OCTOBER 21, 2020

(GMC images)

GMC unveiled the 2022 HUMMER EV Edition 1 Tuesday night, calling it "a first-of-its kind supertruck developed to forge new paths with zero emissions." It will be the first fully electric addition to GMC’s lineup, driven by next-generation EV propulsion technology "that enables unprecedented off-road capability, extraordinary on-road performance and an immersive driving experience designed to put occupants at the center of every moment," according to GMC PR minions. “This innovative truck comes to market with speed and purpose, bringing GM another step closer to an all-electric future,” said Mark Reuss, president of General Motors. “With our Ultium Drive architecture as the foundation for an exceptionally broad range of performance, HUMMER EV is perfect for the customer who wants capability, efficiency and performance.” The HUMMER EV will get its energy from General Motors’ all-new Ultium batteries and power from Ultium Drive, GM’s proprietary EV drive units. A GM-estimated best-in-class 1,000HP and GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of torque are generated by three separate motors within two Ultium drive units to give HUMMER EV’s e4WD remarkable on- and off-road capabilities. Additional purposeful and intuitive technologies will complement the truck’s range and capabilities to enhance and elevate every excursion. “We had one goal for HUMMER EV: Build the most capable factory truck - ever,” said Al Oppenheiser, GMC HUMMER EV chief engineer. “It’s an absolute off-road beast with a unique e4WD drive system that provides maneuverability unlike anything GM has ever offered before.”

The GMC HUMMER EV is designed to be the ultimate off-road EV supertruck, with all-new features developed to challenge tough obstacles and terrain. Highlights of available features include:

• Segment-Exclusive 4 Wheel Steer featuring CrabWalk — a segment-exclusive feature that allows the rear wheels and front wheels to steer at the same angle at low speeds, enabling diagonal movement of the vehicle, for even greater maneuverability on challenging terrain.
• Adaptive Air Suspension with available segment-leading, Extract Mode capability enables the suspension height to be raised approximately 6 inches (149 mm) to help the HUMMER EV negotiate extreme off-road situations such as clearing boulders or fording water.
• 35-inch-OD Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires offered standard; and the capability to accommodate 37-inch tires. They offer exceptional strength and flexibility to optimize maneuverability with the HUMMER EV’s unprecedented off-road capability, including scaling 18-inch verticals and driving through water that is more than 2 feet deep.
• Underbody armor, consisting of sturdy steel plates that are strategically located around the battery pack and more to help provide protection in extreme off-roading conditions.
• UltraVision that includes new front and rear underbody cameras with live “virtual spotter” views to help drivers navigate obstacles and place wheels on and off the trail. The underbody cameras are packaged to help protect against damage and equipped with a wash function to help clear debris. HUMMER EV offers a best-in-class number of camera views, with up to 18 available from the vehicle to help increase awareness of surroundings.
• Off-road widgets that display vehicle functions and terrain status through the infotainment and driver information screens. Examples include torque output, differential locker engagement, tire pressure, pitch and roll angles (including maximum values), a drift gauge (with maximum values), friction circle, torque vectoring and more.

The HUMMER EV debuts exclusively in a fully equipped Edition 1 trim package, highlights include:

• Three-motor e4WD drive system that will offer the equivalent of GM-estimated 1,000 horsepower and GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of torque.
• 800-volt DC public fast charging compatibility of up to 350 kilowatts. Industry-first technology mechanically switches the batteries from parallel to series mode during charging, which makes HUMMER EV compatible with the fastest 350 kW DC fast chargers, enabling nearly 100 miles of range in 10 minutes of charging.
• 24-module, double-stacked Ultium battery propulsion system that will offer excellent range and power to three motors.
• GM-estimated 350+ miles of driving range on a full charge, based on preliminary testing.
• The latest version of Super Cruise, an available driver assistance feature offering hands-free driving on more than 200,000 miles (approximately 322,000 km) of enabled roads, and a new automatic lane changing feature, where the system can determine when a lane change is optimal and initiate the maneuver, while following signaling protocols.

• Watts to Freedom — a driver-selectable immersive experience that unleashes the full acceleration capability of the EV propulsion system, including GM-estimated 0-60-mph performance in approximately 3 seconds.
• Drive Mode Control offers driver-selectable modes that tailor performance — including torque splits between the front and rear wheels, and four-wheel steering settings — for different driving conditions. It includes Terrain Mode, which raises the HUMMER EV’s ride height by nearly 2 inches.
• Adaptive Ride Control continuous damping that is tailored for both on- and off-road driving.
• Open-air driving enabled by the structural rigidity of the Ultium batteries, with standard Infinity Roof and removable transparent Sky Panels that can stow in the “frunk” storage compartment at the front of the vehicle.
• Premium, technical interior materials.
• Large, 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment¹⁰ screen and 12.3-inch diagonal driver information center display convey a wealth of vehicle performance and driver awareness information.
• MultiPro Tailgate with six functional positions.
• Power rear drop glass window and power tonneau cover.

