Hummer H3 News

This week a planned deal by General Motors to sell the army-style brand to a Chinese company collapsed, however GM is still considering expressions of interest from several other potential buyers.  Hummer Club Australia founder Tom Richards, 36, said he was confident the iconic brand would either be bought or, at worst, shelved for a few years before being reborn when economic conditions became more suitable."I fell in love with them when I first saw them," said Richards who owns a H3 Luxury with "loads of four-wheel-drive accessories".  It's a serious off-roader that will hold its own off road with anything.  I love the looks. It's different and I don't like to follow the pack."Hummer's size has made it a target for greenie activists, but Richards defends the vehicle and finds no conflict in being the owner of Reverse Organic Recycling and a Hummer owner.  "There is a big misconception of the vehicle's environmental footprint," he said."The H3 is more economical than the petrol Prado.  I haven't had any abuse, but you do get rude gestures from some people; like I really care.  The positives outweigh the negatives. Little kids just love them."Richards founded Hummer Club Australia early last year and has about 240 internet members worldwide.  GM Holden said that if the Hummer was axed, they would continue to honour warranties and provide service support and spare parts to current Hummer owners.Richards said there was also a ‘huge range of aftermarket accessories still available’.  "If it does get axed, it may increase the vehicle's value because enthusiasts will still want them."HistoryHummer began in the early 1980s when AM General developed the M998 Series High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, pronounced Humvee).  The US Army awarded a contract to build the massive 4WD vehicle which featured in the first Gulf War in 1991.It became an unlikely star of the TV coverage of the first Gulf War and Schwarzenegger asked AM General to build him a civilian version with a Corvette V8 engine.  This attracted so much attention, they began making civilian versions as serious off-road vehicles.GM took over in 2002 and renamed the vehicle the Hummer H1, then followed up with a new, smaller model called the H2 which has been imported into Australia in small numbers by right-hand-drive conversion companies such as Performax International in Gympie since 2005.That was the year GM produced the H3 midsized SUV which arrived here in right-hand drive two years later, the delay due to several Australian Design Standards issues.GM Holden created a premium brand unit to sell Hummer and Saab, with 273 H3s sold in 2007, rising to 1078 in 2008 and only 429 last year.  GM this year sold Saab to Dutch sportscar company Spyker.

But it's not what you think, and definitely not the much-loved FJ Holden from the 1950s.  The new FJ is actually a Toyota, not a Holden, and so different from the all-Aussie 'humpy' that it should be given a different name for Australia. The new-age FJ is a Cruiser that is coming in October as part of a youth push at Toyota Australia that also includes the funky, boxy, Scion xB.  Both are already sold in the USA but the Australian models are being tweaked with right-side steering and other changes for their time Down Under. The Scion will also have a Toyota badge in Australia. The FJ is part of the LandCruiser family and is built up from the mechanical package of the previous-generation Prado. It is likely to be sold with both two and four-wheel drive, as well as a V6 engine, although Toyota Australia is making no comment despite a preview last week at a major dealer convention in Melbourne.  We do not comment on future model plans," says Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen. Pricing for the FJ Cruiser is likely to start around $40,000 and it will definitely have the same bright body colours and Hummer-style looks as the American model.  Toyota based the FJ Cruiser's design on the famous FJ40 LandCruiser, a working-class four-wheel drive made famous in Australia for its work on the Snowy Mountains scheme in the 1950s. Design cues taken from the FJ40 include the grille, upright windscreen and chunky bumpers, square wheelarches and the rear-mounted and exposed full-size spare tyre. Toyota has upgraded the design with rear 'suicide' rear doors to allow easy access to the rear seat and there is swing-up glass hatch incorporated into the side-hinged rear door. The glass hatch opens independently of the rear door and can accommodate longer items. The Cruiser is designed for serious off-roading and the seats are even covered with a special water-repellent fabric while the floor and rear luggage area is covered in an easy-to-clean rubber-type material.  The ladder-frame body uses a double-wishbone independent front suspension and four-link coil-spring rear suspension. Opinion - Paul Gover The FJ Cruiser looks a lot more fun than it is to drive.  It turns heads, particularly in lollypop colours, but I gave one back to Toyota after less than two hours of a planned two-day drive in California. For a start, the FJ is a reverse-Tardis - just like the Hummer H3 - with far less space inside than its big body promises.  Visibility is poor, the cabin is overly-plastic, the performance is adequate at best, and people turn to look - but often look as if they are about to laugh. The FJ shows the sort of direction Toyota needs to take to put some excitement and fun into its boring local showrooms, but it will need a lot of local tweaking to satisfy the needs and dreams of savvy local buyers.

