December 12, 2001

Click image to enlarge

Preview:
Hummer H2

General Motors released photos of the production version of the 2003 Hummer H2 model yesterday, a new, lower-priced Hummer with running gear borrowed from GM's full-size pickups. First shown at the 2000 North American International Auto Show, the "baby Hummer" is more civilized than the Hummer H1, a military vehicle that was originally developed for the U.S. Army and is best known for bounding across the sand dunes during Desert Storm.

"The H2's on-pavement manners, including ride comfort, are extremely refined. And it provides all the features and amenities that a premium SUV customer might want," says a Hummer news release. At the same time, the new H2 "is almost as fiercely utilitarian as its famous progenitors, and is capable of travelling through streams 20 inches deep, climbing 16-inch steps and rocks, paddling through deep sand and outdistancing competitors in high-speed desert preruns."

Click image to enlarge

The H2's 122.8-inch wheelbase is almost seven inches longer than a Chevy Tahoe's, while its overall 189.8-inch body length is nine inches shorter than the Tahoe's. On-road, the long wheelbase helps smooth out the ride; off-road, it helps prevent pitching in rough terrain. H2's wide 69.4-inch tread, with wheels positioned at the extreme corners, provides extra stability on-road and helps prevent lateral tipping off-road. As well, the Hummer H2's extremely short overhangs provide high approach and departure angles, allowing H2 to drive right into a hole and out again without getting hung up in front or rear. These approach and departure angles are the highest of any GM full-size truck.

2003 Hummer H2's will offer a standard Vortec 6.0 litre V8 engine with an estimated 325 horsepower and 385 lb.-ft. of torque and a new heavy-duty four-speed automatic overdrive transmission with GM's driver-selectable Tow-Haul mode which adjusts shift points to account for trailer weights. The H2 can pull trailers up to 3,182 kg (7,000 lb.).

A new Borg-Warner two-speed electrically controlled full-time 4WD system will be standard. It is capable of further reducing the vehicle's gear ratios by 2.64:1 when necessary, for highly controlled obstacle climbing. It provides a 40/60 percent front-to-rear torque split in "High Open" or when the differentials are unlocked and a 50/50 percent front-to-rear power split when the transfer case differential is locked. The transfer case electronic control provides five mode selections, including rear axle differential lock, to provide optimum performance under all types of driving conditions.

Hummer H2's will also include a new Bosch four-channel antilock braking/traction control system (ABS/TCS) which can detect and adjust its braking capabilities to rough off-road surfaces like gravel and potholes. The TCS also provides the ability to gain traction through a single wheel, if necessary. A new feature controlled through a separate driver control switch is the TC2 function. This provides for more wheel slip in the traction control mode for sand and desert running conditions.

The H2 features a ladder-type frame, with a modular, three-piece design that incorporates a number of hydroformed (formed with water under high pressure, which allows steel to retain more of its strength through the manufacturing process) components, for strength, stiffness and dimensional accuracy. The H2 includes large, thick skid plates; an under shield for the fuel tank; chassis-bolted steel rocker panel protectors; a protective shield for the optional on-board air compressor and mud flares that run up and around and over wheels.

The suspension is independent in front (torsion bar) and solid axle with five-link coil spring at the rear. A new optional self-leveling rear air spring suspension system tuned to H2's severe off-road requirements is included in the off-road suspension package.

Click image to enlarge

The interior is fully equipped with luxury features including seats with standard eight-way power adjustment for the front seat cushions and backs, and a standard memory feature for the driver's seat. Cloth covering is standard; leather is optional. With the leather seats, front occupants also get heated seat backs and cushions with three temperature settings, and second-row occupants get heated cushions. Standard dual-zone front controls allow the driver and front passenger to set individualized temperatures with as much as a 25-degree Fahrenheit difference.

Other features include 60/40 second-row seats that can also be folded and an optional third-row seat that can be folded and/or fully removed to provide more space; a selection of premium, high-quality sound systems and standard nine-speaker Bose system; a Driver Information Centre; GM's largest-ever-available sunroof; and secondary steering wheel controls, permitting drivers to select radio stations, change modes from radio to CD and control volume.

