Europeans like HUMMERs too
It's official. Everyone loves a HUMMER. What else are we supposed to think when we get word of a big HUMMER rally in -- get ready -- Munich! You know Munich, that would be in Germany, which is in Europe, where we're repeatedly told no one wants a big, ugly gas-guzzling Suburban Assault Vehicle like a HUMMER.
Clearly, this is just some marketing stunt by GM, right? Wrong.
The 2006 HUMMER World Run is the brainchild of GeigerCars, Europe's biggest HUMMER dealer and one of the biggest HUMMER tuner/customizers you'll find in any country. If the name rings a bell, you probably remember their recent contribution to the American law enforcement community -- a 700-horsepower H2 that went to an unnamed County Sheriff in Texas.Said to be the first international meet for HUMMER owners, the two-day extravaganza is scheduled for October 7-8, during which over 150 HUMMERs and mil-spec HMMWVs will be on display and testing their mettle on an off-road course designed to showcase their capabilities. As of press time, we were not able to find out if the course has been altered to include a simulated US fast-food drive-thru lane complete with poles. Clearly, that would make it the most challenging HUMMER test course of all time...
Regular visitors to the festival will be able to test drive the HUMMER range, be eligible to win a 1-year HUMMER lease, and go for rides in GeigerCars' 10-meter-long H2 limousine -- allowing them to experience what it's like to go to to an American prom, albeit with better beer. It is Germany, after all.
(More pimped HUMMERs and a press release after the jump)
[Source: GeigerCars.de]
PRESS RELEASE:
The Ultimate HUMMER Meet:
HUMMER WORLD RUN 2006 in Zorneding near Munich
Grand Prize for Visitors: Drive a HUMMER for a year
HUMMER WORLD RUN 2006 is the name of the world's first international meet for owners of the American SUV, presented by GeigerCars.de, Europe largest HUMMER dealer, in Zorneding near Munich, October 7 and 8.
The festival, to which more than 150 HUMMER and HMMWV vehicles from around the world are expected, features an extensive and highly entertaining program. A demanding off-road course lets HUMMER owners and visitors experience the exceptional off-road capabilities of the American 4x4. The HUMMER WORLD RUN Trophy tests participants' mettle with and without their vehicles.
Numerous other attractions await the visitors such as free test drives with various HUMMER models and rides in the 10-meter long HUMMER H2 stretch limo from GeigerCars.de. The festival tent features an evening program with live entertainment on Saturday and on Sunday a vehicle parade of participants will live up to its motto: "The HUMMER conquers Munich." The world of the Jochen-Schweizer.de experience offers loads of action both days as do the off-road courses set up by KTM and Polaris that give visitors the chance to try out the latest ATV's.
Families visiting the HUMMER meet also find lots of entertaining things to do: Admission for children under 16 is free. The HUMMER kids program features a moonwalk as well as rides on kids ATV's.
The admission fee of 5 Euros for adults includes a chance to win a one-year lease for a HUMMER including tax and insurance.
Additional information is available on the continually updated festival website at www.hummerworldrun.com .
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ruggels 6:44PM (9/19/2006)
"As of press time, we were not able to find out if the course has been altered to include a simulated US fast-food drive-thru lane complete with poles. Clearly, that would make it the most challenging HUMMER test course of all time.."
Man, it's comments like that, that keep me coming back each day. :p
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Silver 7:06PM (9/19/2006)
Newsflash: Americans don't have a monopoly on stupidity (though we try).
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Stoneman 7:11PM (9/19/2006)
There seems to be alot of press coverage on Hummers lately. Coincidence or sponsor change for Autoblog?
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
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Graham 11:06PM (9/19/2006)
You know Munich, that would be in Germany, which is in Europe, where we're repeatedly told no one wants a big, ugly gas-guzzling Suburban Assault Vehicle like a HUMMER.
So what? 150 or so Hummers from all around Europe is nothing especially considering the H2 costs about as much as a Porsche Cayman S. There are probably that many Enzos in Europe. From being in Munich I would have to say that a Hummer is about as impractical a vehicle as you can get in Germany. Huge fuel costs and narrow roads don't make this smart choice. As the previous poster said, we don't have a monopolyon stupidity. A Hummer in Munich is slightly stupider than a Hummer in NYC.
