Next Generation H2 Cancelled: Four Wheeler Magazine

[ROX]

I was just looking up some other information, and ran across this article.


Thanks For The Birthday Present Hummer
Next Generation Hummer H2 Cancelled
Posted March 10 2008 11:13 AM by seanpholman
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Hummer, Sean Holman

hummer h2 sut

Rumors of the H2’s demise have been hitting the internet hot and heavy this morning regarding the demise of the Hummer H2. We have confirmed that this is the case…

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We were the guys who spent the most time in the H2, looking past the negative perception and really appreciating it for the awesome vehicle it is. We won the Baja 1000 in the H2, we traveled cross-country in the H2, we lived with the H2, like it was our own, for a year. We drove H2s through blizzards, we pulled out less fortunate wheelers in the H2, we always got to where we wanted to go – and we did it in style in comfort.

Unfortunately we also got flipped off in H2s by granola crunching bicycle riders and self-righteous Prius drivers. And it was this movement of land-closing hypocrites that eventually would cause the General to bow to the negative pressure and cancel the H2.

Just when the H2 was about to be great, the General has blinked, caving in to pundits and canceling the next generation H2. We have seen the next generation H2 in studio and can tell you that that was going to be an impressive machine. What promised to be one of the best full-size SUVs available is nothing more than a memory during a cold Michigan morning for us.

While we were mightily impressed with the 2008 H2 interior and driveline upgrades, the next generation H2 blew us away. Exterior styling tweaks lead in to an interior with design to rival the best in the world, as well as fit and finish that could hold up to the most intense scrutiny. With today’s confirmation this means there will be no 4.5L 32-valve Duramax V-8, no spectacular interior, and no long bed H2 SUT.

What bothers us most about this is that if the H2 can be killed, maybe some trigger-happy executive would be willing to kill the entire brand. The fact of the matter is that the H2 has very little effect on the environment and is still a very popular and capable vehicle that does fill a low-volume niche. Unfortunately it couldn’t beat the bum wrap, no matter how many helped the Red Cross during disasters, or gave kids a happy ride in to surgery. Only time will tell if the loss of the H1 and now H2 will cause Hummer to lose it cache, DNA, and it "Hummerness".

For now, the H2 will carry on as-is, presumably until the end of it life cycle and the Hummer dealerships will be bolstered with the upcoming H4, H3, and H3T. We imagine that the team is hard at work to fill product gaps now that the end of the line can be seen for the H2.With any luck Hummer won’t make the same mistakes as Jeep and only have one true wheeler in its portfolio, leaving the rest of the line-up as dressed-up feux-roaders to appease those who feel that no one should have a vehicle capable of allowing families tor small groups to enjoy the beauty of the American back country in comfort and luxury.

Here is the official word from Hummer: "HUMMER made the decision to stop work on the next generation H2. While the H2 is important to the customers, dealers and brand, HUMMER is focusing its limited resources on new products like the H3T and HX Concept. With the popular changes made to the 2008 MY, we expect to sell the H2 for the foreseeable future, and will continue to make enhancements to the current generation to keep it relevant in its niche of the market. "

Good luck Hummer and thanks for this 30th B-day news.

--Sean P. Holman
Tech Editor- Four Wheeler Magazine

FIGURES! IS IT TRUE?

http://blogs.fourwheeler.com/6231925...led/index.html