After months of speculation the China-based Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co Ltd is now the new owner of General Motor's Hummer brand. The deal needs final approval from both the Chinese and US Governments, but executives on both sides are confident this will happen by the end of the year.The change of ownership is unlikely to affect its Australian operations in the short term. Spokesman Scott Whiffin, says Hummer remains a strong part GM Premium Brands, which includes Saab. "At this stage it's absolutely business as usual," he says. "There is no change to the dealer network or the distribution channel. "In Australia there are no changes for customers or dealers to sales and service arrangements. Likewise warranty agreements will continue to be honoured."GM-Holden is believed to have brought in consultants to look at the ongoing viability of both Hummer and Saab. Tengzhong will acquire ownership of the brand, trademark and trade names, as well as license rights necessary to build Hummers. GM builds three different Hummer models, the military-based H1 and H2 and H3 but only the H3 is sold locally. H3 sales locally have halved this year as buyers retreat from the gas-guzzling off-roader because of speculation over its future. Just 403 H3s have found buyers compared to 923 for the same period last year.As part of the agreement, Tengzhon will maintain existing dealer agreements with the dealership network but it's not sure what this means for Australia's 20-odd dealers. Tengzhong will hold an 80 per cent stake in Hummer through an investment entity. Suolang Duoji, a private entrepreneur with holdings that include the Hong Kong-listed mineral producer Lumena, will hold the remaining 20 per cent.Details of the agreement were not disclosed but sources have said the deal is worth about $170 million. GM president and CEO, Fritz Henderson says Hummer remains a strong global niche brand. "This agreement signifies another important milestone in writing the next chapter for both GM and Hummer," he says. Henderson says the combination of Tengzhong financing and Hummer's knowledgeable leadership team was a good fit.Under the agreement, Hummer will contract vehicle manufacturing, key components and business services from GM during a transitional period. The deal is expected to secure more than 3000 jobs in the US. Hummer's existing leadership team remains in place and James Taylor continues as chief executive officer. "We are fortunate to have a partner who understands and recognises the importance of continuing investment in Hummer's heritage with a view toward capitalising on global opportunities," Taylor says.Tengzhong will accelerate more efficient powertrains for the brand and new six-speed transmissions. From next year Hummers will have E85 FlexFuel engines on its H3 models. A turbodiesel engine is also on the cards. The Chinese deal follows the off-loading of GM's other premium brand, Saab, to Swedish sportscar maker Koenigsegg. Hummer first came to prominence in the 1990 Gulf War as a military vehicle.

FEW people have exploded on to Australia television in the same way as Jason Coleman.  He instantly picked up the tag as the ``nasty judge'' on Ten's So You Think You Can Dance and admits he did not expect the recognition the show would bring.When you add his television impact with the impact from a hulking new Hummer, he is never going to make a quiet arrival anywhere.  Coleman, who choreographed the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, says he has driven all his life.What was your first car?I loved it. It was a red Holden Sunbird. I used to pretend in my mind -- because it was the same shape -- it was an SLR 5000. It so wasn't though. I think it was a 1979 model. I was 18. My grandparents lent me the money for it and I bought it the day I got my licence on my 18th birthday.What do you drive now?I got my Hummer one month ago and I just ache for it. It's the sexiest car I've ever had. I lived in the Middle East for two years when I was the director of choreography for the opening and closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and when you live over there on the weekends you go duneing in the desert. I decided while living there that I wanted one. It really turns heads, to the point where I might have to go and buy myself another car because everyone is staring at me everywhere I go now anyway, let alone with the car. I didn't really realise it was going to be that much of a head-turner. I've also blinged the crap out of it -- it's certainly turning heads. I took it four-wheel-driving for the first time at the weekend at the terrain park at Kurnell in Sydney. We had the best time. It was fantastic. It's not difficult to park. I grew up with paddock bombs. I've been driving my whole life. I could park a semi-trailer on a postage stamp.Do you have a favourite drive and who would you take?I really loved going out and spending the night in the desert when I lived in the Middle East. The sand dunes are endless. They're like waves. Driving on them is like driving up and down the big dipper. I would take a seriously good lover with me.How far would you drive in an average year?It all depends whether I'm on the road. I travel a lot and I guess I would average 20-30,000km a year.Do you have a favourite motoring memory?When I bought my Sunbird I thought I was fantastic. I was loving myself sick. My friends and I drove to my parents' holiday house in Bermagui (378km south of Sydney) and if I went over 60km/h my car overheated -- so it took about 3 1/2 days to drive there, but I had the time of my life and I didn't care at all. It was my car, it was going forward and I loved it.What would you buy if money was no object?A two-door Bentley or a two-door Maserati. I love those cars. They are so sexy.What music is playing in your car?Last night I was banging away to Fedde Le Grande's Let Me Think About It.How much is too much for a new car?There are no such words as too much in anything in my world as long as it's quality.Are you sponsored by a car company?No, but I'm waiting for Porsche to call any minute now. I think that's them on the other line...

