Hummer Rolls Into 2009 SEMA Auto Show With H3 Moab, H3T Sportsman

LAS VEGAS — Think of it as Hummer's swan song as an all-American brand before it is totally turned over to its new Chinese owners. General Motors trotted out two Hummer concepts for the 2009 SEMA Auto Show late Monday, but a larger question loomed: What will the all-American brand look like at the 2010 SEMA Auto Show once it gets into the hands of Sichuan-based Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company?

The 2009 SEMA concepts — a Hummer H3 Moab and a Hummer H3T Sportsman — have a distinctly macho American flair. Classic Hummer, in other words.

The H3 Moab is tweaked for American off-road playgrounds with a Rancho 4-inch front suspension lift and a custom rear spring-over conversion that GM said is inspired by current Hummer engineering test vehicles. Details include 35-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires mounted on custom 17-inch two-piece Monster Black Competition Beadlock Raceline Wheels by Allied. The concept gets custom underbody shielding and "Canyon Metallic" exterior paint. A Gobi Ranger roof basket provides more cargo capacity, while front- and rear-facing cameras have been built into the vehicle's bumpers and linked to the nav radio screen.

The H3T Sportsman gets a 70-horsepower boost to the 5.3-liter V8 courtesy of aftermarket components. They include LS2 cylinder heads, a higher-lift camshaft and a custom 3.5-inch exhaust system. Other touches include lockable storage boxes in the bed, off-road lamps and a matte-finish fuel door.

GM said on October 9 that it has signed a "definitive agreement" with the Chinese manufacturer to sell the Hummer brand. Financial terms were not disclosed, but media reports said Tengzhong will pay about $150 million for Hummer.

Inside Line says: It will be very interesting to see how Hummer's new owners handle the 2010 SEMA Auto Show — if they come at all. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent