Video: GMC Hummer EV driven into a ditch by YouTube star

A YouTube star in the US has taken the phrase “breaking in a new car” literally by damaging his GMC Hummer EV after clocking up less than 15 kilometres in the new electric pick-up.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, Edmond Barseghian (known as Mondi) showed off his brand-new GMC Hummer EV – the 745kW/2033Nm, 4300kg battery-powered pick-up which General Motors claims can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds.

As reported last month, the GMC Hummer EV is set to star alongside Ryan Gosling in a feature-length remake of 1980s cult TV show The Fall Guy, with parts of the upcoming action movie filmed in Australia.

Mr Barseghian’s GMC Hummer EV is the flagship $US112,595 ($AU173,500) Edition 1 grade, exclusively available to the first round of customers who ordered the vehicle when it was revealed in October 2020.

On the way to collect his new Hummer EV, Mr Barseghian tells his cameraman: “I want to jump the Hummer. I want to break the Hummer”.

After taking delivery of the electric pick-up from a Los Angeles dealership, Mr Barseghian attempts to show off the Hummer EV’s rapid acceleration to his passengers by engaging its ‘Watts to Freedom’ launch control system.

The launch control system gives drivers access to the full 745kW and lowers the suspension by five centimetres, limiting its ground clearance.

With the high-power mode still engaged, the Hummer EV is driven onto a gravel road where Mr Barseghian continues to drive aggressively despite his passenger’s protests.

Less than 15 seconds after hitting a large bump, the electric pick-up drives into a ditch at speed – bottoming out and causing significant damage to its underbody.

After inspecting the damaged GMC electric pick-up, Mr Barseghian discovers coolant leaking out of its radiator (used to manage the battery’s temperature) as well as a bent right-rear suspension assembly.

The impact also damaged the steel undertray and various trim pieces, although it was still driveable at low speeds.

While Mr Barseghian claims the video uploaded to his YouTube channel is not 'clickbait', the video's thumbnail shows it is missing a wheel arch trim and has a damaged rear door – neither of which happened to his Hummer EV.

A video posted by Mr Barseghian to social media platform Instagram shows the Hummer EV “crab walking” due to the broken rear suspension.

The social media star claims the electric pick-up had recorded just nine miles (14.4km) on its odometer before the potential write-off.