Hummer is a brand of off-road vehicles sold by General Motors, also known as GM. The H1 version was based on the military High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, or Humvee). The H2 and the H3 were introduced as smaller civilian market versions.
History
Hummers were originally built by AM General Corporation, which was formerly AMC Jeep's General Products division[1], in its South Bend, Indiana assembly plant. AM General had planned to sell a civilian version of the Hum-Vee as far back as the late 1980s. In 1990, two matching white Hum-Vees were driven from London to Beijing over the rough roads of central Soviet Union. The Hummers made the trip with ease, for they were built to drive on off-road terrain. The highlights of this journey were broadcast in the United States on ESPN. This publicity would pale in comparison to the attention that the HMMWV received for its service in Operation: Desert Storm the following year.
In 1992, AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Hum-Vee) vehicle to the public under the brand name "Hummer".
In 1998, AM General sold the brand name to General Motors, but continued to manufacture the vehicles. GM is responsible for the marketing and distribution of all Hummers produced by AM General. In the next few years, GM introduced two new homegrown models, the H2 and H3, and renamed the original vehicle H1. AM General continued to build the H1 until it was discontinued in 2006,[2] and is contracted by GM to produce the H2. The H3 is built in Shreveport, LA alongside the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups, with which it shares the GMT-355 platform (custom modified and designated GMT-345).
As of 2006, Hummer has gone international with selected importers and distributors in Europe and other markets.
Since October 10, 2006, GM has been producing the Hummer H3 at its Port Elizabeth plant in South Africa for international markets.[3] Hummers at the Port Elizabeth plant are built both for local South African consumption and exported to Australia in the 2008 model year. In Europe, the Middle East, and Japan, the H3 is also already available. As of October 2006, Hummer vehicles are marketed by about 300 dealers in 34 countries. 173 of those are in the U.S.
The H2 is also assembled in Kaliningrad, Russia, by Avtotor, starting in June 2004. The plant produces a few hundred vehicles annually, and its output is limited to local consumption (five dealers in Russia initially).
GM CEO Rick Wagoner has said the Hummer brand of trucks will run on Biofuel Powertrains at last year's[clarify] Los Angeles International Auto Show.
The future of the Hummer brand is in doubt. On Tuesday 3 June 2008, one day prior to GM's annual shareholder meeting, CEO Rick Wagoner said the brand is being reviewed, and has the possibility of either being sold, having the production line completely redesigned, or being discontinued. [4] This is due to the decreasing demand for large SUVs as a result of higher oil prices. Almost immediately after the announcement, a pair of Indian automakers, one of them Mahindra & Mahindra, have expressed interest in purchasing all or part of Hummer.[5]
As of August 2008, Hummer is the only brand in the United States whose entire model range lineup comes standard with a low-range transfer case, relatively high-ground clearance, and off-road tires. Additionally, no two-wheel drive Hummers are offered at this time.
Team Hummer Racing was created in 1993 and showcases the Hummer's abilities. Led by off-road racing legend Rod Hall, Team HUMMER competes in the Stock classes of both BitD and SCORE, which feature production-based vehicles with stock frames, stock suspension designs and production-based engines. Only specialized racing shock absorbers, tires and other minor modifications are allowed, along with the required supporting components and mandatory safety equipment. Minor modifications are allowed to the powertrain, although the rules stipulate it must be based on the stock engine and transmission combination.
The team's latest victories came in April 2008, when Team HUMMER swept the stock class races at the Terrible's Town 250..[6]
Team HUMMER has tallied one of the most impressive records in production-class racing, earning 11 class wins at the Baja 1000.
[edit] Dakar Rally
A highly modified, two-wheel drive Hummer was raced by Robby Gordon in the 2006 and 2007 (8th place) Dakar Rally.
Hummer H1 compared with HMMWV
The Hummer H1 is basically a HMMWV built for civilian use; it has no armor or weapons fittings. However the powertrain, chassis, body, suspension, etc., are the same. The H1 differs from the HMMWV in having a civilian interior, including trim, comfortable seats, stereo radio, and air conditioning as standard options. As a result of its commercial use, features introduced in the civilian Hummer have been incorporated into improved military versions. The H1's electrical system is 12-volt, with the two batteries wired in parallel. The HMMWV runs on a 24-volt system, where the two batteries are run in series.
