Hummer's H2 Cell Phone

Believe it or not, an H2-branded cell phone will go on sale this year in parts of the world where there has been little backslash for the Hummer brand. That’s mainly Russia and South America. The cell phone gets some bright coloring but also has some decent capabilities, including a 2 megapixel camera, microSD slot, built-in modem, email and Dual-Sim. Not too shabby of a phone. We’d expect it to be a good incentive to add on to an H2 sale. Bundle that cell-phone price into the loan term while you’re at it.

Hummer HT2 Phone Is Smaller, Brighter, Even More Pointless than the Original (Gizmodo)

Hummer, Cadillac, Saab's April Offers Uninspiring

Incentives are rarely surprising. They’re usually relatively consistent from month-to-month, with a few exceptions (this month’s crazy deluge of Ford and Chrysler deals falling squarely under that umbrella). So it goes with Hummer, Cadillac and Saab in April.

Neither Hummer’s nor Cadillac’s incentives manage to make their models’ high prices more enticing: the H2 has $2,000 available and the H3 offers $3,000, but with the starting MSRP for the H2 hovering above $50,000, anyone buying a Hummer probably doesn’t badly need a couple thousand off. (Then again, a couple extra thousand dollars never hurts.) The H3 was a big hit for Hummer just a year ago, but has seen sales slump a bit, leading to the relatively high cash-back here.

The Cadillac DTS has $3,000 cash back off a starting MSRP of around $46,000. Saab has seen surprising interest of late in its 9-3 sedan and 9-7X SUV and has yet to provide a deal on 2008 models beyond 5.9% financing for 36 months. All incentives expire April 30.

All Manufacturer Incentives (Cars.com)
More Incentives News (KickingTires)

OnStar Adding Live Directions to Nav Systems

When GM rolled out turn-by-turn directions for navigation-less models, we were impressed with the thrifty idea even if the execution wasn’t pretty. Now the company is making the obvious leap to adding live operator-provided directions to models equipped with factory-installed navigation systems.

Yep, using Destination Download you’ll be able to call an OnStar operator and get them to send directions to your navigation screen instead of having to type them in yourself.

Hummer Owners Don't Like Stigma

SUV buyers avoid getting Hummers more than any other brand because of the image attached to owning one, or so says a survey by J.D. Power. That’s leading GM to change the marketing for the brand to highlight the utility of the H2 and H3.

The new campaign calls Hummers “Purpose Built” to show that people buy them to handle tasks other vehicles simply couldn’t accomplish. Hummers aren’t status symbols, you see, they’re to go white-water rafting after crossing the Rubicon. While it may be a good slogan on its own, we doubt that this attempt to change the image of Hummer will actually stick.

Hummer owners themselves are tired of getting nasty looks, and often find their SUVs vandalized, according to a story in USA Today. New ad campaign aside, we doubt mainstream buyers will stop looking down on Hummers as long as the SUVs continue to get the same — or worse — gas mileage as other SUVs. At least that’s our guess. What’s yours?

Hummer's Feeling a Little Misunderstood (USA Today)

Presidential Cash Back from GM

GM has been steady, if not spectacular, in doling out cash back incentives offers over the last six months. Those incentives are getting a sudden spike this week, according to Bloomberg News: The automaker is offering an additional $1,000 cash back on 15 models in an attempt to further boost sales in the typically difficult winter climate.

The promotion includes the 2008 Saturn Vue and Aura, bumping those vehicles’ offers to $2,500. Also receiving rebates, according to Bloomberg, are Buick Lucerne, Chevrolet Silverado, Pontiac G5, and 2007 Corvettes.

The sales are timed to coincide with Presidents’ Day, and if there’s a better way to honor American history than buying a Buick Lucerne or a Chevy Silverado, we’ve yet to hear of it.

For a full list of incentives, check out Cars.com’s Incentives Page and Top 10 Rebates list.

Cadillac, Saab, Hummer Dealers Next to Consolidate

At an important convention of automotive dealers this weekend, GM chief executive Rick Wagoner said the company is stepping up efforts to consolidate its three luxury brands, Cadillac, Saab and Hummer. Much like recent moves to bring all remaining Pontiac, GMC and Buick dealers under one roof, this move would save GM money.

Unlike the Pontiac, GMC, Buick trio, the three luxury brands don’t really share the same platforms, and there wouldn’t be a cut in the number of models each offers.

