Baby Hummer HX Concept to Debut in Detroit

Hummer will be introducing its smallest vehicle to date in the form of a

concept car at this year's North American International Auto Show. With the popularity and sales of larger SUVs dropping by the day, many automakers have found that their smaller products are doing well. Even though Hummer dropped the H1 from its product portfolio and has since pledged to add a clean diesel engine to the H2 for 2009, plus has revised its midsize H3 to make it more appealing, it lacks a compact-sized vehicle, which is where the HX comes into play.

Hummer handed its smallest off-roader project over to three of its newest designers, all of which are recent graduates of the College for Creative Studies. The challenge for the HX was for it to be small and agile, but to preserve off-roading capabilities and the image of Hummer. To ensure that this was done, the students were under the eye of Hummer brand manager (and ex-motocross racer) Carl Zipfel, who

established the key dimensions for the vehicle as well as its approach and departure angles, all of which are important to off-roading success.

Of the three designs made, the one that was selected to be transformed into a concept vehicle was the red one, designed by Min Young Kang and selected by Bob Lutz and Ed Welburn. Although it's smaller and tougher looking than anything we've seen from Hummer in recent years, it maintains most of the little details from other Hummer products, such as the short and flat slotted grille, the shape of the angular fenders and the side latched hood release. So far we don't know what kind of engine will power the HX, other than that it will be E85 capable.

Besides being tough looking, the HX Concept will be one of the most open and airy vehicles that Hummer has built since the H1 Alpha Open Top. It will feature

removable roof panels to give occupants the sensation of a convertible, while the rear roof section of the vehicle will hark back to that original H1 with its so-called “Slant Back” angled backside. This roof system will feature a modular unit that can turn the SUV from a closed vehicle to a pickup truck. These sketches provide a sample of the potential body styles that could be available if GM built it. Like a certain product from Jeep, the side doors of the prototype will be removable, bringing the occupants all that much closer to the wilderness.

The idea of the HX as an outdoorsy, lifestyle vehicle is a smart move on GM's behalf. If GM decides to build it, this might be the vehicle to help revitalize the Hummer brand name, expanding its sales and its market share.