News
GMC Hummer EV sports its massive size alongside full-size SUV
The GMC Hummer EV is finally making its way to dealerships on the East Coast, sporting its massive size as it sits alongside a GMC Yukon, one of the automaker’s largest sport utility vehicles.
After being in development for several years, the GMC Hummer EV is finally making its way to dealerships on the East Coast.
New photographs of the Hummer EV landed on the HummerChat forums earlier this week. In late December, GMC announced the Hummer EV would make its way from the Factory Zero facility in Hamtramck, Michigan to customers, finally completing the first deliveries of the notorious gas-hog name turned sustainable.
However, since the announcement, the GMC Hummer EV has been tough to spot. While the massive vehicle sports some of GM’s most revolutionary and advanced systems, including its Ultium battery system, it appears details on the initial builds are relatively slim. After all, the Hummer EV was actually GM’s second-most-produced electric vehicle in December 2021. The automaker has dealt with widespread battery issues with its Chevrolet Bolt EV, which has been its keystone EV for a decade. During the month, GM produced 26 total electric units: one HUMMER EV, and twenty-five Chevrolet Bolt EVs.
Nevertheless, the Biden-proclaimed “Leader of EVs” is definitely making slow-but-steady progress on its EV front. The Hummer EV is actually the second all-electric pickup to make it to the consumer market, following only the Rivian R1T, which reportedly had its production rate increased by 300 percent in the past week.
In a GMC showroom in North Carolina, the Hummer EV sits just behind a GMC Yukon, an SUV with a notoriously large size. The Yukon comes in several sizes, and we’re not sure if this is the largest trim package. However, the Hummer EV appears to be considerably larger than the Yukon, which puts the all-electric pickup’s massive size into perspective.
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
Of course, the original Hummer vehicles were massive themselves. The original Hummer H1 had a 130-inch wheelbase, but the EV version even outsizes that with its 135.6-inch wheelbase. For comparison’s sake, the 2022 GMC Yukon has a 120.9-inch wheelbase.
Interestingly, the large exterior shell of the Hummer EV does not necessarily guarantee massive amounts of interior cargo space. Unfortunately, the Hummer EV’s interior room tops out at 81.8 cubic feet, which makes it slightly larger than the 76.2 cubic feet the Tesla Model Y offers with its seats folded down. The Tesla Model Y is not a pickup, however, and is a crossover SUV. Of course, these measurements do not take into account the additional storage space in the bed, which is 60 inches long. The Ford F-150 Lightning will have a 67.1-inch bed, for comparison.
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
The GMC Hummer EV features several incredible features that GM has gloated in the buildup to the vehicle’s release:
- 4 Wheel Steer featuring CrabWalk – 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 Extract Mode – enables the suspension height to be raised approximately 6 inches (149 mm) to help the GMC HUMMER EV negotiate extreme off-road situations such as clearing boulders or fording water.
- Watts to Freedom – a driver-selectable experience that unleashes the full acceleration capability of the EV propulsion system, including GM-estimated 0-60-mph performance in approximately 3 seconds.
- Super Cruise – a 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.
The Hummer EV is still available to order and costs $110,295.
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Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
