HUMMER thinking of H4??
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HUMMER thinking of H4??
Hummer considers alternatives for next vehicle as brand encounters sales decline
CHICAGO -- As Hummer gears up to go smaller with its new H3, the brand already is pondering its next vehicle.
At least four alternatives are being considered: a small pickup, large pickup, diesel derivative and the often-discussed H4 compact SUV.
During an interview at the Chicago Auto Show this month, Hummer Marketing General Manager Susan Docherty said GM managers soon will take a serious look at the alternatives.
After its launch in 2000, Hummer's U.S. sales rose quickly, then suffered a sharp decline in 2004. GM is introducing more models and exporting Hummers to overseas markets.
But Hummer has to be careful about entering new segments. Docherty said Hummer must stay true to its mission as an off-road brand, increase conquest buys and stay young. Hummer's average buyer is 40 - one of the youngest in the GM portfolio.
"I like portfolio plays that keep this brand young," Docherty said. "I know Hummer is not a small car and I know it is definitely not a minivan, but there are some other things that you can do."
Docherty's team also is considering high-performance Alpha powertrain options for the lineup. The first Alpha product will be a 6.6-liter turbodiesel, which will be the H1's standard powertrain.
Hummer also plans Alpha versions of the H2 and H3 but has not decided whether those upgrades will be diesels. Other possibilities include superchargers or bigger engines.
"We believe there is enough strength in Alpha that we should have Alpha across the line," Docherty said after the Hummer make meeting at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in New Orleans last month.
With the launch of the H3, GM believes there is potential to add significant volume to the Hummer brand. GM North America President Gary Cowger said H2 sales will be steady this year, "but I think you'll see H3 as a home run for dealers."
GM plans to sell 40,000 Hummers this year, but Cowger said that's a conservative projection: "We're going to be way north of that, in my opinion."
Last year Hummer sold 29,345 vehicles in the United States, down from 35,259 in 2003. The decline was mostly because of a drop in H2 sales.
Hummer hopes to revive sales in part by introducing the brand to foreign markets. Docherty said GM expects to sell 10,000 Hummers annually overseas. But GM's Shreveport, La., assembly plant will not produce any Hummers for export until the third quarter.
Docherty expects to export less than 5,000 Hummers this year.
Source: AutoWeek
CHICAGO -- As Hummer gears up to go smaller with its new H3, the brand already is pondering its next vehicle.
At least four alternatives are being considered: a small pickup, large pickup, diesel derivative and the often-discussed H4 compact SUV.
During an interview at the Chicago Auto Show this month, Hummer Marketing General Manager Susan Docherty said GM managers soon will take a serious look at the alternatives.
After its launch in 2000, Hummer's U.S. sales rose quickly, then suffered a sharp decline in 2004. GM is introducing more models and exporting Hummers to overseas markets.
But Hummer has to be careful about entering new segments. Docherty said Hummer must stay true to its mission as an off-road brand, increase conquest buys and stay young. Hummer's average buyer is 40 - one of the youngest in the GM portfolio.
"I like portfolio plays that keep this brand young," Docherty said. "I know Hummer is not a small car and I know it is definitely not a minivan, but there are some other things that you can do."
Docherty's team also is considering high-performance Alpha powertrain options for the lineup. The first Alpha product will be a 6.6-liter turbodiesel, which will be the H1's standard powertrain.
Hummer also plans Alpha versions of the H2 and H3 but has not decided whether those upgrades will be diesels. Other possibilities include superchargers or bigger engines.
"We believe there is enough strength in Alpha that we should have Alpha across the line," Docherty said after the Hummer make meeting at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in New Orleans last month.
With the launch of the H3, GM believes there is potential to add significant volume to the Hummer brand. GM North America President Gary Cowger said H2 sales will be steady this year, "but I think you'll see H3 as a home run for dealers."
GM plans to sell 40,000 Hummers this year, but Cowger said that's a conservative projection: "We're going to be way north of that, in my opinion."
Last year Hummer sold 29,345 vehicles in the United States, down from 35,259 in 2003. The decline was mostly because of a drop in H2 sales.
Hummer hopes to revive sales in part by introducing the brand to foreign markets. Docherty said GM expects to sell 10,000 Hummers annually overseas. But GM's Shreveport, La., assembly plant will not produce any Hummers for export until the third quarter.
Docherty expects to export less than 5,000 Hummers this year.
Source: AutoWeek
I'm surprised HUMMER as a brand has one of the of the youngest average buyers of the multiple brands under the GM umbrella. Pretty surprising when you consider the price of admission.
Anyways, there was a time when i thought adding lower-end models and them sharing platforms and engines with other GM SUV's watered down the HUMMER brand, but they've somehow managed to stay true to the HUMMER heritage after seeing the capable H2 and H3.
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From: Roseville, MI, USA
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally Posted by Mervz
The H4 is already being styled...... lets hope it makes it to production. I also think a heavy duty truck (2500HD style frame) would suit HUMMER well....
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Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally Posted by Josh452
Are you sure?
Give me a shout on AIM if you want to chat. I think you know my handle-- same as here..
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 146
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally Posted by Mervz
The H4 is already being styled...... lets hope it makes it to production. I also think a heavy duty truck (2500HD style frame) would suit HUMMER well....
2500
It's been bouncing around Design for a while - platform has been the challenge!
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally wasn't the target sales for the H2 set at 20,000-30,000?? so really it is still selling very well. It just had big unexpected spike.
I don't know about a Theta HUMMER, but maybe a smaller GMT355 HUMMER would be cool. Give it a removable top and doors, basically a dune buggy, or very Wrangler like.
