Owners of GMC Hummer electric vehicles will be able to raise their 9,000-pound vehicle nearly six additional inches in the air, with a simple software update. In the new few weeks, GMC will be rolling out a new "Extract Mode," which allows drivers elevate their vehicle to avoid off-road obstacles - to all First Edition models of the all-electric Hummer pick-up truck.
According to the American automaker, it is making good on a promise it made that it would make its EV trucks more capable off-road. In the coming weeks, owners of the Edition 1 Hummer EV drivers will be able to access the Extract Mode via an OTA software update.
The feature comes as part of an OTA (Over-The-Air) update that will roll out over the next few weeks that will allow the pickup truck to be raised as high as 15.9-inches off the ground. Here's a preview of the feature:
How to Get the 'Exract Mode'
According to a spokesperson for GMC, some of the early-built Hummer EVs will have to visit the dealership to receive the update, coinciding with a change in the vehicle's ride height sensor, but most additions of Extract Mode can be done over the air.
As fun as the feature sounds, it should be noted that the suspension mode can only be used at low speeds. Also, frequent use of the Extract Mode will cause the vehicle needing to cool off before being suspended again, Electrek noted. In total, Extract Mode will allow a higher ground clearance for the vehicle, and gain advantage over other off-road vehicles, such as the Rivian R1T, Ram TRX, F150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor.
Supply Woes Hamper hummer Deliveries, Reservations Full; GMC Ramps Up Production
However, only a few owners of the GMC Hummer can actually try out the feature. This is because demand for the Hummer has far exceeded the automaker's expectations and as a result, GMC is struggling to ramp up production.
Only a single Hummer EV was delivered in 2021, and GMC has listed more than 65,000 reservations for its Hummer EV pickups and SUVs. And, if you are looking for a first edition pickup, unfortunately reservations for the Hummer EV truck are full. And if you'd settle for a slightly cheaper variant, you could be due for a two-year wait.
Deliveries have continued to ramp up in 2022 (although there were only 99 in Q1) as GMC boosts its assembly lines to support its all-electric models. As of today, Hummer EV pickup and SUV reservations total over 78,000, and those earlier customers were able to get locked into their initial price. As we reported last week, any reservation made after June 18 is now subject to a $6,000 price increase by GMC.
Whether you're one of the few lucky consumers currently driving an Edition 1 Hummer EV, or you have one on the way, GMC is showcasing a new "Extract Mode" that brings the potential of the electric truck to new heights ... literally.
According to the automaker, all future models of the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV will leave the factory with Extract Mode, as long as they are equipped with adaptive air suspension. Those Hummer EVs already on roads can expect the feature to roll out over the air in the next few weeks.