We’re not sure how luxury shoppers, especially those interested in Saabs, will feel about going to a showroom sharing the floor with Hummer. The changes won’t happen swiftly; Wagoner pointed out that the Pontiac, GMC, Buick consolidation has taken roughly five years and still isn’t complete.

GM Sees Room to Consolidate Luxury Dealerships (Yahoo! Finance)

Video: 2009 Hummer H3T

Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays got to check out the all-new 2009 Hummer H3T pickup ahead of this year’s Chicago Auto Show, and in this video he gives us a tour of Hummer’s new truck. There are even a few shots of it driving through snow and ice in the wilderness. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to drive it — at least, not yet — through snowy Chicago streets, which would have been a real test of its offroad chops.

Share this video via YouTube

Up Close: 2009 Hummer H3T

Hummer invited journalists today to check out the H3T before it’s officially introduced at the Chicago Auto Show. If assertive styling and offroad capability trump some of the more utilitarian aspects of owning a pickup for you, you might want to check it out.

The truck looks more impressive in person than it did in press photos. The doors cover the entire side of the crew cab — there’s no framing around them — and the roof has raised rails that run all the way between the cab and the bed. Most pickups leave an unsightly gap between the two. The H3T’s extended length nominally compromises its approach and departure angles — meaning your bumpers might take a few more hits negotiating that backwoods gulley — but Hummer assures us it will handle the same grueling trails as its H3 bedfellow.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Hummer H3T

• Competes with: Chevy Avalanche, Honda Ridgeline
• Looks like: A Hummer truck
• Drivetrain: 242-hp, 3.7-liter five-cylinder with five-speed manual or automatic or 300-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 with four-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

Hummer went out and did it — it’s made a pickup version of the H3 SUV. The truck you see here will go on sale this year and test the waters to see if there’s still a healthy market for Hummers.

When the H3 debuted it saw healthy sales, but they’ve stalled lately as gas prices have risen. We wonder if the H3T will add a spark or fall flat.

As a product, the H3T is pretty interesting. It’s a tad longer than the SUV to accommodate its five-foot bed, so it’s positioned above midsize trucks but below full-sizes. Hummer hopes its offroad capability will help sell it, with standard full-time four-wheel drive and 32-inch tires. Front and rear locking differentials and 33-inch tires will be optional.

The rear seats fold flat to create a level surface, but we prefer truck seats that fold up, exposing a flat floor. The bed itself has a standard bedliner, a rail system and built-in storage compartments.

The H3T Alpha will top the range with a 300-hp V-8 engine, while the base model gets the 242-hp five-cylinder in the current range. There are more photos of the Alpha version below. Let us know in the comments if you think this is a winner or not.

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.

GM Continues Year-End Incentives

There's plenty of hype about year-end sales deals, and it's easy for deals to get lost in the shuffle. The Event of a Lifetime? Sounds a bit dramatic. Red Tag Sales Event? Better get shopping — those tags are red! For some, they’re just another unwelcome level of anxiety around the holidays — a mad rush to make cars fly out dealership doors before the year's over. But do they pay dividends?

For the consumer, at least in GM's case, the answer is no. Despite fussing over its December Red Tag Sales Event, the manufacturer is keeping offers going through March 3. Many of those offers — especially on 2007 models — are nearly identical to last month's deals, meaning consumers who sat things out in December have an extra couple of months to breathe deeply before buying.

Check out all of GM's deals — like $2,750 off a 2007 Saturn Vue, or 0.0% financing on a 2007 GMC Acadia — on Cars.com's Incentives page.

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Hummer HX Concept Preview

Imagine your first job out of college is working for GM’s design studio. Sounds cool, right? Then the company decides to hand you the reins in a project to design a major concept car that will debut at the granddaddy of all auto shows. That’s what GM did with three young designers and Hummer’s HX concept. The Hummer HX is aimed at the Jeep Wrangler as a two-door offroad-enthusiast dream machine that has a high likelihood of going into production.

The three designers worked as a team, but each one came up with a distinct design. Only one of the three versions will win GM’s final approval and appear under the lights in Detroit. Our bet is on the Kang HX above. Check out all three sketches below.   

GM Red Tag Sale Returns

It's the most wonderful time of the year — the time when consumers brave long lines and early-morning frost, all in the name of discount holiday gifts.

