Hummer just teased a brief photo and video showing the open-air roof of the forthcoming 1,000-hp GMC-badged Hummer EV, with no further explanation or clarification as to how this roof works, what it looks like with the panels in place, or even whether this roof belongs to the promised pickup or the promised SUV model. Such a roof could be applied to either—or, hopefully, both, just as Jeep‘s Wrangler 4×4 and Wrangler-esque Gladiator pickup both offer topless options.
From the look of it, the GMC Hummer’s open roof design involves removable panels. There is a traditional “basket handle” structure where the B-pillars would be—the roof pillars just behind the front seats—that allows for complete removal of the roof over the front seats, though we can’t tell if this roof section will be comprised of one panel or two. Two would obviously be a lot easier to store in the back, though it would present formidable weather-sealing challenges; in Hummer’s imagery released so far, the central protrusions from the windshield header and B-pillar basket handle could provide latch points for two removable panels that also would clamp into the vehicle structure at their front and rear edges. This would be similar to Jeep’s Freedom Top (hardtop), which uses two removable panels over the front seats held in by clamps and hooks at the windshield header and roll bar.
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Then again, the two outboard clamping points might suggest a single panel that engages slots at the rear and then clamps at the front. While we’ve yet to see either the GMC Hummer pickup or the SUV, we suppose at least the truck model would have the space in back to store such a large, single roof piece, so that it could be removed on the go.
Oh, and what about the roof over the rear seat? It clearly appears to be divided by a structural T-bar spanning from the B-pillar hoop to the C-pillar structure, with the receivers for locating pins and clamping locations clearly in view. Second-row T-tops? Sounds cool to us.
It’s a fair bet that solid roof panels will be standard, or at least included with the open-roof option, should a fixed roof come standard. But tinted glass panels will be an irresistible optional upgrade or aftermarket accessory item. Who knows, maybe the Hummer accessories folks will even work out temporary cloth “bikini” style covers to serve in a rainy pinch to allow off-road alfresco roving without the bulky rigid roof panels consuming precious cargo space. Regardless, the revived Hummer name appears to be getting serious attention within the halls of General Motors, where designers and engineers clearly are aiming to maintain the brand’s legendary off-road capability and adventurous personality. A Hummer, even an electric one, can not be a poser, it seems.
Stay tuned for more details as we approach the fall 2021 launch of the GMC Hummer EV “super truck. “ And be sure to peruse the rest of our fevered coverage of the Hummer’s return:
