BEHIND THE SCENES

Just what can the world expect from the new GMC HUMMER EV?

Try the ultimate in off- and on-road experiences with zero emissions.

From the very beginning, GMC set out to introduce next-generation technologies and a revolutionary design for the HUMMER EV electric truck. Some of these unique features will be available Terrain Mode One-Pedal Driving, available Watts to Freedom^† and the Bose^† Electric Vehicle Sound Enhancement technology.

GMC HUMMER EV Lead Development Engineer Aaron Pfau gave the public its first detailed look at these technologies as part of CES^® 2021.

Whether it’s climbing rocks or crossing muddy trenches, going off road means alternating between acceleration and quickly slowing down. A driver may have to take swift action, moving a foot from one pedal to another in order to negotiate these obstacles.

The HUMMER EV’s Terrain Mode will be tailored for such off-road experiences. It is one of the vehicle’s five driving modes and will offer two selectable braking calibrations. The mild-braking calibration is ideal for two-pedal driving on mild, less technical terrain. The second calibration is One-Pedal Driving, which is for low-speed, off-road technical scenarios. This gives the driver greater control when taking on rugged environments.

“One-Pedal Driving allows for precision handling at low speeds while off-roading and rock crawling,” Pfau said. “It combines the fine control of the immediate torque provided by the EV propulsion system and the conventional brakes to deliver a level of modulation that is beyond anything we could deliver from a gas- or diesel-powered engine.”

Exhilaration with acceleration — that’s the remarkable on-road performance of the HUMMER EV.

“The HUMMER EV celebrates the performance possibilities of electric propulsion,” Pfau said. “This is a truck you want to drive because it delivers performance in a way that no other truck can match, and it happens to have zero emissions.”

The revolutionary available Watts to Freedom builds an entire experience around unleashing the HUMMER EV’s propulsion system. The selectable and immersive special performance feature must be initiated by the driver. Lights and sounds will be used to build up to the moment a driver is ready to go up to 0–60 mph in approximately 3 seconds (GM estimate).

Watts to Freedom is initiated through the Traction Control button, which will trigger an acknowledgment request for the driver. This includes seeing unique animation on the instrument cluster, hearing activation sounds and feeling multiple vibrations in the seats.

The HUMMER EV will automatically be lowered following the acknowledgment request. The battery electronics’ temperatures will also be optimized for full power delivery. The lowering of the vehicle and temperature optimization are depicted through the cluster/infotainment system^†.

The infotainment screen will then display messages to apply the brake, prompting the driver to apply brake pressure until the appropriate level has been reached. A second message will prompt the driver to press the accelerator. A unique sound will be emitted and a message on the infotainment screen will signal the driver to release the brake. The HUMMER EV will then go from 0–60 mph in about 3 seconds (GM estimate).

“I’ve experienced the thrill of jumping out of a plane at 30,000 feet,” Pfau said. “In my opinion this is better.”

Matching the immense power of the HUMMER EV is the rich sound from the Bose^† 14-speaker audio system with Centerpoint.

This premium audio system has been custom-engineered and tuned specifically to provide an enveloping surround sound experience for the HUMMER EV. The precise attention to detail means experiencing great sound in or outside the cabin.

In addition, the HUMMER EV is the first GMC vehicle to have Bose’s advanced Electric Vehicle Sound Enhancement. This standard feature optimizes the acoustic environment inside the cabin. Combined with this sound enhancement technology, GMC and Bose engineers worked together to develop unique sound characteristics for some of the HUMMER EV’s available drive modes.

These precisely curated electric propulsion sounds give the driver audible cues about what the HUMMER EV is doing when certain modes are activated and enhances the driving experience.

“It is a truly immersive sensory experience that brings you in direct contact with your vehicle and we can’t wait to share it with you later this year,” Pfau said.

Edition 1 of the fully electric supertruck will be available Fall 2021. It is GM-estimated to be capable of going 0–60 in about 3 seconds (also available for HUMMER EV^3X) and offers a best-in-class 1,000 horsepower (GM estimate, also available for HUMMER EV^3X) and powerful 11,500 lb.-ft. of torque (GM estimate, also available for HUMMER EV^3X).

While reservations for the Edition 1 are full, they are being accepted for other trims. For more information, visit the GMC HUMMER EV page.

Reserve your HUMMER EV and get ready to join the Quiet Revolution.