As you will soon find out, there's too much to mention about the Black Knight Hummer H2, but we'll just note the Lamborghini-style scissor front and rear doors, the decorative (?) machine guns, axes and swords (yes, all in plural) and more LEDs than a Christmas tree at a KISS concert.
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Green Brits will be happy to know (…) that the Hummer brand has been officially launched in the 
Model | Transmission | Price |
SE | 5-spd manual | £26,495 |
SE | 4-spd auto | £27,995 |
Adventure | 5-spd manual | £30,495 |
Adventure | 4-spd auto | £31,995 |
Luxury | 5-spd manual | £31,495 |
Luxury | 4-spd auto | £32,995 |
You definitely won’t find this remote controlled car in your local toyshop – first of all because it won’t fit out the door… The life-size, RC version of the Hummer H3 was created by engineer Dr James Brighton from “Converting the H3 into the super-sized remote control car took a month to complete but we’ve had lots of fun in the process”, stated
Hummer has joined forces with the To make the H3 more effective for Mountain Rescue, Hummer has enhanced the vehicle with a number of specialist features including grille and roof mounted spotlights to aid visibility in treacherous conditions and rocker panel protection which gives added protection to the lower body and door panels against rock strikes and other strong blows. –One more pic after the jump 
Hummer’s going compact at this year’s Scroll Down For The Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
HUMMER HX CONCEPT PROVIDES VISION OF A RUGGED, OPEN-AIR HUMMER
More compact than a HUMMER H3 – 81 inches (2,057 mm) wide, with a 103-inch wheelbase (2,616-mm) – the HX concept is an open-air, two-door off-road vehicle that packs the off-road acumen for which HUMMER has become legendary, along with an easily convertible body that acclimates to varied trail conditions, cargo needs or passenger whims. Its design is based on the ideas developed by a trio of young designers who are new to the HUMMER studio.
"The HX is HUMMER's vision an agile, trail-ready, open-air vehicle that fits the lifestyles of everyone who needs or wants to drive off road," said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. "Of course, it carries exceptional off-road capability and the distinctive styling for which all HUMMERs are known."
The HX offers an open-air driving experience via a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger, and a modular, removable rear roof assembly. With the roof panels and roof assembly removed, the HX is transformed into a true convertible.
Easy removal of the roof panels and rear-roof assembly enables quick conversion from a closed vehicle to an open one. The HX also was designed with several roof assemblies, allowing this versatile vehicle to be configured as an SUT (with the roof assembly removed), a stylish slant-back or a traditional, wagon-like design that offers a bit more cargo space.
The HX was shown with a slant-back configuration, wearing a desert-inspired matte olive paint scheme, at the North American International Auto Show. Additional convertible features include:
"The modular design of the roof and removable body panels mark an evolution of HUMMER's design aesthetic," said Carl Zipfel, director of design. "These features demonstrate a deeper understanding of enthusiast desires when it comes to off-road driving – and the slant-back design gives the HX a look all its own."
Purposeful exterior
The design of the HX was driven by input from three young designers who were new to GM and the HUMMER design studio. As part of their "initiation," they were charged with developing concept drawings for a smaller, youthful HUMMER and the HX is a direct result of their creativity. The HX concept is based on one of the designers' original illustrations, but incorporates the best ideas and elements from the other designs.
"HUMMER appeals to young people globally and served as a perfect first assignment for our newest talent," said Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design. "Today's graduates from top design schools are ready to hit the ground running. The HUMMER design challenge gave our newest designers an opportunity to sprint."
Inside and out, the HX carries a purposeful aesthetic that, from initial sketches to finalized clay models, was refined in only six months.
"This is the HUMMER design language stripped down to its essence," said David Rojas, creative designer. "The HX has an aggressive appearance and great proportions, with beauty lying in its functional austerity."
On the exterior, the lightweight theme is evidenced in the appearance of exposed, billet aluminum suspension components that feature CNC-machined lightening relieves, as well as clean, unadorned bodywork and minimal trim. The lightweight theme is taken to its extreme when the roof panels, roof assembly, fender flares and doors are removed.
Classic HUMMER design cues make the HX instantly recognizable, including the round headlamps located in square housings, an upright windshield profile, minimal overhangs, hood vents and prominent air intakes. The air intakes are functional and feed a V-6 engine beneath the hood, while the hood vents are active – they articulate to allow hot underhood air to escape.
