The Standard Taxi would be the first purpose-built taxi since the Checker Marathon, and the design offers some advantageous features. The strange-looking vehicle has easily replaceable body panels for simple maintenance in the urban environment. The low-floor configuration means it'll take wheelchairs and scooters, so the cab should also see use as a paratransit vehicle. And, most importantly, the cab can hold four passengers as well as an heiress-level of luggage. Expect a new, less awkward design for the production version.

Newsletter Announcement

We are very proud to announce that we have teamed up with AM General LLC to build our vehicles. AM General® is located in South Bend, Indiana, where it has manufactured the HUMVEE® (High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle) for the military since 1985. AM General's product heritage includes the venerable HUMMER® H1 and they currently assemble the HUMMER H2 which is marketed by General Motors Corporation. Our vehicle production is scheduled to begin in 2009.

Quality and Performance! Our groundbreaking agreement with AM General will benefit owners, operators, drivers, and the riding public. We looked at several manufacturing possibilities over the past year and we chose AM General because of its excellence in building vehicles and its vast experience in procuring parts and vehicle components, engineering and validation processes, service parts logistics, maintenance planning, warranty service and administration, and launch of production vehicles. More details to come in our next VPG newsletter!

[VPG Autos via Hummer Guy]

If you recall, Ratchet from the first Transformers was a tweaked Hummer H2. Could Ratchet be getting a upgrade? Or will the Hummer H3 serve as a completely new Transformer? GM might just using the black H3s because it doesn't have enough spare Hummer HX concepts for a measly movie expo. Only time will tell.

Maybe that "strategic review" of the Hummer brand meant just dumping all of the Hummer eggs into the Transformers basket. [TFW2005]

Countries raking in huge oil profits are would be the most likely destination for Hummer. Markets in Russia and Latin America continue to demand large SUVs, while China and India are potential suitors as well. At least one analyst speculated about Hummer as a logical fit for Tata Motors. "It would be a great fit with Land Rover," said Rajesh Kothari, a partner with investment banker Seneca Partners LLC and Manchester Holdings. "Hummer is a similar product line; it has similar demographics but a different reach." While the combination of Tatas and a Hummer make perfect sense to us, a spokesperson from the Indian automaker declined to comment.
[Freep; Photo Credit: GraniteGrok.com]

Most of Phelan's arguments center around the drawbacks of shutting Hummer down. Thing is, shuttering the brand has always seemed the least-likely scenario. Instead, GM would be better off selling the brand to an outside investor or automaker who could then supply Hummer products to the markets that demanded them — including the U.S., should they choose to do so. Hummer dealers would mostly remain intact, owners would retain parts and service availability, and the General could post a nice chunk of cash to its books while ridding itself of a brand liability and excess manufacturing capacity. What's not to like here?

It will automatically adjust the volume depending on the surrounding road noise. This means when that big ass diesel truck rolls up next to you at a stop light, the headset will increase in volume to compensate for the loud noise. It also includes the usual array of noise-reduction and echo-cancellation technology for clearer sound for the person on the receiving end of your phone conversation. The H620 will be available later this year for an undisclosed price. Are you reading this, you convertible-loving, Californians?

[Source: Motorola]

To his credit, McCartney apparently wasn't aware that this was how it was going to get there and will be "horrified" as soon as he finds out. Even the company that provided the freight handling of the car was surprised, saying "Everyone was shocked. The carbon footprint was enormous." This goes to show, everything with Paul McCartney is better when Wings aren't involved. (h/t to Jack K)) [Telegraph]

Shelby Mustang Auction Information

PARK RIDGE, NJ - 05/01/08 - The Hertz Corporation is proud to announce that it has contracted with Kruse International and Dyno Marketing on an exclusive basis to manage the public auctioning of Hertz's inventory of its Limited Edition 2007 Hertz SHELBY GT-H MUSTANGS. A strictly limited run of 500 2007 GT-H Convertible Mustangs were produced by Carroll Shelby exclusively for Hertz. Hertz will launch this program by offering 75-100 Limited Edition 2007 Hertz SHELBY GT-H MUSTANGS at Kruse's 17th Annual Auburn Spring Motorfair to be held on May 29 - June 1, 2008 at the 480 acre Kruse Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana.

