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HUMMER design language

The H3T's classic proportions reflect its off-road ability, but also symbolize HUMMER's expressive styling - an American design that says as much about driver freedom as HUMMER's off-road experience.

"It's a minimalist approach that conveys purpose," said Dean. "The H3T represents the continual approach to HUMMER's overall design theme - simple in appearance yet strong to the touch. From parts like the door handles to the dashboard details, the H3T looks and feels as if it's been milled from a solid billet of steel or aluminum."

That purposeful appearance is delineated from the HUMMER H1's military roots.

"We evolved the HUMMER design language with the H2," said Dean. "But we're continuing that vision and progressing the brand."

The H3T's purposefully premium interior environment includes a rugged shifter handle that folds completely forward and military-inspired toggle switches for various controls. An altimeter, compass and inclinometer also are mounted on the dashboard.

The technical leather and Nike-designed Sphere seat fabric continue to support the athletic, performance theme of the H3T, as do the chamois, petrol and paprika orange interior colors.

"It's not necessarily a luxury environment in the classic sense - it's a new type of luxury," said Dave Lyon, interior design director for body-on-frame vehicles. "The expression of quality through the use of specific materials conveys a premium look without the use of traditional luxury appointments like wood or leather."

The same goes for the H3T's exterior, which features high-tech, yet durable, LED headlamps and taillamps, an integrated winch and tow hooks, as well as front and rear skid plates that are stamped out of aluminum and joined with side "rock sliders." There also are control arm and rear axle skid plates, along with a carbon fiber skid plate/belly pan, which protects the vehicle when off the road and aids aerodynamic efficiency on the highway.

A brush guard is integrated with the front skid plate and the taillamps have integrated lens protectors. Driving/marker lamps are built into the side-view mirrors.

The exterior colors, Petrol Blue Metallic and Satin Titanium Alloy, fuel the H3T's theme of a rugged vehicle with serious attitude. The forward-opening hood is aided by trigger-operated latches, which integrate into the trademark HUMMER hood louvers. An exposed radiator is another classic HUMMER styling cue and a camera mounted on the hood can be used to record off-road excursions in DVD format.

At the rear, the tailgate features exposed hinges (with integrated gas struts) and cantilevers to provide an unbroken load platform for the bed. The bed is more than 4 feet wide and has very small fender intrusions.

"The H3T supposes a new realm of rugged, yet premium choices for drivers who find larger vehicles don't fit their needs," said Lyon. "With the H3T, a whole new group of driving enthusiasts benefits from the relevance of HUMMER's unflappable capability. There simply is nothing like it in the midsize truck market."

Purposeful powertrain

The H3T is built on a modified GM midsize truck platform, including the coil-over front and rear suspensions. Fox remote-reservoir shocks are used for the ultimate in off-road dampening. An automatic transfer case locks the vehicle into four-wheel drive when needed.

The locking front and rear axles on the H3T are borrowed from full-size GM trucks. Braking is accomplished with four-wheel discs from Alcon. The 15-inch-diameter rotors are clamped down upon with Baer six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear. Nineteen-inch wheels are mounted at all corners.

A 350-horsepower, turbocharged version of GM's new Vortec 3500 inline five-cylinder engine powers the H3T, and it's backed by the heavy-duty Hydra-Matic 4L65-E electronically controlled four-speed transmission. The turbocharged five-cylinder produces more power than most six-cylinder engines, but is more compact. The engine also makes 350 lb.-ft. of torque, which helps the H3T tackle steep terrain with ease.

Fuel-saving variable valve timing technology, which is available on some of GM's four-, five- and six-cylinder engines, boosts the five-cylinder's efficiency by varying valve timing, lift and duration. It also improves emissions and overall performance.

Although currently a concept vehicle, the H3T was built with production-type components, including chassis and suspension components that were leveraged from existing GM truck architectures.

"Everything about the H3T says HUMMER," said Dean. "The package may be a little smaller, but the personality, functionality and, most importantly, the off-road superiority is all there."

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