Jalopnik: Alpha

GM In Talks To Buy Out Hummer Dealerships

Andrew Stoy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EDT

Automotive News reports that General Motors is ~~bribing~~ incentivizing moribund Hummer dealers by prepaying them second- and third-quarter bonuses based upon 2007 sales. The company is also reportedly talking to many dealer principals behind-the-scenes about buyout options, attempting to smooth the transition to a brand sale or closure and avoid some of the expensive legal issues that plagued its Oldsmobile shutdown. Dealers could use all the help they can get: Hummer sales plummeted nearly 60% in June, compared with a year earlier.

The incentive bonuses are not insignificant: Automotive News quoted Miami Hummer dealer Ed Williamson as saying they could "be substantial," often in the six-figures. Williamson would know: He happens to own the highest-volume Hummer store in the country, Williamson Cadillac-Hummer. So how many of the beasts did the hottest location move in June? Thirty-one, or about one per day. That's compared to about 100 a month during 2007.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Sales dropping due to a "loser" image? Irrelevant products? A parent company that's given up hope? It's DeSoto, Studebaker and Oldsmobile all over again. Take a picture of yourself next to an H2 soon: One day your kids will say "I can't believe people used to drive things like that!" [Automotive News (Sub. Req.); Photo Credit: A1 Limobus]

2009 Hummer H3T Alpha, Part Three

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Why you should buy this car:
You've always wanted a Hummer but have thus far been put off by their lack of practicality. You want a pickup bed, but not a pickup. You find tribal tattoos strangely appealing.

Why you shouldn't:
Your ultimate goal is turning it into a lowrider. You've got a set of 35" dubs sitting around, waiting for a project; just stick with the H2. You live East of the Mississippi. You wish there was a Humbrid version. You want a work truck that can haul a load of drywall. You spell off-road J-E-E-P.

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

All of our reviews are always available by clicking the Jalopnik Reviews tag in the masthead.

2009 Hummer H3T Alpha, Part Two

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Exterior Design: **
Let's face it, it's a Hummer H3, and that means boxy and kinda cute like a GI Joe toy. The grille on the hood has no function, nor do the air breathers by the windshield. But, with 10.2" of ground clearance and huge knobbly tires, it does carry a certain air of purpose about it.

Interior Design: ***
An extra star for not using chrome plastics. The seats are perfection. With all the legroom in the backseat, it's a nice vehicle for passengers as well. The instrument panel lighting is attractive and easy to read.

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

All of our reviews are always available by clicking the Jalopnik Reviews tag in the masthead.

2009 Hummer H3T Alpha, Part One

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The H3T Alpha, despite sharing DNA with the S-10, is more than a spruced up mid-size truck. The five-foot bed is separate from the cab (unlike an Avalanche or H2) and can accommodate a load up to a 1/2 ton, so that means a pair of dirtbikes are no problem with the tailgate down. Most important, though, are the upgrades to the drivetrain, including e-locker differentials from Eaton, and a high- and low-range transfer case.

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

Jalopnik Guide To GM Global Platforms And College Greek Organizations

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST

As a proud graduate of the University of Texas, there was a time when I knew all the letters of the Greek alphabet and all the fraternities and sororities that corresponded to them. There was also a time when I thought I knew all of the GM platforms and their associated Greek letters. Recently I've noticed that I'm getting the two of them confused. Is a Sigma the midsized RWD platform underpinning the Cadillac CTS, a drunken frat boy with strong opinions about his southern heritage, or both? Below our guide to GM Plats and College Frats (and Sororities).

Alpha: A future GM midsized RWD platform for Pontiac, Cadillac and Buick.

Alpha Chi Omega: The cute, smart sorority girls who made you rethink your policy of not dating sorority girls.

Alpha Phi: The reason why you stopped dating sorority girls.

Delta: The small FWD platform underpinning the Chevy HHR and Pontiac G5, among others.

Delta Delta Delta: Cute but ditzy girls that were parodied very well on SNL. Notable alums include Katie Couric.

Epsilon Midsized FWD platform that in extended form is the basis for the new Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura

Sigma Epsilon: If these rowdy frat boys haven't been kicked off of your local college campus it's not for lack of trying.

Gamma: Subcompact FWD platform used mostly in Europe for models like the Opel Corsa.

Gamma Theta Upsilon: GTU is the Geography honors society. Members of the GTU generally don't have a good chance of scoring with Tri-Delts. I am a GTU member.

Kappa: Compact RWD architecture found under the Pontiac Solstice/Opel GT and Gary Coleman's Saturn Sky.

Kappa Kappa Gamma: The elite of the elite private school girls who, when they get rush lists, actually send people out to see if your house is big enough to warrant admission into their ranks.

