Cam Shaft Premium Wrapping brings the old Hummer H1 back in the headlines by giving it a special Call of Duty-inspired wrap.

This car celebrates two things men love: cars and games! It is apparently the COD Black Ops this car is inspired by, and it looks cool apart from a few details. Those bullet holes for example, I like to see the on the enemy’s cars not mine. And the blood pouring down the windows, that’s demoralizing.

it’s a good job though. It’s also very nice to see the H1 again. Hope Hummer someday gets back on its feet.

West Coast Choppers Jesse James donated the Iraq Confidential Humvee which he had built with the troops to the troops bu giving it to Soldiers’ Angels. This custom Humvee is a very historic car. It used to be an actual military vehicle and has served in army in Iraq.

Back in 2006 James had a special visit with the 181st Transportation Battalion in Iraq where he rebuilt and restored the combat-damaged Humvee and then customized it in a very terrible way to be honest! That doesn’t matter of course, what matters is the history of this special car. The Humvee’s rebuild, conducted by James and the soldiers, was documented on a video titled Iraq Confidential and later broadcast on the Military channel.

Now it can benefit the troops again as James hand it over to Soldiers’ Angels along with a semi-truck full of new copies of Garage magazine and West Coast Choppers window stickers, which will be included in care packages for deployed troops.

Jesse James has been having some personal problems recently, if you know what I’m talking about , to carry on business so he closed the doors of the Garage and West Coast Choppers and is now trying to get rid of the stuff they made over the years!

“Going to Iraq to do that build with the troops, being able to shake their hands and to tell them ‘thank you,’ was one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences in my life,” James says.  “With all of their different programs providing support to the troops, veterans and their families, donating the Humvee to Soldiers’ Angels brings it full circle, allowing it to continue to benefit those guys and gals and let them know how much I appreciate their service.”

Donors to Soldiers’ Angels can also receive one copy of the magazine and sticker set as a gift with each online $10 donation at www.soldiersangels.org when they enter “JJ” in the comments line.

Nation-E has plans to ruin one of the manliest cars of all time by making it…, well just at the picture above! It’s a plan to turn the Hummer H1 into a full electric car, and that’s fine. But this paintjob and those wings, and worst of all that name, the Angel H1, they’re just wrong! According to Nation-E, the green Humvee will get a 60kW electric motor. Now I’m not an electrician, but 60 does not seem to be enough given the enormous size of the car! What’s the top speed gonna be like! 4 miles an hour?!

To be honest it does not make sense to me at all! But here’s the press release, read it and see if it does to you:

Nation-E is set to revolutionize the complete automotive market, adding its newest addition, the full electric Hummer H1 to the Angel Car portfolio of mobile charging solutions for electric vehicles that are stranded on the road.

The fully electrified AngelH1 is equipped with a 60 kW battery, and provides electricity not only to stranded vehicles, but to complete buildings, hospitals, construction sites, and units that urgently require electricity.

Especially areas that are hit by extraordinary circumstances like earthquakes or tornadoes, electricity blackouts and other crisis events traditionally suffer from electricity shortages for days. With the full electric AngelH1, previously inaccessible territories become accessible and emergency units can fully function using the mobile energy supply of the AngelH1.

These vehicles due to their ability to access remote areas find an extensive application within the mining industry, as well as construction sites off grid. Moreover, the AngelH1 is an energy carrier for satellites and other communication devices, providing an extensive range of energy for transmission of content. The AngelH1 is fully electrified, completely free of emissions, and has a customizable range.

Nation-E is currently trying to partner with as many countries as possible. The focus is on all countries with growing e-mobility, including European countries like Germany, Italy, Finland, as well as Israel and USA.

Furthermore, Nation-E is looking to exhibit between the 19 – 21 October 2010 at the E-Car-Tec exhibition in Munich, Germany. It will be showcasing its revolutionary Angel Cars, as well as the first ever zero-emissions concert. With a 40 kW Battery, Nation-E will power the stage for DJ Julia Siegel, daughter of the famous song writer Ralph Siegel (who wrote the songs for Eurovision) for three full concert hours. The performance will take place completely off grid, using solely the electricity provided by Nation-E’s scalable energy storage solutions.

GeigerCars has modified the Hummer H2 once again, but this time it’s not a conventional tuning job! For whatever reason, they’ve replaced the stock wheels with some massive Mattracks 88M1-A1 rubber tracks which are 40cm wide and 150cm long. While this vehicle looks more like a tank, they call it the Bomber!

