-module battery, 300+ mile range, 800 volt DCFC

HUMMER SUV EV2X
Price: $89,995
Availability: Spring 2023
Range Estimate: 300+ miles
Horsepower: “Up to 625 hp”
Torque: 7,400 lb-ft (est. wheel torque)
Motors/Battery: 20-module, 2 motor
DC Fast Charging (DCFC): 800 volts (300 kWh)
Optional upgrade: Extreme Off-Road Package

HUMMER SUV EV3X
Price: $99,995
Availability: Spring 2023
Range Estimate: 300+ miles
Horsepower: “Up to 830 hp”
Torque: 11,500 lb-ft (est. wheel torque)
0-60: 3.5 seconds
Motors/Battery: 20-module, 3 motor
DC Fast Charging (DCFC): 800 volts (300 kWh)
Optional upgrade: Extreme Off-Road Package

HUMMER EV SUV EDITION 1
Price: $105,595
Availability: “Early” 2023
Range Estimate: 300+ miles
Horsepower: “Up to 830 hp”
Torque: 11,500 lb-ft (est. wheel torque)
0-60: 3.5 seconds est.
Motors/Battery: 20-module, 3 motor
DC Fast Charging (DCFC): 800 volts (300 kWh)

HUMMER EV SUV EDITION 1 EXTREME OFF-ROAD PACKAGE
Price: $110,595
Availability: “Early” 2023
Range Estimate: 300+ miles
Horsepower: “Up to 830 hp”
Torque: 11,500 lb-ft (est. wheel torque)
0-60: 3.5 seconds est.
Motors/Battery: 20-module, 3 motor
DC Fast Charging (DCFC): 800 volts (300 kWh)

2024 GMC HUMMER EV ELECTRIC SUV Vehicle Vehicles
Image via GMC.

Written by Manoli Katakis

Muscle Cars & Trucks was founded by Manoli Katakis - an automotive media veteran that has been covering the latest car news since 2009. His journalism has uncovered dozens of major product changes, updates, plans, and cancellations long before automakers were ready to make things official.

Some highlights over the years of his reporting include the uncovering of the Zora trademark before anybody else reported on the coming of a mid-engine Corvette, as well as the dead-accurate reporting of the coming of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, two years before it hit the market, and even before the debut of the concept vehicle. This type of reporting has immediately continued here, with reports of the original seventh-generation Camaro plans being shelved, as well as what's in store for the Chevrolet Silverado.

Some of his work can be found on massive automotive media outlets, such as Motor1. He also has been a guest on the 910AM Radio Station with Detroit News auto critic Henry Payne, as well as the enthusiast-oriented Camaro Show podcast.

Over the years, Manoli has interviewed various automotive industry titans, leaders, and people that make things happen otherwise. These include figureheads such as GM CEO Mary Barra, GM President Mark Reuss, automotive aftermarket icon Ken Lingenfelter, Dodge firebrand Tim Kuniskis, along with various chief engineers of vehicles such as the Ford F-150 & Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro & Corvette, and many more.

At MC&T, Manoli is taking his journalism expertise, deeply planted sources, driving abilities, and automotive industry knowledge to new levels, covering more vehicles and brands than ever before. This is the place where you will continue to read groundbreaking stories about American performance vehicles, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Here is where you’ll also read insights and quotes from various automotive subject matter experts on the latest relevant products, as well as some of the latest official news from their manufacturers.

Fun facts: he also once beat Corvette Racing driver Tommy Milner in an autocross with a Chevrolet Bolt EV. The biggest vehicle he’s ever driven is a John Deere mining truck. Besides a go-kart, the smallest vehicle he’s driven has been a Hyundai i10. He’s also spent time in the cockpit of various American performance vehicle icons, including the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Dodge Challenger Demon, and Ford Mustang GT350R. He has reviewed dozens of trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles over the years.

One of his favorite new vehicles on the market today happens to be the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. He is also a card carrying member of the Sports Car Club of America, and regularly participates in Detroit Region autocross events.

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