SEMA 2008 show report: Hummer H3

By Ben Whitworth

Motor Shows

07 November 2008 09:49

Las Vegas being Las Vegas – and SEMA being SEMA – there’s probably no better place to unveil a trio of modded Hummers H3s. GM bosses bill the H3T Weekend Warrior, the H3 X and the H3 Alpha concepts as the last word in Hummer-ness. Let’s hope they’re serious about the ‘last’ bit…

Perhaps. Perhaps Hummers still make sense in certain parts of America – and parts of the world where America picks a fight – but here at CAR we can’t help wish GM had poured as much money and enthusiasm into Saab as it has done into Hummer. But spilt milk and all that…

The H3T Weekend Warrior (pictured left) was developed by Hummer to fully demonstrate the off-road abilities of the H3T. Extensive use of GM Performance Parts has boosted output of the Hummer’s 5.3-litre V8 by 70bhp to 370bhp. The suspension gets upgraded with massive Light Racing JounceShocks dampers, 35-inch tall off-road tyres while the 20-inch alloys are shod with huge off-road BFGoodrich Baja tyres.

All of which makes it an ‘ideal high-speed desert chase truck’ according to Hummer. Now’s there’s a niche that took a lot of marketers to create… Oh, and there’s a KTM 450 SX-F dirt bike mounted in the loadbay – in case you get stuck in the sand. Or run out of fuel.

The H3 X Concept (centre picture) is bog-standard H3 X Alpha that’s had every conceivable Hummer option thrown at including an items called bright roof crossbows.

Arguably the most plausible of the trio is the Project Trailhugger – built by Four Wheeler Magazine, it’s a straight-talking off-roader built to take on any terrain in any condition. Kitted out with brush guard, roof lighting and rocker protection accessories, the Trailhugger is fitted with nitrogen-charged reservoir-type performance shocks, 16-inch alloys with trick BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tyres, a Gobi Stealth roof rack with a remote-operated perimeter lighting system and a high-tech Warn winch.

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By Ben Whitworth