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The car business has been trying to rid itself of the dealership model for decades. You’ve heard the pitch: the showroom is a dinosaur, a relic of a pre-Internet age. Why bother with sharp-suited salespeople and fluorescent-lit lots when you can simply click a button, spec your vehicle online, and have it delivered like an iPhone? Tesla built its reputation on this model, and the rest of the industry has eyed it with both suspicion and envy. But every so often, a story comes along that demonstrates why the showroom floor refuses to die.
Consider the experience shared by Jonathan Lawrence in the Hummer EV Facebook group:
“Took my youngest daughter to lunch Saturday. Mom was away, and my oldest left a few days ago to study abroad in Rome for the fall semester. So had a rare chance for some one-on-one time with my busy, about to be a senior 17-year-old.
After lunch, I asked what she wanted to do for the afternoon, thinking she’d say Let’s hit up the mall to do some back-to-school shopping. But instead she said “let’s go test drive some cars”, knowing I’ve been wanting to buy myself something new.
So we went to buy a Range Rover, but she suggested checking out the Hummer first. The GMC and Rover dealers shared the same location.
GMC dealer’s General Manager was standing outside as we pulled up and asked, “Which car are we looking at today?”.
I said, “The Range Rovers next door, but my daughter suggested looking at the Hummer first”.
He responded, “Well, she’s a smart young lady, but if you test drive the Hummer, you’ll never go next door to Rover”.
I said, “ok, let’s see what happens”.
After “Watts to Freedom” in a parking lot during our test drive, I told the young salesman to text his General Manager to start the paperwork, to which the kid responded, “But you don’t even know what this costs yet”.
I responded, “It doesn’t matter, I’m taking it home today”. And then I backed the Hummer all the way down the parking lot to do it again.
Never stepped foot on the Rover’s lot. And the last 36 hours have been a “BLAST” showing to friends and family.
So it was a really FUN day with my daughter, although a touch more expensive than I’d planned. But I wouldn’t change a thing. The experience we shared together with the total and complete spontaneity with which I bought the Hummer will stay with us forever.
Now please share with me things I shoukd know about my new truck, because we signed and scooted. Headed back later this week to have it detailed and get my walkthrough.
Pics below of my very good friend and car collector, who referred me to his Range Rover salesman. Went right to his house afterwards to show him my new “Rover”. But his reaction to “Watts for Freedom” speaks for itself.
He “APPROVED”.”
That’s not a sales funnel. That’s not a configurator. That’s a Saturday afternoon that veered off script, powered by a dealer’s bravado and a 9,000-pound EV’s theatrical launch mode. It was a transaction wrapped in spontaneity, framed by family, and sealed by a salesman who knew the strength of his product. The Range Rover next door was forgotten before the paperwork even hit the desk. This is the kind of story that cements the relevance of dealerships, because you don’t get memories like this from a “Buy Now” button.
GMC Hummer EV Specifications & Dimensions
- The Hummer EV pickup weighs about 9,000 lb and uses four‑wheel steering; the tri‑motor “3X” model produces 1,000 hp and 11,500 lb‑ft of torque and can CrabWalk diagonally
- Buyers can choose a dual‑motor 2X (≈570 hp) or tri‑motor 3X (1,000 hp) configuration, giving estimated EPA ranges of 311–367 miles
- The truck features air‑ride adaptive suspension with adjustable ride height and a performance launch mode (“Watts to Freedom”) for sub‑3‑second 0–60 mph sprints
- The 4‑wheel‑steer system enables CrabWalk, all wheels turn in unison to move the truck diagonally
- King Crab mode will let the rear wheels turn faster than the front, boosting maneuverability when rock‑crawling. The 2X pickup is rated to tow up to 12,000 lb; owners report towing 8,000‑lb boats for 100 miles without charging
The Hummer EV is engineered for spectacle. GM’s “Watts to Freedom” launch control doesn’t just move the vehicle; it redefines inertia, throwing a rolling condo down the lot like it was fired from Cape Canaveral.
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As commenter Grace Pineda put it: “That is why it’s called Watts To Freedom…WTF!” That exclamation isn’t just a reaction; it’s evidence that the theater of the dealership matters. The demo drive is the stage where a six-figure decision goes from rational consideration to visceral certainty.
What Facebook Thought About It
The Facebook comment section reinforced this point. Jerome Huddleston’s advice, “Turn off rear wheel steering and you’ll get a smoother launch… Don’t listen to the complainers in this group… Enjoy, you’ll find yourself joyriding a lot in the beginning!”, transformed a purchase into a shared rite of passage. Suddenly, the dealership sale didn’t end when the paperwork was signed. It was extended by a chorus of fellow owners offering wisdom, reassurance, and congratulations. That communal voice is something the DTC model has yet to replicate convincingly.
Even the practical tips underscore the value of the dealer ecosystem. Craig Wedge’s reminder that “a regular 120-volt outlet will take 200 hours to charge” is the sort of advice one expects during a dealership walkthrough, not after delivery by a third-party hauler.
In Jonathan’s case, the “signed and scooted” spontaneity left little time for details. But the combination of dealership guidance and owner-to-owner knowledge meant he wouldn’t be left in the dark. This blend of theater and education is what allows complex machines like the Hummer EV to succeed in the hands of ordinary buyers.
The GMC Hummer EV Design Details
- The design includes removable roof panels and high‑quality materials, creating an open‑air feel
- The EarthCruiser upfit adds a carbon‑fibre pop‑up house with onboard solar and a 6 kWh battery, providing about seven days of off‑grid power, plus a bed, induction cooktop, sink, outdoor shower, and 13.5‑gal fresh‑water tank
- The 2026 Carbon Fiber Edition offers 1,160 hp, 2.8-second 0–60 mph runs, and bidirectional charging (vehicle‑to‑vehicle or vehicle‑to‑home)
- It also features carbon‑fiber wheels and interior accents
Automakers still flirt with cutting out dealers, seduced by visions of streamlined profits and Silicon Valley efficiency. Tesla has proven the model can work under certain conditions, particularly with customers who have already done their homework.
But Jonathan’s story, and the avalanche of supportive comments it inspired, illustrates why legacy brands might be wise to tread carefully. Dealers aren’t just middlemen; they’re catalysts for experiences. They create the kind of moments that can tip a buyer from hesitation to exhilaration in the span of a parking lot launch.
Strip away the dealer, and you strip away the story. Without the general manager’s challenge, without the daughter’s suggestion, without the “Watts to Freedom” launch echoing off asphalt, this would have been just another EV purchase. Instead, it became a narrative worth retelling, a family memory anchored to a piece of machinery. That’s the irreplaceable role of the dealership: it doesn’t just sell cars, it stages dramas. And in an industry where emotion sells as much as engineering, that drama may ensure its survival well into the electric age.
Image Sources: GMC Media Center
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
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Source: torquenews.com
