GMC is expanding its Hummer EV “supertruck” lineup beyond the 2022 pickup with the 2024 Hummer EV SUV. Like the pickup, it is also driven by General Motors’ Ultium electric platform and launches with the Edition 1 package, offered in Moonshot Green Matte with or without the Extreme Off-Road Package.
The platform’s body/battery structure enables the open Infinity Roof on the SUV (like the pickup). The company expects the SUV’s “best-in-class off-road proportions” will help make it even more maneuverable and get the most out of signature features such as available CrabWalk and Extract Mode.
The SUV “offers an exceptional balance of on-road performance and off-road capability, enhanced by a unique structure that allows for our signature open-air experience,” said Al Oppenheiser, Hummer EV Chief Engineer. “New features debuting on the SUV reinforce its role as a tactical tool in almost any situation.”
Electric design
The new Hummer was designed as a two-row SUV with a shorter wheelbase than the pickup to help optimize its off-road maneuverability while providing secure rear storage.
“Designing the pickup and SUV simultaneously helped us give each their own unique features to maximize utility,” said Phil Zak, Hummer EV Design Executive Director. “The SUV’s tight proportions create a distinct profile and spacious cargo area while maintaining a roomy and architecturally-inspired cabin.”
The SUV’s unique rear design features a standard full-size spare tire mounted to a power swing-out tailgate that can open wide for a 48-in opening designed to make loading and unloading gear and supplies easier. The spare tire mount also houses a rear-facing camera to assist with reverse and trailer-alignment maneuvers.
For comparison, the wheelbase is 126.7 in (3218) for the SUV, 135.6 in (3445 mm) for the pickup, with a length (without spare) of 196.8 in (4999.5 mm) vs. 216.8 in (5507 mm). The rear overhang (without spare) is 35.5 (900.5 mm) for the SUV, 46.5 in (1181 mm) for the pickup.
Both exactly match in width (with mirrors) at 93.7 in (2380 mm) and a front overhang at 34.7 in (881 mm). Maximum ground clearance is just 0.1 in greater for the SUV at 16.0 in (406 mm). Also, maximum water-fording depth of 32 in (813 mm) and front/rear suspension travel of 13 in (330 mm) are exact matches.
The SUV, like the pickup, is built on a body/battery structure that reinforces the overall structure and protects the double-stacked Ultium battery pack. The Hummer EV’s body protects the battery, while the battery supports the structure.
“That means the battery pack itself is a structural element, which enables a truly open-air experience and a rare combination of extreme off-road capability and smooth on-road performance in a body-frame integral platform,” said Oppenheiser.
A large, flat load floor incorporates a protective panel between the high-strength martensitic top and bottom layers to help protect the batteries. The floor helps provide the stiffness required to enable the removable Sky Panels and I-Bar.
High performance, on- and off-road
The SUV takes advantage of Ultium’s ability to stack long pouch cells vertically or horizontally to package its power in a relatively small space. The initial Edition 1 version of the SUV features a 20-module, double-stacked Ultium battery that will offer more than 300 mi (482 km) of range on a full charge—without the available Extreme Off-Road Package. The three-motor e4WD drive system outputs an estimated 830 hp (619 kW) and 11,500 lb·ft (15,590 N·m).
Regen on Demand can slow the vehicle to a full stop without pressing the brake pedal, the one-pedal driving capable of slowing the vehicle to a full stop with fine control. Terrain Mode integrates the brake system with one-pedal driving, giving the driver precise control while off-roading and rock crawling.
An industry-first technology mechanically switches the batteries from parallel to series mode during charging, with an 800-V DC public fast-charging capability of up to 300 kW. Power Station generator mode offers significant capabilities to power equipment. With enhanced vehicle hardware, the SUV can jump-start another electric vehicle at 240 V/25 A/6 kW and power a variety of equipment and accessories at 120 V/25 A/3 kW.
GMC emphasizes the SUV’s off-road capabilities. With a nearly 9 in (230 mm) shorter wheelbase than the pickup, the SUV offers greater maneuverability, with expected “best-in-class off-road proportions” and a turning circle of only 35.4 ft (10.8 m) with four-wheel steering—which the company boasts is smaller than that of a Ford Mustang Mach-E, a vehicle from a completely different class.
The Ultium drive system can channel power to a single wheel, keeping the vehicle moving in tough terrain. In addition to the 13 in of suspension travel, the SUV also can climb 60% grades (forward and reverse) and scale 18-in (460-mm) verticals. Maximum off-road performance is enabled by the available Extract Mode, with a 49.6° max approach angle, 49.0° max departure angle, and a 34.4° max breakover angle.
Standard off-road capabilities on 2X, 3X, and Edition 1 models include four-wheel-steering with CrabWalk, which allows diagonal-drive functionality; adaptive air suspension with Extract Mode; and 22-in wheels with 35-in outer-diameter Goodyear all-terrain tires. Standard on 3X and Edition 1 is e4WD with torque vectoring.