GM is hoping that festive consumerist spirit extends to its vehicles. The automaker just released details of its annual Red Tag Sales Event, which comes bearing gifts of increased cash-back and financing incentives on a variety of models. The offers range from 0.0% financing for 60 months on all 2007 GMC and Chevrolet models — including the popular GMC Acadia — to hefty cash-back bonuses perfect for shoppers looking to save some extra holiday cash right away. To lock in 0.0% financing on a 2007 Chevy HHR or save $2,000 on a 2007 Saturn Aura Hybrid, buyers will have to get to dealers before the sale expires Jan. 2. 

To locate GM's offers in your area, search the Red Tag Sales Event site here, or check out Cars.com's full list of national offers for all of GM's and other brands' latest incentives.

GM to Build Hummer H3T Truck

In an unusual move, GM confirmed today that it would build an all-new model for Hummer based on the H3T truck concept shown here. It will be based on the popular H3 SUV and feature a pickup bed. Unlike some SUVs with truck beds, the H3T will be a full-fledged pickup, bigger than a midsize (Chevy Colorado) but smaller than a full-size (Chevy Silverado) and will go on sale in the third quarter of 2008, meaning sometime next fall.

We say the announcement is unusual because most car companies won’t announce a new model without a public unveiling of some kind, like at a major auto show. We expect to see a production version of the H3T at one such show this season, most likely Chicago in February. More H3T concept photos below.   

XM Now Standard on all 2008 Buicks, Hummers, Saabs

GM has already made XM Satellite Radio standard on all Cadillac models, and now it’s adding it to other premium brands, including Buick, Hummer and Saab. All new 2008 models will get XM equipment standard, along with a free three-month trial subscription. Subscription rates start around $12 per month, but if a proposed XM/Sirius merger goes through there will be more affordable options starting around $8 a month.

XM is also standard in these models: the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado, Tahoe, Cobalt, Corvette and Impala; Saturn Vue, Outlook, Aura and Sky; GMC Acadia, Yukon and Sierra; and the Pontiac G5 and Solstice, among others.

Related
New XM, Sirius Service Will Offer A La Carte Programming (KickingTires)

UAW Strike Against GM Ends, Everyone Happy

We’re not sure what exactly was holding things up over the weekend that led to the GM strike that lasted two days, but all sides seem to be happy today. The main sticking point, it turned out, wasn’t the UAW taking over retirement health care management — stay awake one more second — it was GM providing some kind of reassurance that there is job security for UAW members.

Oddly enough, this morning there are still no specifics on how GM managed to offer job security in an industry that is seeing increasing competition not just from Japan and Korea but from China as well.

GM says this deal helps reduce the gap in costs between foreign nameplate cars made in America with its own products. There’s roughly $200 per vehicle that domestics pay more than imports that use non-UAW labor. We’ll keep an eye on new car prices to see if they dip $200 or if the company adds more features. We’re not holding our breath on the former.

GM, UAW Reach Tentative Deal; Strike is Off (The Detroit News)

What GM's Strike Means to Car Shoppers

At 11 this morning, the United Auto Workers union went on strike at American GM plants. This basically shuts down production of many new GM cars, trucks and SUVs for the foreseeable future. But does that mean you won’t be able to find that new GM car, truck or SUV when you go car shopping in the immediate future?

According to the latest inventory numbers, GM on average has enough vehicles for 67 days at the current rate of sales. Some hot vehicles like the Buick Enclave — built in Lansing, Mich. — only had a 26-day supply, which is roughly 3,600 vehicles, as of Sept. 1. Trucks and SUVs like the Chevy Silverado (90 days) and GMC Yukon (139 days) won’t be hard to come by, however.

Another big issue is how new cars built at striking plants will suffer. Those new cars include the 2008 Cadillac CTS, on which GM has already spent millions of dollars in advertising and marketing. If the strike drags on, the CTS could be hard to find, especially because it has received so much positive buzz. GM is also heavily betting on the all-new Chevy Malibu, which was set to begin production next month. We’d guess the strike will be resolved by that time, however.

UAW Strikes GM (The Detroit News)

Friday Fleet Notes: 9.21.07

Not too much to report today. We have a lot of new cars in the fleet, but we’re feverishly working on getting the full reviews done before the rest of the staff gets to weigh in on them. Until then, we get another take on the new Hummer H3 Alpha and some good real-life use of the Toyota Highlander’s nav system.

