H-4 ???

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Hummer HX Concept Hints at H4 Styling

Written By: Phil Floraday

Filed Under: Automotive News, Concept Cars, Design, Future Vehicles, Hummer, North American International Auto Show, Sport Utility Vehicles December 11th, 2007 1:30 PM </B></B>




Hummer has been moving down in size since the H2 hit the roads. It should come as a shock to nobody that the newest Hummer concept will be the smallest yet.
A group of three young designers worked together to design the HX concept that will appear at the 2008 North American International Auto Show and another international auto show later next year. The concept is smaller than an H3, but retains the look of the Hummer brand.
(Click through for more information on the HX concept.)




Large 35-inch tires sit on 20-inch beadlock rims and show the HX would be a serious off-roader in production form, if the concept makes it that far. As a part of Hummer?s plan to make all its vehicles biofuel compatible, the actual HX concept will run on E85.
Our favorite part of the HX concept is the removable roof and doors. The back of the SUV could be a slantback, a regular squareback, or an open-air environment, depending on the mood of the driver. Such features clearly target the Jeep Wrangler, but also nod to the many configurations the H1 was available in.
The rugged exterior is all business and approach and departure angles are fantastic. This Hummer looks like a clear winner in terms of size and features. Hummer officials hinted that positive reception of this vehicle could push it into production. The writing on the wall indicates a need for an H4 and this is a test of a styling direction.

Three Young Designers Shape Future of HUMMER through HX Concept

DETROIT ? Scheduled for introduction at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the HUMMER HX concept reflects the innovative minds of three new GM designers - David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski - whose first assignment was to provide a vision for the future design of off-road vehicles.
Fresh out of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., the designers? first test in GM was to design a fun, nimble and innovative HUMMER concept.
?HUMMER appeals to young people globally and served as a perfect first assignment for our newest talent,? said Ed Welburn, vice president of global design and product planning. ?Today?s graduates from top design schools are ready to hit the ground running. The HUMMER design challenge gave our newest designers an opportunity to sprint.?
The task presented numerous challenges to the new designers, from creating a vehicle for a brand known around the globe for its iconic design, to ensuring the model would live up to the market?s expectation of HUMMER off-road capability.
To help ensure designs were true to the HUMMER brand, these designers were given limited design direction by Carl Zipfel, an ex-professional motocross racer and director of the HUMMER design studio.
?Carl definitely set the tone,? said Rojas. ?While he gave us creative liberty and challenged us to develop innovative ideas, he also defined three HUMMER proportions ? wheelbase, approach and departure angles, and stance ? and assigned one to each of us. It gave us a chance to collaborate, but also take our own direction.?
While sketching and sculpting together in the HUMMER studio, these recent graduates drew upon the creative energy of each other, further improving their individual designs, as well as that of the final concept.
?We drew inspiration from one another,? said Kang. ?As you?re designing and sketching you try to absorb what the other designer is doing and try to make it better.?
David, Min Young and Robert?s collaboration inspired the HUMMER HX concept, which presents extraordinary efficiency without sacrificing the unique essence of the HUMMER brand, the world?s most capable off-road vehicles.
?While we took inspiration from the HUMMER heritage and DNA, we each wanted to evolve it in a new way,? said Jablonski. ?We agreed it should be contemporary, compact and definitely open air. It came out great.?
After three months of sketching and sculpting theme work for the new HUMMER concept, each designer had the opportunity to present scale clay models to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman and Ed Welburn, who chose which design would ultimately become the HX concept.
In its final concept form, the E-85 FlexFuel capable HUMMER HX embodies the off road spirit of HUMMER in a fully customizable package. The HX offers an open-air driving experience via a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger and a modular, removable rear roof assembly enabling a quick conversion from closed vehicle to open vehicle SUT. It also features a slant back assembly with removable doors and fender flairs.
?Working as a team, you realize it?s more than one person influencing the vehicle,? said Rojas. ?You can see the inspiration from each of our designs in the final concept vehicle. We?re all proud to have the chance to see our sketches become reality.?

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

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The Hummer HX concept is a crossover Jeep-like vehicle that’s smaller than the H3 midsized SUV.

GM to unveil a 'small' Hummer concept at Detroit auto show
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Jamie LaReau
Automotive News
December 11, 2007 - 3:16 pm ET
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DETROIT — Working to expand Hummer’s portfolio, General Motors plans to unveil a small concept vehicle called the HX at the Detroit auto show in January.

The Hummer HX concept crossover is smaller than the H3 mid-sized SUV. The H3 is the smallest vehicle in Hummer’s lineup.