According to David Stolt, Hertz's Senior Director of Car Sales Operations, "Hertz offered 40 Mustang GT-Hs for sale at the 2008 Kruse / Dyno Marketing Race Car & Sports Car Auction this past January in Concord, NC. The demand was overwhelming and all of the cars were sold. Kruse International and Dyno Marketing did a fantastic job and Hertz has decided to expand the program and launch a major Shelby Mustang GT-H Convertible sale at the famous Kruse Auburn Spring Motorfair this May." Stolt also said that "Hertz commissioned only 500 of the Shelby Mustang GT-H Convertibles and they are an extremely popular but hard to find vehicle in the Hertz Fun Collection. Therefore, we handle countless inquiries from renters and collectors who want to own that car. Shelby Mustang GT-H Convertibles are rarely available for purchase by the public and Hertz believes that its relationship with Kruse International and Dyno Marketing will provide Shelby GT-H enthusiasts with a fair chance to buy one." It was also noted that the buyers of the Shelby GT-Hs will be provided with all ownership documentation and membership in the official Shelby Registry.

"Kruse International is the largest collector car auction company in the world and we are very pleased that Hertz has chosen to work with us and Dyno Marketing again to offer these wonderful, truly limited edition collector cars for sale to the public" said Dean Kruse, President of Kruse International. "We believe that as many of the Shelby Mustang GT-H Convertibles as possible should be gathered for sale at the same time so that potential buyers and fans will have a great experience. Bidders will also be able to bid live online during the auction. If you have ever wanted to own one of these rare "instant classics" you MUST attend!" The 17th Annual Auburn Spring Motorfair is one of the premier annual auction events, featuring 1,000 outstanding collector cars in the Auction, swap meet, and car corral. This event is held at the 480 acre Kruse Auction Park on May 29 - June 1, 2008 and is fun for the whole family. For additional information concerning the auctioning of the 2007 Hertz Shelby GT-H Convertibles, including how to register to bid, please contact Malinda Blue-Barfield at (800) 968-4444 x 242.

[Source: Kruse]

OLAFUR ELIASSON - YOUR MOBILE EXPECTATIONS: BMW H2R PROJECT

Munich. At his only museum exhibition in Germany this year, the Danish-Icelandic
artist Olafur Eliasson (*1967) will present his project developed over the
past three years and entitled »Your mobile expectations: BMW H2R
project« at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

The final version of the 16th BMW Art Car, the outer shell of which Eliasson
replaces with a fragile skin of ice, will be celebrating its premiere in Munich.
This Eliasson-designed automobile, the BMW H2R, is a racing car powered
by hydrogen that has been developed to achieve speed records and at the
same time point to the future in terms of sustainable mobility.

Olafur Eliasson, whose works are currently being presented in a
comprehensive overview exhibition at the MoMA and the P.S.1 in New
York, describes the debate relating to the hydrogen powered racing car in
context with his artistic ideas:

»By bringing together art, design, social and environmental issues, I hope
to contribute to a different way of thinking-feeling-experiencing cars and
seeing them in relation to the time and space in which we live.
Fundamentally speaking, I don't believe that objects exist in isolation. They
are always part of a complex set of physical and mental relationships; they
change according to the context and depend on the user's values and
expectations. They embrace relativity and the passing of time.«

Olafur Eliasson has removed the outer covering of the H2R prototype and
replaced it with a complex skin of two reflecting layers of superimposed
metal spanning the body of the car. This shape is covered with fragile
layers of ice. Thus Eliasson transforms an object of advanced automobile
technology and industrial design into a work of art reflecting themes of
mobility, temporality, renewable energies and the relationship between car
production and global warming in a sophisticated and poetic way.
»How do we give a tangible dimension to the fact that our engagement in
the world has global consequences? How can we as consumers and
creators of reality change the trajectory of transportation? Of moving? How
can we put pressure on the car as an object?«