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Baumann 7:16PM (9/19/2006)
Wow! That was one of the best editorials on a story I've read from you guys in quite awhile. THX!
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Greg A. 7:51PM (9/19/2006)
"...win a 1-year HUMMER lease..."
With the prices of gasoline and diesel in Europe as high as they are, I wonder if second prize is a TWO-year lease of a HUMMER.
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Obvious 12:31PM (9/20/2006)
Every day I see one of these hulking monstrosities, I wonder who died and made SUVs (and their ilk) popular... They have the asthetic prowess of a shoebox.
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DAN SMITH 6:24PM (3/02/2007)
EUROCENTRIC:
I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THIS EUROCENTRIC HUMMER-FEST IS NOT TAKING PLACE IN FRANCE. WHAT A SURPRISE! OH, I ALMOST FORGOT. "SCROOGE; AKA JACQUES CHIRRAC, RESIDES IN PARIS, AND HAS NOTHING BUT TOWERING CONTEMPT FOR ANYTHING AMERICAN. WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE AND GOOFY HAD A VIOLENT FIST FIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO EURODISNEY. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, GOOFY USED ONE OF HIS OVERSIZED PAWS TO DRIVE THE WHIMPY FRENCH PRESIDENT THROUGH THE ROPES AND INTO THE FRONT-ROW SEATS. I JUST WISH I HAD PICTURES. I'M DAN SMITH.
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soksi 10:46PM (9/19/2006)
It very nice car and I think every one like Hummer, but the US-Manager should be anderstand that in EU like Diesel !!!
For me 170HP-200HP,V6-CRDi that is Optimal.
I hope it will be come soon to EU.
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hmmm 11:48PM (9/19/2006)
Hey dan smith cut the caps, it means your shouting and you are mad ! it's rude and hurts the eyes, you can prove a point or have a discussion without using caps, its just a car blog not life or death !
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Michael 11:53PM (9/19/2006)
Many people have misconceptions about Europe and SUV's. They became "cool" there at the same time as they did in North America. The difference is that they never became available to regular people. They have very high purchase prices and exceedingly high operating costs. So they are even greater a status symbol in Europe, especially because of their culture of conservation. Imagine, driving a gigantic luxury vehicle that is extremely expensive, insanely wasteful, and positively outlandish on narrow Parisian streets all at the same time - of COURSE Hummer will sell a few! And hell, who could really complain about a few SUV's peppered into freeway traffic? They have become a problem in America because there are so damn many!
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Andy 12:11AM (9/20/2006)
Michael is correct. SUVs became quite fashionable in the 1990s. BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz sport-utes are not built just for North America. SUVs are quite popular in Switzerland and Scandinavia for the rugged geography. SUVs are also popular among the East European and Russian aristocracy.
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Michael F 2:37AM (9/20/2006)
As the sensible people have said, giant SUVs here in Europe are status symbols like (if maybe not as much as) having a Bentley or an Aston Martin badge on your car.It screams out "Look at me! I have loads of cash to spend on buying and maintaining this wasteful vehicle. And I don't care if I can't find any parking space big enough near work because I own the bloody company."
Whereas BMWs, Mercs, etc are more common cars on our roads. I understand it's the other way round in the US.
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Davik 6:22AM (9/20/2006)
We have the Porsche Cayman and Range Rover, GM will be burning money on this venture.
The Hummer is too wide for old European roads, and ugly as hell, even among SUVs.
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Shat 7:31PM (9/20/2006)
I just moved to college, and before that I lived in the Hummer capital of the world, Southlake Carroll (Dragons) Tx. Most people in the high schools there hate H2s. We realise how lame they are. It's mostly older people who fall for them. The few kids who have them get laughed at.
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Angela 8:18AM (9/27/2006)
I own a H3 and live here in Germany. Bought the car for the "feeling of safety" in an accident. Definately agree with the responses. Not a car built for German roads. I have had to reverse long distances from getting stuck down some roads, and it is a guzzler! Do not regret the purchase though, chalk it up to better next time around :) It has the worst blind spots you can imagine. Looking in the rear view mirror you can barely see some of the tiny European cars if they are right behind you. The front sides have really bad blind spots as well.
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iandra 5:18PM (7/10/2007)
hola como estas tu mi amor y como te vas adios un beso mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡
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