An available Extreme Off-Road Package adds unique 18-in wheels and same outer diameter Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, underbody armor, and rock sliders, UltraVision with underbody cameras (front- and rear-facing with wash system), front e-locker and rear virtual lockers, and heavy-duty ball-spline half-shafts.
Immersive experience
Inside the SUV is a similar five-passenger layout to the pickup. However, the closed rear cargo area, with rear seats folded flat, offers up to 81.8 ft3 (2300 L) of cargo space. There is additional storage space under the load floor and another compartment in the side trim. The standard Infinity Roof and modular Sky Panels create an open experience, allowing occupants to enjoy nearly silent movement during outdoor adventures.
The Hummer EV’s user-experience team worked with Perception, a creative agency based in New York City best known for their science-fiction thinking and technology design work to create a “cinematic” in-cabin experience.
For over a decade, Perception has been conceptualizing technology and gadgets seen in films such as Marvel Studios‘ Black Panther, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the Iron Man films. The team at Perception has been working behind the scenes on real technologies for companies like Samsung, IBM, and Intel.
“Throughout the Hummer EV Digital Experience, there are several key interactions that celebrate dramatic moments within the vehicle,” said John LePore, Chief Creative Director at Perception. “From statements of incredible performance to capabilities never before seen in an automobile, these moments leverage Perception’s cinematic capabilities to capture the spirit of the incredible Hummer EV.”
GMC and Perception carefully planned the details of the digital experience, from the unique iconography to custom-designed typeface. When the vehicle is turned on, the user is greeted with a welcome animation introducing the lunar theme seen throughout the Hummer EVs. The lunar theme harkens back to GMC’s involvement in the space program and reflects the future-forward nature of the vehicles.
The collaboration also resulted in distinctive sounds via the premium Bose audio system, the feel through the haptic driver’s seat, and sight with custom screen displays showing that the special performance mode is “armed and ready.”
The user experience is customizable through My Mode, allowing the driver to tailor features related to steering, suspension, sound, and acceleration.
The myGMC mobile phone app is redesigned for the Hummer EVs with a new home screen and enhanced features. The new off-road trail mapping feature not only helps plan and navigate off-road driving adventures, but it also incorporates charging locations and their distances from off-road locations and provides real-time energy consumption with a community-based energy forecast. Routes and plans can be downloaded from the app on the driver’s phone and projected on the vehicle’s infotainment screen for easier navigation while driving.
“It’s technology that adds to the Hummer EV’s immersive driving experience,” said Mike Colville, senior manager for EV complex feature integration and execution. “More than simply locating a destination, we help you find an epic one, create an EV-unique navigation experience when you get there and allow you to share your trip with others.”
Standard SUV technologies include a 13.4-in infotainment screen and a 12.3-in driver information display. HD Surround Vision offers up to 14 camera views and available UltraVision ups that count to 17 with underbody cameras included with available Extreme Off-Road Package. Off-Road Widgets offers information related to the selectable capabilities and performance readouts in off-road driving scenarios including ride height, e-locker engagement, compass headings, and pitch/roll status.
All Hummer EVs feature the enhanced version of the Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance technology for driving on more than 200,000 mi (320,000 km) of enabled roads. It includes a new automatic lane-changing feature.
Joining Silverado electric pickup at Factory ZERO
Earlier this week GM President Mark Reuss confirmed that the Hummer SUV will be built at the company’s Factory ZERO assembly plant in Detroit. He also announced that a Chevrolet Silverado full-size electric pickup will join the Hummer SUV, the Hummer pickup scheduled to be the first vehicle out of the plant later this year, and the Cruise Origin all-electric and shared self-driving vehicle there.
The growing Factory ZERO lineup is part of GM’s plan to deliver more than 1 million EVs globally by 2025 and earn EV market leadership in North America. With the company’s Ultium Platform, virtual development tools, and technology, it has reduced vehicle development times by nearly 50% to just 26 months.
“The vehicles coming from Factory ZERO will change the world and how the world views electric vehicles,” said Reuss. “The GMC Hummer EV SUV joins its stablemate in the realm of true supertrucks, and Chevrolet will take everything Chevy’s loyal truck buyers love about Silverado—and more—and put it into an electric pickup that will delight retail and commercial customers alike.”
The Silverado electric pickup is designed from the ground up to be an EV, with an estimated range of more than 400 mi (644 km).
In January 2020, GM announced it was investing $2.2 billion in its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs. In October 2020, the company renamed the plant Factory ZERO, reflecting its significance in advancing the company’s vision of a future with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.
Factory ZERO will feature advanced technologies designed with a focus on sustainable manufacturing. It is undergoing a complete renovation and retooling, the largest ever for a GM manufacturing facility. The plant’s paint/body shops and general assembly area are receiving comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls, and tooling. The plant has expanded to over 4.5 million ft².
For more information on the Hummer EVs, visit www.gmc.com/HummerEV.
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