Autoblog

click above image for more sketches of the HUMMER HX Concept

Talk about a dream job. David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski are three fresh-faced grads of the College for Creative Studies (where many car designers get their schoolin') and recent new-hires of the GM Design division. Their first assignment handed down from on high was this: "provide a vision for the future design of off-road vehicles." Under the supervision of HUMMER design studio director Carl Zipfel, each young designer was assigned to either the wheelbase, approach and departure angles or stance - three core HUMMER proportions – and otherwise given liberty to design away. Though all three came up with their own visions, the won you see above was chosen by the suits to be transformed into an actual concept to be shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.

The press release states that the E85 Flex Fuel-capable HX Concept features a pair of removable roof panels, as well as a removable rear roof. The end effect is some serious open air motoring while you're crawling boulders or jumping dunes. The slant back either recalls that particular body style of the original HUMMER H1, or like us you're seeing a lot of the Toyota FJ Cruiser in the shape, too (especially from this angle). The doors and fenders can also be removed for off-roading adventures, though it's not like this concept will ever touch a speck of topsoil.

[Source: GM]

HUMMER's general manager, Martin Walsh, has put all the speculation about the long-rumored HUMMER H4 to rest, telling those assembled at a dealer conference that the truck will be shown in concept form in January at NAIAS as the HUMMER HX. The HX will become the H4, which is set to arrive in 2010 as a 2011 model. After giving up the details, Walsh then showed the dealers the actual HX concept. According to descriptions given to the website Hummer Guy, the 2-door, 4-seat HX rides on a shorter wheelbase and is not as tall as its stablemeates, yet is easily identifiable as a HUMMER, thanks to familial styling cues like the signature grille and glass-to-bodywork ratio. The doors are completely removable, as are the fender flares and roof panels. In addition, the H4 will have an optional slantback that evokes the original Humvee. One person who spoke to Hummer Guy said it was "like an enclosed dune buggy." Sounds promising.

Ahead of Detroit, pay attention to SEMA, too, as we have it on good authority that HUMMER will show off a couple of concepts based on current product that have a distinct shot at production if reaction is positive enough.

HUMMER's been keeping busy. It's spending money to improve its current offerings ('08 H2 and H3), further expanding the lineup (don't forget those H3T spy shots), and there's more in the pipeline (H4). The Sierra Club's favorite piñata isn't going anywhere, there are just going to be more goodies inside.

[Source: Hummer Guy]