2008 Detroit Auto Show: Hummer HX Concept

• Looks like: A shrunken H3 was mounted on the H2’s undercarriage
• Defining characteristics: Seven-slot Hummer grille, massive wheels, armored underbody
• Ridiculous features: Pie-in-the-sky interior, more removable parts than a post-op celebrity
• Chance of being mass-produced: Unlikely in its current form, but elements could make their way into a future compact Hummer

Make no mistake — Hummer’s HX concept takes direct aim at a certain Jeep. Behind its big-boy face, the HX has all the ingredients you’d expect in a compact off-roader: Locking front and rear differentials, a disconnecting stabilizer bar and the most underbody plating this side of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Hummer calls it a “four-wheel backpack,” citing its numerous trail-friendly provisions – among them a first-aid kit, flashlight and shovel – and snidely adds that the bumpers have tow hooks for “wrangling others” who’ve gone astray. Your move, Chrysler.

Smaller than the H3, the HX comes in at 171 inches long, just a hair shorter than the four-door Wrangler Unlimited. Under the hood is a 304-hp V-6 cribbed from GM’s direct-injection engines. Ground clearance is a healthy 13 inches, besting the Wrangler by 2.5 inches, and Hummer says the HX can ford 2 feet of water. Should you need to build a lean-to at base camp, the doors, roof and fenders are removable.

Like many concepts, the HX’s cabin borders on pure imagination. Its boxy confines house four neoprene seats with exposed framework and four-point racing harnesses. The dashboard mounts on a crosswise aluminum frame, with central pods for the navigation system, auxiliary dials and stereo. In the press photos, the stereo is playing the Village People’s “Macho Man” off a device called “Jeff’s iPod.” Everyone together now: We’re laughing with you, Jeff, not at you.

While the HX is strictly a concept, it could presage Hummer’s future Wrangler-fighter, which some have dubbed the H4. There’s been no official confirmation of a baby-Hummer yet, but the HX certainly advances its possibilities. More photos below.

Comments

[Aussie Boy]

this reminds me of the suv's you see in the Dakar Rally, very nice. The completely removable doors, windows etc are a bit too much, I mean how often would you want to remove all those panels, but it is a nice option for offroading peoples.

[Infosaur]

I don't know why companies won't CONSIDER offering such an outrageous interior as AT LEAST option.

People will buy a brand new SUV, then immediatly broom the wheels and tires (that engineers spent months matching to that specific car) for $2000 worth of the latest bling.

But when it comes to interiors people won't buy chrome?

Someday, some company is gonna make a production vehicle with an interior as radical as it's exterior, and it will match the original concept.

Any THEN they will be praised as being innovative. (probably Toyota and Honda will do it)

[the original v. lo]

first off, radical and toyota/honda do not go together...

second, you gotta understand that wheels are just a personalization thing that makes the owner feel like he or she actually "worked on the vehicle." I think it's stupid too. But the interior has to be able to meet safety regulations and all of that, and the vehicle has to be affordable and actually profitable, so its not really an automaker's fault of watering down a concept, its business/government regulations.

[dustin]

Please let this be the H4 and please make a diesel. I want one. Pretty please.

[dustin]

Please let this be the H4 and please make a diesel. I want one. Pretty please.

[Robert Jablonski]

Im one of the designers for the HX, Im glad theres alot of interest around this concept and its nice to see people are responding to the off road capabilities.Alot of energy was put into making this concept a true Hummer.

[Troy in Ft Walton Beach]

Nice Hummer! The thing that really concerns me is this. How many of them will actually be utilized offroad like they were designed? 10-15%? The majority of them will live their life on pavement. Build a street and offroad version. The street version could be tuned for a softer better handling ride, better fuel economy yet retain the ability to drive down a dirt road, in inclement weather or to the campground. The offroad version could be just like the concept model.

This would surely net some more potential buyers.

[Jackie]

What is the anticipated cost and mpg ratings?

[jyd]

Ah, poor Hummer. Each new model smaller than the previous. There just aren't enough insecure fan-boys out there to keep the sales numbers up. Hummer so desperately wants to be mainstream but they can't quite do it. The H1 didn't sell, which by the way was the only Hummer even worthy of the name. The H2 is just a Silverado on 'roids. The H3 is a Chevy Canyon pickup on HGH. Will the H4 be based on the Cobalt? I read somewhere that GM is frantically trying to beef up the Aveo suspension to get the H5 to market! Maybe it could be a hybrid! It might get almost 18 mpg! Think of all the money you'd save after you shelled out $50k for it! I feel sorry for Hummer. GM will eventually kill this division, mark my words.

[jj]

what is the price and what is the gas milage