They say the person with the most toys wins, but maybe you can get points for the biggest toy on the block.British engineer Dr James Brighton has produced what could be the most sought after toy of the year.But in becoming a toymaker, the good doctor has sneered at the idea of miniature cars, bypassed the display of carefully stacked scale models and gone straight for the giant size.The highly respected purveyor of academe at Britain’s Cranfield University has developed a remote control Hummer H3.Apparently the job took about a month to complete and probably had Dr Brighton topping the popularity polls of all those engineering students who spend years of study in absolute certainty that what the world needs is a better gizmo.Because as far as gizmos go — and ones like this go very far indeed — they’d say you really can’t beat the idea of a remote controlled version of one of the world’s biggest private vehicles.Sure, various armies have remote controlled vehicles, but they’re used for very serious purposes indeed. And nobody’s allowed to take them home for the weekend and have a bit of backyard fun at the Sunday barbie. Or at least, certainly not the ones we’ve been invited to. Yes, that was a hint, in case anybody at Defence Central who’s reading this has the keys to that remote controlled armoured tank we keep hearing about.But back to the Hummer, which opens up a whole world of possibilities for Christmas and birthday gifts —- although also a huge world of problems with wrapping paper and bows.Don’t just imagine this is for running around the backyard during the barbie. For a start, it won’t fit. A nanosecond’s pressure on the remote control toggle will have it crashing over the fence and forging a new path through the neighbour’s begonias. Which could mean a very interesting explanation to your insurance company.But where your usual remote controlled car is stalled by a couple of dust bunnies on the hallway carpet, this is a toy that can tackle really tough terrain.Dr Brighton says it can climb a four metre vertical wall, traverse a 40 degree side slope and ford through 60cm of water. He doesn’t say why you’d want it to do any of those things, but people with the word ‘Dr’ in front of their names are much smarter than you and me, so there must be a reason.But perhaps the Doc hasn’t properly researched the abilities of this vehicle.Your blogger at one stage supported her uni studies by lounging around a shopping centre computer store, purporting to serve computers to the public.Business was slow, the boss was often absent and even playing with the latest techno-gizmodo can pall after seven straight hours —- unless you’re a teenager, perhaps.The solution was to send for food by clipping an order and some money to the aerial of one of the remote control cars in the store and sending it through the shopping centre. Extra points for startling little old ladies along the way.Now with this Hummer, you can leapfrog modest goals like getting a bag of biscuits or a box of takeway pad thai in the tray of a scale model ute.The Hummer could thunder over to your local supermarket and come back with a month’s worth of groceries. Then it could take itself off to the car wash and self bathe. Hitch a brace of mowers to the tailgate and have it do wheelies on the lawn while you sit with your feet up on the verandah railing. The possibilities are as huge as … erm, an H3 Hummer really.Dr Brighton’s toy might be able to scale walls, but has it brought him any Thai takeaway? 

