There's no better moment than the day after Earth Day to announce a new smaller, kinder, gentler Hummer. Martin Walsh, Hummer's general manager, said "Our growth will be downwards in terms of size," and that begins with the now-official H4. Walsh also indicated there might be a smaller model than the H4 if need be.
The H4 comes below the H3 in the pecking order, meant as a compact SUV to go against competitors like the Nissan Murano. As such, Walsh said the H4 would be built on an upcoming compact GM platform, but didn't say which one. As long as Hummer-philes get the same gruff styling cues and useful ability in the dirty stuff, that shouldn't be a problem. Hummer insiders are apparently fretting that GM might "go soft" with the H4, but even Walsh readily admits, "We have to offer legitimate off-road capability."
Last year Hummer sold 56,000 H3's and 14,000 H2's. The H4 could bump those numbers up by an additional 40,000 units. Also in the pipeline are "bio-fuel powertrains '...in every single vehicle application," an H3 SUT, and even though it was ruled out late last year, news out of Australia is that a hybrid could even be in the works. It's a new day indeed. As for the H4, sources tell us to look for a preview of it in concept guise during next year's auto show circuit, likely in Detroit.
[Source: GoAuto via Top Speed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bryan @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:10AM
I like that they "have to offer genuine offroad capability", considering most of these are gonna get 22-inch+ rims.
rwdmtparkingonly @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:16AM
Come on GM, make an H5 based on the Aveo, if it causes even one "Hummer Enthusiast" to get really angry upset and pissy it will have been worth it.
By the way, when I say "Hummer Enthusiast" I'm talking about people that drive around in overpriced dress up to make believe Chevy Tahoes (aka the H2), and not my man Bill Clinton.
jamie @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:17AM
Sweet!
Check out the radical suicide doors (?) :o
Mike @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:20AM
If the H4 is a small 4-door Hummer about the size of a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited...as long as it was just as capable or better....I'd buy it. I'd make my beach trips a blast and would kick ass in the New England winter.
But that's the only H-vehicle I'd buy. The other Hummers are a waste of fuel, steel and money. They will never see the conditions they were designed for.
JohnC @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:22AM
Very cool...........Bring on the H4.....
araemo @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:40AM
"useful ability in the dirty stuff"
WHAT useful ability? Only the H1 had any, and that's because it was actually based on the military drivetrain/suspension.
H2s and onward were more fluff than substance.
Luciano @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:41AM
I like it a lot, lots of caracter, good volume and proportions + great graphics (lights etc etc). If I could I would by one.
http://www.lucianobove.blogspot.com
ChrisE @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:46AM
Gross. Just like the H2 and H3.
Guenther @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:54AM
"The H4 comes below the H3 in the pecking order, meant as a compact SUV to go against competitors like the Nissan Murano."
WTF??? The Murano is a Midsize, priced similar to the H3 and not at all comparable.
"Walsh said the H4 would be built on an upcoming compact GM platform" that makes ZERO sense.
#5- don't wait for the H4- the H3 IS a 4-door vehicle similar in size to the JK Wrangler Unlimited, with similar fuel econ and off road capabilities.
jvvv @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:54AM
Did they dropped that thing out of a plane or left it in the sand fot the night? You can't see any trail..
Robert Aitchison @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:59AM
I'm still waiting for the Aveo based H6
Doogs @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:06PM
Why are they naming the Murano, a crossover with no offroad merit whatsoever, as a competitive benchmark. What about...hello...the Wrangler?
Reading the comments about the offroad abilities of the current Hummer lineup, I agree 100% about the H2. Nothing more than a Tahoe with a fancy body kit. But the H3 I believe wrongly inherited some of the H2's foul reputation. Taken on its own, it's pretty much on par, offroad wise, with the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Nissan Xterra, both of which are pretty decent.
Granted, none of these hold a candle to the Wrangler...or the Land Rover Defender...but they're far better in the rough stuff than most of the pretentious crap on dealer lots these days.
Craig @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:06PM
I'll consider one when they make the H0, the one you can put on your keychain, otherwise what a waste of the worlds resources.
Nick @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:10PM
They're definitly correcting the size issue for these things...something I and other off-road enthusiast complain about regularly....even the H3 is tad too large for my liking.
Next step...actually improving the capability of these vehicles. Hopefully the H4 is on a better platform than the H3, which is derived from the Canyon...ughh.
ronaldraygun @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:15PM
might not have heard about it yet but the H9 is a two seater going after the smart vehicles
JD @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:21PM
Autoblog, you might want to clear up that the pic shown is of the H3T concept that came out before the production H3, but anyways. I suppose we all knew it was coming. And #3, you know that GM wants soooo very badly to make an H6 based on the Aveo! The H5 will be cobalt based. :) Oh, but I think it's all a bad idea. I haven't really seen very many H3's compared to how quickly H2's were around, but that could also be due to the fact that an H3 is smaller than a cruise ship on wheels. Hopefully it doesn't tank, in any case, because the US car industry needs to get back in the game after 30 (40?) years out of it.
rwdmtparkingonly @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:29PM
Doogs, the H3 is good except for the engines (I5 and SBC but no V6) and price. I like it, and the Colorado/Canyon that it shares its Isuzu platform with, but an Xterra is pretty well equipped for $25K and the Dodge Nitro starts under $20K.
Ryan @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:02PM
"The H4 comes below the H3 in the pecking order, meant as a compact SUV to go against competitors like the Nissan Murano."
That line speaks volumes.
The FedEx Man @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:14PM
Stop it already! The first, second, and thrid were crap and I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be the exception to the rule.
Dub @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:26PM
Just so everyone's clear... the vehicle in the photo is the H3T concept truck. Just a concept, nothing else. The upcoming H3 SUT will look like a baby H2 SUT, but with a more usable "bed".
Also, as far as the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited goes... the H3 is basically the same size -- and similar price range if you're looking at a Rubicon Unlimited -- as the Jeep is.
What Hummer doesn't have is competition for the 2-dr SWB Jeep Wrangler. This is what the H4 has historically been rumored as being. From the sounds of it though, Hummer/GM may be going after the cute-ute market instead...