GM Responds To Jeep Wrangler Success; Hummer H4 Gets Green Light

[Perian]

Link: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../70727029/1128

Article quote:

H4: Sources say GM has given the green light to market a small SUV for the 2009 model year that will be similar in size to the Jeep Wrangler.

Select members of the media have seen it and say it has striking styling that should jump-start the Hummer brand.

The smaller, lower-priced SUV is needed to help Hummer become successful outside North America.


Article quote:

A Colorado based small pickup truck is expected to be called the H3 for MY09.

[adplusone]

Typical GM...late to the party.

Their favorite game is "follow the leader".

Hummer dealers are dying on the vine.

2009 Model year?

Oh wait, isn't that when the Camaro is finally due?

[thehunter]

If it doesn't have some sort of removable top, they may as well not even bother.

[dederer]

Hope it has a diesel or is a Hybrid.

[PontiacBixler]

Holy Cow!!!! GM's doing what everyone has been crying for them to do FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS!!!!!!!!

I agree adplusone......

Late to the underaged party and left holding the beer when the cops show up.

[likearock00]

Is there any pics or chops on what they expect this thing to look like? It's a good idea, but I wonder how many Jeep loyalists would consider trading up for a more expensive vehicle.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by adplusone

Typical GM...late to the party.

2009 Model year?

Everyone would be considered late to the party when attempting to go up against the Wrangler. It's been around since the begining.

2009 Model year is next summer, wow, what a long wait. The question on my mind is what's it going to be based on? It can't be a one off platform, there's no money in it, not to mention the short development time.

[CobaltSScrazy]

late to the party???? Hummer has been owned by GM for less than a decade if i'm not mistaken...and Jeep has had wrangler for 5+ decades, apples to oranges comparison. in this intense global market I think GM is 'for par' with H4 and Hummer. Some of you guys just disgust me when you think GM can just crap out a brand new vehicle on an unnamed platform and just 'do it now' 'just because' as if you can just do that in one year (eyeroll). YEAH RIIIIIGHT!

Qualifier (so don't hate on me) : Yes I would agree that if we had better corporate/NA product planning strategically like a decade or more ago (I believe it started getting alot better around 2000) then yes this vehicle and others may have come out sooner, but under the current leadership I believe they are doing the best they can long term that is financially feasible. Not every automaker has toyota multi-billion dollar funds for ONLY 2.5 product lines (scion doesn't really count as much, lol, and I mean that b/c of the #'s and how their products are based on other vehicles etc.)

CobaltSScrazy

[Hummer Guy]

It'll be 2011 model year, released in 2010. It was announced last week at a conference in California - and it will have removable roof panels, slant back like and H1...Here is a pretty good description of the model they had at the conference:

http://www.hummerguy.net/hummer-news...oncept-vehicle

[Olds88]

Originally Posted by dederer

Hope it has a diesel or is a Hybrid.

Yeah these are 2 things the Wrangler crowd looks for in a vehicle. They don't care about fuel efficiency, they care about offroading ability, gearing, and punch. They most certainly don't want a hybrid badge anywhere near their anti-hippy machine. Its not an image they want to portray. A diesel, while more palatable is either going to say tractor-trailor or eurotrash to the Wrangler crowd. Like it or hate it the Hummer image stands for one thing and diluting it would destroy it. Here's hoping it has the Atlas straight-six or an SBC.

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

They may be "late", but they are the only brand attempting to aim at the Wrangler. So, call it what you want.

And dont come at me with FJ Cruiser B*ll *****....
Besides its hideous, would-be-bashed-if-it-were-a-gm-product looks, it competes against the H3, and actually won in a comparison ONLY because the FJ had better on-road manners--the H3 outperformed it off-road.....

I didnt know off road vehicles were considered suppior due to their on-road mannors.... hmm....

[Hummer Guy]

Wont be a hybrid, it will be E85 capable though. The entire Hummer lineup will be by 2010

[Olds88]

Originally Posted by CADILLACSIXTEEN

They may be "late", but they are the only brand attempting to aim at the Wrangler. So, call it what you want.

And dont come at me with FJ Cruiser B*ll *****....
Besides its hideous, would-be-bashed-if-it-were-a-gm-product looks, it competes against the H3, and actually won in a comparison ONLY because the FJ had better on-road manners--the H3 outperformed it off-road.....

I didnt know off road vehicles were considered suppior due to their on-road mannors.... hmm....

I agree, and futhermore, I don't really see the H3 competing with the FJ. The FJ is a pretend offroader , essentially a reskinned 4Runner which competes with TrailBlazer and Explorer. H3 is a purpose built machine, you buy one to go offroad. FJ is a "me-too" reincarnation of an old toyo Jeep clone/rip-off.

[jkennedy293]

Originally Posted by Sinner

The question on my mind is what's it going to be based on? It can't be a one off platform, there's no money in it, not to mention the short development time.

I think GM should piss of everybody and put it on the Cobalt platform. This will give them something to gripe about for a while.

[CrunkedRL]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

late to the party???? Hummer has been owned by GM for less than a decade if i'm not mistaken...and Jeep has had wrangler for 5+ decades, apples to oranges comparison. in this intense global market I think GM is 'for par' with H4 and Hummer. Some of you guys just disgust me when you think GM can just crap out a brand new vehicle on an unnamed platform and just 'do it now' 'just because' as if you can just do that in one year (eyeroll). YEAH RIIIIIGHT!

Qualifier (so don't hate on me) : Yes I would agree that if we had better corporate/NA product planning strategically like a decade or more ago (I believe it started getting alot better around 2000) then yes this vehicle and others may have come out sooner, but under the current leadership I believe they are doing the best they can long term that is financially feasible. Not every automaker has toyota multi-billion dollar funds for ONLY 2.5 product lines (scion doesn't really count as much, lol, and I mean that b/c of the #'s and how their products are based on other vehicles etc.)

CobaltSScrazy

CobaltSScrazy once again you come through making a whole lot of sense. The Wrangler has been in existence for many years and if anyone was "late to the party" it was Chrysler for not capitalizing on this nameplate some time ago. Most here should bear in mind that this is the only edge Chrysler has on GM. Every other car Chrysler has produced from the now defunct Crossfire to the Avenger is out performed, out classed, and out shined by by most every GM car within the same segment. 09' I think would be the perfect time to bring a new product or two to the Hummer brand. I've spoken with several individuals about Hummer over the past couple years and many associate it's name with both luxury refinements and extensive offroad capabilities. This is great start to a relatively younger brand to GM.