There are, of course, a few key differences between the GMC system and Rivian's. The Rivian models are powered by four individually controlled electric motors, one per wheel, and can truly rotate around a central axis on a low-friction surface. (Watch the video below!) The Yukons are powered by a single engine each, which can drive either the rear wheels or—with four-wheel drive engaged—all four wheels. It probably goes without saying that, yes, at any given time those two-to-four GMC wheels are being spun in the same direction (either forward or backward).
So, how do the
GMC Yukon's conventionally driven wheels help the vehicle spin? We weren't able to extract many details from GMC on this front—the engineers were hoping to keep a lid on the feature until a later date, so we did our best to pepper them with questions at the '21 Yukon's reveal event. Here's what we could surmise: "Hurricane Turn" functionality is engaged when the Yukon's electronic brain detects that the driver intentionally has done the following: Deactivates stability control, cranked the steering wheel hard to either the left or the right, and floored the gas.
If the truck is on a low-friction surface, such as snow or gravel, the system jumps into action, manipulating the brakes, particularly on the side you're steering toward (if you're steering to the right, then it grabs the right brakes, and vice versa) to instigate a sort of donut move. In this state, the GMC rotates around its front axle, like someone competing in one of those spin-around-a-baseball-bat-before-running competitions. Keep your foot on the throttle, and the GMC's "Hurricane Turn" system will gradually tighten the donut spin radius—a technical term we just made up—until the Yukon is nearly spinning around its central axis, like the Rivian.
"
