It turns out that the spy shots of what we thought was an AM General prototype for the next-gen Humvee was anything but. After seeing the pics appear on the web, AM General contacted World Car Fans with an explanation of what we were looking at. The vehicle shot by Brenda Priddy & Co. was in fact the Evolutionary Concept Vehicle II (EVC II), which AM General's been exhibiting in public at U.S. Army events since last year. It doesn't seem to be an official next-gen prototype of anything, but just a concept vehicle the company uses to generate interest.
We also thought that the Pentagon's project for the next-gen Humvee was called the Future Tactical Truck System (FTTS). While that program does exist, the one to replace the current Humvee is called the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). AM General is working on a JLTV prototype for the program in conjunction with General Dynamics, but has yet to show it in public.
Despite it not being the real deal, the vehicle in the spy shots is still a bad ass truck that would like right at home on a battlefield, but we'll have to wait a while longer before we find out what the military will choose as its next whip.
[Source: World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AlexP @ Jul 24th 2007 6:24PM
Hopefully GM won't be taking its styling cues to make the next Hummer... I mean, I already dislike the Hummer as it is.
OC Rider @ Jul 24th 2007 8:58PM
There are multiple contestants for the JLTV. All three armed forces departments are developing smaller, lighter future vehicles in order to meet with the light mobile force for quick response. This includes a wheeled alternative to the M1 Abrams tank, smaller carriers, and the well-known joint-strike fighter. The Humvee prototype dates back to 1981. A replacement is long overdue.
Thunder @ Jul 24th 2007 10:12PM
Oh my God !!............this is really ugly this model made for GM....This appear like a Strongbox with wheels !....I prefer this model...
http://www.urbalvictoria.gob.mx/foros_seminarios/images/doc_fo38.jpg
Matthew @ Jul 25th 2007 6:39AM
I don't buy it. AM General are trying to make a smokescreen. The vehicle pictured in the previous blog (link below) is a very serious piece of engineering. It's styling is similar to the EVCII concept but that is where the similarities end. And while would you build a second concept? Concepts are expensive to make so you would only make one. And you especially don't go and build a precision engineered second version just for show.
Furthermore the way the doors are "sealed" so robustly to the cabin demostrates the real explosion resistance this provided to the occupants. This vehicle is not a concept, it is an advanced prototype.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/spy-shots-am-general-humvee-prototype-caught/
Barney @ Jul 26th 2007 9:01PM
Why would the AM General make a military vehicle to show to the "public". It's not like the public would be buying it directly nor telling the military they want them to buy this one.