And while the headlamps and grille are clearly HUMMER cues, they've evolved on the HX with a "chopped circle" motif. The grille slots and headlamps, as well as elements on the interior, have the appearance of circles or ovals that have been clipped at the top and bottom, creating a unique appearance that speaks to the vehicle's purposeful aesthetic.
"The 'cut-off' circles suggest larger, heavy-duty components that were trimmed to fit the compact HX," said Rojas.
And while it is unadorned by extraneous embellishments, the HX's exterior is nonetheless outfitted with features that speak to HUMMER's legacy of technology and innovation, including HID headlamps with focusing rings that adjust automatically when they're turned on – much like the lens of an auto-focus SLR-type camera. LED technology is used for the front turn signal lamps and taillamps.
Aeronautically inspired interior
From aircraft-inspired seats to integrated, off-road-ready tools, the HUMMER HX's interior has a beauty that lies in its purposeful intent. It was inspired by the functional and lightweight elements found in aircraft.
"Aeronautical parts are designed to be both lightweight and strong, and that is the feeling exuded by the HX's cabin," said Stuart Norris, interior design manager. "There isn't superfluous trim or decoration – it is a purposeful design that conveys beauty through strength."
Reinforcing the stripped-to-the-essence feel, the exterior's matte olive color carries over onto the interior's largely sheet metal-covered panels. The color is accented with pressed or extruded aluminum components, such as the handles, switches and other necessary parts.
Furthering the aeronautical influence is the instrument panel, which uses an exposed, extruded aluminum cross-vehicle beam as its foundation. On the beam, the instrument cluster and other vital controls are mounted; and it also features a unique, removal top cover that provides significant storage capability.
"The instrument panel is a styling element of the HX, and the removal of the top cover reveals a secondary design that enhances the vehicle's core design ethic," said Norris. "With the top cover removed, the interior conveys even more of a basic essence – and the structure beneath the cover is beautiful to those who appreciate finely crafted metal."
A rubberized floor and ballistic nylon-material covering on the instrument panel and other interior components reinforces the functional aesthetic.
Seating and console details
Like aircraft seats, the HX's seats are constructed on a lightweight framework with minimal components that feature lightening holes and strength-enhancing cross braces or triangulations. They are mounted on exposed, aircraft-style tracks and trimmed with a weather-resistant neoprene material.
The HX seats four, with a pair of bucket-type seats in the second row. The rear seats mimic the front seats' design and can be removed to generate more cargo room. All the seats feature a four-point, racing-style safety harness.
The inner seat track on both front seats is located beneath the outer edges of a prominent center console. The console offers exceptional storage capability and houses a unique shifter that mounts low and out of the way when the vehicle is parked – also hiding from sight the engine starter button. It has a spring-loaded cover that pops up when the driver is ready to select a gear.
The console also houses a resting place for phones, MP3 player and iPods or iPhones. In fact, there is no conventional radio in the HX, only integrated speakers. Passengers plug in an iPod, or similar device, to a USB connector to play music in the HX.
"From the console to the cargo area behind the seats, there are simply untold storage possibilities within the HX," said Norris. "It's like a four-wheel backpack that's already fitted with the necessities."
Gauges and tools
The "cut-off circles" motif of the exterior is seen even more so on the HX's interior, as the gauge cluster, instrument panel vents and even the steering wheel carry the design element.
A three-element gauge cluster – each of the three instrument "pods" carries the cut-off circle design – delivers crucial driver information in either a highway or off-road mode. This conceptual reconfigurable gauge layout uses LCD screens with multiple layouts, including a navigation system. The nav system features GPS and compass information; and is designed to upload trail information before setting off on an excursion.
The center gauge pod houses a speedometer and tachometer, but changes to a wheel angle indicator when the transmission is in the low position. This off-road mode changeover from the highway mode gives the driver information that is more pertinent to the driver conditions. The trail view of a camera mounted in the rear-view mirror can be displayed on the instrument panel, too.
The off-road mode features of the instrument panel comprise the virtual tools of the HX, while others are mounted for physical use, including a folding shovel, flashlight and first-aid kit. They all carry the "clipped circle" design motif found throughout the vehicle.
Ready for rocks, trails and more
With its compact dimensions, almost no overhangs and grippy 35-inch tires, the HX is ready for all terrains. Like all HUMMER production models, the HX has sturdy, body-on-frame construction, onto which is mounted front and rear independent suspensions.
