What is it?
2008 Hummer H2
What's special about it?
Hummer sales were down 25 percent for the first two months of 2007. That's worse than the critically ill Jaguar, which was down 21 percent. In a desperate and vain attempt to stem the bleeding, Hummer has offered only silly paint-and-trim special editions in the last year or so.
At the New York show, though, Hummer will unveil two new vehicles for its 2008 lineup: the 2008 Hummer H2 and the 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha. That's quite a lot, considering the division has only two vehicles in its lineup.
You'd never guess the extent of the changes to the 2008 H2 SUV and SUT by just looking. Underneath the familiar body is a new 6.2-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission. This is the same powertrain used in the Cadillac Escalade, although at 393 horsepower, the Hummer's version makes 10 fewer horses than the Cadillac's. Still, the new motor brings a substantial 68 more hp than the current H2's 6.0-liter lump. The H2's maximum towing capacity is up 1,500 pounds to 8,000.
Even with an estimated curb weight of 6,614 pounds, the H2 should be able to comfortably break the 10-second barrier for 0-60-mph runs. Hummer notes that the addition of the new six-speed automatic should improve "efficiency when compared with previous models." How fuel-efficient will it be? Well, because of the H2's stunning weight, the company is not obliged to provide EPA mileage estimates, and doesn't. The last H2 we tested got less than 10 mpg, so efficiency might be too strong a word.
Other than tuning changes to accommodate the new powertrain, the H2's chassis is unchanged. It still has the torsion-bar independent front suspension, solid rear axle and recirculating-ball steering. All of GM's other full-size SUVs have moved on to a newer coil-spring front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.
The '08's interior is mostly new, with less chintzy material and a bit more of a subdued (read: less cartoonish) design. Specifically, the door panels, seats and instrument panels are new and said to be of higher-grade materials than before. Traction control and panic brake assist will be standard for '08.
The only way to tell a 2008 from a 2007 H2 from the outside, though, is to look at what Hummer calls the "lower bumper" or the thing that looks like a front skid plate. For '08 it is painted silver.
What's Edmunds' take?
We do not anticipate that the mechanical changes to the H2 for 2008, as substantial as they may be, will have much impact on sales. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
2008 Hummer H2
What's special about it?
Hummer sales were down 25 percent for the first two months of 2007. That's worse than the critically ill Jaguar, which was down 21 percent. In a desperate and vain attempt to stem the bleeding, Hummer has offered only silly paint-and-trim special editions in the last year or so.
At the New York show, though, Hummer will unveil two new vehicles for its 2008 lineup: the 2008 Hummer H2 and the 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha. That's quite a lot, considering the division has only two vehicles in its lineup.
You'd never guess the extent of the changes to the 2008 H2 SUV and SUT by just looking. Underneath the familiar body is a new 6.2-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission. This is the same powertrain used in the Cadillac Escalade, although at 393 horsepower, the Hummer's version makes 10 fewer horses than the Cadillac's. Still, the new motor brings a substantial 68 more hp than the current H2's 6.0-liter lump. The H2's maximum towing capacity is up 1,500 pounds to 8,000.
Even with an estimated curb weight of 6,614 pounds, the H2 should be able to comfortably break the 10-second barrier for 0-60-mph runs. Hummer notes that the addition of the new six-speed automatic should improve "efficiency when compared with previous models." How fuel-efficient will it be? Well, because of the H2's stunning weight, the company is not obliged to provide EPA mileage estimates, and doesn't. The last H2 we tested got less than 10 mpg, so efficiency might be too strong a word.
Other than tuning changes to accommodate the new powertrain, the H2's chassis is unchanged. It still has the torsion-bar independent front suspension, solid rear axle and recirculating-ball steering. All of GM's other full-size SUVs have moved on to a newer coil-spring front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.
The '08's interior is mostly new, with less chintzy material and a bit more of a subdued (read: less cartoonish) design. Specifically, the door panels, seats and instrument panels are new and said to be of higher-grade materials than before. Traction control and panic brake assist will be standard for '08.
The only way to tell a 2008 from a 2007 H2 from the outside, though, is to look at what Hummer calls the "lower bumper" or the thing that looks like a front skid plate. For '08 it is painted silver.
What's Edmunds' take?
We do not anticipate that the mechanical changes to the H2 for 2008, as substantial as they may be, will have much impact on sales. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
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