HUMMER auto news

Report: Humvee reborn on the battlefield... with a chimney?!

The military's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known to most of us as the Humvee, has already served a long and distinguished career in the battlefield, and there have been a number of replacements waiting in the wings to take over where the HMMWV left off. Or, should we say, leaves off... assuming that ever happens.

It seems that the Humvee is set to get a new lease on life as military budget constraints are forcing the government to reconsider its replacement. But there are still some pesky safety issues to work out before American soldiers will feel comfortable inside the confines of the off-road box on wheels.

As you're likely aware, improvised explosive devices are an ever-increasing threat to the lives of American troops serving overseas. The Humvee, which traces its design all the way back to the year 1984 when it first saw duty as a replacement for the long-running series of military Jeeps, has seen a number of incarnations over the years that added armor and improved safety, but the latest version may feature something hitherto unseen: a chimney.

No, not a chimney like the one that peeks out of your house. This chimney, along with a V-shaped hull, serves to channel explosive forces up and away from the occupants inside. The structure of the chimney also serves to reinforce the vehicle, connecting its floor with its roof. Other advancements include a new set of doors that open up like barn doors, seats designed to absorb shocks and a sling that promises to lower the gunner into the vehicle in the event of a blast.

Read more about the vehicle here, and be sure to scroll down for the illustration.

Architects design home made entirely of Hummers

Architects Craig Hodges and HsinMing Fung joined forces in 1984 to create their agency HplusF. Since then, the pair have gone on to apply their stylistic skill to the UCLA library, Hollywood Bowl, Egyptian Theater and a number of other works of architectural art. HplusF also tackles unique installations and showpieces, one of which involves the now-departed Hummer brand.

What could easily be a luxury apartment in the video game Fallout 3 is in fact HplusF's HummerHaus. Eight identical Hummer body shells wrap around a a steel skeleton to form a living space like no other.

Of course, this is merely a concept, but it's a rather interesting one. Could old vehicles be rehabbed into affordable living spaces? Could the Hummer body have a new lease on life after it was cut from the General Motors family?

Check out the gallery below to see how HplusF lays out its HummerHaus.

Video: MEV rocks up with electric mini Hummer HX

The 2008 Hummer HX concept was supposed to be General Motors' answer to the Jeep Wrangler. To put it mildly, that failed to materialize. General Motors killed Hummer as part of its bankruptcy-induced limb severing in 2009, before the HX could be brought to fruition as the H4, as had been rumored.

For those of you who wish the HX had indeed surfaced, we have some excellent news: My Electric Vehicle, or MEV, has appropriated the HX concept, added an electric drivetrain and created the MEV Hummer HX. The MEV HX is a fully electric golf cart resort vehicle, licensed by GM and sporting Hummer wheels and skid plates.

We're still trying to figure out if the MEV Hummer HX has any practical purpose, which could take some time. While we're doing that, feel free to hop the jump to see a video of the $16,000 electric Hummer knockoff in action.

Continue reading MEV rocks up with electric mini Hummer HX

SEMA 2010: Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer shows its guts

Zero South, a company that popped up at SEMA in 2008, is back again with its Biodiesel Electric Hummer. The heavily modified H1 rides on tracks at all four corners - a necessary modification, since this Hummer is designed for an expedition to the South Pole.

The trip is going to be documented by Chris Paine, who's best known for the film Who Killed the Electric Car? It was reported back in 2008 that the vehicle was going to be driven by Buzz Aldrin and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The film is called Drive Around the World and was shot in 3D. Drive Around the World is also the name of an organization that works to inspire an urge to explore while raising money for various charities. The H1 shown above is Zero South's vehicle for participating in these expeditions.

The Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer was originally setup to run on B99 fuel, but Jay Leno joined the team and modified the powertrain so that a four-cylinder diesel Volkswagen engine would act as a generator to four electric motors. Each motor would then provide power to the individual track it's coupled to. It's one heck of a Hummer, and we invite you to check it out for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

HUMMER hanging on: Tengzhong in talks with Chinese government to clear sale

Chinese National Radio recently reported that Tengzhong wouldn't be allowed to purchase Hummer due to environmental concerns. The company released a statement after that news broke saying that while there was no "definitive agreement," the CNR report wasn't based on facts from the government regulatory body in question, and Tengzhong is still working on the deal.

Last week, in a report titled "Tengzhong may get green light from the regulators for its acquisition of Hummer," CNR's take on where things appears to back up Tengzhong's view that the game is not yet played. The company's discussions with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce -- it needs approval from both parties -- have begun, and three options for concluding a deal were proposed.