The 2003 Hummer will offer two distinctly different equipment packages: one that includes some chrome appearance items, a luggage carrier, tubular side steps, leather seats and AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer. Another includes a roof rack, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer, brush guard, first-aid kit, tool kit with portable lamp, and off-road suspension package.

While H1 owners are typically highly affluent empty nesters who own an average of six-plus vehicles, ranging from classic cars to Rolls-Royces and pickup trucks, H2 owners are expected to be a younger, more mainstream group of buyers whom GM describes as "rugged individualists" and "successful achievers."

"H2 has immediate brand recognition as a HUMMER, which was one of our mandates from the start," DiGiovanni said. "It's a HUMMER through and true, particularly in terms of its capabilities on rough terrain, but with an air of civility and refinement previously unheard of in a vehicle with such capabilities."

Specifications: 2003 Hummer H2 SUV

Click image to enlarge

• Body style: Four-door sport-utility, body-on-frame construction

• Driveline: Front-engine, full-time 4WD

• EPA vehicle class: Full-size sport utility

• Assembly Plant: Mishawaka, Indiana (AM General)

• Engine Type: Vortec 6000 6.0-liter V8 with cast iron block, cast aluminum cylinder heads, sequential fuel injection

• Displacement (cu. in./cc): 364/5,967

• Bore and stroke (in./mm): 4.00 x 3.62/101.6 x 92.0

• Valvetrain: OHV

• Compression ratio: 9.4:1

• Horsepower (SAE hp): (est.) 325 @ 5200 rpm

• Torque (lb.-ft./Nm): (est.) 385 @ 3600 rpm

• Transmission type: 4L65-E 4-speed auto

Exterior Dimensions
(in./mm, except where noted)

Click image to enlarge

• Wheelbase: 122.8/3,118

• Overall vehicle length: 189.8/4,819.7

• Tread (front): 69.4/1,762.8

• Tread (rear): 69.4/1,762.8

• Vehicle width excluding mirrors: 81.2/2,062.6

• Overall vehicle height @ curb weight: (est.) 77.8-82/1,977-2,080 (with and without roof rack)

Ground Clearance

• Angle of approach (degree): (est.) 39.8°-43.6°

• Angle of departure (degree): (est.) 35.9°-39.7°

• Ramp brake-over angle (degree): (est.) 24.3°

• Axle differential to ground (in./mm): 9.4/238

• Min. running ground clearance (in./mm): (est.) 9/229

Chassis/Suspension

Click image to enlarge

• Front: Independent with torsion bars; 46mm monotube gas shocks; 35.9mm front stabilizer bar

• Rear: 5-link variable-rate coil spring; opt. self-leveling air spring (w/RPO ZM6); 46mm monotube shocks, 30mm stabilizer bar

• Traction Control: Brake-controlled, single-wheel control capability with rear axle locking differential

• Steering type: Variable ratio, integral power; recirculating ball type

• Ratio: 15/13:1

• Steering wheel turns, (lock-to-lock): 3.25

• Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft./m): (est.) 44.3/13.5

• Brakes: Four-wheel disc, four-wheel/four channel ABS, dual piston calipers with Dynamic Rear Proportioning

• Wheel size and type (in.): 17.0 x 8.5 cast aluminum

• Tire size and type: Standard: LT285/70R17 all-terrain

• Optional: LT315/70R17 off-road

• GVWR, standard (lbs./kg): 8,600/3,901

• Base curb weight (lbs./kg): (est.) 6,400/2,909

• Trailer towing maximum (lbs./kg): (est.) 7,000/3,182

• Winch capacity (lbs./kg): (est.) 9,000/4,091

• Fuel tank capacity (gal./l): (est.) 33/124.9

• Range: 563 km + (350 miles +)

Greg Wilson is a Vancouver-based automotive journalist and editor of CanadianDriver