I thought I would hate driving this huge, hubristic hunk of Americana – and, to be fair, I did – but it did have unexpected benefits. For a start, I saw a lot more of Sydney that I have in any other week, as I circled, endlessly, looking for somewhere to park this brash behemoth. Unfortunately, I work in Surry Hills, where the streets are reluctant to give up space to anything bigger than a bicycle, which meant that, on two days out of five, I had to ring my boss and tell her I was unable to make it in because I couldn’t stop anywhere. I also feared for my safety because a lynching party had been formed by environmentally concerned locals and I felt it unlikely the Hummer could outrun them, even though they were on sandalled foot. The fact that the tank I’d been lumped with was painted the same colour as the cheese you find on McDonald’s burgers wasn’t helping my feeble attempts to remain incognito. Still, I did rediscover parts of my CD collection that had been long forgotten, because the lumpy ludicrousness of the Hummer made me feel like I could only listen to ZZ Top, Def Leppard and Led Zeppelin. I also discovered that there is nothing particularly wrong with my left knee, thanks to the handbrake, which is cunningly positioned so that it gives you an arthroscopy every time you enter the vehicle. It’s also accursedly difficult to use, which led to the venting of spleen that was probably building up dangerously inside me. Sadly, that’s about it for positives. Hopeless handbrake aside, the cabin annoyed me from moment one, mainly because it achieves the rare reverse-Tardis effect. While the Hummer looks big – to engage in mild understatement – it is ridiculously small inside, with less headroom than one of Russell Crowe’s hats. It also feels like you’re sitting in your grandmother’s living room, because there’s virtually no natural light, thanks to the windows – and the windscreen for that matter - being roughly the size of a lunchbox lid. Speaking of Tupperware, that’s what the centre stack of the dash feels like, which comes as a surprise in any $50,000-plus car, but more so when it’s one based on a rough and tough military vehicle. Mind you, I was shocked and awed by how ugly it was, from every conceivable angle. It even has a plastic picnic table glued to the bonnet, for reasons unknown. Then there’s the 400kg the rear tailgate, which is heavy enough to knock any woman foolish enough to mess with it flat on her back. Oh, and somehow, in their ingeniousness, they couldn’t find room for a footrest, so your left leg is always hovering over the clutch. That is, of course, one of the least annoying things about driving the H3 – the baby of the Hummer range and, thankfully, the only one available down under, thus far. The fact that it feels as wide as a terrace house is off putting, but things get worse when you try and drive it around a bend. The Hummer corners like a… well, like a terrace. The ride is also unfortunately firm and fidgety, yet too soft at the same time. This should be impossible. Driving over speedhumps can induce mild nausea. It’s also very, very slow, as you would expect from a 2198kg (for the five-speed manual tested, the four-speed automatic is 2303kg) vehicle powered, if that’s the word, by a 3.7-litre, five-cylinder engine. It doesn’t take a Newtonian scientist to work out that 180kW and 328Nm are not enough for the task of moving so much metal. The one thing that a car this intimidating shouldn’t be is underpowered. The manual gearbox also reminded me of my grandfather’s old tractor, for some reason. And yet… while I couldn’t think of a single thing to recommend it, everyone else loved the damn Hummer, and it attracted almost exactly the same amount of attention as driving a Ferrari. Possibly more, in fact, because when you’re in a sports car people just hate you from a distance and stare daggers, but in the Hummer, everyone wants to talk to you. I had one guy walk up to me while I was parked in peak-hour traffic in the CBD and ask where he could get one. As I drove off, he ran alongside me, still asking questions, despite my having refused to tell him any details, for his own good. Children who drive past you make Christmas-morning faces and whoop “Hummmmmer” out car windows. It’s also the only non-Porsche I’ve ever been asked to take people for passenger rides in. Mind you, no one was impressed. With all this inexplicable interest, however, it’s no wonder they reckon they can sell 700 of them a year. With prices starting at $51,990, that’s not a bad business case. Then there are the anti-Hummer types, who don’t talk to you but glower and think to themselves, what sort of person buys a vehicle like that? I had to have a t-shirt made up that said: “It’s not mine. I am the Stig.” The environmental question comes up a lot, too, and most people were only mildly surprised to hear that, if you run out of petrol, you can actually run the Hummer on shredded Toyota Prius pieces for short distances. Buying this car shouts: “I’m with John, there’s no such thing as global warming”. In fairness, it should be pointed out that the H3’s official rated fuel consumption is 13.7 litres per 100km, the same as a Mitsubishi Pajero. It’s also 12cm shorter and sits 1cm lower than a Pajero – but it is 12cm wider. It does, however, make a Pajero look like Megan Gale. So, in summation, people are going to buy this car, no matter what I say, because a lot of people really like big things, and other people staring at them. I think they’d be better off buying Mardi Gras floats, but each to their own.  