As a work of art located in time, Olafur Eliasson's transformation of the
H2R-automobile is a design provocation that opens up debates about the
profound impact of art and design in their contemporary social setting.
»Traditional car design has defined the car as a desirable object, a fetish
almost, and a commodity, depriving it of its relationship to its surroundings
and to time. Car design has primarily focused on the most profitable way of
facilitating and mediating physical movement. We have to challenge this,
and I think the task is to reintroduce time as the key producer of our
experiences. Reality then becomes temporal reality. This reintroduction will
give us the possibility to perceive the car and the consequences of driving
in relation to our own bodies.«

To create and conserve the car's ice coating, the vehicle is stored in a
freezer. Over a period of several days Eliasson had the car's exposed
frame sprayed with some 2000 litres of water to gradually produce the
layers of ice. This sculpture, which is in constant interplay with the room
temperature surrounding it, is around 1.5 m high, 5.25 m long and 2.5 m
wide. The mono frequency light located inside the sculpture attracts the eye
to the interspace containing the icescape which is exposed to a continuous
melting and freezing process.

In Eliasson's sculptures and atmospherically unmistakable installations one
senses not only the conditions under which they come about and the
impact of their energy but also the beauty of natural phenomena. It is it not
until they enter the perceptions of the viewer that they complement each
other.

The exhibition is curated by Corinna Rösner and Bernhart Schwenk.

Presentation: chezweitz, Berlin / Detlef Weitz, Roseapple

An exhibition in close collaboration with BMW.

Lars Müller Publishers have published a 336-page comprehensive
publication accompanying the exhibition and documenting as an integral
part of the project the many discussions, interviews and the two »Life in
Space« symposiums. Dialogue partners during the »Your mobile
expectations: BMW H2R project« include Chris Bangle, Ib Chorkendorff,
Yona, Friedmann, Jens Hjorth, Adrian van Hooydonk, Caroline A. Jones,
Bart Lootsma, Ricardo Scofidio, Peter Weibel and Sabine Zemelka.
(Price: ca. € 34,90, ISBN 978-3-03778-117-3)

[Source: BMW, Design Boom]

Coggiola, a design firm based in Turin, Italy, created the T-REX back in 2000 as a concept vehicle to display at that year's Geneva Motor Show. We're not sure what exactly they were thinking at the time, but the Italians took the chassis of a Hummer H1 and made a completely custom body and interior for it. You would think they would shoot for something dramatically stylish, but the end result looks to us like a bloated Jeep Grand Cherokee that just feasted upon a liberty. Sure, the 6.5-liter turbo-diesel engine and all the tough off-road drivetrain remains, so it does retain some function to its form. Actually, with all that interior room you could probably even live in this thing, so perhaps it's even more purposeful than before. However you feel about the T-REX, the current asking price of about $800,000 is probably enough to keep away all but the most oil-rich buyers.
[eBay Italy via CarScoop]

Then go and buy one. That's right, you can have one of your very own for a mere $54,995 according to Hertz's fleet car sales site. Mixed in with the dreck up for sale are a few of the black-n-gold rent-a-racers and we just found one out at the Santa Clara sales site. It's sitting pretty with only 12,000 miles on it and we'd totally snag it too — except we don't have $55K sitting around. Also, we just remembered how hard those 12,000 miles probably were. Like dog years, we're of the assumption that you've got to multiply rental car miles by seven to get the actual wear-and-tear number. But if you're interested, give them a call at (408) 296-1721. Maybe they'll even make you a deal and throw in some maps for free. (Hat tip to Kolby!)

Other than the dual-SIMs, the HT2 is a quad-band phone, therefore it can work just about anywhere. It also has a media player, 2-megapixel camera (for taking picture of your pristinely garaged Hummer), Bluetooth, microSD expandability and more. It will be available first in Russia and Latin America. [Giz]

"Most single men buy Hummers to impress women. The only women that a Hummer impresses are high maintaince goal diggers. Is this what you really want in your life?"

Look a little further and this is what you'll get:

If you really want to meet high quality women you need to look outside the USA. Foreign women have the qualities you want!

Why not enlist and pick up foreign women today in your Hummer?

"We started talking about what people dream about when they scratch the coin against the ticket, and almost always the first thing they dream about doing is buying a car," Was told the Providence Journal. "This is a ghost of all those dreams."