Lambda: The mid-sized FWD/AWD crossover SUV platform that will support the new Chevy Traverse as well as the current Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia.

Lambda Chi Alpha: Exceptionally non-threatening. The guys you call when your drunk boyfriend from a different frat leaves you on the side of the road.

Theta: Midsized crossover SUV platform used for the Saturn VUE and Pontiac Torrent.

Mu Alpha Theta: That's the high school math club. What the hell are you doing at a college party? Oh, Rick's your brother. Cool. Want another Corona?

Zeta: The RWD platform that will support the next generation Impala and Chevy Camaro, as well as the new Pontiac G8 and any possible US-bound -aminos.

Zeta Beta Tau: Good Jewish boys who all dream of growing up to be a part of the media elite that runs the automotive web.

Cadillac to Get Smaller, Rear-Drive Sedan, Confound BMW

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:25:55 EDT

Shades of Cimarron, or a new 3-Series rival? That's the question on the blackboard today, considering a report from Automotive News. Apparently, Cadillac's building a smaller, rear-wheel-drive model to slot below the CTS. The new model will ride on the company's coming Alpha platform, offering a lower point of entry to the coat of arms that once signified explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac's lineage. Thus was confirmed by way of that UAW paper summarizing a tentative labor contract with the General, and through AW sources. Such a premium workup of the new platform will join an, er, less premium variant for Pontiac. Other Caddy plans include a new CTS coupe and wagon in 2009, a rear-drive sedan to replace the DTS and STS in 2011, and a yet-unconfirmed vehicle powered by a fuel-cell version of the E-Flex plug-in hybrid powertrain that powers the Chevrolet Volt concept. Art and science, indeed?

GM, UAW Agreement Details Out In Open: GM Alpha RWD Platform Confirmed!

Ray Wert — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:15:00 EDT

We'd already heard the speculation GM's been looking to take little pieces of the Kappa and Zeta platforms to create a new small-to-medium size rear-wheel-drive platform called Alpha. Now we've got confirmation by way of the product plan leakiness that is the UAW contract "highlights" book. The "product commitments" list is a veritable cornucopia of product info, and it appears to show a commitment by the General to build this new Alpha small-to-medium size rear-wheel-drive platform vehicle at the Lordstown, Ohio plant. We've heard it could be a small Cadillac vehicle and a small Pontiac, perhaps even to replace the Pontiac G5 — especially given the desire by Bob Lutz to turn the entire Pontiac lineup into a RWD-only selection of vehicles. Given that, there's even the possibility this platform will end up being two different Pontiac vehicles, both with RWD. We guess we'll just have to wait and see.

New York Auto Show Preview: The H3 Coulda Had A V8, So Now It Does

Ray Wert — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 19:19:49 EDT

Looks like the best laid plans of mice and men are plans easily laid low by a HummerGuy. The site all about the vehicular BJ is reporting via a standard embargo break that the 2008 Hummer H2

"...gets a larger 6.2 liter V8 with a six speed transmission - the horsepower increase hasn't been announced, but should be significant. The full third row seat is also new - Hummer has never offered more than a single seat in the rear area. The interior dash area has been updated to a more luxurious and clean looking control panel. It also appears that the front bumper has been changed to an aluminum colored finish. The leather choice has also been updated in 2008. These are some terrific advances to a vehicle that has not had a major update in 5 model years!"

And in addition to the pictures below, here's what he's got to say on the H3 Alpha:

"The 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha will have a 5.3 Liter V8 engine. Again, no specifics on HP gains just yet. That is by far the largest component of the update, but some drivetrain systems have been updated to support the increase in power. Similar to the H2 photos, there was a brushed aluminum looking front bumper that will replace the current black bumper. We didn't see many interior updates besides the Alpha badge on the steering wheel."

Now it'll have some power to move all that brushed aluminum around now, won't it? [Hat tip to Nathan!] – Ray Wert

2008 Hummer H2 and Hummer H3 Alpha - Official Info and Pictures! [HummerGuy]

Frankenstein Continues To Go Greek: GM's New RWD Platform To Be Named Alpha, Get Pieces Of Kappa And Zeta

Ray Wert — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EDT

According to the Road which bends in a Winding manner, the General's set to debut a new small-to-medium-size vehicle platform that the automaker's calling "Alpha." They're claiming the new franken-platform's going to incorporate pieces of the Kappa architecture and the Zeta architecture to create a brand new monsterrific rear-wheel drive base for the Pontiac and Cadillac brands. The WR boys claim the G6 will be the first to use the new patchwork RWD platform. All this is really cool and all, but we're mostly excited they called Bob Lutz the "Resident Car Czar." Now all we need is for him to get some bolts on the side of his head, get WR to call him "Maximum" and we'll be good to go! – Ray Wert

GM's Next RWD Platform: Alpha [Winding Road]