Thread: H3T unveiling
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Old 12-11-2003, 08:20 AM
DURAMAX TIM DURAMAX TIM is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: N.CENTRAL OHIO
Posts: 474
DURAMAX TIM is off the scale
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I got this from our plant website,
WARREN — Hummer and Saab have a new recipe to grow sales — offer smaller products to attract younger buyers. Both General Motors Corp. units plan to introduce all-new, less expensive models during January’s Greater Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Saab 9-2X is a production vehicle; the Hummer H3T is a concept.
Hummer first hit the market with the gargantuan H1, a civilized version of the military Humvee, then introduced the smaller H2 in 2002. It plans to sell an even smaller Hummer called the H3 in 2005.
The H3T is a pickup concept version of the H3. It isn’t built on a Hummer platform, but on the same underpinnings as GM’s new midsize pickups — the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
"We’re not looking to create mama, papa and baby bear Hummers," said Clay Dean, design director for small trucks and Hummer.
But the automaker is looking to milk its latest truck franchise and draw younger buyers to the brand, where the typical owner is now 45.
"We continue to explore a lot of other opportunities for Hummer," said new GM design chief Ed Welburn. "We’re looking at a smaller Hummer, more efficient, more affordable Hummer and how to appeal to a much younger market."
Hummer worked with athletic wear and equipment giant Nike Inc. to design the interior and exterior of the latest concept. Its 34-inch tall ACG TA tires resemble round hiking shoes with different colored areas denoting traction pad and sand paddles.
The H3T’s seats are made of special lightweight material, the same fabric Nike uses in specialized athletic wear that can cool or warm the body naturally.
Like most concept vehicles, the H3T has its share of gee whiz features, such as hood-mounted cameras for recording one’s off-road exploits. The pickup box includes side-access doors and drop-down steps that double as weather-tight storage compartments.
A power-operated folding canvas sunroof and drop-down rear window are there to provide an open air driving experience.
The 4-wheel drive H3T is powered by a 350 horsepower turbocharged version of GM’s new Vortec 3500 inline five-cylinder engine.
GM plans to gauge reaction to the H3T from auto show attendees in Los Angeles, one of the nation’s biggest Hummer markets, Dean said. But, he said, if it does go into production, the H3T would most likely not be a complete duplicate of the concept version.
A pickup version of the H2, called the H2 SUT, will go on sale during the 2005 model year.
Hummer may not be out to create the equivalent of the fictional three bears in building progressively smaller versions, but it could be a savvy strategy in building sales for the growing family of vehicles.
"It will fill out their product line with variations," said Mike Wall, an analyst with Farmington Hills-based consultants CSM Worldwide. "They may have an opportunity for a little more of a volume bump and start bringing in folks coming from the Colorado and Canyon at a premium."

BTW we are starting to build dies to make some of the 06 H3 parts.
But u never know, they cancelled the 6 door Suburban after we had made the door dies for the extra 2 doors.

Yell'r 04 Lux w/ air, sunroof,F&R brush bars
Traded 03 White Lux
03 GMC D/A CC SLT LB soon to be 04
__________________
07 White H3 Adventure w/ some black stuff
04.5 GMC D/A CC SLT LB EFI LIVE tuned
98 ZR-2 Blazer
Ex H2&3 owner
My hiking boots and canoe paddle have more miles than most 'offroad' vehicles, over 350 in last year.
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