"We wanted the piece to contain the value of a Hummer," Eckstrom told the paper. "And $35,000 is also the price of the piece."

But the design does get an upgrade as we see an intelligent choice by GM to move away from the seven bar grille and that silly never-ending argument with Chrysler's Jeep division. Finally, this model purports to be the greenest Hummer yet, with an all-electric powertrain — that should get the envirocrats off of GM's back for a while, or at least reduce the number of H2 barbecues. [eBay]

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: No
Fashion Victims: Yes
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: Yes
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: Yes
Soccer Moms: Yes
Nascar Dads: Yes
Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
• Nissan Frontier
• Toyota Tundra
• Ford Explorer Sport Trac
• Chevy Silverado

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Hummer
• Model tested: H3T Alpha
• Model year: 2009
• Base Price: $N/A
• Price as Tested: $N/A
• Engine type: 5.3 Liter OHV V-8
• Horsepower: 300 @ 5,200 RPM*
• Torque: 320lb/ft @ 4,000 RPM*
• Red Line: 6,000 RPM
• Transmission: Hydra-Matic 4L60 4-Speed Automatic
• Curb Weight: 4,850 lbs
• LxWxH: 210.3" x 85.1" x 72.2"
• Wheelbase: 134.2"
• Tires: 33" 285/75 R16
• Drive type: 4WD
• 0 - 60 mph: Approx 8 seconds
• 1/4-mile: N/A seconds
• Top speed: 98 MPH
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: N/A
• NHTSA crash test rating: N/A

*Pending SAE certification

– Curtis Walker

Also see:

• 2009 Hummer H3T Alpha, Part One

• 2009 Hummer H3T Alpha, Part Two

Acceleration: ***
4.10 gears get these 2.5 tons of steel and plastic up and moving. It's not gonna blow anyone's doors off, but it does what it needs to in traffic.

Braking: ****
Big discs at each corner slow this thing down in a hurry, and the dynamic rear proportioning should keep the rubber rolling in the back regardless of load. There's no handbrake present, and that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The vehicle will automatically engage brakes if it rolls backwards for 2 seconds, but a handbrake would have felt more natural.

Ride: **
Bouncy and truckish, but this is a pre-production model, so lets hope it gets smoothed out by the time it reaches showroom floors.

Handling: ***
Given the ride height and center of gravity, this thing actually handles pretty well. The massive sway bars in the front and back help cornering a lot and the new steering gearing (16:1, 3 1/8 lock-to-lock) made parking and general driving pretty easy.

Gearbox: ****
Its 50:1 crawl ratio and 4.03 low range lock make downhill grades virtually brake free and let the 4-speed HydraMatic do all the work, keeping 2.5 tons under control. Highway shifting is silky smooth.

Audio: **
The speakers are fine and amplification is decent, but where's the iPod jack? XM is great and all, but c'mon, even Aveo's have an AUX input jack these days. It can't cost that much to implement this, so it just seems like an annoying oversight.

Toys: ***
The nav/entertainment system is nice, but throws a distracting glare into the back window. The pushbutton 4x4 controls are easy to read and conveniently located above the radio. Monochrome reverse vision seems a bit dated, but probably gives a better image in low light situations. The sunroof improves off-road visibility, especially when crawling down steep grades. OnStar and XM are nice doodads as well, at least for the free trial periods.

Value: N/A
Can't really call this one until pricing is announced, but there's bound to be a premium on the Hummer brand.

Overall: **
Probably the most complete vehicle in the Hummer range, the H3T improves on its relatives' best attributes — off-road ability and macho styling — but still suffers from the same problems - 'roid rage styling and enormous dimensions for relatively little storage space. A plain old pickup would be cheaper and more practical. Still, if you must have a Hummer, this is the one to get.

– Curtis Walker

Also see:

• 2009 Hummer H3T Alpha, Part One

It's jolaszek, who considered Part One of the Hummer H3T Alpha review and, after studying the pics, dropped this choice piece of...well, you know:

Gawldamn, that thing's got more rear overhang than Liza Minelli.

Ooof! Bonus point for the creative backwoods patois spelling of the cuss word.

