G E A R E D - I N

A lot of new cars make their public debuts in movies; 007, Austin Powers, the Men in Black—each have had their own scene-stealing rides.  The Humvee (which stands for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or HMMWV) was different.  It had its big moment on CNN, as the US Armed Forces were pounding Saddam Hussein's troops out of Kuwait. 

Everything in the Humvee was designed for military use, from its cockpit-deflatable tires to its 1.52-meter wading capability to the parachute hooks poking out of its hood.  After the Gulf War, AM General, the Humvee’s manufacturer came up with a civilian version, known as the Hummer.  The Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenneger, was a proponent of that model, ordering two for his personal use.  The Hummer’s towering presence was unmistakable, but away from the battlefield, its enormous dimensions, particularly its 2.2-meter width, made it seem like a camel out of the desert.

In 1999, GM acquired exclusive ownership of the Hummer brand and decided to expand the lineup.  The first child of that relationship is the Hummer H2.  This Hummer was designed to be appropriate for driving to the mall as well as through the nearest river.

From the outside, the Hummer genes are in clear evidence.  It’s actually taller and longer than the original, and just slightly narrower, at 4820 mm L x 1976 mm H x 2063 mm W (vs. 4686 mm L x 1905 mm H x 2197 mm W).  The truck’s silhouette is similarly boxy, with upright windshield and tailgate, and rectangular doors.  Massive 315/70R17 all-terrain tires are at all four corners.  Round headlamps and a scowling chromed grille complete the Hummer styling cues.  That grille was subject of a lawsuit by rival DaimlerChrysler, because it has seven apertures, a Jeep trademark.  Ultimately, GM was permitted to use the grille design.

Inside, the H2 takes its inspiration from aircraft—military aircraft, from the looks of it.  The layout is strictly perpendicular, and uses modular elements, a “flight-deck” type center console and airplane-throttle type shift lever, exposed fasteners, round vents and sand-cast type surfaces.  Standard seating is for five, with an optional third row good for one “70^th-percentile” male (Mini-me?).

Despite the military styling, all the creature comforts are available, to broaden the H2’s appeal to non-offroading types.  There’s power everything, including the front seats (with memory), multiple storage bins and power points, Bose sound system, and GM’s biggest-ever sunroof. Leather covers the steering wheel and shift lever, and is available for the seats, too.

The H2 features a forward-tilting hood with integral fenders, made of sheet molding compound.  Heavy-duty, exposed outside hood latches tie the whole assembly down.  The optional brush guard (aka bull bar) is attached to the hood and also tilts forward when the hood is opened.  Peer inside and you’ll find a Vortec 6.0 liter V8 gasoline engine, good for 316 hp and 488 Nm. of torque. 

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