Hummer H2 - a colossus for a celebrity
The American automobile industry is full of irrational designs. One of them was the Hummer H1, a civilian version of the military Humvee - a car that was extremely impractical for city driving, wasted fuel, and also not very dynamic and uncomfortable. Despite a large number of marriages, it gained popularity and was produced in small batches for fourteen years. Its successor, introduced in 2000, is a little more civilized, but it's still a car for grandeurs, not practicality lovers.
In 1999, General Motors acquired the rights to the Hummer brand and began work on the H2, a car that was supposed to have much less in common with a military vehicle than its predecessor. The chassis was prepared as a result of a compilation of solutions used in the group's vans, and the drive was powered by a 6-liter Vortec engine developing a maximum power of 325 hp. and about 500 Nm of maximum torque. This was a huge step forward, given the fact that the H1 model was equipped with not very powerful diesels up to 200 hp for many years.
The powerful unit has been battle-tested for years - it set in motion the largest cars of the concern - Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban and Chevrolet Silverado. In 2008, a more powerful 6,2-liter engine with 395 hp was installed under the hood. (565 Nm of maximum torque), which also came from the Vortec family. Both engines are paired with automatic transmissions. The 6.0 version ran with a 4-speed automatic, while the larger unit received a six-speed.
When designing the Hummer H2, ease of use was a top priority over off-road capabilities. The car that left the Mishawaka factory was not suitable for off-road driving like its predecessor. On road tires, this monster won't be as revving in the field as the Land Rover Defender or Hummer H1. The car is capable of climbing a hill at an angle of about 40 degrees. An elevated suspension is available as an option, increasing the angle of attack to 42 degrees. Hummer H1 is capable of climbing uphill at an angle of 72 degrees. According to the manufacturer, the fording depth of the H2 is 60 centimeters, which is 16 centimeters less than its predecessor. However, looking at the three-ton shiny mastodon, there are no illusions - this is a car for promotion; Ideal for drawing attention while driving around the city.
In urban operation, the H2 will be much more dynamic than its heavy predecessor. Acceleration to 100 km / h takes 7,8 seconds (version 6.2), while the maximum speed is not specified by the manufacturer, but it can be assumed that the car on the track will not be such a hindrance as its predecessor, which barely exceeded 100. km / h.
Although stylistically you can see references to the H1 version, there is a pleasant surprise inside - there is no huge tunnel that significantly limited the interior space. Instead, we find two (or three) rows of heated leather seats and plenty of accessories to make the journey more enjoyable.
The Hummer H2, despite its high price (from 63 1,5 dollars), sold quite well - for almost the entire production period, at least several thousand copies of this giant left the factory. Only during the crisis, sales of these expensive and inefficient SUVs fell to thousands. pieces per year.
Those who were not afraid of the economic downturn could order their SUV (or SUT) in three trim levels (H2, H2 Adventure and H2 Luxury). The standard equipment of even the poorest version was much more extensive than that of its predecessor: Bluetooth, air conditioning, a radio with a CD changer and Bose speakers, traction control, heated front and rear seats, airbags, etc. In more equipped versions, it was possible find DVD, third row seating or touchpad navigation.
At the end of production, a limited edition H2 Silver Ice appeared, available in SUV and SUT versions (with a small package) from less than 70 20 copies. dollars. It had unique 5.1-inch wheels, navigation, a rearview camera, a DVD system, a 2008 Bose speaker package, and a sunroof. Of course, the car was only available in metallic silver. September 2 also saw the introduction of the H22 Black Chrome, with 1300-inch rims, numerous chrome elements, and brown bodywork and upholstery. The number of vehicles was limited to .
The Hummer H2 is a favorite of tuners who want to fit bigger rims every time and install an audio system that can generate even more decibels than the competitor's car. In terms of wheel size, the first place seems to be Geiger's Hummer H2, which is equipped with 30-inch wheels. In addition, a three-axle H2, a tracked H2 Bomber and a convertible version have already been created, which can be found in the United Arab Emirates.
Unfortunately, the popularity of the Hummer H2 among rappers, celebrities, and basketball players (the H2 sits in the garage of Miami Heat star LeBron James) kept the brand from staying alive. Sales of the H2 definitely ended in 2009, while the H3, which began production in 2005, needed another year more.
In 2010, the Hummer story ended. Initially, the capital of the Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines was supposed to support her life, but nothing came of it. Hummer went down in history as a victim of the crisis and the environmental trend in the automotive industry.
Phot. GM Corp., licensed. SS 3.0; Geigercars
