Hummers rumble into London Auto Show and future residency
Oy vey. The city with the oh-so-fuel efficient EVs, subways, and strict anti-pollution and space-premium laws will soon have to make way for the quintessential off-road SUV, the Hummer. That's right: the H2 and H3 will be joining the rest of General Motors' vehicles at the London Auto Show at the end of July and then be available for sale throughout the country. The H2 will be powered by a 325-bhp, 6.0-liter petrol V-8, while the "smaller" H3 has the 220-bph, 3.5-litrerfive cylinder engine. Diesel versions will be available next year.
No word on whether or not the Queen is going to trade in her carriage for a Hummer.
Related:
Clean and dirty cars in the U.K.: the good, bad, and ugly
G-Wiz EV makes driving gas free
Politics of green automobiles in the UK
[Source: Verdict On Cars via Reuters UK]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fabulo 4:19PM (6/30/2006)
"quintessential off-road SUV"? H2?
You' kidding, right?
Reply
Steve 5:02PM (6/30/2006)
Uh, you are aware that people have been importing the H2 for several years into the UK, and as such the capital is already familliar with them right? Okay, they're imported by very very stupid people, I admit, but they have been doing it. Why stupid? Because it doesn't really fit on UK roads very well. It's just about a full lane wide, eats fuel (single digit fuel economy anyone?), looks ridiculous, costs a fortune (£30k and upwards, or around the same as a Land Rover Discovery) and absolutley sucks off-road. Haven't seen a H3 around yet but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.
Oh and have to agree with #1 about the "quintessential off-road SUV" thing. If you're talking about the original Hummer (and I really hope you are) it just doesn't work off-road in the UK because most of the serious off road trails are narrower than the car! The sort of terrain you want a Range Rover, Landcruiser or, better still, a Defender (preferably with another Defender as a back-up) to cross, not something with a wheelbase designed to follow tank tracks.
While I'm on the subject, what "strict anti-pollution and space-premium laws" are you talking about? I suppose at a stretch there's the congestion charge and car tax does increase based on emissions but the phrasing used here makes us sound like Los Angeles or something ;)
Reply
Matthew King 8:29PM (6/30/2006)
The H1 is phasing out from sales to the public. The H2 has a fording depth of only 20 inches. In contrast the H3 has a fording depth of 24 inches. The H3 is actually has decent off road credentials. The H3 will be available with a 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine for international markets from next year (to be assembled in South Africa in LHD and RHD). In other words GM has big plans for the H3. The diesel versions will have what it takes to produce a genuine international multi purpose vehicle with respectable fuel economy.
I live in Australia and plan on buying one soon after they become available here! Only problem is I'm having trouble trying to choose between red and white. Can anybody help?
Cheers.
Reply
Keith 12:44AM (7/01/2006)
Yeah, the eco-freaks in the UK are crazy and I would love to see what they would do to a H2 or H3.
Yes, there are a lot of Range Rovers and V8 sports cars in the UK, but to eco-freaks, the Hummer's represent the worst of the worst.
Reply
Whydrive 1:24AM (7/01/2006)
And what's the gas mileage of an Aston martin, Jaguar, Bentley, or Rolls Royce? Oh wait, they're not British anymore.... Bunch of eco-hypocrites.
Reply
GhostDoggy 9:10AM (7/01/2006)
I'm just amazed that many bought the Chevy Colorado in sheep's clothing (H3). Its like placing a garbage bag of the head of a hot chick with an ugly face.
Reply
Mattias 2:05PM (7/01/2006)
I bet the Diesel won't be the 2.8l VM Motori I4 but the 3.0l VM 60° V6. Why? Power and emissions!
There is also a slight chance that an V6 Isuzu Diesel related with the Duramax will make it into the H3, but I do not think so: Chevrolet Daewoo already bought an VM 2.0l I4 that is closely related to the VM V6.
Reply
Stoneman 6:21PM (7/01/2006)
These vehicles will be outlawed in the UK city areas in the near future. They introduced some kind of law which will restrict them to country roads.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
Reply
bhtooefr 12:06AM (7/02/2006)
#7 Mattias: Actually, I bet it's going to be the Isuzu 4JH1-TC... it's already used in the Isuzu D-Max, which the Coloyon, H3 and i-Series are based on...
Reply
Tim 7:21AM (7/02/2006)
What a total pile of unsubstantiated crap from Stoneman. No law has been passed or is about to be passed which bans any vehicle from anywhere in the UK. There are some width restrictors in the City of London (the financial square mile) but these are anti-terrorist barriers and have been there for years as they were put up to stop IRA truck bombs.
The main reasons hardly anyone will buy these things are that they only come in LHD and drink fuel like they've got a hole in the tank which is no fun at 95p/litre.
There probably will be a few exhibitionists who'll buy one, but likely as a business promotional tool. There is one idiot in my home town who drives a modded Cadillac Escalade twin-cab and he looks like a prize prat. Driving a car half the size of your house for no good reason just leads other motorists to suspect you have some deep-seated inadequacy issues. This guy is 5'5' and skinny as a rake.
Reply
Martin Keevil 8:54AM (7/15/2006)
I have just traded my 2005 Range Rover TD6 for a Hummer H2 as i was sick of taking it back to the dealers. In 1 year i had the seats replaced as the leather wore through, air suspension, door handles, starter motor all replaced. We live in Australia but came out from England and the off road conditions over here are a lot more severe than back home. The Hummer has been great. The actual width and length is almost the same as the Rangie. Fuel comsumption the same as my mates petrol Range Rover.
Reply