Bob Lutz wants more HUMMERs

[MikeMike]

With sales up, brand needs broader portfolio of products, says GM VP at Paris Hummer dealer.
September 28 2006: 12:45 PM EDT

Paris (Reuters) -- General Motors Corp.'s Hummer brand needs to double its product line-up by adding two or three more models, the executive charged with GM's product planning told reporters on Wednesday.

"Hummer needs some more products. It needs two or three more products to give it sufficient market coverage," General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters at the opening of a Hummer dealership in Paris.

Lutz said making a Hummer-branded pickup truck, which would have ample passenger seating, remained an "option."

Earlier this year GM (Charts) faced pressure from activist investor Kirk Kerkorian to consider spinning off Hummer, which began as a high-mobility vehicle produced for the U.S. military.

But GM executives have argued that the brand is central to the automaker's strategy as it moves to cut costs, shore up market share and return to profitability in the U.S. market.

Sales of Hummer were up almost 50 percent in the first 8 months of this year. By contrast, GM's overall sales were down 12 percent.

Hummer currently has thre models: the H2, H2 SUT and H3. GM announced earlier this year it is stopping production of the original H1 Hummer, which was larger than the full-size H2.

The H2 SUT has short pick-up-style truck bed.

The H3, which is built on GM's midsize pickup truck platform, accounts for about three-quarters of the brand's current sales. It is similar in size to a Nissan Pathfinder or Toyota 4Runner and is powered by a 5-cylinder engine.

GM executives have said previously that a smaller vehicle, similar in size to a Jeep Wrangler, is being considered for the brand.

Hummer, which GM bought in 1999, has acquired both fervent fans like California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and outspoken critics who see the heavy SUVs as a symbol of American consumer excess and dependence on foreign oil.

would be interesting seeing a true off-road Truck, and a good Wrangler competitor.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

WTH??? The H3 only has a 5-banger??? in that big barge???

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
WTH??? The H3 only has a 5-banger??? in that big barge???

its the same size as the Colorado, but with more weight.

the frame and design do not allow for a larger engine.

blame isuzu for that mistake

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Wow. You'd think they'd correct such a gross oversight like that.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Wow. You'd think they'd correct such a gross oversight like that.

how?

it would require a full frame redesign.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Wow. You'd think they'd correct such a gross oversight like that.

how?

it would require a full frame redesign.

then so be it... rather than moving ahead with mass-producing them. What astonishes me though is that they're actually selling... I mean, if I bought somethin like an H3, it sure as sh!t would have more to offer than a 5-banger.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Wow. You'd think they'd correct such a gross oversight like that.

how?

it would require a full frame redesign.

then so be it... rather than moving ahead with mass-producing them. What astonishes me though is that they're actually selling... I mean, if I bought somethin like an H3, it sure as sh!t would have more to offer than a 5-banger.

I think about 95% of H3 buyers are yuppie women who probably don't even know how to open the hood let alone care about what's under it.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Wow. You'd think they'd correct such a gross oversight like that.

how?

it would require a full frame redesign.

then so be it... rather than moving ahead with mass-producing them. What astonishes me though is that they're actually selling... I mean, if I bought somethin like an H3, it sure as sh!t would have more to offer than a 5-banger.

so, even though it produces decent power, you want a bigger engine? (it got upgraded for 07 so it doesnt actually take 12 seconds to hit 60)

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Well, if I buy something it should be able to get out of it's own way. I doubt the H3 does that with a 5-er. Did it really take 12 seconds to hit 60 before? Yikes.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Well, if I buy something it should be able to get out of it's own way. I doubt the H3 does that with a 5-er. Did it really take 12 seconds to hit 60 before? Yikes.

with the auto transmission, yea, it was like 10 seconds with the manual (gear ratios FTW!)

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Wow. You'd think they'd correct such a gross oversight like that.

how?

it would require a full frame redesign.

by having built it off the trailblazer, obviously.



anyway, an avalanche hummer would be way better than that useless H2 SUT.

 

[DougK62]

People don't buy the H3 to go fast.

 

[b0mbrman]

Bob Lutz wants more HUMMERs

Oh I get it...it's an innuendo...

Oral sex

 

[lokiju]

My old boss got a H3 and that thing was so underpowered, needs a small v8 or something, just not good enough with that 5 cylinder.

Maybe a supercharged option at least.

 

[puffpio]

yeah just turbo it

5 cyl turbodiesel FTW!

 

[preslove]

Is't the h3 actually a good off roader?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Well, if I buy something it should be able to get out of it's own way. I doubt the H3 does that with a 5-er. Did it really take 12 seconds to hit 60 before? Yikes.

12 SECONDS? Ho-ly-crap. My daily driver can almost do a full quarter mile in that time:laugh: