|
H2 at heart, HUMMER in the soul |
2005 HUMMER H2With its rugged good looks and incredible off-road capabilities, the HUMMER H2 already was the object of envy and desire
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," explained Roger McCormack, HUMMER product director. H2 SUT's interior is as inviting as it is innovative. It features standard Medium Wheat leather seats, or an uplevel Ebony leather interior is available. Either leather-seating configuration features eight-way driver's and front-passenger seats, four-way lumbar supports and memory settings for two drivers. Both front seats also feature three heat settings for the seat cushions and seatbacks. Heated seat cushions for the rear passengers are included with either leather package. The uplevel interior, new for the 2005 model year, features an all-black appearance throughout. Perforated leather is used on the instrument panel and the door trim grab handles. Leather also is used to cover the console lid, the door trim armrests and the door trim surround. "To truly accentuate the Ebony leather interior, we've given the door sill plates an aluminum appearance, complementing the chrome appearance of the aircraft-style shifter," McCormack added. The metallic look also is incorporated into the inside door handle, which features a chrome finish. The result is an interior that epitomizes luxury and rugged durability. H2 at heart, HUMMER in the soul
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 325 horsepower (242 kw) at 5200 rpm and 365 lb.-ft. of torque (495 Nm) at 4000 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. "Everything about the H2 is influenced by H1," said Carl Zipfel, HUMMER's chief designer. "H2 is a little more linear, more massive from the side view. But it's not meant to replace or even mirror the H1. Rather, the H2's goal is to complement the H1 - to provide an alternative experience that widens the HUMMER brand appeal." H2's extremely boxy body and very straight windshield and windows, which resemble H1's forms, combine to create a significant amount of 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. Two new exterior colors are available for the 2005 model year: Stealth Gray and Desert Sand. 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. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system provides fast warm-ups and cool-downs, as well as individualized front-seat comfort. The standard dual-zone front controls, for example, allow the driver and front passenger to set individualized temperatures with as much as a 25-degree Fahrenheit (13.9-degree Celsius) difference. Audio choices include a selection of premium, high quality sound systems. All sound systems provide rear audio controls and include Radio Data System (RDS) technology. Ask for directions? Never! The beauty of a HUMMER is the ability to go pretty much anywhere. And on road it's not a problem if the driver is unsure how to get there, thanks to the available Navigation Radio, now with touch-screen controls. With the push of a button, the navigation operation will instantly map routes with 2-D and 3-D full-color map views on a 5.8-inch (147-mm) display screen, making maneuvering on highways and streets effortless. Once the navigation DVD is inserted and the address entered on the system's screen, a route map is generated and audio commands - with step-by-step instructions in English or French - are provided. The system's verbal commands tell drivers when to turn and alert them if they stray from the calculated route; the system automatically recalculates a new route from their current position if they make a wrong turn. Additionally, drivers can instruct the navigation system to plan a route using the shortest path or one using major roads. Also available is XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only), which provides more than 120 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original commercial-free music and premier news, sports and talk as well as advanced traffic and weather information for select major metropolitan areas nationwide. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $9.99 a month, with the first three months free. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments. H2 safety, comfort and convenience features include standard frontal air bags; four-way adjustable headrests, arm rests and seat-mounted lap-shoulder belts for front passengers; lap and B pillar-mounted shoulder belts for second-row outboard passengers and a seat-mounted lap-shoulder belt for the center passenger; and a seat-mounted lap-shoulder belt and adjustable headrest for the optional third-row seat. The OnStar safety and security system is standard on every H2 and H2 SUT, which features the all-new sixth generation hardware with digital and analog coverage. OnStar's Gen 6 hardware also includes upgraded hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the United States and Canada. Using the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Personal Calling that allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls using a powerful three-watt digital/analog system and external antenna for greater reception.
READER COMMENTS
|
HOME |
CARS AND VEHICLES |
HUMMER |
MOTORSPORTS |
"Now
comes the H2 SUT (sport utility truck) and with it a whole new level of
capability and flexibility. "The H2 SUT proves that you can have it all and
then get even more - the unparalleled capabilities of an H2 and the added
versatility of the SUT," said Michael C. DiGiovanni, HUMMER general manager.
"The H2 SUT is functional, versatile and almost endlessly reconfigurable."
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. An available rubber bed mat helps
keep the cargo area clean, while an optional locking hard tonneau cover provides
cargo security. Both accessories may be ordered individually.
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. 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. Included as standard equipment in every
H2 is underbody protection that includes large, thick skid plates; a shield
for the fuel tank; chassis-bolted rocker panel protectors; a protective shield
for the available on-board air compressor; and mud flares that run up, over
and around the wheels. The rear bumper also includes large, military, H1-style
retrieval loops; the front bumper includes tow loops. Both bumpers have access
holes for the hitch receivers attached to the chassis that can accommodate
a winch, which can be plugged in, locked (just like a trailer hitch) and
hooked up with an electrical connection, allowing the H2 and H2 SUT to free
vehicles mired in mud or otherwise hopelessly grounded. Both receivers
accommodate a regular Class 3 trailer hitch, providing additional flexibility
for such tasks as pulling a boat out of the water or backing a trailer into
a tight spot.
