General Motors’ contribution to the outsized SUV stable is the Hummer, a vehicle that has had a relatively short but equally contentious lifetime.
Based on the US Army’s Military High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (MMWV or Hum-Vee), the Hummer is the layman’s answer to a tiny tank and its off-road capabilities are more than awe-inspiring.
The original version of this behemoth of automobiles was contracted by the US military and came resplendent with gun turrets and radar; additions that could arguably come in handy in particularly dodgy areas like the ‘Gang Capital of the Nation’, Los Angeles and the Bronx in New York City.
The military weren’t that convinced as to the efficacy of a vehicle in ‘full metal jacket’ and adapted it to be an even more brutish combatant - including a directional microwave crowd control beam!
However, the greater public only became aware of the Hummer when, in a publicity stunt, two of these veritable Goliaths travelled overland from London to Beijing, handling the rough and virtually impassable tracks of central Russia with ease.
But it was Operation Desert Storm in 1991 that really got car pundits breathing heavily and rushing off to their closest car dealer in an effort to claim one of these highway bullies for themselves.
In the late 90’s, GM acquired the brand from the AM General Corporation and, although the latter would still build the Hummer cars, it was up to General Motors to market and distribute the range world-wide.
Interestingly, the H3, a sporty variant of the original Hummer, has been manufactured in Port Elizabeth, South Africa’s answer to Detroit. Although many of the vehicles were destined for the international market, locals have been buying both new and used Hummer cars like proverbial ‘hot cakes’ - so much so that there is a two-month waiting list.
Although the ‘Testosterone Tribe’ may very well be enthralled by the beast, it has proven to be an ecological disaster with very poor fuel economy. So, boys, if the Hummer is your dream SUV, make for the Marines as its future will be decided on 31 March 2009...and it might not be a rosy one. The options are to sell the brand, re-design the entire production line or simply to discontinue this mercenary of motor vehicles.
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