The four-wheel steering of the vehicle can also turn in opposite directions.
Off-road talk is currently focused on the new GMC Hummer EV, which was revealed last night. Although GMC doesn’t have an official weight, knows that it is a large machine. GMC has some new statistics on off-roading that might surprise you.
The Hummer EV was already capable of scaling 18-inch verticals, and rolling through at least 24 inches standing water. The adaptive air suspension allows the truck to be raised or lowered automatically by the driver. In standard settings, the Hummer EV has an approach angle at 41.5 degrees and a departure angle at 31.6 degrees. This is a good result for a truck this small. However, Terrain Mode increases the angle to 44.3 degrees on approach and 33.7 degrees on departure. This beats all forms, including the two-door Rubicon, for approach. There’s more.
Extract Mode increases the approach angle to 49.7 degrees and the departure angle to 38.4 degrees. The break-over angle is 32.2 degrees. The two-door Wrangler Rubicon, on the other hand, manages 44 degrees at approach, 37 on departure, and 27.8 for break-over. The GMC Hummer is a serious off-roader’s choice. This is especially true when the big EV measures 18ft , compared to the 2ft Jeep.
However, there is a catch. GMC currently lists Extract Mode in its future feature list. It raises suspension six inches in extreme off-road situations. However, it is not known if this feature will be available on any models or if there are restrictions on its use. It will likely be standard kit on the $112,595 Edition 1 model that goes on sale next year.
GMC also confirmed that the four-wheel steering system does more then just shuffle the Hummer Ev sideways in CrabWalkconfiguration. Auto Mode allows the rear wheels to turn in the opposite direction of the fronts, resulting in a smaller turning radius. The rears will turn with the fronts at high speed. CrabWalk allows the Hummer to drive sideways at low speeds at CrabWalk. With the rear wheels matching the fronts, up to 10 degrees, CrabWalk can allow the Hummer to travel sideways at CrabWalk speeds.
We think the Hummer driver will find the opposite-turn feature to be more helpful, since it reduces the truck’s turning circle by 37.1 feet. If you don’t have the option, it will take you 44 feet to complete a circle.
The sales of the top-of-the-line Edition 1 will begin in the fall 2021. The entry-level GMC Hummer, priced at $79,995, won’t be available until the end of 2024.