The first 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup, wearing a vehicle identification number ending in 001, rolled off the assembly line in Detroit on Dec. 17. “Customer deliveries will now begin,” General Motors GM, +1.48% says.
An EV named for a gas guzzler
The Hummer EV seems like an odd electric flag-bearer, but it will lead a parade of new electric vehicles from GM over the next few years. It sports the same name as a lineup of famously huge, heavy gasoline-powered off-roaders GM shut down more than a decade ago.
But this time, the Hummer is an emissions-free off-roader sold under the GMC name. It features nimble 4-wheel steering and an “extract mode” that lets its adaptive air suspension increase ground clearance by up to 8 inches at the touch of a button.
See: The 11 best features of the Hummer EV
Loaded first edition models
The first Hummers built are a limited Edition 1 model. It uses three electric motors, good for a total of 1,000 horsepower. GMC says it has a range of 329 miles, but you won’t find that number listed on the EPA website. Because the Hummer is classified as a heavy-duty truck – with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,400 pounds – it falls outside EPA testing requirements.
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Edition 1 costs $ 108,700 (plus a $ 1,595 destination fee) and features GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system, big 35-inch all-terrain tires, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, and a 13.4-inch central touchscreen. GMC quickly sold out of the Edition 1 model.
Other versions to follow
GMC has begun taking reservations for other models, which range in price from about $ 80,000 to roughly $ 100,000. GMC has kept some details about those models close to its vest. The press doesn’t even know the horsepower and range figures for several upcoming models that use two motors rather than three.
The Hummer EV appears first as a pickup. An SUV version will follow.
The launch of a new platform
They’re the first vehicles built on a new architecture GM calls Ultium. It uses a chassis that can be scaled up or down to produce vehicles of many sizes. Its battery sits beneath the vehicle’s floor. Electric motors attach directly to the axles.
Read next: The Hummer vs. the Ford Lightning: 2 new electric trucks compared
GM has announced plans to sell a mostly electric lineup by 2035. Many of those vehicles will use the Ultium platform. Cadillac’s upcoming Lyriq luxury SUV is next on the list. Electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra will follow.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.