Hummer H3 Alpha

Even though the H3 is the smallest member of the Hummer family (it’s approximately the same length and width as a Jeep Grand Cherokee) it still feels big. Really big. Due to the H3’s height and the short windows, small cars behind me and along the passenger side would essentially disappear. In a 90-minute drive, there were three separate times I thought “Whoa! Where’d that car come from?!” as some compact seemed to zoom ahead out of nowhere.

GM Extends Financing for 2006 Models

GM has beefed up its incentives programs, extending 0.0 APR financing offers on most models in its family — including Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn and Saab — to 60 months. The bad news is that the zero-percent-for-60-months-on-every-model offer only applies to 2006 models, which are often hard to find. On many of those models, GM has added an additional $1,000 cash bonus to those financing offers.

Customers also have the option of bigger cash rebates without the financing deal. Cash back ranges from $500 all the way up to the 2006 Cadllac STS’ ever-generous $9,000 offer. All offers expire Oct. 1.

For a complete rundown of GM and other manufacturer incentives, see Cars.com’s incentives page. You can search new car inventory, including new 2006 models, on Cars.com here.

Friday Fleet Notes: 9.7.07

Friday Fleet Notes returns with a solid batch of cars we’ve recently reviewed. This week’s installment features second thoughts on the new Nissan Altima coupe, Hummer H3 Alpha, Saturn Vue Red Line and Honda Ridgeline, giving added insight for folks who didn’t get enough from the original review.

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe

I recently spent another day or so with the 2008 Altima SE coupe reviewed in July by David Thomas. I like it now as I did then, and it got me musing on the issue of continuously variable automatic transmissions, which the Altima teams with its 3.5-liter V-6. This is one of the best CVT executions out there — a technology that hasn’t grown on me as much as I’d expected. As a class, they tend to have a delay when accelerating to pass, and they often rev the engine faster than expected under light acceleration. This results in more noise than many are comfortable with, and I think it increases the perception of lag, because surely this thing should be going faster with all the noise it’s making. Part of it is driver adjustment and part of it is a legitimate drawback.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha...With Video

Hummer advertises its H3 as a fuel-sipper, at least by comparison to some other SUVs on the road. That might’ve been true of the five-cylinder base model, but for 2008 the SUV gets a hearty V-8 engine that finally makes the H3 Alpha fun to drive — and guzzles more gas than a Chevy Suburban. Is the trade-off worth it? Mike Hanley tells us in his full review at the link and in the video below.

2008 Hummer H3 Alpha Expert Review

Hummer Announces 2008 H2 Prices

The 2008 Hummer H2 may look the same on the outside, but it receives a radically updated interior that brings it up to speed with the rest of GM’s large SUV platform. It also gets a new 393-hp V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission that GM says is more efficient than the 2007, although we haven’t seen mileage numbers quite yet.

Prices have gone up roughly $1,400 for both SUV and SUT models. The H2 SUV will start at $55,510 and the SUT will start at $55,555. The H2 goes on sale late this summer. Neither price includes $900 in destination charges. A Luxury Series will be available for $6,410 for the SUV and $4,000 for the SUT. An Adventure Package for off-roading will be available at $1,555 for both models. We’re waiting on word on what exactly the Luxury and Adventure packages will include.

Related
Hummer Hummer News (KickingTires)

GM to Build Light-Duty V-8 Diesel

Last year, Ford kicked off the light-duty diesel scramble when it said it would build a diesel F-150 in the not-too-distant future. Now GM has joined the fray, with plans to shoehorn a 4.5-liter diesel V-8 under the hoods of the Hummer H2 and light-duty 1500 versions of the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. Expect them to arrive around 2010.

With space constraints dictated by its current lineup of pushrod gasoline engines, GM had to fit a square peg into a round hole, so to speak. The Duramax turbo-diesel sports a few space-saving tricks — among them exhaust portals that exit into the center of the "V," not to the outside, as normally happens. The General says the engine will produce more than 310 hp and 520 pounds-feet of torque. Compare that to the chestiest gas V-8 in the Sierra 1500, which makes 400 hp and 415 pounds-feet of torque. Towing capacity will likely increase measurably over the Silverado and Sierra’s 10,500-pound maximum.