Photo: AP

Getting a chance to off-road a Hummer is a special treat, and doing it in on the "Hell's Revenge" trail in Moab, UT is nothing short of heaven. The trail is noted for its diverse conditions including slickrock, sand, dramatic inclines and tilts and is rated a 4 out of 4 for difficulty. Getting there was half the fun, as our route took us down the winding Utah State Highway 128 that hugs the Colorado River through Castle Valley.

This is the Alpha version, which means it's outfitted with the 300HP, 5.3-liter V8, instead of the inline-five on the base model. The wheels are 16" split rims with 33" BF Goodrich tires for extra off-road capability. Leather seats, body match painted grille, sunroof, roof lights, reverse cam, nav system and power everything round out the options package. Protective plates are fitted underneath the truck to help keep the most vulnerable parts intact. Offered as a standard package, the four shields protect the front, oil pan, transfer case and fuel tank.

The really surprising thing about the H3T is its innate ability to tackle off-road trails. Despite its Hot Wheels looks, it's actually a completely capable vehicle off-road, even with its relatively long wheelbase. When put into Crawl Mode the holding power of the gears and engine braking are enough to keep the vehicle under control on grades up to 60%. The limited-slip differentials negated the need to lock the differentials on all but the toughest of obstacles. The 4.10 final drive ratio provides plenty of get up and go, too. Ground clearance was adequate, but the frame took more than a few good knocks during the day. During an obstacle called Hell's Gate, the truck wound up losing footing and tipping the passenger side into the cliff face, but the tires kept any of the side panels from getting damaged and allowed the Hummer to climb right out of the hole.

On the highway, acceleration is healthy. Driving on 128, along the Colorado River, the H3T felt a lot like a truck. I could feel the tar snakes and bumps in the uneven pavement. Because of the height of the driving position, 60 mph feels more like 45, even with the bouncy ride. The cabin is well-insulated from road noise. The windshield is far enough away to almost give the impression of watching a flat panel TV. Finding reference points for correct lane placement took a few minutes, as in any new car, but I never did get quite comfortable enough to loosen up on my concentration on a two-lane highway. The feeling of dissociation probably fades as one racks up the miles, but there definitely seems to be a learning curve.

On the inside, there weren't any rattles, on or off the highway. The doors are solid and heavy, and do their part to eat road noise. The leather, heated, power, tilt bucket seats are nothing short of awesome. Absolutely comfortable and luxurious, but also practical and solid. Control positioning is all within reach and placed where one would expect to find things on a domestic car. The dash lighting scheme has a bit of thought behind it, and it looks great behind the analog/digital combo instrument panel. Fortunately, the design team toned down the chrome to a subtle brushed-aluminum flashing on the entertainment and climate control portion of the dash. One problem with the placement of the entertainment/nav system is that it creates a distracting reflection in the flat glass of the rear window, making rear view mirror use a bit tough at night. Fortunately, there's a rear vision system with camera built into the bumper and screen built into the rear view mirror. Which at least helps when you're reversing around a parking lot.

The results speak for themselves: after a day of abuse from novice and amateur alike, there wasn't much battle damage and nothing broke. Apart from some scuffed underbelly armor, chaffed tires and a bucket or two of dust, the Hummer looked like it'd just come back from the grocery store.

– Curtis Walker

The lads and ladettes over at Hummer UK are all about the crazy marketing stunts, having put the first H3 imported into the tiny island nation into a gigantic toy box. This R/C conversion was carried about by Cranfield Universty and continues the Big Boy's Toy marketing theme. It's interesting to see the vehicle being marketing solely on its recreational image, but the company does note that a diesel H3 will be available "within three years."

Initially, GM was planning a next generation Hummer H2 model built on the GMT-900 chassis for sometime in 2010. Internally, it was referred to as "GMT915." It was the next-gen chassis for the vehicle that GM has now decided to do away with.

The plans now call for the H2 to remain on the GMT-800 chassis, with significant refresh coming sometime between the latter half of 2010 and the first half of 2011. At this point, the H2 will be allowed to run its course and then die. That would put the H2 ending sometime around 2014.

