Peter Palmer: GMC Hummer EV: Not Exactly The Hummer We Used To Know

The GMC Hummer EV will go on sale in late 2021.
A Super Bowl ad for the vehicle will air this Sunday.
GMC says the Hummer EV will have 1,000 horsepower.

The rumor mills were buzzing recently about Hummer possibly making a resurgence. Turns out, those whispers were onto something as GMC has now confirmed the Hummer EV. While it won’t be officially revealed until this spring, we will see our first glimpses of it Sunday during Super Bowl LIV. The 30-second TV commercial, entitled “Quiet Revolution,” will air during the second quarter.

Rumor has it, Lebron James is in the commercial.

Zero-Emissions

The new Hummer EV will be a far cry from the gas-guzzling image the brand was once synonymous for. “GMC builds premium and capable trucks and SUVs and the GMC Hummer EV takes this to new heights,” explained Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Global Buick and GMC. “We are excited to debut our revolutionary zero-emissions truck during the biggest night in TV advertising.”

Back In Action

In 2009, General Motors reorganized to focus on their core brands of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. The bankruptcy proceedings and overall uncertainty of the company’s future caused the off-loading of Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn. China-based Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery expressed interest in acquiring the brand from GM in June of 09.

Things seemed optimistic but the deal ultimately fell through in 2010 for a handful of reasons. GM later closed Hummer but still retained the nameplate.

A decade later, the Hummer EV enters the fold – a vastly different vehicle than Hummers past – and one that keeps Detroit-Hamtramck assembly open. The plant was due to close but recently received a $2.2 billion investment for the propose of manufacturing electric vehicles. The result is a win for those who pushed for Hummer to be more environmentally conscious, and those who advocate American manufacturing.

GMC Hummer EV: Slim Details

By the numbers, the GMC Hummer EV will boast 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft. of torque. Wait, 11,500 lb-ft. of torque? There’s definitely a caveat there as GMC is likely citing axle torque, but for now, that’s what they are sticking with. At this point, we don’t know much else. No details yet on the electrified powertrain, total range, charging times, or price.

However, GMC says we can expect the Hummer EV to have plenty of off-road capability and a quiet interior.

Hummer EV & Cybertruck Showdown?

With the recent news of Tesla’s Cybertruck, the Hummer EV is arriving at the right time. It’s hard to say whether or not GMC could entice a loyal Tesla buyer to make the switch (or vice versa), but the potential battle is certinately interesting. The Cybertruck claimed, during its debut, and in its top configuration with three electric motors, a zero to 60 time of 2.9 seconds. The Hummer EV is really close with a zero to 60 time of three seconds.

The one race Tesla won’t win, however, is the one to market. The top-tier Cybertruck is not expected until 2022, while the Hummer EV will debut on May 20th of this year and hit the market in the fall of 2021. Also, mark your calendars for May 21st 2020. That day, several are expected to post tug-of-war tests between the Cybertruck and Hummer EV.

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Photos, Video & Source: GMC.

Original article: GMC Hummer EV: Not Exactly The Hummer We Used To Know