The solution, a “bling-pack”. Imagine this. A H3 Hummer, add some huge 22-inch chrome wheels, some more bling to the front brush guard, fancy door handles, side steps and towing points and a dual chrome exhaust. It's all now possible at Suttons City Holden where you can transform your Hummer into a blindingly shiny beast. While the range-topper H3 Luxury usually retails for $60,990, there's a new exclusive model at Suttons City which “pimps” it to the max, bringing the total price tag to $89,000. And there are upgrades inside as well as the aesthetic chrome changes, with satellite navigation, a better sound system, a rear-view camera and two DVD players in the headrests for the children in the back, which means there will also be less fighting as they can watch a different movie at the same time. Customers are also able to add the features individually. And the enhancements have already proven to be very popular. Suttons City sales representative Paul Conibeer says every customer who has bought a Hummer since the extras were made available in December, has added some sort of chrome to the mix. That includes many celebrities, such as cricket player Nathan Bracken and So You Think You Can Dance? judge Jason Coleman. Suttons imports the parts and extra features from the US, but all the changes to the car are carried out at the dealership. It takes about two days for the makeover, which can be done on any colour Hummer. And a short drive in the gangster-looking stunner showed it really does know how to attract attention. The chrome dressing sparkles on even the mildest sunny day and there's no way this car can hum along unnoticed. The rear-view camera and satellite navigation are the only really useful added features, but the rest feels like a must-have for individual appearance and the sheer enjoyment factor. “It's more of a car to be seen in,” Conibeer says. “It's a lot to do with the ego. You just want people to notice you and you can see it coming a mile away, you know it's a Hummer.” Suttons says the Hummer with a twist has been sold to many families and businesspeople who want to be noticed on the road.  

Performax International general manager Nick Vandenberg said they would be keen to import and convert the much-hyped supercharged Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 due for production next year. “We convert a model if there is interest and I'm sure there would be interest in this one,” he said. The Gympie company, formerly Corvette Queensland, currently converts Corvettes to right-hand-drive, along with the Hummer H2 and several American pick-ups. The `Corvette (Vette) supercar has been rumoured to be called Blue Devil, SS, Stingray or Z07, following on from the 377kW V8 Corvette Z06 that Performax currently converts and sells for $230,000. But, the supercharged ZR1 will have more power, more torque, lower weight, a higher first gear for faster sprints, a close-ratio gearbox and bigger cooling vents, tyres and brakes. And while the Z06 used red as a highlight colour, the ZR1 uses blue, giving rise to the tipped Blue Devil moniker. “In 2007, we did about 15 to 20 Corvettes; based on that I don't see why we wouldn't do it,” Vandenberg said. “The only concern I would have is that it meets noise test and emissions criteria for Australia.” In a preview for next week's Detroit Auto Show, GM showed a production-ready 2009 Corvette ZR1, driven on stage by GM vice chairman Bob Lutz. “What's so terrific about this car is that it is very docile and easy to drive, but then when you step into it, the power just never stops,” Lutz said. While final specifications are yet to be released, it is rumoured the Vette will pump out about 460kW to 480kW of power and about 800Nm of torque from its new LS9 6.2-litre supercharged and intercooled V8 engine. The previous model was quicker than an Enzo Ferrari at 3.7 seconds from 0-100km/h. This one should put the Vette well into the supercar category. GM's LS9 engine shares key dimensions and some features with the current Z06's LS7, but employs a fifth-generation low-profile Eaton supercharger with four vanes instead of three. No point in having a supercharger unless the world knows about it, so a Lexan window has been installed in the centre of the carbon fibre bonnet so you can see the blue-tipped supercharger underneath. To keep the supercharger and intercooler supplied with air, the ZR1 has a huge front spoiler and side vents similar to those used on the C6R race-car. Apart from the supercharger providing extra power and torque, the ZR1 is suspected to sprint faster to 100km/h because of the taller first gear. From there, the Tremec six-speed that is used in many high-performance vehicles has closer