With decreased carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, GM expects the Duramax to meet stringent emissions standards in all 50 states. Fuel efficiency should be up 25 percent versus a comparable gasoline engine, GM powertrain spokesman Tom Read said. We couldn't find a gasoline V-8 in GM's truck lineup that makes anywhere near 520 pounds-feet of torque, though, so we can't predict any mpg.

Source: GM 

NFL Draftee-to-Be Quinn Gets Free Hummer H2

Here’s one thing we just don’t understand: How come the rich and famous get the best free stuff? Whether it’s the gift bags they used to get at the Oscars or cars for superstar athletes, the folks with the most cash get the big ticket freebies. Not fair.

The latest case of this is former Notre Dame quarterback — and a potential top 10 draft pick tomorrow — Brady Quinn getting a Hummer during tomorrow’s NFL Draft. He’s actually getting just the use of two new 2008 H2s for one year, and not the full outright cars, but still. What’s that in lease-deal terms? It has to be over $1,000 a month for both, right? And why would he need two?

Anyway, amaze your buddies tomorrow with this factoid while you watch the NFL draft. The presentation with Hummer will happen between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday EDT. He should be wearing an NFL team cap by then. [please, be a Miami Dolphins hat, please –ed.]

Source: GM

Related
2008 Hummer H2 Gets Nicer Interior, Badder Engine (KickingTires)
2007 New York Auto Show: 2008 Hummer H2 (Cars.com)

2008 Hummer H2 Gets Nicer Interior, Badder Engine

The H2 brought the Hummer brand to the masses, but today it seems a little outdated on the road. Even so, it still has fans out there, and the company has treated them with a dramatically improved interior and new 6.2-liter V-8 engine for both the H2 SUV and SUT.

On the outside, we don’t think anyone will notice larger openings in the grille and a silver-painted bumper, as that’s all that has changed. Inside is where it counts. The entire instrument panel has been redesigned, there are new seats, new door trim and a full third-row seat for the first time.

The engine is a 393-hp V-8 with 415 pounds-feet of torque, good for a towing capacity of 8,200 pounds — a 1,700-pound bump over the outgoing model. The H2 also gets new standard safety equipment, including curtain airbags for all three rows of seats, seat belt pretensioners, electronic stability control with rollover mitigation, a tire pressure monitoring system and a panic brake assist.

Hummer says the new H2 will go on sale “later this year,” so we’re guessing after the summer. We’ll let you know when we hear something more definitive. Check out more pictures of the interior and exterior below.

It Really Needed a V-8: 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha

In one of those rare instances of automotive journalism harmony, almost every story ever written about the Hummer H3 has pointed to its somewhat anemic powertrain. For 2007, the H3’s base five-cylinder engine got a slight power bump, but today we learn that Hummer wants to make a big dog out of its littlest SUV.

The 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha gets the full V-8 treatment, with 295 hp and 317 pounds-feet of torque, allowing for a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds with a four-speed automatic transmission. There’s no word on fuel economy, but the H3 Alpha does reach 60 mph in eight seconds, compared to the base model’s 11-second time.

The Alpha name is given to high-performance models in the Hummer lineup, and the H3 Alpha can be ordered with the cosmetic H3X package. All 2008 Hummer H3s also get new standard equipment, including an electronic stability system, antilock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The Hummer H3 Alpha goes on sale this summer. Check out the photos below.

Cars.com Faceoff: Dodge Nitro, Hummer H3, Toyota FJ Cruiser

We had some fun with the latest Cars.com Faceoff. Mike Hanley, Joe Wiesenfelder and I took three of the most macho SUVs on the road and pitted them against each other on things like their rugged looks, offroad prowess and everyday usability. You might be surprised to learn which of these grown-up Tonka trucks took home the prize.

Cars.comparison: Macho SUVs

2007 Detroit Auto Show: Hummer H3 Open Top Concept

It hasn’t gotten a lot — really, any — press attention at the show, but Hummer brought out an official prototype of a convertible we saw last year. The top is made of canvas but is as sturdy as a convertible top. It slides forward and back, so it can operate like a large sunroof or as a convertible top. It also moves in reverse to give backseat passengers a sunny opening. It’s a nifty idea, but we’re not sure why it’s still in a prototype stage. We’re guessing the company is using the show car to gauge consumer interest, but it sure hasn’t gotten any buzz from the press. The flat paint job and more masculine tires would be a nice addition to the Hummer lineup, too.

