GM Releases Software Updates for Hummer EV and Optiq

General Motors (GM) released a pair of software updates for its GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Optiq electric vehicles, aimed at providing improved driving performance and correcting a windshield malfunction, respectively.

The first update consists of enabling the King Crab off-road driving mode, which allows the rear axle wheels to turn slightly when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, on models produced from 2022 onwards.

This mode allows the rear wheels to turn significantly faster than the front wheels, making it possible to turn and navigate tight off-road spaces with precision and ease.

Despite being highly publicized since the Hummer EV's launch, the King Crab mode was only available on a limited basis through a button called “Mystery Mode” in Drive Mode Control. When activated, owners could make use of this feature for a few minutes before the software automatically disabled it.

But with the launch of the 2026 model units, King Crab mode will be a permanent reality that will also be available for earlier models via a wireless update to the vehicle communication unit (VCU).

The 2026 Hummer EV will feature a Carbon Fiber Edition variant that will be faster than previous versions due to advanced software tuning and rigorous hardware validation.

Thanks to these optimizations, the available 24-module battery-powered SUV will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.8 seconds, reducing the already dizzying Watts to Freedom (WTF) mode by 0.2 seconds.

In the case of the Optiq, GM released an update focused on resolving the failure of a defroster that heats the base part of the windshield to detach the wiper blades in case of ice when they are in the “rest” position.

In the affected units, the defroster does not heat up, so it does not de-ice the base of the windshield or the wipers, due to a programming fault in the crossover's lighting control module.

The solution to this problem is to reprogram the module with no parts or components required for repair. Owners of affected Optiq crossovers can opt to have the reprogramming performed via an over-the-air (OTA) update or at the dealership.

Performance was not the only improvement, as new in-vehicle entertainment upgrades make downtime more enjoyable with the integrated Google system that provides access to popular apps such as Chrome, GameSnacks and Prime Video.

Owners can easily download apps from Google Play and use their streaming subscriptions while parked or charging the vehicle.