gear ratios so, while the Z06 hit top speed in fifth gear, the ZR1 will reach its estimated top speed of more than 320km/h in sixth. That top speed also required the replacement of the US 200mph speedo with a 220mph unit. There are few other changes inside. However, the exterior gets a carbon fibre bonnet, roof and pillars to reduce weight. Weight is further reduced by the use of carbon-ceramic brake discs, replacing the metal discs of the Z06. GM claims ride will be more compliant than the Z06 with Magnetic Ride Control, which has immediate damper response, allowing the use of softer springs. Tyre size has been increased with 19-inch rims in front and 20-inch rims in the rear sporting 335/25Z/20 Michelin PS2s. Performax International has been importing and converting American cars for almost 20 years, producing about 200 vehicles a year for Australian roads and employing more than 40 people. However, it could face competition from GM Holden which has begun importing American vehicles. Last year it launched the baby Hummer H3, built in right-hand-drive in South Africa, while Performax imports and converts the larger H2, which is not built in right-hand-drive. H3 is imported under GM Performance Brands along with Saab and Cadillac, with the launch later this year of the Cadillac CTS. Previous GM Holden boss Denny Mooney often talked of also bringing in the Corvette. However, GM Holden national media relations manager John Lindsay has said he had “no further update” on importing the Corvette.   Corvette's career A Corvette is a small, manoeuvrable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft, according to Wikipedia. Or, it's an iconic American muscle car envied the world over for its brutish power and performance. The first Chevrolet Corvettes were made in 1953, but it was not until the second-generation and the Stingray version that the model started to gain appreciation in the automotive world. The third generation in 1968 introduced the most popular Corvette look with its E-Type long nose and swooping guards. It was scooped when Hot Wheels released a model before the car was actually unveiled. In the 1980s, the Corvette became more angular and wedged shaped, losing much of its soul, but since 1997 they have returned to the '60s and '70s, albeit a less revolutionary design.  

Despite the obvious appeal of a utility version of the popular US off-roader, General Motors engineers haven't engineered the car for our roads.The H3T was revealed at the Chicago Motor Show as a dual-cab version of the H3 SUV that's available in Australia.The wheelbase has been extended 55cm to accommodate the load area in the rear.The H3 available in Australia is built at the company's South African plant, which produces left and right-hand-drive variants.GM plans to build the H3T only at its North American plants, and has not considered a right-hand-drive model.“Absolutely we're interested in it, but at this stage it isn't engineered for right-hand drive,” GM premium brands spokeswoman Emily Perry says.However, she warns not to rule it out if interest in the car in right-hand-drive markets proves strong enough to convince GM to engineer an Australia-friendly version.Hummer Australia chiefs have made no secret of their desire to expand the local line-up, and the H3T would be an ideal candidate.The larger H2 has been discounted as too big for Australian roads, and the Hummer brand doesn't have anything else to offer at present.But expansion is not on the agenda, with the current H3 on back order.The company is still trying to clear the rush of orders from the car's launch, resulting in a waiting period of up to three months. 

Hummer caused a sensation when it was debuted at the Brisbane International Motor Show last year and it's back for 2008.After some delays in launch owing to minor compliance issues such as mudflaps, the “baby” Hummer H3 hit the showrooms and in the first three months sold 272 with about 600 orders still outstanding.GM Premium Brands communications manager Emily Perry said more than one in three Hummers have been sold to Queenslanders."It's a suitable vehicle for the outdoors lifestyle of the Sunshine State” she said.The GM Premium Brands stand will feature the H3 Luxury and Adventure models and the new hero "Torch" orange colour for the first time.Sharing the stand is the Swedish Saab range, which will continue its environmental theme with economical diesel and renewable ethanol vehicles.The Saab stand also highlights the tri-fuel offering with the 9-3 range of vehicles available in petrol, diesel and ethanol models.Saab BioPower is Australia's first ethanol production car and it will be on show in a white Convertible and a black Sport Sedan.