Anyone driving a sports car originating from the pen of Colin Chapman, or indeed any other lithe British sports car, will be able to study the underside of America’s latest import from this week. The Hummer H3 – the “baby” version of the famous H1 as seen in war zones across the world – is bringing its ability to wade through two feet of water and climb a 60 degree slope to a shopping centre car park near you. By the summer, the first right hand drive H3s will have made it across from the new GM factory in South Africa.
Hummer has been owned by GM since 1999, and from selling 1,000 cars at the beginning of this decade, the company shifted 82,000 off-roaders last year. And that despite a considerable backlash amongst certain sectors of American society.
The cars will initially be available through Bauer Millet in Manchester – well known for selling American metal – will other dealers to be announced in due course. The H3 features a 3.7 litre in-line 5-cylinder engine producing 241bhp with drive passing through either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox.
At 2306kg, it’s no lightweight despite the “baby of the range” tag. And with 346g/km of CO2 being produced, not to mention a giant chrome grille mounted at waist height, expect it to inflame environmentalists like turning up at a Green party conference in a Countach Anniversary.
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