The front suspension features an electronic-disconnecting stabilizer bar for enhanced maneuverability when driving off road, and the rear suspension is located with CNC-machined, billet trailing arms. Heavy-duty shocks with piggyback reservoirs were custom-made for the HX by renowned racing shock manufacturer Fox; one is mounted at each wheel position.
A full-time 4WD system pulls the HX over, through and around off-road obstacles. It transfers torque to the front and rear axles, each of which is equipped with a locking differential. The torque meets the trail via custom 35-inch-tall off-road tires that are mounted on a set of custom, bead-lock-style wheels that have a two-tone appearance; dark-painted wheel centers complemented by silver-anodized outer rims.
A complete underbody armor kit, including a front skid plate, powetrain protection and more, protects the HX from wayward rocks and other potentially damaging objects. A power-operated winch is located in the front bumper, and the HX has recovery hooks mounted on the front and rear bumpers, just in case its help is required for wrangling others out of unfortunate off-road situations.
Russian news agencies are reporting that a Hummer H3 owner in the city of "Peter Antiglobalist" activists told news agency RIA, "Luxury is a false value, clouding modern society's vision. Advertising posters, TV shows and slick marketing constantly tells us that buying things is the most important value in our society.”
The vehicle's owner, who by the way paid about $50k for the H3 (…) told Russian news agencies that he will then sell it and donate the proceeds to an orphanage.
Via: Yahoo News
Three new GM designers - David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski, were given the opportunity by the American carmaker to create a concept vehicle for the Hummer brand that will debut at the 2008 Detroit Show in January. According to GM’s press release, the E-85 FlexFuel capable HUMMER HX “embodies the off road spirit of HUMMER in a fully customizable package”. Among other features, the HX gets a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger and a modular, removable rear roof assembly enabling a quick conversion from closed vehicle to open vehicle SUT. -Continued after the jumpPress Release
Three Young Designers Shape Future of HUMMER through HX Concept
Fresh out of the College for Creative Studies in
“HUMMER appeals to young people globally and served as a perfect first assignment for our newest talent,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of global design and product planning. “Today’s graduates from top design schools are ready to hit the ground running. The HUMMER design challenge gave our newest designers an opportunity to sprint.”
The task presented numerous challenges to the new designers, from creating a vehicle for a brand known around the globe for its iconic design, to ensuring the model would live up to the market’s expectation of HUMMER off-road capability.
To help ensure designs were true to the HUMMER brand, these designers were given limited design direction by Carl Zipfel, an ex-professional motocross racer and director of the HUMMER design studio.
“Carl definitely set the tone,” said Rojas. “While he gave us creative liberty and challenged us to develop innovative ideas, he also defined three HUMMER proportions – wheelbase, approach and departure angles, and stance – and assigned one to each of us. It gave us a chance to collaborate, but also take our own direction.”
While sketching and sculpting together in the HUMMER studio, these recent graduates drew upon the creative energy of each other, further improving their individual designs, as well as that of the final concept.
“We drew inspiration from one another,” said Kang. “As you’re designing and sketching you try to absorb what the other designer is doing and try to make it better.”
David, Min Young and Robert’s collaboration inspired the HUMMER HX concept, which presents extraordinary efficiency without sacrificing the unique essence of the HUMMER brand, the world’s most capable off-road vehicles.
“While we took inspiration from the HUMMER heritage and DNA, we each wanted to evolve it in a new way,” said Jablonski. “We agreed it should be contemporary, compact and definitely open air. It came out great.”
After three months of sketching and sculpting theme work for the new HUMMER concept, each designer had the opportunity to present scale clay models to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman and Ed Welburn, who chose which design would ultimately become the HX concept.
In its final concept form, the E-85 FlexFuel capable HUMMER HX embodies the off road spirit of HUMMER in a fully customizable package. The HX offers an open-air driving experience via a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger and a modular, removable rear roof assembly enabling a quick conversion from closed vehicle to open vehicle SUT. It also features a slant back assembly with removable doors and fender flairs.
“Working as a team, you realize it’s more than one person influencing the vehicle,” said Rojas. “You can see the inspiration from each of our designs in the final concept vehicle. We’re all proud to have the chance to see our sketches become reality.”
Via: Jalopnik , Source: GM