So while the H2 is still going away eventually, our first story was off by a couple of years. We apologize. Serves you right for listening to a blog on "news" stuff anyway. Fercrissakes, we have a feature here called "Hoon of the Day."

While we can think of a few reasons for the demise of the Hummer H2, one reason is greater than the rest — CAFE. Up until recently, the H2 had been exempt from Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards due to it's gross vehicle weight rating. Vehicles above a 8,500 lb. GVW rating did not have to comply with CAFE. The H2's GVW came in at a convenient 8,600 lbs. Just hulking enough to miss the Federal fuel economy misers. However, with the new standards passed by Congress at the end of 2007, the H2 would fall under the CAFE umbrella by 2011. No official fuel economy number have ever been released on the H2, but most reviewers have observed an average somewhere between 12 MPG and 9 MPG. That means continued production of the H2 would've taken a huge, wet, 87-octane bite out of GM's CAFE pie that no number of Aveos sold could fill.

Past its fuel economy woes — or likely because of them — the H2 wasn't exactly flying off dealer lots as of late. Only 12,431 people decided they couldn't live without an H2 in 2007, a sales figure 27.3% lower than the heady, fuel-friendly days of 2006.

The H2 was also the only vehicle left still being built on the General's ol' and busted GMT-800 chassis. With all the other large GM SUVs and trucks now on the newer GMT-900 chassis, the idea of spending money on the older platform may have quickly fallen out of favor with "Slick" Rick Wagoner and "Maximum" Bob Lutz.

With the FUH2.com website now irrelevant, we'd like to suggest a new site — one where we could all wave goodbye to the H2 instead of giving it "the bird." Excuse us while we go register CUH2.com.

This novelty comes in the H2 variant of the Hummer and is available for $24, in packs of a dozen—just in case the first five or ten don't get quite huge enough for you. [Grow Hummer via neatorama]

We're still able to identify this as none other than the next generation of Prevost's H series bus! (Where else would you get pictures and information like this?)

And as buses go, this has to be one of the most technological commuters on the road today - imagine separate climate controls for each and every passenger, fire suppression systems and all the "normal' things such as electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring system and - of course - a state-of-the-art GPS system!

And just take a look at the massive Goodyear tires - 365/70R/22.5!

Photo Credit: Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Company

Included with Corgi is a refueling station. Fill up the station with water and it will split H2O into H and O and fill up the RC car with the H. The station is completely solar-powered, as well. Oh, and see that button of the left side of the remote? Yeah, it's a turbo button. Let's see you do that, FCX Clarity. The H2GO is available for $250. [Corgi via Giz]

If the car ever does make it to export to the United States, the price will likely come down (original estimates were around $25,000 a pop). A cheap, Brazilian made sports car? Why not? [Lobini via World Car Fans]

Curiously, Mark forgets his magazine landed not only in subscribers hands, but also on newsstands ten days early. But his warm and folksy explanation for it (something about two people giving it to two people who gave it to two people who had nothing to do with two people buying it at newsstands on diametrically opposite sides of the country) leaves us feeling like he's just a simple country boy who doesn't understand the series of tubes that are the interwebs. But that lack-of-understanding falls as flat as his attempt to pivot Truck Trend into the populist position of "little guy" to the blogosphere's "big boys" (Dude, you're a magazine — printed on paper with ink. Your tagline is "The Pickup and SUV Authority" and we bet you've got an office with a desk and a door and a real chair! Have we mentioned how much our backs hurt?).

But we'll not quibble with such trivial details. Instead, we're just happy we've been officially vindicated as the "embargo breakers" of automotive media. But one thing's certain for us after reading Mark's commentary — this buff mag addiction to embargoes is in dire need of a 12-step program. Luckily, Motor Trend has a long-haired leader with more journalistic integrity in his little finger than we've got in our entire bodies. We're sure he'll be the first to man up and make a call to action for his magazine going cold turkey. Remember, the first step is admitting you have a problem. In fact, we're already refreshing Motor Trend's blog, anxiously awaiting an opus from Angus Mackenzie following in lock-step with our arguments we've already made on the embargo issue and the anti-embargo comments made by AutoWeek's Dutch Mandel. Yup, any minute now — click, click, click, click... [Truck Trend]

2009 Hummer H3T Press Release

HUMMER is bringing its unmistakable style and unmatched capability to the truck market with the 2009 H3T. It is based on the architecture of the popular H3, but features a five-passenger crew cab and a separate five-foot-long (1.5 meters) bed.

