14 Jan 08
This mini-Hummer concept is a strong hint that an entry-level Hummer - H4 - is on the way.
Designed by a young team at GM's studio, it has elements of Jeep Wrangler, with removable doors, roof panels and bumper sections, and a compact two-door body.
The roof structure is modular, allowing for a full hard-top fastback configuration, the removal of targa-style panels or a completely convertible experience, while its rear load-bay gives truck-like practicality.
The HX retains the well-known Hummer design cues, such as the huge upright grille, vertical windscreen and round headlamps in square housings, but has neat details such as exposed billet-aluminium components, active bonnet air vents, and a 'cut-down' effect to the headlamps and grille slots. There are LED front indicators and taillights, with gas-discharge headlights, and the whole thing is finished off with military desert-camo matt olive paint.
The stripped-down cabin is largely olive-painted sheet-metal, with aluminium trim and four aircraft-influenced seats and aircraft-style instrument displays mounted on an aluminium crossbeam with removable top cover. There are LCD screens for sat nav and compass info, and the instruments can be configured for on- and off-road modes; the latter includes displays indicating wheel angle info, for example, or the view from a rear-facing camera.
All the neoprene-upholstered seats have four-point racing harnesses, and the rear pair can be removed. Storage space includes a large central console, which also houses an engine starter button and the gearshifter, as well as storage for MP3 players, iPods, phones and so on: there is no audio system fitted, just speakers that can be connected to an auxiliary player.
To live up to the go-anywhere looks, the HX - a traditional body-on-frame construction - has a full-time four-wheel-drive system with locking differentials at each axle, 35" off-road tyres, heavy-duty shock absorbers and an automatically-disconnecting front stabiliser bar. Its off-road ability is aided by its ultra-short front and rear overhangs, front skid plate, extra underbody protection and, just in case, recovery hooks at each end, a power-operated winch in the front bumper and matching folding shovel, flashlight and first-aid kit.
Looking close to production reality, the HX is powered by a direct-injection 3.6-litre petrol V6, capable of running on E85 (85% bioethanol) fuel. This works with six-speed automatic transmission, and has an output of 304bhp/273lb-ft. Not quite a fuel-sipper, we suspect, but this is certainly the most socially-acceptable Hummer yet seen.
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