The new launch edition of the GMC Hummer is set to roll into U.S. showrooms “in weeks,” the General Motors truck brand has confirmed.
The eagerly anticipated, all-electric pickup truck will get 329 miles per charge, according to EPA estimates. That’s slightly less than what the automaker initially predicted, but still makes it one of the longest-range battery-electric vehicles now on the market.
The $112,595 Hummer Edition 1 also will be one of the fastest and most powerful, using three motors to produce 1,000 horsepower. That will launch it from 0 to 60 in a factory-estimated 3.1 seconds.
Presidential seal of approval
The 2022 GMC Hummer got a high-profile introduction earlier this month when President Joe Biden visited Factory Zero, the plant that will produce the pickup and other battery-electric vehicles to follow.
The president described the new truck as “one helluva vehicle.”
The launch of the Hummer pickup marks the start of an aggressive rollout of BEVs by General Motors, as many as 30 all-electric models set to debut in various markets by mid-decade. That includes the Cadillac Lyriq SUV coming next year, as well as a Hummer SUV to follow in 2023.
The big pickup — which weighs in at roughly 9,000 pounds — will be the first to use a new generation of “Ultium” lithium-ion batteries and one of four skateboard-like platforms GM has developed for the BEVs to follow.
Plenty of power, features
The Hummer itself will be offered in a number of different configurations, including smaller battery packs and with downsized powertrains using just one or two motors.
The First Edition is meant to showcase the capabilities of the Ultium technology — as well as the various technologies GM will offer on its various BEVs.
- The truck will feature three motors, one on the front axle and two on the rear, collectively producing 1,000 horsepower;
- It will feature all-wheel steering that will allow it to more easily maneuver on city streets, handle on curvy roads — and “crab walk” on trails;
- The electric all-wheel-drive system was designed for serious off-roading, and is backed up by features including full underbody protection and 35-inch off-road tires;
- The roof panels can be removed and the rear glass lowered;
- An adaptive suspension automatically adjusts for on- and off-road conditions.
Other versions to follow
The Hummer Edition 1 will be followed by other versions of the pickup offering lower power but, in some cases, greater range. They will follow for the 2023 model year and start at a more affordable $79,995.
The Hummer SUV will also debut in 2023. According to brand boss Duncan Aldred, about 70% of initial orders have been for the pickup, but he expects that to shift slightly once the utility model is ready.
The GMC Hummer will become one of the first all-electric pickup trucks to reach showrooms in December. The Rivian R1T got a slight head start, a handful of those models being delivered to customers earlier this month. But the two trucks will face plenty of competition in the coming years.
Ford expects to begin production of its F-150 Lightning by next June, and Bollinger is also getting ready to bring out its heavy-duty electric pickup. Chevrolet will reveal a BEV version of its Silverado at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, and GMC has a second pickup, an electric version of the Sierra, coming. Ram will introduce a battery-powered 1500 model. And Tesla eventually plans to debut its long-awaited Cybertruck. Nissan will introduce a midsize battery pickup. And others are in the works by startups, including Atlis and Lordstown Motors.
