GM will unveil H4 concept at Detroit auto show

By JAMIE LAREAU | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 11/20/06, 7:46 am et

Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek

Conceptual Artwork by C&G Member Mute

DETROIT -- General Motors' Hummer brand will unveil an H4 concept vehicle in January at the Detroit auto show, sources close to the automaker say.

The vehicle would be a smaller truck that would compete with the Jeep Wrangler. A production version likely would be built for the 2010 model year.

GM is also working on an H3 pickup that would be available in the 2009 model year, sources say.

"They want to broaden the product lineup for Hummer because they have had quite a degree of success with the H3 SUV," says Erich Merkle, director of forecasting at IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids, Mich. "The H2, in this environment, is too large. It's overkill."

The H3 is built on the small-pickup architecture used by the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It is unclear what architecture GM would use for the H4, but a source says it will not be a front-wheel-drive architecture.

Sweet, can't wait to see it. 2009 (calendar year) is a long ways off but I think it will be worth it.

To compete with the Wrangler, will it not have to be inexpensive and convertible? I think Hummer may have something here if they go after the Land Rover Discovery 90 crowd style truck. Although the inexpensive ride appeals to me more...wonder which way they will go...

Inexpensive, yes. Convertible, no. Hummer should go after the Wrangler but not be a carbon copy.

I just hope they don't allow the H2 and H3 to wither and rot while they execute these new vehicles.

It's SOOO GM-esque to have positive momentum, then get caught up in dragging their feet on rounding out the line up, then asking why they can't gain ground because they're caught in the viscious cycle of new product being old by the time the other new product is news. (A.K.A The new entries can't gain share because all their sales are going to COMPENSATE for the share loss of the two older products)

Well, it's great to know it won't be a rolling abomination like the Jeep Compass with it's FWD.

HOORAAAY RWD!

see GM get's it! Any ideas when we'll see the H3T / H3SUT concept??

This should be a 2008 NAIAS debut. Why are they showing stuff so early? They have plenty of stuff that's right around the corner to show... this is 3 years off.

Sounds great. I too have concern that they are showing this too early, but hopefully they may be planning to surprise us all and release it early. A removable top is a must, I think, even just a removable hard top like feature. Off-roading without a top is an experience that can't be replecated, and certainly instrumental in the success of Wrangler.

if they made the H4 a short wheelbase two door or even a four door but it would have to be the size of the jeep wrangler.. they could shorten the H3's wheelbase but it would make sense to just make a new platform, they could spread the development costs IF THEY MADE A SIMULAR VEHICLE FOR CHEVROLET AND/OR GMC, but with diffrent exterior styling.. sort of like a modern day Geo Tracker..

this vehicle would probably be powered by the colorado's 2.9L inline 4 cyl engine.. its unclear where this vehicle would be assembled eiether, schreveport might not have enough capacity to add this also..

if they made the H4 a short wheelbase two door or even a four door but it would have to be the size of the jeep wrangler.. they could shorten the H3's wheelbase but it would make sense to just make a new platform, they could spread the development costs IF THEY MADE A SIMULAR VEHICLE FOR CHEVROLET AND/OR GMC, but with diffrent exterior styling..  sort of like a modern day Geo Tracker..

this vehicle would probably be powered by the colorado's 2.9L inline 4 cyl engine..  its unclear where this vehicle would be assembled eiether, schreveport might not have enough capacity to add this also..

217983[/snapback]

why not a "truck" 3.5L V6? as far as the engine goes... maybe 200hp w/ 230lbft? eh who knows!!

the 3.5L right now is only a front wheel drive engine.. it could however use the same V6 engine as the upcoming base Camaro.. which will probably be the 3.9L..

the 2.9L I4 would be powerful enough to be used in a vehicle like the H4.. the inline 5 from the H3 and colorado could be optional.

The Atlas I6 would make a killer engine in this, IMO.

I know I'll get crucified for this, like some other thread, but I think the I5 should be in this model, and standard.

It'll likely be lighter than the H3 anyway, and would give the H4 some real punch.

The Atlas I6 would make a killer engine in this, IMO.

218071[/snapback]

yeah but even the 242hp I5 should do well against the Jeeps 3.8---pretty slow.

This is a good idea by GM. Small market bbut could own it I think.

There's no way the I6 will fit in the H4 if it doesn't fit in the H3.

^^^What is this cartoon?

Isn't April Fool's Day 75 days away?

It sure looks like a Tonka toy, doesn't it?

What bothers me is the stupidity out there with the general public still unwilling to educate themselves about the fact that these versions of Hummer are NOTHING like the gas-guzzling SUV's and Army Personnel Carriers they started out as. I would think that GM could do better by marketing these with more fuel-economy facts in mind...not that the market the Hummer caters to really cares heaviliy about gas-mileage. Still, I would think that the negative shadow (regarding fuel-mileage) Hummer casts over the automotive consumer market must affect their consumer perception of the entire company.

I hope I'm wrong and it's just not the case.

Hmm, looks like the sources were wrong, eh?

Hmm, looks like the sources were wrong, eh?

Well when they show the concept to industry insiders at a preview for NAIAS, one usually assumes that's where it will debut. Not the first time GM has changed their minds last minute.

Edited January 14, 200718 yr by CD/BP