GMC Talk “Crab” for the New Hummer EV

If you’ve been following the latest news about the development of GMC’s new Hummer EV, then you’ve probably also heard whispers of the so-called “Crab Mode.” In today’s piece, we’ll be looking more at what exactly this means and why it’s among the most highly anticipated features in the new Hummer EV.

The Hummer EV is set to be revealed on October 20 this year. As if we aren’t already champing at the bit to finally see the all-electric offering of this iconic American classic, now GMC are teasing us with trailers showing the car’s innovative “Crab Mode.” In a video released on September 15, “A Revolutionary Turn,” the company shows a Hummer riding on a beach, before stopping in front of a lone crab. To avoid crushing the poor creature, the driver activates Crab Mode, prompting all four wheels to move into a previously unthinkable position, allowing the Hummer to turn a diagonal there on the spot and avoid the wandering sea creature. Incredible. As GMC reminds us in the ad, ‘Sometimes the biggest leaps forward are actually diagonal.’

Without having been through the reveal, it’s impossible for us to comment on what exactly to expect from the all-electric Hummer. Even from this teaser we can’t get much of a peak since they’re not showing us the real production model. From the demonstration, however, we can expect the Crab Mode technology to be a game-changing feature on a car that is already shaking up the supertruck market once again. In short, drivers will be able to activate Crab Mode in order to move the car in a diagonal direction without turning the wheel. If you can wrap your head around that, it starts to become clear that we’re dealing with something very new.

Thinking about it practically, it will mean that drivers concerned about dealing with things like parallel parking will now rest easier knowing that this mode can guide them into spaces more easily. It may also help when trying to emerge from tighter spaces without scratching or colliding with other vehicles or obstacles. The off-road implications are also profound, allowing the Hummer into places previously inaccessible.

Fans of the brand may be further inspired to put their names down for the Hummer EV, but they’ll have to learn to exercise their patience just a little longer. Though the reveal is set for October 20 this year, production won’t begin until the fall of 2021, with the first deliveries being made some time in 2022. In any event, the Hummer EV seems to be set to give Tesla’s Cybertruck and other competing models a run for their money.