It’s only fair for us to include Jalop’s the Worst10, since that is the more interesting list. Some cars we take issue with being included, others we wonder why not, but the list is generally pretty sensible. Take a glimpse for yourself.
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.
General Motors has sold its Hummer division to Sichuan Tengzhong, a Chinese industrial manufacturer of construction and utility vehicles. Though the company has never managed a car line (only industrial-grade heavy trucks), it was able to win over GM brass by promising not to push any serious layoffs in the short-term future. Sichuan Tengzhong bought the once-prospering SUV brand for less than $500,000,000. One South African factory will be shutdown, but the core American plant will remain in the service its new Chinese masters. Oh, to be an American!
So you want a nice elegant Jaguar, you want a nice English car you think American cars are bad, well guess what Jaguar is owned by Ford. Here is the chart to see who owns who[Source:Cars!Cars!Cars!]
Rolls Royce
Chrysler owns:
-AMC (brand discontinued — Chrysler bought AMC primarily for the Jeep brand which was owned by AMC)
-Chrysler
-Dodge
-Eagle (brand discontinued)
-Jeep
-Plymouth (brand discontinued)
General Motors has already released several images of vehicles it will be showing at SEMA this week, and it appears that GM has plenty more in store. The automaker has just released images of two Hummer models that it will be displaying in Las Vegas: the Hummer H2 Safari and the Hummer H3R.
Hummer H2 Safari
The Hummer H2 Safari is designed to offer a unique, open-air experience “to those who want to experience as much of the outdoors as possible.” The custom H2 is painted in a matte olive finish — which is designed to help the SUV blend in with nature — and features a retractable canvas roof panel.
Other highlights of the Hummer H2 Safari include 20-inch wheels, a heavy-duty suspension with a two inch lift, Euro-style smoked light lenses with LED lighting, removable rear windows and a 6.2L V8 with 393 horsepower.
Boeing Laser Avenger: Humvee with frikkin’ laser on its head
Boeing wants more government contracts, and it thinks lasers are the way to get them. The company’s Laser Avenger system is something it whipped together in eight short months, and it’s pretty impressive. Mounted on a retrofitted anti-aircraft Humvee, the setup is being demonstrated as a way to zap IEDs from a distance, neutralizing them before the convoys and patrols they target ever rumble by. Its 1kw laser beam causes near-instantaneous detonation of the munitions its been used on so far, and Boeing’s also hinting that it might just work as an anti-aircraft weapon, too. Trucks with laser guns might be a lot closer than you think.
CARversation Comments: i think i found my new favorite car. i thought a regular h1 was intimidating enough.
[Source: Popular Mechanics via Instapundit, Auto Blog]
Boeing Laser Avenger: Humvee with frikkin’ laser on its head
Boeing wants more government contracts, and it thinks lasers are the way to get them. The company’s Laser Avenger system is something it whipped together in eight short months, and it’s pretty impressive. Mounted on a retrofitted anti-aircraft Humvee, the setup is being demonstrated as a way to zap IEDs from a distance, neutralizing them before the convoys and patrols they target ever rumble by. Its 1kw laser beam causes near-instantaneous detonation of the munitions its been used on so far, and Boeing’s also hinting that it might just work as an anti-aircraft weapon, too. Trucks with laser guns might be a lot closer than you think.
CARversation Comments: i think i found my new favorite car. i thought a regular h1 was intimidating enough.
[Source: Popular Mechanics via Instapundit, Auto Blog]