“The GMC HUMMER EV reimagines an instantly-recognizable silhouette for a modern, all-electric future,” said Phil Zak, design executive director. “Its design visually communicates extreme capability, which is reinforced with rugged architectural details offered with a premium, well-executed and appointed interior.” Production of the HUMMER EV begins in late 2021, at GM’s Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center — a nearly 40-year-old facility re-purposed and retooled with a $2.2-billion investment. Watch the intro video here. Editor's Note: The best we can tell, we won't see these on the road until January of 2022. That is a l-o-n-g time to wait. -WG

(Darin Schnabel © 2020 RM Sotheby's)

RM Sotheby's, in association with the Sotheby's Fine Art Division, has announced that it will offer the Alfa Romeo Berlina Aerodinamica Technica Concepts - a trio of incredible automotive and sculptural design achievements that were produced by Bertone for the Turin auto salons in 1953, 1954 and 1955, at Sotheby's upcoming Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York, on October 28, 2020. Regarded by many as the seminal vehicle designs of the 20th century - B.A.T. 5, 7 and 9 - this trio of spectacular Alfa Romeo concepts will be offered as a single lot. The three cars were more than just design studies and a showcase of what the world's best artisans and craftsmen could create; they also made a lasting impact in design, engineering and aerodynamics, with a hitherto unseen blend of sculpture and efficiency, with more than a hint of fantasy and science fiction thrown in for good measure. Interestingly, the three B.A.T.s were never shown together in period, and the cars were sold off following their respective show circuit runs. In fact, the cars were not united until the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, sharing the spotlight with none other than Nuccio Bertone, the man who oversaw their commission and construction. Shortly after this, the current owner individually acquired each car, and the trio has been restored, maintained and kept as a group ever since. They have only ever made very occasional public appearances over the past 30 years, and the cars are undoubtedly one of the most important single collections of vehicles in existence. It is therefore fitting that the cars are being sold as a single lot, and befitting their unquestionable status as design icons and possibly the best example of ‘cars as works of art,’ the cars will be offered by Sotheby’s with a pre-sale estimate of $14,000,000 to $20,000,000.

(Mercedes-Benz)
The latest from the "Bring Lots Of Cash-Ola" File: Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV, which expands the Maybach product portfolio. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC "represents the absolute pinnacle of SUV luxury for the Mercedes-Maybach brand in the U.S. market," according to Mercedes-Benz PR minions. Equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with EQ boost and a 48-volt onboard electrical system, the Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC has 550HP and 538 lb-ft of torque and is capable of rocketing the full-size SUV from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The integrated starter generator can also generate up to 21HP and 184 lb-ft of torque for short periods. We could list all the stuff that comes on this new ride, and all of the customization you can do to it, but we won't. Suffice to say, if you have that much cash burning a hole in your pocket and you just have to have a luxury SUV, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 will probably be on your short list. It arrives in U.S. dealerships in late 2020, with pricing starting at $160,500. Editor-In-Chief's Note: The Mercedes-Maybach GLS doesn't have even a fraction of the presence that the G-Class has, however. Just sayin'. -PMD

(GM)
General Motors announced that its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center will be known as Factory ZERO from now on, reconfigured to an all-electric vehicle assembly plant. The name Factory ZERO reflects the significance of this facility in advancing GM’s zero-crashes, zero-emissions and zero-congestion future. Factory ZERO will not only be the launchpad for GM’s multi-brand EV strategy; the facility has advanced technology and tooling and was designed with a focus on sustainable manufacturing. Both the upcoming GMC HUMMER EV pickup and the Cruise Origin - a purpose-built electric, self-driving, shared vehicle - and other GM EVs will be built at Factory ZERO. The HUMMER EV and the Cruise Origin will be built on GM’s Ultium battery platform. Ultium is flexible enough to build a wide range of EVs — cars, trucks and more — and is the heart of GM’s future EV lineup. GM is investing $2.2 billion in Factory ZERO for retooling and upgrades that will position the facility to build EVs at scale. It represents the single largest investment in a plant in GM history. Once fully operational, the plant will create more than 2,200 U.S. manufacturing jobs. Production of the GMC HUMMER EV pickup will begin in late 2021. Editor-In-Chief's Note: This may not seem like a big deal to our AE readers who don't live in this region, but trust me, this is a huge deal for GM, the industry and the people who will be employed because of it. -PMD

AE Song of the Week:

And you may find yourself 
Living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself 
In another part of the world
And you may find yourself 
Behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house
With a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, well
How did I get here?

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground

And you may ask yourself
How do I work this?
And you may ask yourself
Where is that large automobile?
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground

Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was

Water dissolving and water removing
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Under the water, carry the water
Remove the water at the bottom of the ocean!
Water dissolving and water removing

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again into silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground

You may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
You may ask yourself
Where does that highway go to?
And you may ask yourself
Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may say yourself
"My God! What have I done?"

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground

Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Look where my hand was
Time isn't holding up
Time isn't after us
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Letting the days go by
Same as it ever was
And here the twister comes
Here comes the twister

Letting the days go by (same as it ever was)
Same as it ever was (same as it ever was)
Letting the days go by (same as it ever was)
Same as it ever was
Once in a lifetime
Let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by

"Once In A Lifetime" by Talking Heads from the album "Remain In Light" (1980).* Written by David Byrne, Brian Eno, Christopher Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth. Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group. Watch the video here. 

*This song deals with the futility of not being happy with the things you have. Like trying to remove the water at the bottom of the ocean, there's no way to stop life from moving on. The forces of nature (like the ocean) keep you moving almost without your conscious effort - like a ventriloquist moving a puppet. David Byrne shed some light on his lyrical inspiration when he told Time Out: "Most of the words in 'Once in a Lifetime' come from evangelists I recorded off the radio while taking notes and picking up phrases I thought were interesting directions. Maybe I'm fascinated with the middle class because it seems so different from my life, so distant from what I do. I can't imagine living like that." Some of these evangelist recordings also made their way to a 1981 album called My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, by David Byrne and Brian Eno. The song stalled at #103 in February 1981, but when MTV launched that August, they played the video a lot, giving the song much more exposure. David Byrne's choreography in the video was done by the Toni Basil, who had a hit as a singer with "Mickey." It was a very odd video, and for many viewers it was the first look they got at the Talking Heads (or at least Byrne - the full band didn't appear in a video until "Burning Down the House" two years later). (Knowledge courtesy of songfacts.com.)