Hummer EV has new WTF mode and it Crabwalks

The Hummer EV prototype gave editors from around the automotive world the first ride. It seems the big unit formerly known as a gas-guzzling, environmentalist-hating, climate-changing brick of a ride will be one of the biggest turnaround stories in car history.

It was a marketing genius when GMC announced the Hummer would enter the Electric Vehicle sport utility space. However, marketing is one thing; something completely different happens when the rubber hits the road with automotive reporters behind the wheel. That said, it’s difficult to find a bad review; more so, it seems like the automotive world is somewhat stunned by the GMC Hummer EV.

Hummer has WTF Mode

Speaking of marketing genius, the Hummer has a WTF mode. It’s not what you think. This WTF is Watts to Freedom, and it’s the launch control for the unit. When you hit WTF, this 9000-pound beast will suck you back into your seat, going zero to 60 miles per hour in three seconds.

It’s not just the speed burst; it’s the anticipation. It takes 18 seconds to prime the Hummer for launch. The air-springs lower, the seats start to vibrate the cabin fills with sounds developed by Epic Games. CNET described the experience the best: This is the kind of brutal acceleration that takes your breath away for a second or two, and it’s astonishing to experience in a vehicle this massive.

Maybe WTF should be Whoa, that’s Fast. For some comparisons, the Lamborghini Urus SUV records 0-60 in 3.1 seconds. The fastest truck is the Dodge Ram TRX accomplishes the feat in 3.7 seconds, and the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette does it in 2.8 seconds.

So how does an electric motor launch a 4.5 tonne Hummer in that blazing time? Let’s start with the brains behind the brawn. The chief engineer of the Hummer EV is Al Oppenheiser, who is the same engineer that created the Camaro ZL1 1LE. He must’ve been a kid in a candy store because he put three motors in his latest creation – two in the back and one in the front.

The trio combines for 1000 horsepower and more than 1,200 pounds of torque. The unit goes more than 350 miles on one charge; however, how many WTFs you can do on a charge is unknown. Reporters say they saw different people out on rides that were smoking the tires at will. By the way, those massive 35-inch Goodyear tires were explicitly designed for the Hummer.

Hummer Crabwalks

Almost as fantastic as WTF mode is the crab walk. The Hummer has rear-steer capabilities, which allows for it to crab walk. The GMC video on YouTube has more than half a million views. You can bet that when these vehicles hit the street, there will be hundreds of videos uploaded. With the wheels in crabwalk mode, they angle at 10 degrees.

This amazing angle combines for a turning radius of 35 feet, the same as a compact car. MotorTrend described crabwalk like this: Once engaged, the Hummer seemingly glides in the direction it’s pointed. The sensation is otherworldly satisfying and massively cool.

A Hummer Amount of Other Features

Remember when having a rearview camera was advanced? The Hummer has 18 cameras, including four under the vehicle, complete with a washing mechanism. There is also a bird’s eye view. The glass roof comes off in four panels, along with the T-bar.

They can be stored in the frunk (the space in the front of the Hummer where a massive engine used to be). There’s a gigantic 13.4-inch display inside that has animation created by Epic Games. It rides on huge 35-inch Goodyear tires specially designed for this EV.

The first vehicles will be on the road later this year at a sticker price north of $112,000. After that, there will be an H2 rolling off production lines by 2024 for $80,000. All reviews seem to end with a conclusion echoed by Car and Driver: “Initial impressions are on the “wow” side of the spectrum, and we think the buyers this machine is seeking will be deeply wowed.” After watching several videos and reading multiple reviews, I admit I said wow a lot, too.