Hummer 1000bhp electric pickup comes to Britain priced at £320,000

FOR SOME PEOPLE the thought of being seen in this vehicle will make them smile. For others it will make them hide under the sofa in cringe-inducing horror. It’s the ultimate Marmite vehicle, except of course that is an allusion completely lost on the makers and indeed owners across The Pond.

However, this over-large monster electric vehicle is now over here, thanks to Clive Sutton importing them. They’re not going to be able to have many sitting around are they, given that each one is about the size of a forecourt.

This electric supertruck is the GMC Hummer EV Pickup, to give it its full name, which is almost as long as the 5.5m long vehicle. It seats fi ve and the swimming-pool-sized loadbed should be able to accommodate a couple of overnight bags as well. You defi nitely wouldn’t want the loadbed as a paddling pool though because the fi rst time you pressed the loud pedal hard you’d lose most of the water and occupants.

It may not be that loud but this EV is fast. There’s the equivalent of 1000bhp there, and 1200lbf.ft of torque, so you can go from sitting there at a standstill to going 60mph in just 3.3 seconds. That’s supercar performance from something the size of a supercar showroom. And yet, where a Lambo will struggle to get over a modest speed bump, the Hummer can use its optional Extract mode to raise the entire truck by 15cm, making it very suitable indeed off-road.

With independent suspension front and rear (just like the original Humvee), full underbody armour, rock sliders and optional 18-camera system (e-i-g-h-t-e-e-n!), the Hummer is well equipped to clamber around town or country with a clear view of all it is crushing beneath its mighty wheels. And speaking of wheels, you can add the optional Crabwalk function which brings in rear-wheel steering so you can actually move diagonally at low speeds. But you’re still not going to fi t into that NCP parking bay.

Clive Sutton has brought one example to the UK, but they think they’ll need more. Which might be a problem. Over in the US, there is already an order book with 80,000 names in it, amazing as that may sound. Guess what is happening to prices.

Even in the US, they’re selling new for more than $200,000. By the time they’re brought over here, had VAT, shipping, fees, testing etc all added on, you’re looking at a price tag to match the vehicle: about £320,000 on the road. However, the people at Clive Sutton do all the admin from start to fi nish and offer a two-year/50,000-mile warranty. To fi nd out more check out clivesutton.co.uk. Once you’ve come out from under the sofa.