The H3T is bigger than a midsize truck and smaller than a full-size truck, creating its own niche in the market. It also is infused with the attributes expected of a HUMMER, including exceptional off-road capability and a premium interior that is as functional as it is comfortable.

"With its unique size and HUMMER traits, the H3T is ideal for the customer who works hard and plays harder," said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. "It offers the combination of truck versatility and HUMMER off-road prowess."

In addition to its segment-defying size, the H3T also stands apart from other trucks with its signature HUMMER off-road capability. It is the only midsize truck to come standard with full-time four-wheel drive, 32-inch tires and functional skid shields. It also is the only midsize truck to offer front and rear locking differentials, as well as 33-inch tires - and the V-8-powered H3T Alpha can tow up to 5,900 pounds (2,676 kg).

The H3T is offered in four trim levels, including five-cylinder models and the popular, V-8-powered H3T Alpha edition. Production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2008 at GM's Shreveport, La., assembly plant, with vehicles arriving at HUMMER dealerships shortly thereafter. HUMMER will sell the H3T in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Design

Like all HUMMER models, the H3T has a purposeful design, consistent and iconic styling cues, including a wide, aggressive stance; a low roofline and high beltline; and large, off-road tires. The wide, seven-slot grille and round headlamps mounted in square housings are signature HUMMER design elements.

"Form following function is at the core of HUMMER's design philosophy and the H3T's capability reflects that mantra," said Carl Zipfel, HUMMER director of design and former motocross professional. "It has a distinctive look that could be mistaken for nothing except a HUMMER - and it also has the functionality to get the driver to and from the trail in style."

The crew cab body shares H3 styling and components from the B-pillar forward, while the rear section of the cab and the separate bed are unique to the H3T. The five-foot bed is similar in design and function to GM's recently redesigned full-size trucks, including an easily removable tailgate and provisions for a bed-rail accessory system. A full-size spare tire is mounted beneath the bed.

The bed is sized to carry a wide range of popular outdoor necessities, from hauling motocross bikes to Baja, a quad to camp or backcountry gear to the trailhead. One of the industry's largest portfolios of accessories complements the H3T's bed, offering different cargo management options to complement all of those lifestyle interests.

One of the industry's broadest portfolios of vehicle accessories has been developed for the H3T. Centered on active lifestyles, items such as removable and lockable bed-mounted storage boxes; an adjustable bike chock that can be used to help secure mountain bikes or motorcycles; and a bed extender make full use of the standard bed-rail cargo management system. A range of additional accessories that improves off-road capabilities, provides passenger entertainment and enhances exterior styling is also available. There are more than 75 HUMMER Genuine Accessories offered.

In addition to the factory-developed accessory portfolio, HUMMER has partnered with top automotive aftermarket companies to develop more than 50 Officially Licensed HUMMER Accessories - a first for the brand. A variety of exterior enhancements, such as a Slant Back Bed Cover, hard tonneau covers and a winch are offered, along with cargo management solutions such as the BedSlide and bed divider, offering countless possibilities to personalize the H3T.

Interior

The H3T's crew cab cabin offers seating for five adults, with a 60/40-split rear bench seat that folds flat for increased cargo-carrying options. The cabin's layout is essentially identical to the acclaimed H3 SUV, with premium materials and attention to detail that give the vehicle a functional yet refined aesthetic.

Standard amenities also include air conditioning, power locks, power windows and remote keyless entry. An AM/FM radio with CD is standard and a premium Monsoon audio system is available. XM Satellite Radio also is standard and includes three months of trial service.

HUMMER's Rear Vision system and a navigation system are available. The Rear Vision system uses a camera mounted on the rear bumper, directly above the trailer hitch mount, to provide a view of objects directly behind the vehicle. Also, the safety and security of OnStar is standard, with Turn-By-Turn Navigation and hands-free Bluetooth connectivity available.

