[Oakwood]

This is something that I didn't expect to read today. GM doesn't have a working prototype of the Hummer yet! It's understandable since the project was apparently given the green light in April 2019!

Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser spilled the beans with Green Car Reports.

“Interestingly enough, we don’t have a vehicle yet,” chief engineer Al Oppenheiser confessed. “We’re building our first test vehicle as we speak; the vehicle you see in the video is our display vehicle.”

With the project only given the green light in April 2019, and GM aiming for deliveries to start in fall 2021, it’s a record pace for GM—or any company.

To this seemingly impossible timeline, GM has assigned some of its top engineers. Oppenheiser, who was formerly the Camaro’s chief engineer, now oversees electric vehicle development and as chief engineer for the Hummer EV, is leading a team mostly transplanted from the Corvette program.

Oppenheiser added that GM has used some of its other trucks to do some off-road work in the area around Gateway, Colorado, where the team was connected with press for the Wednesday Q&A session—and that the more modular EV underpinnings have helped shave some time off development. “The 18 months has been quick-paced, doing a lot of analytical tools in our computer-aided engineering,” he added.

 

[StillHummer]

I saw this story earlier on FB. But honestly, it doesn't bother me one bit, and I mentioned why there as well.

It's true that they don't have a functioning prototype yet. But in today's day and age, it doesn't matter. GM's engineering software is so advanced and precise that whatever their virtual models say is possible (technologically speaking) for the physical model is accurate.

Two caveats: One, the Ultium battery tech IS real and is nearly done already, including in physical form; and Two, Mary Barra gave the Hummer team a ridiculously short 30 month time period to go from idea to finished product. That's INSANITY, and as far as I know, is the fastest production schedule in GM history, and likely in the entire auto industry. But modern engineering software makes this possible. I'm not worried in the least, I trust Camaro Chief (turned Hummer Chief lol) Al Oppenheiser and his team to come through on their promises. All the features you saw in the reveal video...they're absolutely coming.

 

[Oakwood]

I saw this story earlier on FB. But honestly, it doesn't bother me one bit, and I mentioned why there as well.

It's true that they don't have a functioning prototype yet. But in today's day and age, it doesn't matter. GM's engineering software is so advanced and precise that whatever their virtual models say is possible (technologically speaking) for the physical model is accurate.

Two caveats: One, the Ultium battery tech IS real and is nearly done already, including in physical form; and Two, Mary Barra gave the Hummer team a ridiculously short 30 month time period to go from idea to finished product. That's INSANITY, and as far as I know, is the fastest production schedule in GM history, and likely in the entire auto industry. But modern engineering software makes this possible. I'm not worried in the least, I trust Camaro Chief (turned Hummer Chief lol) Al Oppenheiser and his team to come through on their promises. All the features you saw in the reveal video...they're absolutely coming.

I'm not too worried either. The key is the Ultium batteries and the powertrain, not the body/design and GM has been working on that long before the Hummer project began. They also have their top guys involved so that's reassuring.

 

[Oakwood]

Looks like they have one that's able to move on its own. Not sure how functional it actually is though.

http://instagr.am/p/CG2jAooj40O/