I don't know about a Theta HUMMER, but maybe a smaller GMT355 HUMMER would be cool. Give it a removable top and doors, basically a dune buggy, or very Wrangler like.
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Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally Posted by 305fan
They should concentrate on getting a more powerful engine in the H3.
A na 5 cly in 4000lbs+ truck is a joke.
A na 5 cly in 4000lbs+ truck is a joke.
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Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,368
From: OR
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
or perhaps they should just focus on the niche for Hummer and make what they have better.
Better offroad performance or onroad.. or both if possible.. Better interiors, maybe more custom stuff and accessory like a custom rifle compartment..
LIke imagine this:
H2 Urban Assault package:
Secure purse(or handgun?
) compartment lol
"Adv Comm Package" Sat Radio, TV, Internet, LCD's, sound system, computer, Xbox, GPS, Onstar
"Urban Interior" - high end leather, special color scheme, etc.
"Urban rolling stock" - Bigger rims, more aggressive street tire
HID's, low fog lights
Air suspension.
Then you have like a "Hunter edition", aimed for hunters
IR see in the dark
special cargo area lining to hold your dead carcasses
custom rifle, ammo, tools, storage area
Custom cammo scheme inside and out
swivle spot light
PTO generator
or offroad pacakge:
blah blah blah..
Oh my favorite idea: Stealth Mode option - basically, it would be a hybrid Hummer thats capabable of moving and acceling on bats only.. Not for mpg though! but the ability to silently roll across with highly reduce noise and thermal signatures... For hunter.. or plain sneaking back home without waking up the wife and kids.. lol
Better offroad performance or onroad.. or both if possible.. Better interiors, maybe more custom stuff and accessory like a custom rifle compartment..
LIke imagine this:
H2 Urban Assault package:
Secure purse(or handgun?
) compartment lol"Adv Comm Package" Sat Radio, TV, Internet, LCD's, sound system, computer, Xbox, GPS, Onstar
"Urban Interior" - high end leather, special color scheme, etc.
"Urban rolling stock" - Bigger rims, more aggressive street tire
HID's, low fog lights
Air suspension.
Then you have like a "Hunter edition", aimed for hunters
IR see in the dark
special cargo area lining to hold your dead carcasses
custom rifle, ammo, tools, storage area
Custom cammo scheme inside and out
swivle spot light
PTO generator
or offroad pacakge:
blah blah blah..
Oh my favorite idea: Stealth Mode option - basically, it would be a hybrid Hummer thats capabable of moving and acceling on bats only.. Not for mpg though! but the ability to silently roll across with highly reduce noise and thermal signatures...
For hunter.. or plain sneaking back home without waking up the wife and kids.. lol
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Posts: 1,308
From: Calgary
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally Posted by Z28x
The joke is the H3 is faster than most SUVs on the road and will be faster than the 325HP Hummer H2. The 4.56 rear end will make up for the "lack of power" The inline atlas series of engines has a very nice torque curve. My 3800lbs. Colorado Z71 has a 3.73 and acceleration is fine. I originally planned to get 4.11's because I was worried about the truck being slow, but after driving one that was not the case. I decided to go with the more gas friendly 3.73
Accleration might be "fine in a 3800lb truck but Hummer estimates the H3 weight at 4700lbs!! Thats alot of extra wieht and you'll feelk the differnece.To my knowlege no magazine has not roadd tested the H3 and gotten accleration numbers, so your assuming alot.
While 4.56s help (bye, bye gas mileage) they cannot save a terrible power to weight ratio.
I would like to drive the Atlas 5 cly--torque peak is low and the hp peak is reasonable, looks like a wide powerband.
But the fact is that its still 225lbs-ft--hardly earth moving. 4.2L I6 would be appropraite here.
Last edited by 305fan; Feb 23, 2005 at 08:08 PM.
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Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: HUMMER thinking of H4??
Originally Posted by 305fan
You've got to be joking right Accleration might be "fine in a 3800lb truck but Hummer estimates the H3 weight at 4700lbs!! Thats alot of extra wieht and you'll feelk the differnece.
To my knowlege no magazine has not roadd tested the H3 and gotten accleration numbers, so your assuming alot.
While 4.56s help (bye, bye gas mileage) they cannot save a terrible power to weight ratio.
I would like to drive the Atlas 5 cly--torque peak is low and the hp peak is reasonable, looks like a wide powerband.
But the fact is that its still 225lbs-ft--hardly earth moving. 4.2L I6 would be appropraite here.
Accleration might be "fine in a 3800lb truck but Hummer estimates the H3 weight at 4700lbs!! Thats alot of extra wieht and you'll feelk the differnece.To my knowlege no magazine has not roadd tested the H3 and gotten accleration numbers, so your assuming alot.
While 4.56s help (bye, bye gas mileage) they cannot save a terrible power to weight ratio.
I would like to drive the Atlas 5 cly--torque peak is low and the hp peak is reasonable, looks like a wide powerband.
But the fact is that its still 225lbs-ft--hardly earth moving. 4.2L I6 would be appropraite here.
EPA rating on the H3 will be 16/20 and the estimated 0-60 in C&D or MT (can't remember were I saw it) was 8.9sec. H2 is about 10.0 sec. most Import SUVs are also 9.0+ THe 5 cyl. wouldn't be my first choice for the H3 but it won't be as bad as everyone thinks thanks to the gearing and the great torque curve.
Power band on the I5 is very nice, I would compare the feel to a 3800. Feels very adequate and very even across the RPM range. With an automatic it is hard to feel the VVT kick in at over 4000, but the manual tranny guys seem to like it.
Last edited by Z28x; Feb 23, 2005 at 10:53 PM.
