February 14, 2008
Our friends at TopSpeed.com have released some sketches and info they’re claiming are details surrounding the predicted release of the HUMMER H4. TopSpeed reports the H4 will be available in 2 door or 4 door configurations, and offer a 3.7L or 4.2L engine. We think their claim that the HUMMER H4 will be released in 2009 as a 2010 model is a bit lofty – but we’ll wait to pass judgment once we know more. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: HUMMER says the sketches are nothing that they have produced and this is the first time they’ve seen them. The rumored configurations are “purely speculation” according to HUMMER, citing that the 3.7L in-line 5 currently in the H3 won’t even fit in the HX concept, which, though unofficial, is expected to be the precursor to the HUMMER H4.
At a time when General Motors is preaching about ‘going green’ you don’t except one of the Vice Presidents of the company to say that global warming is a crock. The always outspoken Bob Lutz has once again undoubtedly sent the PR crew at General Motors into a frenzy after comments he made at a lunch in the DFW area with Dallas-based D Magazine: Global warming is a “total crock of ****.”
So why then is GM motivated to go green, and have all HUMMER’s run on biofuels by 2010? While not responding to HUMMERs in particular, Lutz made his viewpoint on global warming known: “I’m a skeptic, not a denier. Having said that, my opinion doesn’t matter…I’m motivated more by the desire to replace imported oil than by the CO2 (argument).”
The reduction of foreign oil is top of mind for this ex-marine turned GM top dog – I wonder what the official response will be? We’ll let you know!
Source: D Magazine, via AutoBlogGreen
February 13, 2008
Cars.com is putting together all their knowledge from test drives, reviews, etc. to award this years Lifestyle Awards. The awards are designed to recognize the best vehicles in certain categories and that best suit individual needs of consumers. Under the ‘Play Car’ category, the “Best Car for Off Roaders” was awarded to the 2008 HUMMER H2.
“For 2008, the H2’s engine jumps from 6.0 to 6.2 liters for more rock-crawling, environmentalist-outraging power, and the redone interior fixes the model’s greatest, longest-standing shortcoming, meaning this model is now more complete than ever.”
The HUMMER H2 didn’t take the top spot in the ‘Play Car’ category. That award went to the BMW 325i convertible. Apples to oranges you say? I agree. But the H2 getting an award for something positive – we’ll take it!
We can’t blame FourWheeler.com for stretching out their time with the project HUMMER H3 Alpha they received courtesy of General Motors, but we can request they put their foot into the V8’s accelerator. Update number three comes as the FourWheeler takes the Alpha to an outside paint shop, as described in previous updates. By our calculations that means that prior to dropping it off, the biggest modification made in the project’s first two months was adding the FourWheeler.com bumper sticker on the rear window. Yet, we have faith – there is visual proof now that actual work is being done to the HUMMER! We’re excited to see the new flat-red paint job and the new body accessories that are in store for this Alpha. Check out the latest at FourWheeler.com’s project blog.
February 12, 2008
New info is out on the HUMMER H3 Championship Edition, which we previewed at the Detroit Auto Show and the Chicago Auto Show. We didn’t expect several of the options to be standard, but we were wrong. The rocker panel protection, underbody shield, brush guard will all be standard. The visual enhancements like painted brake calipers and hood decal are standard as well. HUMMER’s official take on the under $40k, V8, H3 Championship is below: (more…)
February 11, 2008
This Valentine’s day HUMMER enthusiasts will have a chance to spend an hour with lead exterior designer for HUMMER Carl Zipfel. GMnext.com is hosting a live chat from 2-3 EST, and it’s open to anyone who registers. Don’t know what to ask him about? I’d go for these topics:
1) His back-yard off-road paradise
2) HUMMER HX Design
3) HUMMER H3T Design
4) Biggest challenge designing HUMMER brand
5) Favorite HUMMER of all time
6) Favorite vehicle of all time
7) Favorite HUMMER news blog…
That should get you started! Here are the stats:
DAY: Thursday, February 14th (Valentines day!)
