TESLA CYBERTRUCK TO COUNTER HUMMER EV WITH REAR-WHEEL STEERING

The Tesla Cybertruck and GMC Hummer EV are two of the most enthusiastically anticipated vehicles on the market. Both Tesla and GMC are eagerly looking to stake an early and decisive claim as a force in the electric truck segment. Even though the Cybertruck shook the world with its radical design during the infamous debut in late 2019, actual deliveries may only begin at the end of this year, and that’s if all goes to plan. Similarly, the first deliveries of the Hummer EV Edition 1 are slated for the end of this year, per GMC.

Along with the Rivian R1T, these electric trucks will certainly be pitted against each other to reign supreme in the early years of the EV truck age. And while the competition isn’t directly acknowledged, Tesla is obviously trying to keep the Cybertruck on par with the Hummer EV. Perhaps that’s why Elon Musk announced that the truck is receiving rear-wheel steering, a feature similar to one found on the Hummer EV.

Rivian also features unique steering abilities, such as the Tank Turn and the recently discovered K-Turn.

The GMC Hummer EV Crab Mode

The GMC Hummer EV comes with Crab Mode, which can turn all four wheels in the same direction, allowing the truck to strafe in a diagonal direction. To get a better idea of what this looks like, check out this spy footage of the Hummer EV prototype playing with Crab Mode in traffic. The feature is fitting for the AWD Hummer EV Edition 1 and will also make its way onto the Hummer EV2X and EV3X models.

Congrats on the record breaking quarter @elonmusk @Tesla !!

It’s time to release the Kraken, give us the update on this… pic.twitter.com/2X8u6kaOxV

— ⚡️Tesla Owners Online (@Model3Owners) July 2, 2021

Tesla Cybertruck Counter

However, it seems Elon Musk doesn’t want the Cybertruck missing out on the fun. He announced in a tweet earlier this July that they would be adding rear-wheel steering so that the Cybertruck can finesse tight turns and maneuver in an agile manner. Unlike the four Hummer EV models, all of which come with AWD, the Cybertruck will come in three different variants: single motor RWD, dual motor AWD, and tri motor AWD. It’s unclear which versions of the Cybertruck will be receiving the rear-wheel steering, but like most Tesla tech, it will probably be cool regardless of the drivetrain pairing.

For The Sake Of Good Engineering

There are many parallels between the two trucks, so calling Tesla a “copycat” just doesn’t really check out. GMC obviously wants the Hummer EV’s interior to go above and beyond, which is why the truck is getting Android’s sleek new automotive operating system. The Hummer EV Edition 1 even comes with “WTF” mode, a launch mode that’s a pretty obvious one-up of Tesla’s “Ludicrous” mode. The real point here is that competition brings out the best of both companies. We’re hoping that production of Cybertrucks at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin, Texas can reach its targeted goals for the end of the year. A matchup against the Hummer EV would be a showdown of the century.