If Tengzhong can convince the authorities of its expertise and business blan, and gets approval from both parties, it wants to set Hummer up in Sichuan province. If there is resistance to setting Hummer up directly, Tengzhong could try to base the company in one of China's ten bonded areas -- harbor points where the vehicles aren't officially "in" the country until taxes and fees are paid -- but this could impact the company's ability to sell Hummers in China. Or, the company could simply become a foreign investor in Hummer.

It isn't clear whether those options are Tengzhong's take on the purchase, or if that was just more speculation from CNR. Hummer had no comment on the matter.

eBay Find of the Day: Hummer H1 gets beaten with aerodynamic ugly stick

Inside, it's been all tricked out with a trifecta of television screens, ostrich leather interior, iPod-compatible entertainment system, sat-nav, back-up cameras...the works. Even the turbodiesel V8 has been tweaked and mounted with a polished aluminum snorkel, complimented by a chrome Mack truck bulldog hood ornament. Oh, and it has a $2,000 train horn, just in case someone can't see this behemoth coming from a mile away. All this can be yours for the low price of $89,900 or best offer.

Gallery: Hummer H1 custom on eBay

Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T

Last year, we compared the dirtside manners of the Hummer H2 and Toyota Land Cruiser. Both trucks did everything we asked of them, but at the end of the excursion we were left with another question begging to be answered: could the Hummer H3T stand up to the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon? These cruiserweights live on a fatter part of the buying curve, and any time a Jeep is summoned to the ring, the other vehicle is inevitably the challenger. Even though the H3T is still relatively new to the world, it came time to find out if it was ready to stand up and fight for its place. Follow the jump to see how it held up.

Gallery: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T

Hummer buyer to start talks with Chinese gov't to win sale?

China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, the company that recently surfaced as the top bidder for Hummer, is about to start talks with Chinese regulators to secure the deal. While General Motors has a tentative agreement with Tengzhong, the two companies have yet to receive the state's blessing, which is necessary for the sale to go through.

Tengzhong, GM and Hummer have been working on a proposal to present to the National Development and Reform Commission, despite speculation that the deal will be blocked by those Chinese officials. Tengzhong reportedly remains optimistic, saying they haven't heard anything from the authorities and don't expect to until their proposal is actually submitted.

Speculation that the deal was in jeopardy began when a China National Radio station reported that government regulators would block the deal based on environmental concerns about Hummer vehicles and the fact that Tengzhong doesn't have much experience as an automaker. Tengzhong is better known as a manufacturer of special-use vehicles, structural components for highways and bridges, construction machinery and energy equipment, so some have suggested this is little more than a publicity stunt for the company, but it certainly sounds like they are serious about the deal now.

REPORT: China to block HUMMER sale to Tengzhong

General Motors' pending deal to offload its unwanted HUMMER brand may have hit a major snag. Although no official word has come from the Ministry of Commerce or the National Development and Reform Commission, state-run radio organizations are reporting that the Chinese government will indeed block the sale of HUMMER from GM to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. It's impossible to know exactly how this whole mess will play out, but these reports clearly jive with the general sentiments we've been hearing since the deal was first announced.

According to Chinese radio reports (via the BBC), there are two main objections to the HUMMER deal. First, the brand's environmental credentials don't match up with the direction the Chinese government wants its automakers to head. Second, there are questions as to whether Tengzhong has the expertise to properly manage a large automaker as it's business dealings so far have all been in the construction equipment segment.

Not so fast, says Tengzhong. In a newly-released statement regarding these latest reports, the company had this to say:

Some people may have views and speculation, but the Chinese government has a process that we respect... The view expressed on China National Radio's website did not quote or source anyone at NDRC. We do not yet have a definitive agreement, but are developing our proposals with GM and Hummer and we will continue to engage with the appropriate authorities in an appropriate manner.

Gallery: 2008 HUMMER H2

Critics from China berate proposed HUMMER sale, rekindled automaker could be based in Nashville

As Chinese media outlets continue to voice derision over GM's agreement to sell its unwanted HUMMER division to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., there are real questions as to whether or not the Chinese government will even approve of the purchase.

State-run media outlet Xinhua News Agency has suggested that Tengzhong's interest in HUMMER may be little more than a publicity stunt, saying, "It couldn't achieve this result (of raising its profile) even if it spent $100 million on advertising." Commenting on Tengzhong's deal to purchase HUMMER, China's Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said:

We hope Chinese companies learn more about international market rules and development trends in their industries and make prudent investments.

Gallery: 2008 HUMMER H2