2008 Hummer HX Concept

Three Young Designers Shape Future Of HUMMER Through HX Concept

Scheduled for introduction at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the HÚMMER HX concept reflects the innovative minds of three new GM designers - David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski - whose first assignment was to provide a vision for the future design of off-road vehicles.

Fresh out of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., the designers' first test in GM was to design a fun, nimble and innovative HÚMMER concept.

'HÚMMER 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 HÚMMER 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 HÚMMER off-road capability.

To help ensure designs were true to the HÚMMER brand, these designers were given limited design direction by Carl Zipfel, an ex-professional motocross racer and director of the HÚMMER 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 HÚMMER 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 HÚMMER 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 HÚMMER HX concept, which presents extraordinary efficiency without sacrificing the unique essence of the HÚMMER brand, the world's most capable off-road vehicles.

'While we took inspiration from the HÚMMER 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.'



In its final concept form, the E-85 FlexFuel capable HÚMMER HX embodies the off road spirit of HÚMMER 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 SÚT. 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.'

Source - Hummer