October 31, 2008
The editorial team at Popular Mechanics tested over 100 vehicles and logged over 100,000 miles in order to name their top ten categorized picks for the 2009 automotive model year. The 2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha took the top prize for “Off-Road Ability” in this year’s Automotive Excellence Awards.
“Our Automotive Excellence Awards honor the newest cars and trucks in the industry today,” said James Meigs, editor-in-chief, Popular Mechanics. “Our automotive team spends months with hands-on testing and research before honoring vehicles with our award. This year we are proud to recognize the ten best and brightest vehicles ever produced.”
Here’s what the Popular Mechanics team had to say about the H3T:
When we first heard that Hummer’s new H3T comes with the option of Eaton electronic locking differentials in each axle, we got excited. Locking differentials allow true four-wheel drive. And during a recent test in Moab, Utah, those differentials, part of the Alpha’s off-road package, really proved their worth. Locked in 4×4 low, we slowly made our way through a stony maze of crumbly sandstone vertical drops and steep climbs. Thanks to the Hummer’s stout drivetrain, the whole experience was surprisingly effortless. But there are plenty of features that make this truck a versatile tool on pavement, too. The 5-ft-long bed has 35.7 cu ft of cargo volume. And thanks to the Alpha’s V8 torque, the H3T can tow 5900 pounds. As capable as the H3T is in the dirt, it’s that pickup bed, roomy interior and nearly full-size-pickup-truck towing capacity that will draw in the mainstream haulers. But when it’s time for some 4×4 recreation, those lockers are there if you need them.
Complete release after the jump. (more…)
Wouldn’t it be nice if you happened to buy a HUMMER limo at an auction for around $85,000 only to find out there’s 10 times that amount in cash hidden in the seats? The owners of one limo weren’t so lucky, since narcotics detectives in Atlanta were tipped off to the $875,000 stashed in the vehicle before the owners even had a clue.
The limo had belonged to a group called the Black Mafia Family, and had been left the HUMMER limo behind prior to a raid. Their reason? A car was blocking it in, and they couldn’t find the keys. For nearly a million dollars, don’t you think you may have figured out a way to move it?
Perhaps there wasn’t time before authorities arrived, but there was plenty of time before the loot was discovered. The limo had changed hands several times before ending up with an Atlanta limo company shuttling high school seniors to proms.
Seven brand new semi-automatic weapons were also found in addition to the cash.
Source: AJC.com
October 30, 2008
In just a few weeks Team HUMMER will compete in the most famous off-road race in the world, the Baja 1000. As the final race in this year’s SCORE International racing season, it will also set the scene for Team HUMMER’s attempt to win the overall season’s points championship in both stock mini and stock full class.
Amazingly, this will be team owner and patriarch Rod Hall’s 41st running of the Baja 1000, and Hall remains the only car or truck driver to compete every year since the race started in 1967.
More on Rod Hall Racing and Team HUMMER as they prepare for the Baja 1000 in the next few weeks – full release after the jump. (more…)
Contrary to the inverse relationship that fuel costs and HUMMER sales had earlier in the year, the sudden dramatic drop in gas prices has not produced a dramatic rise in HUMMER sales.
This past weekend, we were down in San Antonio and were able to fill up an H2 at 2.09 a gallon – the lowest fuel prices we’ve seen in years! That’s even significantly lower than the $2.50 average here in Dallas. But so far, the HUMMER dealership in San Antonio isn’t seeing any significant rise in sales on account of those lower prices according to a local HUMMER sales manager who spoke to WOAI News Radio.
“We’re not seeing a correlation between lower gas prices and Hummer sales. Things are still slower because we’re selling a high end luxury vehicle that cost anywhere between $30,000 and $60,000. Slower sales are really more to do with the economy.”
Perhaps he’s right – but with this change in fuel prices happening only recently, we think it’s too early to count-out a measurable increase. With that said, with current Chrysler/General Motors merger talks, HUMMER’s uncertain future, and stock market uneasiness not seen in years, it’s tough to pinpoint any single reason why HUMMER sales have been dismal compared to years past.
