Check out Jalopnik for two more non-pickup renderings of the HX
Concept.
Scheduled for introduction at the 2008 North American International
Auto Show, the HUMMER HX concept reflects the innovative minds of three
new GM designers - David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski -
whose first assignment was to provide a vision for the future design
of off-road vehicles.
Fresh out of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., the
designers' first test in GM was to design a fun, nimble and innovative
HUMMER concept.
"HUMMER appeals to young people globally and served as a perfect first
assignment for our newest talent," said Ed Welburn, vice president of
global design and product planning. "Today's graduates from top design
schools are ready to hit the ground running. The HUMMER design challenge
gave our newest designers an opportunity to sprint."
The task presented numerous challenges to the new designers, from creating
a vehicle for a brand known around the globe for its iconic design, to
ensuring the model would live up to the market's expectation of HUMMER
off-road capability.
To help ensure designs were true to the HUMMER brand, these designers
were given limited design direction by Carl Zipfel, an ex-professional
motocross racer director of the HUMMER design studio.
"Carl definitely set the tone," said Rojas. "While he gave us creative
liberty and challenged us to develop innovative ideas, he also defined
three Hummer proportions – wheelbase, approach and departure angles,
and stance – and assigned one to each of us. It gave us a
chance to collaborate, but also take our own direction."
While sketching and sculpting together in the HUMMER studio, these recent
graduates drew upon the creative energy of each other, further improving
their individual designs, as well as that of the final concept.
"We drew inspiration from one another," said Kang. "As you're designing
and sketching you try to absorb what the other designer is doing and
try to make it better."
David, Min Young and Robert's collaboration inspired the HUMMER HX concept,
which presents extraordinary efficiency without sacrificing the unique
essence of the HUMMER brand, the world's most capable off-road vehicles.
"While we took inspiration from the HUMMER heritage and DNA, we each
wanted to evolve it in a new way" said Jablonski. "We agreed it should
be contemporary, compact and definitely open air. It came out great."
After three months of sketching and sculpting theme work for the new
HUMMER concept, each designer had the opportunity to present scale clay
models to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman and Ed Welburn, who chose which
design would ultimately become the HX concept.
In its final concept form, the E-85 FlexFuel capable HUMMER HX embodies
the off road spirit of HUMMER in a fully customizable package. The HX
offers an open-air driving experience via a pair of removable roof panels
above the driver and front passenger and a modular, removable rear roof
assembly enabling a quick conversion from closed vehicle to open vehicle
SUT. It also features a slant back assembly removable doors and fender
flairs.
"Working as a team, you realize it's more than one person influencing
the vehicle," said Rojas. "You can see the inspiration from each
of our designs in the final concept vehicle. We're all proud to
have the chance to see our sketches become reality."