Geiger Hummer H2 Bomber matte silver finish, extra headlights on the roof and army style lettering printed on the sides, as well as a sunroof, navigation system with Kenwood DVD drive, roof monitor with headphones or rear-view camera with monitor in the rear-view mirror.

The engine however remains standard. So that 393 horsepower – 563 Nm of  torque 6.2 liter V8 is going to have a hard time moving those huge tracks!

The Hummer brand is not having a good time these days as their Chinese deal failed and it’s set to be wound down. However, to cheer it up a bit, a German company called CFC has came up with a crazy package for it, to remind us what this car is all about! CFC stands for Car Film Components, so as you’ve already guessed the main feature of their Humvee is that it’s wrapped in Chrome foil.

Apart from that ostentatious chrome job, the looks of the car is also significantly changed due to the installation of some huge 28-inch wheels which come with 325/35 R28 Kumho tires. Obviously to move these over-sized wheels th car needed more strength and it’s been given to it through some engine tuning.

With refined electronics and a custom made Fox sport exhaust system, the V8 engine of the Hummer is said to deliver 480 hp.

They have also modified the interior and turned it into a home cinema/mini bar/night club all in one! It is loaded with monitors, DVD systems and subwoofers and it also get a leather couch, like the one in your living room which you do ‘things’ on it! and it also comes with a fridge to keep your booze cool and as said a mini-bar.

This is what happen when you trust the Chinese! General Motors has officially announced their previously successful deal with Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines regarding the sales of Hummer has failed as the Chinese company is unable to complete the acquisition. So GM will begin the orderly wind-down of all Hummer operations and will kill off the brand. They said the same thing about the SAAB, but then waited until new buyer came along! We hope that Hummer too will find a buyer soon, it’s too early for it to die.

“One year ago, General Motors announced that we were going to divest HUMMER, as part of focusing our efforts on Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac going forward. We have since considered a number of possibilities for HUMMER along the way, and we are disappointed that the deal with Tengzhong could not be completed,” said John Smith GM vice president of corporate planning and alliances. “GM will now work closely with HUMMER employees, dealers and suppliers to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner.”

Hummer is doing a slow business these days as it’s going to become a Chinese-owned company. That can explain why they’ve come up with such slight updates for the 2010 H3 and H3T models! maybe they are not in the mood! Anyway, for the new year, these midsize all-terrain vehicles will get three new exterior colors and a new E85 Flex Fuel capable 5.3 Liter V8 engine. By introducing a bio-fuel engine for the Hummer range, they are showing their commitment to the environment!

This ethanol-capable engine is based on the GM’s small block V8 family and has an aluminum cylinder block which makes it light and also helps with the car’s weight distribution. It develops 300 horsepower (224 kW) and 320 lb.-ft. of torque (434 Nm). This engine comes with a Hydra-Matic 4L60 electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission.

Hummer also continues to expand customer choice with the introduction of three new premium colors for 2010, which include Red Rock Metallic, Silver Stone Metallic, and Canyon Metallic. 2010 H3 and H3T also come with a long list of standard equipments, including: full-time electronic four-wheel drive; Hill Start Assist; Stabilitrak electronic stability control system; four-wheel anti-lock brakes with traction control; roof-rail side curtain airbags and dual-stage frontal air bags with passenger sensing system; tire pressure monitoring system; OnStar; bluetooth hands-free capability and HUMMER’s premium five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty plan.

Available from December 2009 in GM dealerships, pricing for the 2010 model year H3 remains unchanged from 2009, with a starting MSRP of $33,390. H3T pricing begins at $30,915, a slight $165 increase from 2009. HUMMER has lowered the 2010 H3T Alpha price $335 with a new MSRP of $35,680. All 2010 models also include destination charges of $780.

Although it’s not clear yet that what will happen to the Hummer brand, as Chinese are trying to buy it, and even if they succeed the Humvee is too good to be in their hands.However German tuner Gieger Cars has come up with another mad mod for this homeless American giant! Called ‘Latte Macciatto’ which is a very cool name, it features a unique two-tone brown/beige paintjob and massive 30 inch wheels!

Also with the help of a supercharger, Geiger Hummer is now capable of 547 hp and 763 nm of torque and does 0 to 100 in 7 seconds with top speed of 228 km/h. God knows how terrible is the car’s fuel economy, but who cares anyway Braking and suspension upgrades are also parts of the package.