Powertrain

Standard in the H3T is the Vortec 3.7L I-5 with dual overhead cams and variable valve timing. This inline five-cylinder engine offers an excellent combination of power and efficiency, delivering 242 horsepower (180 kW) at 5600 rpm* and 242 lb.-ft. of torque (328 Nm) at 4600 rpm. It is backed by a five-speed manual transmission or an available four-speed, electronically controlled automatic.

The H3T Alpha's 5.3L engine is a powerful and efficient member of GM's legendary small-block V-8 family. It is rated at 300 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque. An aluminum cylinder block is used with the H3 Alpha's engine. It helps reduce overall mass and maintains a more desirable front-to-rear weight balance.

A Hydra-Matic 4L60 electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission is paired with the 5.3L engine. Flat towing is enabled on all H3 and H3T models.

Chassis

The H3T's frame and suspension system are based on a stretched version of the H3 SUV's chassis and suspension - the same race-proven design found on Baja 1000-winning stock-class race trucks. The wheelbase measures 134.2 inches (3,409 mm) - 22 inches (86 mm) longer than the H3 SUV. A ladder-type frame is the truck's foundation and it has a modular, three-piece design that incorporates fully boxed components for outstanding strength and stiffness. An independent SLA torsion bar front suspension and multileaf Hotchkiss-type rear suspension are used. There are two suspension packages available:

* Z85 Heavy-Duty Handling and Trailering - This standard suspension delivers an excellent balance of on-highway comfort and off-road capability. It includes 32-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 16-inch, smoke-color steel wheels, specially tuned heavy-duty shocks and either a 4.56-ratio (3.7L) or 4.10-ratio (5.3L) rear axle.

* Off-Road Adventure - Designed for more aggressive off-road performance, this optional suspension package includes taller, 33-inch tires, specifically tuned shocks, locking front and rear differentials, 4.03:1 low-range gearing in the transfer case and industry-leading crawl ratios of either 68.9 with the manual transmission or 56.2 with the automatic.

To support the torque output of the 5.3L V-8, the H3T Alpha's front differential case is made of cast iron; other models feature an aluminum case. V-8-powered vehicles also receive higher torsion bar rates to support the increased mass and specific shock valving. The chassis and suspensions were validated in real-world testing on off-road trails in Moab, Utah; the Rubicon Trail in California, and other challenging off-road venues.

Off-road capability

The H3T lives up to HUMMER's legendary off-road reputation, with best-in-class extreme off-road capability. Highlights include:

* Ability to climb a 60-percent grade and traverse a 40-percent side slopeExceptional 10.2-inch (285 mm) ground clearance (with 33-inch tires)38.7-degree approach angle and 30.1-degree departure angle (with 33-inch tires)Segment-first available front- and rear-locking differentials
* Standard HUMMER Hill Hold Assist for improved hill ascension

"For most lifestyles, there's almost nothing the H3T can't handle," said Walsh. "It's a truck with HUMMER's immutable capability."Complementing the features that enable the H3T's impressive off-road prowess is a host of first-class protective elements, including four standard skid shields: a front shield, an oil-pan shield/front-axle shield, a transfer case shield and a fuel tank shield.

Safety

Continuing HUMMER's tradition of delivering a broad range of safety systems, the H3T offers the following standard features:

* Dual frontal air bags with GM's passenger sensing systemHead curtain side-impact air bagsStabiliTrak electronic vehicle stability control systemFour-wheel ABS with traction controlTire pressure monitoring systemLATCH rear child seat anchors

* OnStar with one-year Safe & Sound service

The H3T was also designed for vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility in the event of a crash and its rigid body structure provides good passenger protection.

Motor Trend's Editor-in-Chief Angus McKenzie explains to Matt Hardigree that he doesn't like it when you imply his staff breaks embargoes.

The antiglobalist protesters need to be careful about where the eggs and tomatoes for the demonstration come from, as there are many evil multinational corporations responsible for putting food on Russia's tables. In fact, according to the FAO Russia imported nearly one million metric tons of chicken in 2004. But it's worth the sacrifice if they get to egg just one Hummer. [Source: Reuters]