The Ten Best Concepts of the Decade #6: Hummer HX

GM’s always wanted the Hummer to be America’s twenty-first-century Jeep.  After all, didn’t the military derivative, the Humvee, replace the old Willys icon?  In the midst of an SUV boom in the early 2000s, General Motors finally went all-out.  A smaller, more public-friendly “H2″ was launched, alongside an entire Hummer division.

Then it all fizzled.  Sky-high gas prices and greenie hatred turned the Hummer into the most divisive American automobile in memory.

Shame the HX should be caught up in that.  If ever there was a Hummer capable to really hitting the Jeep, this would’ve been it.  The HX concept was released nearly two years ago as a genuine sport-ute.  The HX carried a high stance, an open-air cabin, small dimensions, and removable paneling.  Under the hood was a flex-fuel 3.6 L V6 delivering up to 304 hp and 273 ft.-lbs.  The 3.6 was mated to a 6-spd. “Hydra-matic” auto gearbox, helping to deliver an estimated average of around 25 mpg.

The HX may have a future…somewhat.  Hummer’s Chinese owners are continuing with the proposed compact H4 prototype, said to be based off the HX.  Given China’s choppy rep, we’ll have to wait and see how the H4 works out.  As it stands now: Hummer is a long way from becoming the new-world Jeep. hummer h2 for sale