GMC announces Hummer EV will have 11,500 lb-ft, 1000 hp
The Hummer brand has experienced a turbulent history. General Motors’ latest announcement seems to indicate that GM is taking the revival of the brand seriously, possibly looking to top the electric SUV heap rather than simply occupy a place in the market. That proof comes through in GM’s upcoming Super Bowl ad, which includes claims of 1000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque.
These estimated numbers are huge, and come with a hefty dose of skepticism from us. Asterisks abound in both the press release announcing the power output and also the 30-second spot slated for broadcast during this Sunday’s big game.
We initially assumed a six-figure torque number was referring to wheel torque, which would mean the motor(s) output is multiplied by the gear ratios. For reference, a 6.2-liter, V-8-equipped GMC Sierra can lay down 20,112 pound-feet of wheel torque in the four-wheel-drive low setting of its transfer case. We reached out to GM for clarification, and the automaker confirmed the estimated number for the Hummer’s output refers to real torque, not wheel torque. As for how the upcoming Hummer is able to achieve such performance, and whether the new iteration would stick to the Hummer legacy of using four-wheel-drive with a transfer case, a spokesperson indicated that no further details would be revealed until the full release of the SUV on May 20th.
With both Tesla and Rivian grabbing headlines with big range numbers and performance specs, the burgeoning EV utility heap is a tough one to surmount, but if these latest numbers come to fruition the new Hummer would be a force to be reckoned with.
In addition, GM is making it clear this vehicle will be a departure from the military-focused Hummers of yore; off-road ability takes a backseat to the luxury of a silent power train. The ad cites this is a “silent revolution,” which means GM is hoping the new Hummer will be more than a drop in the bucket. In order for that to be the case, GM will have to price it very competitively, considering Tesla’s Cybertruck has an entry price of $39,900 and Rivian’s offering is based at $69,000.