The interior is pure luxury, Karl Geiger have covered every square centimeter with the finest leather in brown and creme beige. Dashboard, steering wheel, central console and door panels, all glisten in the same color combination as the outside paintwork, which makes the “Latte Macciatto” Hummer absolutely unique. Also remarkable is the fact that Geiger has refinished altogether 400 small parts in the interior with piano lacquer. The A, B and C columns and the underside of the roof have also been lined with finely structured Alcantara. A pioneer sound system including SatNav supplies the passengers with perfect sound and all important information, while a roof-mounted monitor in the back is ideally suited for playing DVDs.

Technical facts:

• Vehicle type:     Hummer H2
• Motor:     supercharger conversion
• Power: 547 HP (402 kW) at 5900 rpm
• Max. torque:    763 Nm at 4500 rpm
• Acceleration:     0-100 kmh: 6.9 sec.
• Top speed: 228 kmh
• Brakes: front and back, 2-part riveted brake discs 380 X 32 mm, front with 6-piston calipers, rear with 4-piston calipers
• Wheels/tires: Geiger aluminum wheels, 9.5 X 30 all round with 315/30R30
• Chassis: strengthened stabilizers and rear axle struts, lowered
• Interior equipment: 2-tone special leather lining, Pioneer sound system incl. navigation, Roof-mounted monitor incl. DVD player, reversing camera in the rear-view mirror
• Special features: special paintwork in latte design, Geiger stainless steel sports exhaust system

A while ago General Motors proudly announced that they finally found a buyer for Hummer brand. Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery from China is the company interested in acquiring the business but now rumor has it that Chinese government is against the deal due to Hummer’s environmental issues!

According to BBC, Sichuan’s other problem is China’s National Development and Reform Commission! They think that heavy industrial machinery has nothing to do with car business and running a car company, so Sichuan wouldn’t be allowed to do that, and they’re kinda right!

But Sichaun responds in a statement : ” The fact that it is from an article from a state media organization does not mean it is government policy. Some people may have views and speculation, but the Chinese government has a process that we respect”

Now we have to wait and see who will win this battle to adopt poor Hummer, but I think it’s a good time for middle eastern investors to step in and acquire Hummer business. After all, Chinese are too small for Humvee! aren’t they? And in the ME people love this desert bashing military-derived gas guzzler posemobile. It should be ours!

General Motors confirmed that they are in advance talks with the Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery regarding the acquisition of the whole Hummer business by the Chinese company. Good news is that Hummer will survive, and bad news is that it might become a Chinese crap car as we know it! It could also be a Middle Eastern company to buy Hummer but seems like the deal is sealed with the Tengzhong. We just hope they don’t employ Chinese designers for new models!

Press Release

DETROIT and SICHUAN, June 2, 2009 – Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd (Tengzhong) and General Motors Corp. today confirmed details of their proposed transaction, pursuant to which, Tengzhong, a major industrial machinery group, will acquire the rights to the premium off-road HUMMER brand, along with a senior management and operational team. It will also assume existing dealer agreements relating to HUMMER’s dealership network. It is contemplated that Tengzhong will, as part of the transaction, enter into a long-term contract assembly and key component and material supply agreement with GM. In an earlier statement, GM said it expects the deal if successful to secure more than 3,000 US jobs. The final terms of the deal are subject to final negotiations.

Based in the Chinese province of Sichuan, Tengzhong is a privately-owned company and a leading domestic manufacturer of road, construction and energy industry equipment. It will expand into the premium off-road vehicle segment through what will be a strategic acquisition for Tengzhong and a catalyst for HUMMER’s growth in the U.S. and around the world.

“The HUMMER brand is synonymous with adventure, freedom and exhilaration, and we plan to continue that heritage by investing in the business, allowing HUMMER to innovate and grow in exciting new ways under the leadership and continuity of its current management team,” said Yang Yi, CEO of Tengzhong. Mr. Yang continued, “We will be investing in the HUMMER brand and its research and development capabilities, which will allow HUMMER to better meet demand for new products such as more fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S.”

HUMMER will continue to maintain its headquarters and operations in the U.S., and will continue to be managed by its existing leadership team. The team intends to expand HUMMER’s dealer network worldwide, particularly into new and underserved markets such as China.

“Today HUMMER is a globally recognized brand with excellent growth prospects, both in terms of new markets and new products for our existing markets,” said James Taylor, HUMMER chief executive officer. “With Tengzhong’s investment and strong support, we will be able to make our visions a reality. This transaction, if successful, will secure more than 3,000 U.S. jobs, and allow us to embark on a more aggressive global expansion, ensuring a successful future with our new partners.”

