Last week the NFL’s second overall draft pick Chris Long got a chance to see what his new H2 (courtesy of HUMMER) could handle at HUMMER’s official driving academy. The academy is located in South Bend, IN about 20 minutes away from where the H2 and military HUMVEE are manufactured, and is used to train dealers, owner enthusiasts, and even military personnel. Check out the video below from igotshotgun for more coverage!
Every year Sewell HUMMER puts on events to help showcase the awesome off-road capabilities that most HUMMER owners may not get to experience very often. The Sewell team rented out 14,000 acres of land at Rough Creek Lodge to host the event, and participants got a treat out on the trail: a sneak peek at the new 2009 HUMMER H3T. The pickup truck version of the H3 won’t be available until later this year, but one of the few H3T demonstration models made its way to the HUMMER Happening. Below are a few more pictures from the event. (more…)
A couple weeks ago we brought you the story of HUMMER volunteers that were navigating the flood water in Indiana as part of the HOPE program. The all-volunteer organization enlists HUMMER owners and operators that are specially trained in damage assessment and relief efforts by the Red Cross. Now we have the incredible images from the 10 day operation. (Thanks, Mike!) The first 5 days were spent working out of Indianapolis delivering food, water, and other essentials to hard hit areas. After that, the crew moved camp to Vincennes, IN where they conducted damage assessments for 5 counties in Indiana and Illinois. The photos you wont see on any major news organization after the jump… (more…)
Starting today, you will be able to purchase a HUMMER H2 or H3 and pay no interest for 6 years. It’s all part of GM’s 72 hour sale, which actually runs until the end of the month (yea, we know it’s fuzzy math…). For those uninterested in financing, HUMMER has come out with some incredible cash incentives as well — $6000 on a 2008 HUMMER H2 and $7000 on a 2008 HUMMER H3. We haven’t seen incentives this good since the employee pricing days of 06 — but then again, most HUMMER customers at that time weren’t dealing with 3 digit fill-ups. No matter what gas prices are, it’s hard to argue that $7000 off a brand new H3 isn’t extremely aggressive. Contact your local dealer or use our ‘buy a HUMMER‘ page for more details.
According to Autoweek, GM has hired Citibank to assist in the strategic review of the HUMMER brand. Citibank is the consumer and corporate banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup, and will undoubtedly be the institution that will be shopping the HUMMER brand around to potential suitors. Allowing an outside bank to handle the full or partial sale gives HUMMER more time to focus on the alternative option of revamping its product portfolio. According to GM, work on present and future HUMMER models is ongoing, despite news that some future models have been put on hold.
Related Headlines:
HUMMER Speculation Continues
GM Could Avoid Sale of HUMMER with New Models
HUMMER Lets Speculation Begin
Official Word from GM Regarding HUMMER Brand Review
A couple days ago the Wall Street Journal was stirring the pot with vague statements about “killing off at least one future HUMMER SUV product.” It got our attention since the Wall Street Journal isn’t exactly known for publishing rumors. Details weren’t published immediately, presumably so they could check their statements for accuracy. After the facts were checked, this is what was published:
“Recently, GM killed plans for the next-generation H3, a relatively-fuel efficient SUV that had been popular among U.S. buyers, and shelved plans for a sporty H4 that would have competed with the Jeep Wrangler.”
Similar statements were also published on GMInsidenews.com, along with speculation that General Motors may shed another brand in addition to selling HUMMER. Reports put GMC, Buick, and Pontiac as the most likely to be put on the chopping block. GM needed a radical turnaround plan, and it looks likes like one has been put in motion.
We haven’t heard much about the next generation H3, and we’re not sure what the life-cycle for the current H3 is either. This new info comes just a few months after it was discovered that the next generation H2 project was also canceled. With no current models being improved upon, and the only concept we know any details about being “shelved”, it looks like GM has made the decision to stop investing into something they know they’re selling soon. If GM is trying to build value in the brand (and increase their sales price) by pretending they still have interest in HUMMER, they’re not doing a very good job.
While sorting through the mud-slinging and random speculation from different news sources about HUMMER’s future, we came across an interesting tidbit in The Wall Street Journal. When the second largest newspaper in the United States says that General Motors has “discussed killing off at least one future Hummer SUV product,” we pay attention.
First I thought, “Oh, they must have just heard about the next generation H2 being put on hold,” old-news and no big deal. Then, after contacting The Wall Street Journal, I was told that it had nothing to do with the H2, but rather the H3. WSJ’s source claims that suppliers were told today that would be no new H3 despite plans for a new one. THEN I thought, “could it be the H3t?” So here’s the scoop: (more…)
After the announcement that GM is conducting a strategic review of the HUMMER brand, rumors about the future of the rugged brand have been swirling. The number one question I’ve been asked by those outside the automotive industry has been, “are they really going to discontinue HUMMER?” The high frequency of that question is somewhat frustrating since that option has never even been mentioned by General Motors or anyone at HUMMER. Options for HUMMER include a revamp of the model lineup, and a full or partial sale of the brand. Much to the chagrin of the HUMMER-haters, simply dissolving the brand won’t happen – but that hasn’t stopped some media-types from announcing an end to all things HUMMER.
The option of selling the brand remains a “strong option” according to GM’s CEO and President Fritz Henderson while speaking in China. According to Edmund’s Inside Line, Henderson also noted that “if any Chinese companies are interested in buying Hummer, it will be certainly an option for us to look at. We need to be open to all ideas.” Lately, it seems like the focus has switched from India’s Tata brand to cross-country-rival Mahindra & Mahindra, as well as Chinese companies like GM’s partner Shanghai Auto.
At the end of the day, we still don’t know anything definitive about the HUMMER brand. What we do know is that HUMMER has indicated its goal is to keep the strategic review top of mind completed in a timely fashion. Of course, what’s timely to a corporate giant may not be timely to you and I.
Heavy rains in the Midwest have caused major flooding in several states, including Indiana, where the military HUMVEE and HUMMER H2 are made. Four workers from AM General, the company that builds both vehicles, volunteered their capable trucks to aid emergency workers in some of the toughest hit areas. The HUMMERs allowed the drivers, also trained as Red Cross volunteers, to reach areas that were impassable with any other SUV. According to the volunteers, the group crossed several rivers where bridges had been washed out to deliver to group of stranded homeowners. Check out HUMMER’s commercial below that features the HUMMER HOPE program.
UPDATE: An H3T will be on display again 7/2/08 through 7/7/08 - come check it out!
This Friday, the crew at Sewell HUMMER of Dallas will have one of the very few pre-production HUMMER H3Ts on their showroom floor for the public to view. If you missed it at the Dallas Auto Show, this is your opportunity. The H3T can be seen from 3:30pm to 7pm on Friday, and between 8am and 10am Saturday. After this appearance, the H3T probably won’t be seen in Dallas until October – don’t miss it!
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