Owner efforts
Since all Hummer vehicles have heavy-duty capabilities, they have been employed by owners for aid in large disaster situations. Hummer Owners Prepared for Emergencies (HOPE) was created by the efforts of The Hummer Club, INC. and the American Red Cross. Together, the two organizations train Hummer owners with CPR and First Aid skills, and basic off-highway skills so that they may assist victims during a disaster situation. GM paid the Red Cross $4 million to participate in the organization.[7]
Licensing
GM has been very active and effective in licensing the Hummer. Various companies have licensed the Hummer trademarks for use on colognes, flashlights, bicycles[8], shoes, coats, hats, laptops[9], clothing, CD players and other items.[10]
Starting in the early Nineties, when AM General started selling to the civilian market, Hummers began making appearances in the Film and Television industry. Some earlier and noticeable appearances include seaQuest DSV which used the Hummer H1 in place of Humvees, and Earth 2 which featured a large, "solar-powered" Hummer Concept truck as their main mode of conveyance. More recently noticeable appearances include CSI:Miami, being driven by the chief of the crime lab Lt. Horatio Caine (played by David Caruso) and in the 2007 Transformers movie the Autobot known as Ratchet transforms into a search and rescue Hummer H2.
Criticisms
Criticism of Hummers includes all the criticism of SUVs in general, although at a higher degree. See Criticism of sport utility vehicles.
Specific extra criticisms of Hummers include:
Poor fuel economy
Even compared to other heavy passenger vehicles, Hummers have poor fuel economy. Because the H2 is built to the over-8500-lb GVW class, its fuel economy is neither published by the EPA nor counted toward Corporate Average Fuel Economy.[11] For instance, H2 in one engine configuration averages about 14 mpg (US) (17 L/100 km/17 mpg imp) on highways, 10 mpg (US) (24 L/100 km/12 mpg imp) in the city, and has a curb weight of over 6,000 lb (2,700 kg), making it technically illegal for use on some streets.[12]
Safety
Crash data for Hummers is less complete than for other SUVs. Because of its weight, it takes longer and further to stop in emergency braking situations. As a Class 3 truck, Hummers are exempt from many DOT safety regulations.[13] The H1 lacks standard safety features, including child safety locks, child seat tethers, side air bags and stability control. Large blind spots make parking difficult and possibly dangerous.[13]
Size
Some Hummers are significantly bigger than other SUVs; this can cause problems parking, driving and fitting in a garage.[14]
Safety and ecology
Safety and ecological perceptions from other road users has attracted a lot of criticism.[15][16] The Hummer (usually the H2) has been singled out and attacked as a symbol of ecological irresponsibility, sometimes using violent means.[17][18][19]
Review of the brand
GM undertook a "strategic review" of the Hummer brand which could have involved revamping the product line or selling the brand. [20] [21] Although unlikely, it is also possible that brand could fold completely, as a result of high gas prices and environmental concerns making all large SUVs far less economically feasible and socially acceptable for many Americans.
On September 3rd, 2008, General Motors COO Fritz Henderson announced that he hoped to have the sale of the HUMMER brand complete by the end of 2008 or early 2009 at the latest.[22] These statements effectively brought the strategic review to an end.[23] At this time, GM has not announced any potential suitors, but has claimed "significant interest" in the brand. [24]
Models
There are three current and possibly two future models in the HUMMER line:
Production models
* HUMMER H1 (discontinued)
* HUMMER H2
o HUMMER H2 SUT
* HUMMER H3
o HUMMER H3T (Coming in summer 2009)
o HUMMER H3x
o HUMMER H3 Alpha
Concept vehicles
* HUMMER HX
Modified vehicles
* Hummer H6[25]
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hummer Owner Gets Angry Message
On a narrow, leafy street in Northwest Washington, where Prius hybrid cars and Volvos are the norm, one man bought a flashy gray Hummer that was too massive to fit in his garage.
So he parked the seven-foot-tall behemoth on the street in front of his house and smiled politely when his eco-friendly neighbors looked on in disapproval at his "dream car."