Source: WOAI, San Antonio
October 29, 2008
Our friends at PickupTrucks.com recently tracked down the first person in the country to take delivery of the new HUMMER H3T pickup. As it turns out, that person was Kevin Hern who purchased the H3T for his business from a dealership in Oklahoma.
The truck is the 8th HUMMER Hern has purchased for marketing his sports-magazine website. Outside of the business, it will provide his family with a capable vehicle for an occasional off-road adventure.
“I’m impressed with how smooth the truck rides, with its longer wheelbase, compared to the other H3s I own,” Hern said. “And the fuel economy hasn’t been that bad either. I’ve averaged over 17 miles per gallon on the highway, so far.”
Source: PickupTrucks.com
October 24, 2008
When the Colbert Report contacts the national HUMMER Club about attending an event, you know that every stereotype will be exploited for comedic relief. That’s what happened on last night’s show when Colbert described the HUMMER club as, “a group of HUMMER conservationists out to preserve this great symbol,” in the face of all our nation’s current problems.
In addition to the HUMMER Club, fellow auto-blogger Ray Wert from Jalopnik was also featured as an ‘expert.’
If you’re going to be a HUMMER brand supporter, you have to be able to take a joke once in a while – so for better or for worse, here’s the clip from last night’s show:
October 22, 2008
Unfortunately, this will be the first time in years that we haven’t been able to attend the SEMA show in person. For those of you not familiar, the SEMA show is the automotive after-market’s largest exhibition that takes place in Las Vegas and showcases the latest and greatest in vehicle customization. HUMMER will be showcasing three custom vehicles at the 2008 show in the General Motors booth.
“HUMMER has always been about unmatched capability and that’s exactly what these concept vehicles deliver,” said James Taylor, HUMMER’s newly appointed CEO. “More importantly, they are based in reality with mostly bolt-on components attainable by any enthusiast who wants them. In other words, they are more than concepts, they’re thought starters for enthusiasts who want to express themselves via their H3 or H3T.” Check uot more photos and info after the jump. (more…)
October 16, 2008
On Thursday, General Motors officially entered its next stage of HUMMER’s strategic review process, which is exploring the option of a sale. Over the next few weeks, HUMMER will distribute materials to appropriate parties that are considering purchasing the brand.
This part of the process will heavily involve Citibank, the investment bank that is helping HUMMER shop the brand among global investors.
Related Headlines:
GM Hires Citibank to Assist in HUMMER Strategic Review
HUMMER Speculation Continues
GM Could Avoid Sale of HUMMER with New Models
HUMMER Lets Speculation Begin
Official Word from GM Regarding HUMMER Brand Review
Art can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but in London, artist Matthew Harrison wanted his work to be ‘Like Nothing Else.’ The HUMMER H3 has been equipped with real wooden wagon wheels to “create a sculpture that is a mixture of art, engineering and motoring.” Forget the low-pros, bring on the no-pros!
(more…)
Even though Autoblog’s newest head-to-head challenge between a HUMMER H2 and a Toyota Landcruiser described the HUMMER as “the off-roader for idiots,” it was still a relatively unbiased and fair article. Autoblog even got an outside writer and photographer from a major ‘buff book’ that had not been favorable to HUMMERs in the past. The Truth About Cars, a website that consistently contradicts its very name, suggested that Autoblog had been paid off by HUMMER for the review, and asserted that the Landcruiser is a better rock-crawler than a HUMMER H2.
First, HUMMER and Toyota provided media test vehicles and insurance to Autoblog which is an extremely common practice among all manufacturers. Nothing more. Second, I’m curious as to why TTAC would suggest that the Landcruiser is a better rock crawler than the H2. Do they have experience off-roading in either one? We haven’t spent much time rock-climbing in a Landcruiser, but we’d be happy to if Toyota would support it (we’d even disclose it to keep TTAC happy!). However, given the Toyota’s much smaller approach and departure angles, street-oriented tires, squishy suspension, and non-fully-boxed frame, we suspect that a stock Landcruiser wouldn’t keep up with the stock H2 pictured.
Be sure to read the comments section to see the full story.
You stay classy, TTAC.
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