A Tale of Two Schwarzeneggers

The last time I saw and photographed Arnold Schwarzenegger at an auto show, he stormed down Broadway into New York's Times Square amid a phalanx of law-enforcement vehicles, flanked by two Hummer H1s — military SUVs in civilian garb. He drove up onto the sidewalk and into ABC’s ground-level studio in an open-bed version of the Hummer H2 SUV.

He was helping promote what was at the time a relatively new and more refined Hummer that he had helped design (at least according to AM General, a GM partner that manufacturers the Hummer). Ahh-nold was one of Hollywood's few remaining action heroes and one of the biggest box office draws the film industry had ever seen, and I was in my fourth year as senior editor of Cars.com.

It was April 11, 2001.

Hummer H4 is Coming

It’s been rumored for some time, but now it seems the rumors are true. GM is going to debut a Hummer H4 concept vehicle at the Detroit auto show this January. Obviously, details weren’t released, but our best guess on the specifics of the future Hummer is that it will be a smaller SUV than the midsize H3, to take on the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ Cruiser. Since the H3 is still selling at a brisk pace it seems downsizing the Hummer brand isn’t a bad trend to follow.

[GM Will Unveil H4 Concept at Detroit Auto Show, AutoWeek]

GM Raising Prices, Slightly

To combat increased material costs, GM is raising prices on a third of its 2007 models. The price bumps will be small, between $60 and $425, with most falling in the $90 - $120 range. The main reason for the move is the rising cost of steel, though GM says it also includes “other commodities.” We don’t believe the well-documented health care costs GM is experiencing is factored into this price hike. Small price hikes like this are also common among import manufacturers.

[GM Raises Some U.S. Auto Prices, Cites Commodities, Reuters via Autoblog]

Expect More Hummers

GM's man in charge of developing products — Bob Lutz — dropped an interesting comment in Paris last week. He said "Hummer needs some more products." There's no guessing at this point what these new Hummers would be, but a pickup truck is a possibility. With the strong sales of the midsize H3 SUV, we'd bet future products — besides a new H2 — may be as small as the H3 or even smaller to take on the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ Cruiser.

[GM Exec: We Need More New Hummers, CNNMoney.com]

GM Announces 100,000 mile/5-Year Powertrain Warranty

The warranty wars are heating up. Two months after Ford amplified its powertrain warranty to five years or 60,000 miles, GM announced today that it would extend its own powertrain warranty to five years or 100,000 miles across its entire line of 2007 models. That includes Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC and Buick, and is retroactive for anyone who has already purchased a 2007 vehicle.

Powertrain warranties cover the engine, transmission, transfer case and drive assemblies. GM’s bumper-to-bumper limited warranty remains unchanged. The news will be heralded in a new series of commercials kicking off during tomorrow night’s NFL season opening game. The commercials feature drivers stuck in traffic, with those in GM vehicles magically floating and passing all those stuck in the gridlock below. We’re not sure about flying cars, but any increase in warranty length is a good thing for consumers.

2007 Hummer H3X: First Drive

GM’s collection of 2007 models available to drive last Wednesday included the Hummer H3X, a new trim level of the popular SUV that debuted last year. The H3X — and standard 2007 H3 — features a larger five-cylinder engine for the new year. It now displaces 3.7 liters and makes 242 hp, a 22-hp gain over the outgoing 3.5-liter engine. We piloted the portly H3X around parking lots, curvy backroads and open highways, though we didn’t get a chance to do any off-roading — something Hummers are famous for.

Staffer Kelsey Mays and managing editor Patrick Olsen offer their thoughts below.

Kelsey Mays: The H3 weighs 4,700 pounds, nearly as much as two Honda Fit hatchbacks. When I drove the H3 last fall, I suffered the ignominy of being passed on the highway by a Toyota Prius. A Prius, for goodness’ sake. More oomph is not just convenient, it’s necessary — especially since Toyota and Nissan market H3 competitors with sprightlier 4.0-liter engines.

GM Bringing Labor Day Bonus Cash

Personally, we take Labor Day off. We fire up the grill, throw on some ribs, and kick back and watch a ball game on TV. But in the car business, this is a major work holiday. There are countless local sales with extended hours at dealerships, and the auto manufacturers are joining the party. GM today announced it would offer between $500 and $1,500 on 2006 and 2007 models through Sept. 5. This cash-back offer is on top of current incentives.

