Electric Pickup With Supercar Power: GMC Hummer EV Gets a Major Horsepower Boost

When GMC first unveiled the 1,000-horsepower GMC Hummer EV in 2022, many automotive journalists reacted the same way: this had to be automotive insanity. A pickup truck with supercar-level power sounded excessive even by American standards.

Apparently, engineers at General Motors didn’t think 1,000 horsepower was enough. They decided to add another 160 hp.

The result is a truck that launches harder than most sports cars. Activate the famous WTF (Watts to Freedom) mode and the massive electric pickup sprints from 0–60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. Not long ago, that kind of performance was reserved for exotic track machines. Now it comes from a vehicle weighing nearly 10,000 pounds that can still climb rocks like a dedicated off-roader.

The Most Powerful Hummer Yet

The star of the lineup is the 2026 GMC Hummer EV 3X equipped with a triple-motor electric powertrain. Combined output now reaches 1,160 horsepower.

Torque numbers, as usual with EVs, are eye-catching. The manufacturer quotes an enormous 13,000 lb-ft of torque at the wheels after gear reduction. Calculated at the motor shafts, the figure is closer to about 885 lb-ft. Either way, the takeaway is simple: very few hypercars will beat this giant SUV away from a stoplight.

New Tech and Features

The upgrades aren’t limited to raw power. Engineers also added new technology designed to make the truck more useful in everyday life.

One major addition is bidirectional charging. In simple terms, the Hummer can act like a mobile power station. Park it near your house and it can provide electricity during an outage. Park next to another EV and share power directly between vehicles. What once sounded futuristic is now built into the truck.

The updated Super Cruise driver-assist system also gets improvements. It now integrates with Google Maps, allowing the truck to automatically adjust speed based on posted limits while traveling in hands-free mode on compatible highways.

Inside, the 13.4-inch infotainment display runs on Google’s built-in software platform. It can plan routes with charging stops, and if the driver gets bored during a charging break, apps like Google Chrome and Prime Video are available.

For buyers who want something visually distinctive, GMC introduced a Carbon Fiber Edition finished in matte Magnus Gray, featuring red interior accents and 22-inch forged black wheels. Exterior trim, mirrors, and badges are finished in deep black to match.

Still a Serious Off-Road Machine

Despite weighing close to 4.5 tons, the Hummer EV remains a capable off-road truck. It features a manually locking front differential and an electronically controlled rear locker, while onboard software carefully manages torque distribution to maintain traction in difficult terrain.

Large approach and departure angles combined with adaptive air suspension help the truck handle uneven ground without losing traction.

One of the standout additions for the 2026 model year is the advanced King Crab rear-steering system. On tight trails, the rear wheels can turn more aggressively than the front ones, allowing the truck to swing its tail through obstacles with surprising agility. For a vehicle this large, the turning circle becomes impressively small.

Even better for current owners: the King Crab system will be delivered as a free over-the-air update for many existing Hummer EV trucks. Just download the update, and the capability appears.

Competitors Struggle to Keep Up

For now, GMC has pulled well ahead in the horsepower race among electric pickups.

The Rivian R1T produces about 1,025 hp, while the tuned Hennessey Mammoth 1000 TRX delivers roughly 1,012 hp. Even the tri-motor Tesla Cybertruck, rated around 835 horsepower, looks relatively modest in comparison.

Other trucks in the segment fall even further behind, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV with 760 hp and the supercharged Ford F-150 Raptor R at about 720 hp.

With 1,160 horsepower, the Hummer EV 3X resets expectations. But the power war is only getting started. Chinese manufacturers are already pushing the limits: the YangWang U9 reportedly produces around 3,000 horsepower and recently reached extraordinary speed figures during testing. If the trend continues, 1,500-horsepower electric pickups could soon become reality.

A Legacy That Started With the Humvee

The Hummer story goes back decades. In 1985, the U.S. military adopted the rugged Humvee. Powered by a diesel V8 producing about 160 horsepower, the boxy off-roader needed roughly 15 seconds to reach 62 mph and topped out near 68 mph. Speed wasn’t the point—durability was.

After the Gulf War, the military vehicle became a cultural icon. Celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, pushed for a civilian version. That request led to the launch of the Hummer H1 in 1992—essentially a military truck with air conditioning, leather seats, and a sound system.

General Motors acquired the Hummer brand in 1999. The more luxurious Hummer H2 arrived in 2002, based on Chevrolet Silverado components, eventually selling nearly 150,000 units. In 2005, the smaller Hummer H3 debuted on the Chevrolet Colorado platform.

Then the financial crisis struck. The Global Financial Crisis effectively ended the era of gasoline-powered Hummers, and the H3 went out of production in 2010.

But the brand didn’t stay gone forever. In 2022, the name returned—this time as a 1,000-horsepower electric super-truck.

Now it’s even more powerful. And there’s a bit of irony in the numbers: the extra 160 horsepower added to the latest Hummer EV is exactly the same output the original military Humvee once had.

Automotive progress has clearly come a long way.