TIME: 2 - 3 pm Eastern Time
LINK: http://www.gmnext.com/LiveChat.aspx
Later this year, HUMMER will produce their first true-silver colored H2 called the Silver Ice Limited Edition. The H2 has been available in Pewter and Graystone metallic, but never a brilliant silver color. We’ve done a few custom silver H2s at our location, and now HUMMER is getting in on the action — we don’t blame them! Silver has been extremely popular for all automobiles in recent years, we’re just wondering what took so long! If I were a betting man (that only happens around SEMA time…), I’d bet this limited edition sells faster than any previous H2 – even faster than even the return of the Victory Red H2 in 2007. If you want one of the few produced – you should probably act sooner rather than later. HUMMER’s official take and options on the Silver Ice Limited Edition H2 are below: (more…)
February 9, 2008
In a recent Automotive News article outgoing president of the HUMMER Dealer Advisory Board president Joe Serra led on that production of a HUMMER H4 is imminent. We don’t want to speculate too far, but check out his quote below – tell me what you think. (more…)
February 8, 2008
Luck was on my side this week when I was able to fly in and out of Chicago without so much as a delay – considering over 1200 flights were canceled out of O’Hare and Midway due to hazardous weather. The purpose for my windy city trip was to attend the 2008 Chicago Auto Show press preview, as a guest of General Motors. This gave me a chance to see the HUMMER H3T before the show opens to the public today.
“It’s the ideal combination…all the capabilities of a HUMMER combined with all the flexibility and usability that you get with a pickup,” said HUMMER general manager Martin Walsh as we overlooked the H3T. With a 10.2 inch ground clearance when equipped with the optional 33 inch tires, the H3T will have the best ground clearance of any HUMMER vehicle currently being produced. From the driver’s seat forward, the H3T is the same as the H3 SUV, so the approach angle has stayed the same. HUMMER was also able to maintain the departure angle by moving the rear wheels as far back as possible. “We lengthened the wheelbase 22inches over the SUV,” said Walsh, who also pointed out that during the reconfiguring for the H3T, they were able to make the changes without infringing on any of the interior comfort in the second row.
Another key to the HUMMER H3T is its versatility with multiple configurations built in. “This vehicle was designed from the beginning to be able to accommodate a lot of different needs of consumers,” said Walsh. They started with the standard bed liner, which also includes an aluminum rail along three sides. “That rail is designed to accommodate literally hundreds of accessories.” HUMMER teamed up with several aftermarket accessory providers to produce officially licensed accessories for the H3T, a first for the brand, who normally utilizes in-house engineering. The sheer number of accessories HUMMER desired for the H3T necessitated some ‘engineering outsourcing’ to product experts — a first for HUMMER.
The H3T is expected to bring in another class of HUMMER buyers. Walsh expects the key demographic for the H3T to be a little younger and less affluent than the current HUMMER buyer, but with a household income of $90,000, that expected customer is still a pretty affluent. The number of H3T sales expected is being kept under wraps, but since it will be produced in the same facility as the H3 SUV, production of either H3 model can be adjusted as demand requires.
Time will tell how successful HUMMER’s first real pickup truck is, but I’m pretty certain this will be a hit – especially in markets like Florida, Texas, and California, where 50% of all pickup trucks are sold.
February 5, 2008
In between severe early morning storms in Dallas, and expected evening snow showers in Chicago, I managed to touch down in the windy city this afternoon. The festivities kick off tonight when we have an opportunity to grab a drink with HUMMER Design Director Carl Zipfel, who lives the appropriate lifestyle with a dirt-bike track in his backyard. Tomorrow is a day full of press conferences and interviews, but it will also be the first time the HUMMER H3T will be shown to the press (the kind of showing that we can tell you about without shooting you afterward). More to come with interviews from HUMMER’s top dogs, and maybe a spare detail on the H3T that slipped through the press release!
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