2006 HUMMER H2: NEW SPECIAL EDITION ADDS TO UNPARALLELED CAPABILITIES

With its rugged good looks and incredible off-road capabilities, the HUMMER H2 and H2 SUT have brought a whole new level of capability and flexibility to the marketplace.

For 2006, the H2 unveils a new special edition with a Pacific Blue exterior, body color fender molding, a unique rocker molding with an integrated assist step, 17-inch polished forged aluminum wheels, carbon fiber interior accents and a lower-profile roof-mounted lightbar. It also has a new rear-vision system with a rearview-mirror mounted camera that features a 2-by-2 inch screen that slides out when the vehicle is in reverse – a GM first. In addition, the special edition has a heated windshield wiper system with warm fluid that removes snow, ice and debris. Finally, the special edition offers a rear-seat DVD system with dual headrest-mounted viewing screens.

The H2 production model offers new outside rear view mirrors for the 2006 model year.

H2 at heart, HUMMER in the soul

Every H2 starts with a fully welded ladder-type frame that features a modular, three-piece design incorporating a number of hydroformed components. The result is outstanding strength, stiffness and dimensional accuracy. Ensuring on-road ride comfort and control, as well as off-road capability, is H2's standard independent front torsion bar and five-link coil spring rear suspension. The solid rear axle ensures durable sure-footedness, particularly in tight, off-road situations. A self-leveling rear air spring suspension system is available for severe off-road and towing requirements.

The H2 and H2 SUT have short overhangs for radical approach and departure angles and exceptional ground clearance for minimal impact on trails. The 17-inch wheels, heavy-duty independent front suspension and five-link rear suspension provide superior handling, carrying and towing capability.

H2's power is derived from the standard Vortec 6000 6.0L V-8 that generates 316 horsepower (236 kw) at 5200 rpm and 360 lb.-ft. of torque (488 Nm) at 3600 rpm. The engine is mated to a heavy-duty Hydra-Matic 4L65-E four-speed automatic overdrive transmission. H2 also features a standard, powertrain-integrated Borg-Warner two-speed electrically controlled full-time 4WD system. It's capable of further reducing H2's gear ratios by 2.64:1 when necessary, for highly controlled obstacle climbing.

A Bosch four-channel anti-lock braking/traction control system (ABS/TCS) provides optimum control on slippery surfaces. In addition, the ABS can detect and adjust its braking capabilities to rough off-road surfaces like gravel and potholes. The TCS also includes the ability to gain traction through a single wheel, if necessary, and more wheel slip in the traction control mode for sand and desert racing conditions.

Styling matches uncompromising off-road ability

Daring and attention-getting is how the H2's exterior design is often described. The H2 and H2 SUT are instantly recognizable as belonging to a highly exclusive brand at the top of its class in off-road performance. The look and feel conveys the sense of power, authority and complete control that buyers seek.

H2's square-shaped body and upright windshield and windows combine to create significant interior room. The vertical glass opens up a broader front and wider side view. In a nod to the functional aspect of design, exposed components, like hood lift handles, hood latches and fasteners, give H2's appearance an individually component-assembled quality. As they do on H1, exposed components and mechanical elements are truly functional and shout ruggedness.

Luxury meets ruggedness in H2's interior

H2's rugged exterior gives way to a luxurious interior. It begins with standard Medium Wheat leather seats with eight-way power adjustment for the front seat cushions and backs. Also standard is a memory feature for the driver's seat that allows two drivers to select and set their preferred positions. The leather seats include heated seat backs and cushions with three temperature settings for the front occupants. Heated cushions serve to keep second-row occupants comfortable. For maximum flexibility, the second-row seats can be individually folded. For maximum comfort, they feature a high-back design. With the SUV, a single-passenger seat is available for the third row, giving the SUV six-passenger capacity.

H2 SUT

Like its brother, the H2 SUV, the SUT carries passengers and cargo with comfort and ease. With four passengers on board, the bulkhead at the rear of the SUT's passenger compartment remains upright, still providing ample cargo-carrying capacity.

When cargo requires more space, a 4-foot by 6-foot (122-cm by 244-cm) pickup bed can be created by powering the rear window into the Midgate, then folding forward the Midgate and rear seat.

Practicality aside, there's a side to the H2 SUT that's just plain fun. At the push of a single button, the driver can lower all four side windows and the rear window. Using a separate switch, the standard sunroof can also be opened, giving SUT a truly open-air feeling, like driving a convertible.

Of course, the H2 SUT is an H2 at heart, and the H2 is every bit the truck that first captured the market's fancy in 2002. It's also a HUMMER first and foremost. That means it's capable of traveling through streams 20 inches (508 mm) deep, climbing 16-inch (406-mm) steps and rocks, paddling through deep sand and outdistancing competitors in high-speed desert runs.

by GM Media

by Hummer

All Hummer cars originate from a military vehicle; the M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). ‘HMMWV' is quite a mouthful, so soldiers shortened the name to Humvee's. When AM General began to produce similar cars for the civilian market, they dubbed them ‘Hummer'.

The Humvee was a 1.25-ton truck that was intended to replace the M151 and other light tactical vehicles. In addition to the Humvee line, AM General also provides parts and training support for all of its products. AM General's Engineering and Product Development Center also provides systems technical support for various other military vehicles. AM General has spent years cultivating a reputation as the ‘world leader in the design, engineering and production of military and special purpose vehicles'.

Today, Hummer is a protected name owned by General Motors. In 1999 AM General sold the name to GM, but continued to manufacture the Hummer, while GM became responsible for selling the vehicles on the market. To replace jeeps and lighter truck, the military introduced M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. Jeeps and lighter truck had begun to show signs of wear and tear, and also inadequacy as early as the 1970s, so a new and improved type of vehicle was heavily sought after. The Humvee offered exceptional speed, agility and mobility and was constructed upon a multi-purpose platform that would accommodate a broad range of configurations.

The Hummer H2 was debuted in 2003; a smaller and lighter version of the Hummer H1 that still had room for six passengers. The new ‘next generation' of sport utility vehicles, the H2 was assembled at a new factory in Mishawaka by AM General. The H2 was considered a capable multipurpose vehicle and is used in large cities as well as in off-road conditions. A pick-up truck variety of the standard Hummer H2 was the Hummer H2 Sport Utility Truck (or SUT). GM now had responsibility for marketing and distributing all HUMMERs and in April 2002, AM General was converted to a limited liability company.

The H2, which was built under contract by AM General at a specially constructed plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, shares GM's GMT820 truck platform with the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. All three of these vehicles are constructed in three different GM plants though, and differ in many other ways. The final frame assembly of the H2 is made up of 3 sections; the front uses a modified GM 2500-Series utility frame, the mid-section is brand new and is completely boxed while the rear section uses a modified GM 1500-Series frame that is upgraded for the 8,600lbs gross vehicle weight. The 08 Hummer H2 can achieve 0-60mph in just 8.2 seconds.

The H2 had standard features that included AC with tri-zone climate controls, cruise control, tilt leather wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, 8-way power front seats, memory system, 6-disc CD changer, premium sound system, outside-temperature indicator, rear radio controls and a compass. For an additional price, options included a power sunroof, rearview camera, adjustable rear airbag suspension, DVD entertainment system, night vision, navigation system and universal garage door opener.

Featuring a massive truck frame, the H2 has a wider-than-average track firm that may offer stability against overturning, especially in comparison to the better-known light truck SUVs. The H2 is marketed as both an off-road vehicle as well as a general purpose vehicle. Due to mass marketing by GM, it is more commonly used as a passenger vehicle on typical roads. The H2 is also a very popular vehicle for a limousine conversion, along with the Ford Excursion.

For 2003, the Hummer H2 was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award. For 2009 a special Black Chrome Limited Edition version of the truck was launched.

By 2005 the next Hummer was released, the Hummer H3 which is even smaller than the H2, and marketed as a midsized SUV. The H2 and H3 Hummers were found to be the most ticketed cars in the U.S. according to a study by ISO Quality Planning in January 2009. Some tax benefits were available for owners of vehicles over 6,000 lbs which under the U.S. income tax code, it can be deducted from specific forms of income.

From 2003 until 2007 the engine in the Hummer H2 was a 6000 6.0 L V8, and for 2008 it was the 6200 6.2 L V8 engine. In 2008 the base price MSRP for the H2 was $53,286. Originally the H2 had high resale value, but unfortunately price depreciation has increased rapidly over the recent years and the H2 commonly sells for less than 40% of original price after 2-3 years (according to Newsweek).

For 2002 a total of 18,861 H2's were sold. This number leaped up to 34,529 in 2003 then went down to 28,898 in 2004. But 2005 the numbers rose to 33,140 but then plummeted to 17,472 in 2006, down to 12,431 in 2007 and even further down to 6,095 in 2008.

by Jessican Donaldson