Hummer H1 - from range to civil
The history of Hummer began in 1979, when AM General began construction work on a multi-purpose military vehicle, abbreviated as HMMWV (Humvee), designed to replace the M151 light all-terrain vehicle, which had been produced since the late XNUMXs.
The prototype of the original Hummer H1, introduced in 1981, was so liked by the representatives of the American army that two years later AM General received a lucrative contract for the production of 55 thousand vehicles. The machine is built on a steel frame and is equipped with permanent all-wheel drive. Under the hood of a military Humvee, there was originally a 6,2-liter diesel engine with a capacity of about 150 hp. The machine has been produced since 1984 and has been adopted by dozens of armies around the world in many equipment options. Where does this introduction come from, straight out of a military history textbook?
While the latest Hummer H3s don't look like military vehicles, but rather give the impression of the perfect off-road vehicle for a black rapper, the Hummer's civilian roots are to be found in the Humvee. In 1992, Arnold Schwarzenegger asked AM General to sell a civilian version of the Humvee. After all, an action star would look great in a male army SUV. And so began the history of the Hummer H1. Interest in these uncompromising cars grew at an unprecedented pace - the first cars were sold directly from the factory, and already in 1993 there were 50 car dealerships on the US map.
Initially, the Hummer H1 was technologically very closely related to the military version - it had not only a 24-volt electrical system, armor and other useful features on the battlefield. Equipped with ABS, traction control (TT4), heated windshield, power side windows, audio system, lighting package, central locking, air conditioning and CTIS system that monitors the pressure in unusual 17-inch Goodyear tires. Four versions of the body were prepared - Wagon (station wagon), Hard Top (four-door, hard-top) and Soft Top (four-door, soft top) and a not very popular pickup truck.
The Hummer's interior is distinctive, with a surprisingly large tunnel running through the cabin. For this reason, this vehicle, which is over 2 meters wide, has only four seats. The off-road qualities of the Hummer H1 leave much to be desired. Thanks to these sacrifices, the car is able to overcome a hill with an inclination angle of 72 degrees (if it is not equipped with a winch) and even pass through the water 76 cm. It is not afraid of snow, sand, mud - it is ubiquitous. Worse with city driving - in Europe, where roads and parking spaces are narrower than in the USA, it is impossible to comfortably drive a Hummer around the city.
The large, naturally aspirated 8-litre V6,2 diesel paired to a three-speed automatic did not provide outstanding performance and was rather quickly replaced in 1994 by a slightly larger 6,5-litre engine paired to a four-speed automatic. In the H1 version, this engine also appeared in a version with a turbocharger, thanks to which it initially produced 170 hp, and later even 195 hp. and allowed to reach 100 km / h in 18 seconds. Gasoline enthusiasts could choose a 5,7-liter gasoline engine, also from General Motors, which was offered from 1995-1997. However, none of the motors had an easy life with more than a 3-ton monster.
In December 1999, AM General entered into an agreement with General Motors, which, under this agreement, received the rights to the brand and was supposed to distribute Hummer cars. As a result of this decision, the design of the successor to the H1 model began, which was no longer so extreme. The history of the prototype, however, was not over yet - the car was still in production, although sales were not astounding and amounted to several hundred units a year.
An appropriate power unit for the Hummer H1 was never found until the end of production. It was a 6,6 L Duramax LLY diesel engine producing 305 hp. for 3000 thousand turnover is sold in a modernized version of Alpha, which entered the market in 2006. For the new power unit, a five-speed automatic transmission and a more efficient braking system were prepared. A more powerful unit allows you to accelerate to 100 km / h in about 13 seconds. Due to a glut in the market, rising fuel prices and high prices, the car was produced for only one year and was not a success.
The Hummer H1 seems to be the quintessential Americanism - it's big, wide, heavy, strong and bold in the field. Americans love this type of vehicle. Otherwise, it has long been known that bestsellers (not only in Texas) are powerful pickups. If the Hummer H1 had European ancestry, it would probably never have been in civilian production. Not a single concern of the Old World would have believed in the commercial success of such an extreme car. But in the States everything is possible.
A photo. General information