The HX was created by three young designers GM hired from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. GM declined to say whether it plans to put a vehicle such as the HX into production.

“This vehicle is an expansion of the Hummer brand,” said Martin Walsh, Hummer’s general manager, in a briefing with reporters on Monday, Dec. 10. Walsh says the HX would have tremendous appeal to 20- to 30-year-olds with disposable income.

The two-door, four-seat HX contains removable door panels and a removable roof so that it can resemble a hatchback — or slantback as GM calls it — or a square-back SUV or a sport-utility truck. It has removable fenders and a short front with Hummer’s distinctive grille; with the fenders removed, the HX looks like a dune buggy. Its overall shortened appearance makes it resemble an open-air Jeep Wrangler, but is more premium, Walsh says.

The HX — which has off-road capability — is shorter than the H3, which is 188.1 inches. But the HX’s front track width is 68 inches compared with the H3’s 65 inches. The HX also has a low roofline, making it appear very wide.

The interior has a strong center console with a wide and shallow instrument panel. The seats are designed to look dynamic so they stand out when the doors are removed.

Walsh says if the HX goes into production, it likely will be built on a different platform from the H3. It’s been designed to immediately meet global standards and therefore gives it strong appeal to countries outside the United States.

Hummer is in 37 countries and GM plans to expand the brand to Japan in the next two quarters, Walsh says. The H3 would be the product Hummer would place in Japan, he says.

[CO Hummer]

I'm definitely interested in this one. The Wrangler is selling faster than Jeep can make them. I can't understand why Hummer is taking so long to come up with an alternative.

[Hummer Aficionado_VT]

I'm really excited to see this concept become a reality! I agree with CO, Hummer is taking too long. -Build it now!!

[KenP]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

I'm definitely interested in this one. The Wrangler is selling faster than Jeep can make them. I can't understand why Hummer is taking so long to come up with an alternative.

They're trying to figure out how to avoid the bent tie rods and exploding diffs.

BTW, doesn't this belong in the "Other Hummer Models section"?

[BKLYNH2]

Shouldn't this be in the H4 Section?
It's rather interesting to see who GM picks to develop the look of what will be a very important product for them. It didn't seem like these kids could get their heads around what is great about the Hummer brand and image, and what needs to be carried forward. I hope they took them on a lot of offroad trips. Also I think they need to get the designers out with people who are passionate hummer owners to get an idea what will make a great new hummer. That being said I think the concept drawings are not that bad especially the silver(concept drawing)and red one On the silver I like the indent detail on the door panels as they remind me of an H1. With the overall area of these smaller Hummers being less than the h1 and h2 the details make a big difference in preserving the Hummer look and feel. I think the grill on the red needs to be deeper (taller) with larger main headlights. They could steal some room from the bumper to do it and shove the drls to the side.
Yes Hummer needs to get this project going, but they really need to do better than the H3. I think the wrangler stretch is what is really selling, which means that they really need to improve the H3. I know the 3 is doing fairly well, but it is a real disappointment to anyone that really understands what the Hummer name is about (flame on, but its true) When I first saw the h3t concept I thought they were in the right direction but they blew it in the end. The H3 falls short in maintaining the Hummer image and is certainly not the same class of offroad machine as its predecessors. To compete with the Wrangler extended, they need to upgrade the toughness and maybe come up with a version that can be opened up more like the wrangler.
Hopefully they will get it right again with the H4.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by BKLYNH2

Shouldn't this be in the H4 Section?

Haha! I edited my response while you were posting.

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by BKLYNH2

To compete with the Wrangler extended, they need to upgrade the toughness and maybe come up with a version that can be opened up more like the wrangler.

X1000. Until the they go with a SFA in an H3 and a front locker it's simply not going to compete with a Wrangler (Rubicon). Yeah, yeah, driving skills play a big part. But equal drivers, the Wrangler is in a separate class.





OK.....I'm waiting for the "but it still can ford water better...." response.

[Hummer Aficionado_VT]

It can still for water better.

[DennisAJC]

Looks like RYD enraged the repost police.

[dochummer]

Anybody figure out what pictures are on the wall in the background?

[Tex_h2]

Originally Posted by dochummer

Anybody figure out what pictures are on the wall in the background?

I have to add my two cents......

If this is going to be the same size as the H2...then maybe......but if its going to be smaller then the H3......then its a shame, first we lost the H1 Hummer...and now where getting smaller and smaller....what's next and "Smart Car, Hummer"