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the agreement will not be disclosed at this time.

Credit Suisse is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Shearman & Stearling is acting as international legal counsel to Tengzhong on this transaction. Citi is acting as financial advisor to GM.

The 2009 Hummer H2 Black Chrome Limited Edition is a refined version of the car which comes with a lot more “Chrome”! hence the name. Only 1300 units will be produced, most of which coming to UAE.

Available in both SUV and SUT models, Black Chrome Edition means more chrome detailing including Twenty-inch chrome-clad wheels, grille, hood latches and handles, fuel filler door, door handles, mirror caps, “H2” badges, side air vents and spare tyre cover. Also three special colors will be offered for this car, Silver Ice Metalic, Sedona Metallic and Carbon Black Metallic.

Interior is also more refined than before with new trimming and some cool gadgets, best of them should be the remote engine starting system which can also enables car’s air condition.

Powered by a 6.2 liter small-block V8 with 440 hp, GM hopes that with help of Variable Valve Timing technology it’ll be less heavy on fuel, yea right!

More details in the press release below…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The iconic HUMMER H2 is introducing an exclusive Limited Dark Chrome Edition and it is available at Liberty Automobiles showrooms across the UAE.

Part of the innovative yet practical changes introduced to this Limited Dark Chrome Edition H2 include a more refined interior that combines luxury alongside HUMMER’s legendary ruggedness. In addition to this once-in-a-life-time trim that will be available to only 1,300 customers globally, offering are enhanced safety features, a sophisticated powertrain set-up and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology which offers the dual benefit of improved performance and fuel efficiency.

Adib Takieddine, Marketing Manager of HUMMER in the Middle East said: “With continuing innovations such as these, the HUMMER brand remains strong in the region. The additions to the line-up for 2009 including the HUMMER H3T and this Limited Dark Chrome Edition make it clear that HUMMER remains true to its DNA as a ‘Like Nothing Else’ brand. The Limited Dark Chrome Edition HUMMER H2 which takes styling and individualization to a distinctive and exclusive level, is the icing on the cake for the HUMMER enthusiasts.”

Exclusivity par excellence

The Limited Dark Chrome Edition H2 is available on both SUV and SUT models and these vehicles can be distinguished on the outside with black chrome details, including Twenty-inch chrome-clad wheels, grille, hood latches and handles, fuel filler door, door handles, mirror caps, “H2” badges, side air vents and spare tyre cover. Meanwhile the wheel flares (arches), rocker mouldings and hood (bonnet) louvre will be body coloured.

Three exterior colours are available with the Limited Dark Chrome Edition 2009 H2 including the new-for-2009 Silver Ice Metallic and the existing Sedona Metallic and Carbon Black Metallic. Designers have worked quite hard to work out the exterior and interior combinations for the benefit of discerning customers. Silver Ice Metallic and Carbon Black Metallic are offered with the Ebony/Shale interior combination, while the Sedona Metallic colour is exclusive to the Limited Dark Chrome edition and is offered only with the Sedona interior.

Smarter interior

A set of new seats in the H2 present a more sculptured appearance and offer improved comfort and lumber support. The top anchorage of the front seat belts is now mounted on the B-pillar rather than on the seats and this change enabled engineers to adopt an uncompromising approach to achieving optimum seat comfort. Among the new features are second-row captain’s chairs that deliver a more personal and luxurious seating choice; third-row seat storage that frees up more storage space in the H2’s interior.

Complementing the new seats are new door trim panels and throughout the cabin soft-touch materials and new, more tactile controls enhance the feeling of craftsmanship demonstrated by a new interior. Precision design has ensured that the interior panel gaps are just one millimetre which adds to the overall premium feel.

Meanwhile, an all-new instrument panel with a six-gauge instrument cluster features a more sporty appearance.  The dashboard also features new vents that enhance heating or cooling comfort throughout the vehicle – particularly for the second-row and third-row seat occupants. The busy centre stack houses the climate controls and premium quality audio surround sound system.

Additional comfort and convenience features that are standard or optional (depending on model) include a new rear-seat overhead DVD entertainment system, a satellite navigation system and a rear-view camera system. Innovative technology has allowed the camera to be placed in the rear view mirror while the images appear on the mirror aiding the driver’s line of sight during the reversing manoeuvre.