It lasted five days on the street before two masked men took a bat to every window, a knife to each 38-inch tire and scratched into the body: "FOR THE ENVIRON."
"The thought of somebody vandalizing it never crossed my mind," said Gareth Groves, 32, who lives with his mother in a three-story home in the 4300 block of Brandywine Street NW in American University Park. "I've kind of been in shock."
Now, as Groves ponders what to do with the remains of his $38,000 SUV, he has been the target of a number of people who have driven by the crime scene in his upscale neighborhood and glared at him in smug satisfaction.
"I'd say one in five people who come by have that 'you-got-what-you-deserve' look," said his friend Andy Sexton, 27, who is visiting from Arkansas and has been helping Groves deal with fallout from the crime.
Neighbor Lucille Liem, 37, who owns a Prius hybrid, said that a common sentiment in the neighborhood is that large vehicles are impractical and a strain on the Earth -- and Hummers in particular are a symbol of consumer excess.
"The neighborhood in general is very concerned with the environment," said Liem, whose Prius gets about 48 miles a gallon compared with the Hummer's 14 miles a gallon. "It's more liberal leaning. It's ridiculous to be driving a Hummer."
Liem added quickly that she does not condone violence.
Another neighbor, Lani Fremaux, 58, said she bought a T-shirt months ago with a picture of a Hummer and above it the word "Bummer." She wore the shirt proudly but said she is so upset with recent events on her street that she mightThe World’s Fastest Police HUMMER
July 12, 2006 Born from a military vehicle and the most prominent symbol of America's global military dominance, the HUMMER does not require more testosterone, but hey, boys will be boys. German automotive performance house Geiger specialises in American cars and outrageous one-offs, and is hence accustomed to unusual customer requests. So the request from a Texas sheriff to turn his personal emergency vehicle into the world’s fastest police HUMMER represented a special challenge and one which was approached with pride. The resultant vehicle is now bound for the U.S.A and sports a supercharged 7.0-liter engine with 700 hp (515 kW). As if that’s not enough, the black and white HUMMER H2 has a brutal torque output which peaks at 904 Nm at 4,260 rpm and surely slingshots the beastie to its electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. That should be fast enough for the sheriff to catch just about any speedster ... though we suspect few people would wish to have this sheriff on their case.
In order to lend the flashing red-blue light bar and ear-splitting siren more credence the engine specialists installed a supercharged V8 engine with an enlarged displacement of 7.0 liters in the engine bay of the HUMMER H2.
The high-performance engine was fitted with a belt-driven supercharger with generously dimensioned intercooler. The engine mods also include special pistons, a precision-balanced crankshaft and titanium piston rods. The cylinder heads of the V8 engine were re-machined for optimized gas flow and fitted with a sport camshaft and a reinforced valvetrain. A special intake system with sport air filter and a fully stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with high-performance manifolds and metal catalysts round out the conversion.
After reprogramming the engine electronics, the supercharged eight-cylinder engine delivers a maximum power output of 700 hp / 515 kW at 5,500 rpm and produces a peak torque of 904 Nm at 4,260 rpm. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a modified four-speed automatic transmission. Despite a curb weight of 3.1 tons the police HUMMER H2 7.0 Kompressor delivers sports car performance: The sprint from 0 – 100 km/h takes just 6.5 seconds, top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h.
This level of performance necessitates numerous modifications to the suspension. Immediate eye-catchers are the one-piece forged chrome king-size 10Jx28 wheels with Kumho 325/35 R 28 tires.
In addition, the H2 suspension and brakes have been replaced with more robust units and the ride height lowered by some 105 millimeters, with much firmer damper settings. Sport sway bars reduce body roll in fast corners. The high-performance brake system with 380-millimeter perforated and vented discs and eight-piston fixed calipers on the front axle delivers enormous fade-free stopping power.
After transporting the police HUMMER H2 7.0 Kompressor back to the US the vehicle will be equipped with state-of-the-art police communication technology and will then serve as the personal emergency vehicle of the county sheriff.
What kind of mileage does a HumVee get?
The HumVee H2, due to it's weight, is not required by law to disclose its actual mileage figures, but most reports are that it is around 9 mpg. The smaller H3 is 16 mpg city, 20 highway per the official EPA fuel mileage data.
