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GMC Hummer EV could have had the Chevrolet Avalanche's Midgate

One of the many rumors swirling around the GMC Hummer EV claimed the truck would resurrect the Midgate inaugurated by the original Chevrolet Avalanche. Although we now know there's no way to fully knock down the partition between the cab and the cargo box, the firm revealed the rumor wasn't entirely false. "There was [a Midgate] early on. We opted for the functionality of the drop glass in the back. With the package layout and things like that, it was not advantageous to pursue that one. And, the five-foot bed was kind of the industry standard in regards to price of entry in that segment," explained John Mack, the Hummer's exterior design management, during an interview with Muscle Car & Trucks. The Hummer will go on sale with a five-foot box, and it doesn't sound like a longer bed will be available, so a modern version of the Midgate would have made the model more versatile by giving users the ability to fold down the partition behind the rear seats to carry bulky items, like plywood and ATVs. It's a feature that would have inevitably made the truck more complicated to build, however, because it adds moving parts that need to be sealed. Hinges, seals, and latches in turn add weight, and complexity almost always invites high manufacturing costs. As an electric pickup built with newly-developed components, the Hummer already has enough of each. Motorists who need to carry something that's significantly longer than the cargo box aren't entirely out of luck. As Mack pointed out, the rear window drops into the partition, so owners will have the ability to haul surfboards, lumber, or anything else that's relatively long and reasonably thin by simply pushing a switch. Alternatively, the only thing limiting cargo space when the roof comes off is the sky — or, depending on where you live, bridges. Mack didn't reveal when the Midgate was dropped. GMC launched the Hummer project in April 2019, and it previously released early design sketches that show how the truck transitioned from a sketch to a prototype. As of writing, nothing suggests the Midgate will make a comeback in the near future on any member of the General Motors portfolio. It was introduced in 2001 on the first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche, which went on sale in the United States for the 2002 model year. It later spread to Cadillac's luxed-up variant of the truck, the Escalade EXT, and to the short-lived GMC Envoy XUV.

Netflix to feature electric cars from GM and others in programming

LOS ANGELES — Netflix has unveiled a new star for some of its upcoming programming: electric vehicles from General Motors and other automakers. The streaming service announced an agreement on Thursday to feature vehicles including the Chevrolet Bolt, the electric GMC Hummer pickup and the Cadillac Lyriq in TV series and films "where relevant." The companies will highlight the partnership in a commercial featuring Will Ferrell that will air during the Feb. 12 Super Bowl. Netflix and GM called the agreement "part of a commitment to a more sustainable future." Financial terms were not disclosed. Netflix said it will help creators "better understand how EVs can complement and enhance their stories." Shows that will feature GM's electric vehicles include "Love is Blind," "Queer Eye" and "Unstable." Netflix productions also will include electric vehicles made by other automakers, the company said.   Marketing/Advertising TV/Movies Chevrolet GM GMC Hummer

GMC's electric, 1,000-horsepower Hummer SUV makes a surprise appearance

We knew the GMC Hummer pickup would spawn an SUV, but we didn't expect to see it so soon. It quietly appeared in a marketing presentation about electric cars that General Motors streamed online in November 2020. The camera never focused on the SUV, there was always an executive sitting in front of it, but we see enough to tell it's closely related to its pickup sibling. Both battery-powered off-roaders are nearly identical from the tip of the front bumper to the edge of the rear doors. The SUV's overhang is a little bit shorter than the pickup's, though there's presumably space for a third row of seats. Its rear end doesn't appear in the presentation. Nothing suggests GMC made major powertrain changes to the SUV, so it's likely identical to the truck underneath the sheetmetal. Range-topping models will receive three motors zapped into motion by a 24-module Ultium battery pack. Motorists will have 1,000 horsepower and approximately 350 miles of driving range to play with. GMC plans to start building the Hummer pickup in late 2021, and the SUV might not enter production until early 2022. We expect pricing will initially start above $100,000, but more affordable variants will gradually join the lineup during the first half of the 2020s. When it lands, the off-roader will compete directly against the Rivian R1S. General Motors will invest $27 billion into electric and autonomous cars by 2023. Its portfolio of EVs will also include a Silverado-sized pickup, a crossover based on the Bolt, and a high-end Cadillac crossover named Lyriq. "We want to be number one in EVs in North America," affirmed company boss Mary Barra.