A ‘must use’ convenience feature for Middle East customers is the popular remote start system that enables the vehicle’s interior to be heated or cooled prior to driving.

Optimised powertrain

The pulling power of the H2 comes from its lightweight small block 6.2-litre V8 engine that uses Variable Valve Timing technology to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. It produces 441 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 454 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. The engine is made of lightweight materials and including an aluminium cylinder block.

Mated to this engine is a six-speed Hydra-Matic 6L80 electronically controlled automatic transmission which has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio – including two overdrive gears. Also included in the transmission is a “tap up/tap down” capability that allows the driver to manually select upshifts and downshifts with buttons on the steering wheel. This arrangement helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy and more control off-road with a revised crawl ratio of approximately 39:1. The axle ratio now stands at 3.73 and with this optimized powertrain set-up the towing capacity has been increased to 3,727kg.

Hummer H3T, new pickup version based on Hummer H3 will make its appearance at Abu Dhabi Motorshow and will be available in showrooms after that in mid December 2008.

H3T is smaller than a full size whilst bigger than a mid size pick up truck , which makes it unique in this segment, well it is unique anyway, because it’s a Humvee! This being a Hummer means it comes with Hummer’s hardships as well, but GM sort that out too, … sort of! They are offering a 5 cylinder in-line 3.7-liter Vortec engine which might be less heavy on fuel but with 255 horsepower and 327 Nm of torque it certainly is not enough to move this ‘still’ huge car around optimally. I’d have more powerful V8, I’ll pay quit a lot more for fuel , but at least I won’t lose my will to live after every drive !!

GM’s Press : 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Visitors of the 2008 Abu Dhabi International Motor Show this December will get a glimpse of the HUMMER H3T, HUMMER’s first entry in the pick up segment. The H3T boasts unmistakable HUMMER style and unmatched capabilities, and is set to hit Middle East showroom floors in December. 

Based on the architecture of the popular H3, but featuring a five-passenger crew cab and a separate 1.5 metre long bed, the H3T will hit the showrooms across the Middle East by mid December 2008. The H3T is bigger than a midsize pick-up and smaller than a full-size pick-up, creating its own niche in the market. It also is infused the HUMMER brand’s intrinsic values, including exceptional off-road capability and a premium interior that is as functional as it is comfortable.

“With its unique size and HUMMER traits, the H3T is ideal for the customer who works hard and plays harder,” said Johnny Amiouni, Marketing Manager of HUMMER in the Middle East. “It offers the combination of truck versatility and HUMMER off-road prowess that delivers customers to the trail in style.”

In addition to its segment-defying size, the H3T also stands apart from other trucks with its signature HUMMER off-road capability. It is the only midsize truck to come standard with full-time four-wheel drive, 32-inch tires and functional skid shields. It also is the only midsize truck to offer front and rear locking differentials.

The new H3T will be available with a Vortec 3.7-liter in-line five-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams and variable valve timing offers most of 255 horsepower at 5,800 rpm, while torque of 327 Nm of torque comes at 4,600rpm. This power is transmitted to the wheels via a five-speed automatic gearbox. 

The HUMMER H3′s capability has been lauded by customers and critics alike. The H3T is also equally capable and more practical as it can tow up to 2,676 kg with ease.

About HUMMER

HUMMER is the youngest brand in General Motors’ portfolio, and is the fruit of an agreement between the world’s largest automaker and AM General in December 1999. The iconic HUMVEE is the original HUMMER, the cornerstone of the brand. Its core values are still largely maintained in current HUMMER line-up, the most capable line-up of off-road vehicles that don’t compromise on luxury.

In the Middle East, HUMMER’s line-up consists of the H2 which reflected an evolution of the brand making HUMMER more accessible to a wider civilian audience upon its launch in 2003; the midsize H3 that widened the brand’s appeal to a an even broader range of owners. 

Three years after its reveal as a concept car at the 2004 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, the production-ready 2009 HUMMER H3T is set to bring its unmistakable style and unmatched capability to the truck market. The H3T is based on the architecture of the popular H3, but features a five-passenger crew cab and a separate 1.5 meter bed. It also is infused with the attributes expected of a HUMMER, including exceptional off-road capability and a premium interior that is as functional as it is comfortable.

At the 2008 North American International Autoshow, HUMMER revealed the HX concept; its vision of an agile, trail-ready, open-air vehicle that fits the lifestyles of everyone who needs or wants to drive off road, in style.