There are many makes of Hummer... when referencing HumVee people usually are thinking about the commericalized H2 and not the original H1 model.
Fuel Stats (in mpg):
2004 H1, 6.5L V8 base model, diesel
13 city 17 hwy... real milage much lower
2005 H2, 6L V8 base model
10 city 13 hwy... have heard actual around 9.5
2006 H3, 3.5L 5cyl base, regular
16 city 20 hwy
Dealers are not required to post the milage for the H1 and H2 on the window sticker due to the fact that it weighs over 6000lbs, which exempts it from governmental posting restrictions.
There are two versions, the military vehicle, and the civilian version. The recent civilian "H2" is reported to get between 14 and 17 mpg. The H1 is larger, and comes with a variety of different engines, so fuel economy varies, but is lower.
The mileage of the military version (M998 HMMWV) depends on how many missiles and guns it's carrying and whether it has an armor upgrade, and is probably not what you're asking about. It is probably in the high single digits.
There are many makes of Hummer... when referencing HumVee people usually are thinking about the commericalized H2 and not the original H1 model.
Fuel Stats (in mpg):
2004 H1, 6.5L V8 base model, diesel
13 city 17 hwy... real milage much lower
2005 H2, 6L V8 base model
10 city 13 hwy... have heard actual around 9.5
2006 H3, 3.5L 5cyl base, regular
16 city 20 hwy
Dealers are not required to post the milage for the H1 and H2 on the window sticker due to the fact that it weighs over 6000lbs, which exempts it from governmental posting restrictions.
There are two versions, the military vehicle, and the civilian version. The recent civilian "H2" is reported to get between 14 and 17 mpg. The H1 is larger, and comes with a variety of different engines, so fuel economy varies, but is lower.
The mileage of the military version (M998 HMMWV) depends on how many missiles and guns it's carrying and whether it has an armor upgrade, and is probably not what you're asking about. It is probably in the high single digits.
What kind of mileage does a HumVee get?
The HumVee H2, due to it's weight, is not required by law to disclose its actual mileage figures, but most reports are that it is around 9 mpg. The smaller H3 is 16 mpg city, 20 highway per the official EPA fuel mileage data.
There are many makes of Hummer... when referencing HumVee people usually are thinking about the commericalized H2 and not the original H1 model.
Fuel Stats (in mpg):
2004 H1, 6.5L V8 base model, diesel
13 city 17 hwy... real milage much lower
2005 H2, 6L V8 base model
10 city 13 hwy... have heard actual around 9.5
2006 H3, 3.5L 5cyl base, regular
16 city 20 hwy
Dealers are not required to post the milage for the H1 and H2 on the window sticker due to the fact that it weighs over 6000lbs, which exempts it from governmental posting restrictions.
There are two versions, the military vehicle, and the civilian version. The recent civilian "H2" is reported to get between 14 and 17 mpg. The H1 is larger, and comes with a variety of different engines, so fuel economy varies, but is lower.
The mileage of the military version (M998 HMMWV) depends on how many missiles and guns it's carrying and whether it has an armor upgrade, and is probably not what you're asking about. It is probably in the high single digits.
There are many makes of Hummer... when referencing HumVee people usually are thinking about the commericalized H2 and not the original H1 model.
Fuel Stats (in mpg):
2004 H1, 6.5L V8 base model, diesel
13 city 17 hwy... real milage much lower
2005 H2, 6L V8 base model
10 city 13 hwy... have heard actual around 9.5
2006 H3, 3.5L 5cyl base, regular
16 city 20 hwy
Dealers are not required to post the milage for the H1 and H2 on the window sticker due to the fact that it weighs over 6000lbs, which exempts it from governmental posting restrictions.
There are two versions, the military vehicle, and the civilian version. The recent civilian "H2" is reported to get between 14 and 17 mpg. The H1 is larger, and comes with a variety of different engines, so fuel economy varies, but is lower.
The mileage of the military version (M998 HMMWV) depends on how many missiles and guns it's carrying and whether it has an armor upgrade, and is probably not what you're asking about. It is probably in the high single digits.
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