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WTF: Watch GMC Hummer EV's Watts to Freedom launch mode in action

GMC claims its gigantic Hummer EV can accelerate to 60 mph in 3 seconds. Here's how it'll boogie.

There's so much to talk about following the GMC Hummer EV's debut on Tuesday. GMC says this electric giant makes 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque. The latter figure may be super misleading, but all that twist still helps the Hummer EV to accelerate to 60 mph in just 3 seconds. That's damn quick folks, and it's achievable thanks to the truck's oddly named Watts to Freedom mode.

GMC describes Watts to Freedom as "a driver-selectable immersive experience that unleashes the full acceleration capability of the EV propulsion system." In other words, it's launch control. Selecting Watts to Freedom lowers the Hummer's ride height by 2 inches and puts the three-motor electric drivetrain on full attack.

Considering the Hummer EV's huge size, a 3-second 0-to-60 time is no small feat. For comparison, a with Ludicrous Mode will hit 60 mph in a manufacturer-estimated 2.6 seconds, but that's a much smaller vehicle.

We can't help but ponder the Watts to Freedom name. The play on "WTF" is obvious, but we're assuming the suits at General Motors wouldn't let that one fly without a backronym.

Watts to Freedom is just one of a number of neat tricks the GMC Hummer EV has up its sleeve. The big electric truck also has a four-wheel CrabWalk function and the latest version of GM's Super Cruise driver-assistance technology. You can read all about the new Hummer EV here.

GMC Hummer EV is a 1,000-hp super truck that moves laterally like a crab

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Watch this: 2022 GMC Hummer EV trolls Tesla's Cybertruck with 1,000 horsepower
Steven Ewing Former managing editor
Steven Ewing spent his childhood reading car magazines, making his career as an automotive journalist an absolute dream job. After getting his foot in the door at Automobile while he was still a teenager, Ewing found homes on the mastheads at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog and Motor1.com before joining the CNET team in 2018. He has also served on the World Car Awards jury. Ewing grew up ingrained in the car culture of Detroit -- the Motor City -- before eventually moving to Los Angeles. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV and play the drums.
Steven Ewing
Steven Ewing spent his childhood reading car magazines, making his career as an automotive journalist an absolute dream job. After getting his foot in the door at Automobile while he was still a teenager, Ewing found homes on the mastheads at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog and Motor1.com before joining the CNET team in 2018. He has also served on the World Car Awards jury. Ewing grew up ingrained in the car culture of Detroit -- the Motor City -- before eventually moving to Los Angeles. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV and play the drums.

Article updated on October 21, 2020 at 6:50 AM PDT

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Steven Ewing
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Steven Ewing Former managing editor
Steven Ewing spent his childhood reading car magazines, making his career as an automotive journalist an absolute dream job. After getting his foot in the door at Automobile while he was still a teenager, Ewing found homes on the mastheads at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog and Motor1.com before joining the CNET team in 2018. He has also served on the World Car Awards jury. Ewing grew up ingrained in the car culture of Detroit -- the Motor City -- before eventually moving to Los Angeles. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV and play the drums.
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