The sale breaks down like this: $500 bonus cash on cars, $1,000 on pickups and car-based SUVS, and $1,500 on truck-based SUVs.

The Pontiac Solstice; Saturn Sky, Aura and Vue Green Line; Chevrolet Corvette; 2007 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL Denali; Hummer H1; and 2007 Cadillac Escalade are all excluded from the sale.

Ford, Chrysler and Nissan have already announced similar holiday sales events.   

[GM Offers $500 - $1,500 in Bonus Cash on '06, '07 Models, Detroit Free Press]

Seamless iPod Integration for Ford, GM and Mazda

Apple announced it will join forces with Ford, GM and Mazda to create a new integration system for more than 70% of those manufacturers' 2007 models. For Mazda, that means its entire 2007 lineup will offer the system. Ford and GM (both of which already have 2007s on lots) will start offering the system later this year in most of their vehicles.

The system will work from the glove compartment and will not only allow users to access their playlists from the standard radio controls, but will also charge the iPod at the same time. From the press release, it sounds like artist and song titles will also be viewable as long as the car’s radio can show text. Some aftermarket companies offer similar systems.

There's no word on cost yet, but it sounds like this will be a dealer-installed option. 

[Source: Apple]

GM Unveils 2007 Lineup

General Motors — the puppeteer behind Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer and Saab — has taken the wraps off its entire 2007 lineup. Most redesigned or all-new vehicles, like the Saturn Sky and Chevrolet Tahoe, have been uncovered for months. As for the rest, here are some highlights:

• GM’s minivans, which include the Chevrolet Uplander, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay, add much-needed oomph with a standard 240-hp V-6. Consumers thankfully voted last year’s underwhelming 201-hp V-6 out of office. Also heading home is Pontiac’s related Montana SV6, whose slow sales and asinine name foretold its end months ago.

More Environmentally Offensive Hummer

Sometimes we have to sit in amazement as new car information rolls into the office. Today GM is releasing details on most of its 2007 line-up that hasn’t already been announced, like the 2007 GMC Acadia. One of the least significant changes caught our eyes and stirred our brains.

Hummer is offering a limited edition color for its 2007 H2 SUV and SUT. The color? Glacier Blue Metallic. We’re not sure who picks out color names or how they’re created, but the fact that no one at GM or Hummer has an internal filter that says “maybe we should stay away from naming colors of our large SUVs after sensitive environmental objects that may be melting because of global warming” is astounding.

We can’t definitively say that large SUVs contribute directly to global warming — we’ll leave that to scientists — but public perception sure seems to think so and a responsible, nay smart, business decision would be to come up with a less offensive color name. Heck, even “Ice Blue” wouldn’t bother us.

Stay tuned all day for more on the 2007 General Motors line-up.

Hummer H2 Wheels Can Fall Off

The Sacramento Bee ran an investigative report on its front page today regarding Hummer H2s and the possibility their wheels can fall off. There have been more than 20 cases of H2s experiencing the extreme problem, including the Bee’s own automotive editor Mark Glover. His 2002 test vehicle is shown here after losing its front left wheel in the newspaper’s parking lot.

Most of the cases occurred after the vehicle struck another object, but others — including Glover — say they didn’t hit anything. GM says there’s nothing wrong with the part that caused the problem, even though they replaced it in 2003; complaints documented in the Bee’s report state model years ranging through 2004. NHTSA is continuing an investigation that could eventually lead to a recall. GM says there is nothing wrong with the vehicle.

[Bee Investigative Report: Wheels are falling off Hummers, Sacramento Bee – Registration required]

New GM Incentives

We guess General Motors isn’t going to stick to its guns about not discounting new models as much as in 2005. Today the company will roll out a slew of new — and somewhat confusing — incentives for the Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saab and Saturn brands. Cadillac and Hummer already have 0% financing deals in place. All programs will run through Sept. 5.

The confusing part for buyers will be unique advertising and incentive campaigns for each nameplate. GM is trying to emphasize its unique brands even in how incentives are dealt out. Yes, it will be annoying and even more confusing for buyers. Along with extensive 0% financing for 36 and 60 months on most 2006 GM models, Saturn is running a 10%-off-the-sticker-price option. When a full list of specific incentives for all GM brands is released we'll post them here.

[GM Touts Sweeter Financing Deals, Detroit News]