The Creation, History and Development of the Hummer

Willys Overland Motors/Jeep

U.S. Army asked for a brand new vehicle in 1979, and AM General answered with a few prototype Humvees in the 1980s. Production began in 1985 for the military. Source: Full Throttle Hummer

Hummer engines and transmissions

Until the 1990s, Hummers were only powered by a 6.2 NA diesel V-8, the famed and larger 6.5 turbodiesel V-8 did not appear until around 1995.

-Power: 130 horsepower, 230 lb ft torque (6.2-liter). Weak Detroit diesel engine. Edmunds also suggests that some 1995-97 H1s were saddled with gasoline-fed 350-cubic inch 5.7-liter V-8 engines, borrowed from GM trucks. The smallest engine ever to be put into an H1, power for the gas V-8 was similar to other models but torque was not, rated at 190 hp, yet only 332 lb-ft for these models. It faded away after 1997 because of its low torque output and lack of diesel-supplied torque, which was a soldier-like 430 pound-feet for 6.5 TD H1s. That is usually a good enough figure, but almost all H1s were taxed with excessive weight, and the 5.7-liter was scrapped from H1s after 1997.

H1 later received the famous 6.5-liter turbodiesel V-8 that would eventually rated for 195 hp and 430 pound feet of torque (edmunds.com)

Largest engine ever put in was 6.6-liter Chevrolet Silverado Duramax turbodiesel V-8 that was rated at a Hummer high of 300 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. Also received Silverado’s Allison 1000 5-speed automatic. Dubbed H1 Alpha, only saw 1 year of production (2006). It was part of new Alpha line of Hummer trucks.

Additional engines for Hummer lineup: H2 received gas only engines, producing 316 from Silverado 2500’s 6.0-liter Vortec V-8. Later bumped slightly to 325, it still was underpowered for a large truck. H2s also were connected to a 4-speed automatic, same as many GM vehicles.

H2 was discontinued after around 2007, and H3 was launched.

H3 engines included 2006 Hummer H3: 3.5-liter inline 5-cylinder GM modular engine. Bumped to 3.7 liters for 2007. 225 horsepower for 2006, bumped to 242 for 2007 until discontinuation in 2010. Alpha V-8s: 5.3-liter GM Vortec pushrod 16-valve V-8. 300 horsepower, 320 pound feet. Also a major engine from the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light duty trucks, in addition to the Chevrolet Tahoe./GMC Yukon engines.

The Hummer brand really has developed into a legacy, and will likely never be forgotten. The truck brand’s state of being forgotten is not likely to occur because of its unforgettable, tough-guy image.

The silliest car ever made

Jeep SRT Blog: The most pointless vehicle?

By Zachary Filtz

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Have you ever wondered what the most pointless car is on the market not right now on U.S. soil? No, Mercedes-Benz, does not build it. It is not the CLS-class AMG, nor is it the station wagon-like Benz E63 AMG Wagon. The Wagon can get honorable mention. Chrysler-Fiat Corporation currently makes it. What is it? It is the hot rod-like Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

The Grand Cherokee has long offered available additional power, but only since the previous gen did it start offering the famous “Hemi” moniker, and only since 2012 has it offered this large, heavy 6.4-liter good-old iron block monster. Let’s crunch the numbers. The SRT G-Cherokee serves up an impressive 470 horsepower (tying the Chrysler 300 SRT and about tying the also-large Dodge Charger SRT), 465 pound-feet of torque, and is about good for a 0-60 rush of just under 5.0 seconds, at least with the outgoing, if dated, 5-speed automatic transmission, which dates to the era when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

            Why is this unnecessary, may the reader ask? How many SUVs can you think of that that have almost more power and torque than a V-8 Camaro? It gets worse. There is not much practicality, as the 4WD system is really tuned to operate like an all-wheel-drive system, making it less friendly through the mud like the regular GC is, and more suited to a drag strip, or airport runway. In other words, an SUV that does not do what SUVs are known for. With the Jeep name, one thinks of a car that does what the billy-goat does, climb mountains, run through the mud and descend steep hills. Not so with the SRT GC. It is tuned to turn like a car, with its big wheels and tires, but it does like to steer well. How well can a 5300-pound sport utility turn?

            I create this idea that it is pointless with this. If you want an SUV with power, then there are other options. BMW sells a few V-8 options with its X5 sport utility, I believe Mercedes still offers a V-8 with the ML-class, and Audi only offers smaller engines for its sport utilities. So, if a customer wants power, why not consider those, or something like a Charger sedan? Perhaps with the Hemi, or the Challenger in some off-the-wall color, or something similar. Is there really a market for Grand Cherokee SRT to continue?

            It also is not very new. It has been sold on our shores for the last eight years, skipping a year before it got redesigned, and then started to be available again. It started off as a mid-size GC with what appeared to be a cheap body kit, huge, shiny-looking wheels, and still a tuned V-8 that would top 140. It was as fast a Ford Mustang in a straight line. But not like Mustang buyers would care. What has changed since then? Nothing, it is the same formula, save for the $70,000 sticker price. A person could buy two Camaros for that price, and probably have more fun than something like this.

            With Chrysler’s recent mistake by trying to make the SRT name its own brand, as well as refusing to offer individual SRT dealer, the brand will now fold back under the Dodge group. This was to include the Charger and Challenger cars. This means that Grand Cherokee SRT was to be sold at Jeep dealers again rather than Chrysler-Dodge-SRT dealers, and what appears to be the end of the 300 SRT sedan, which was the first of the still-in-production Chrysler cars to be available with the SRT tuning treatment. In other words, the fate of the Grand Cherokee SRT is uncertain. If you are looking to buy a heavy SUV that goes fast in a straight line and a high sticker price, then the Jeep SRT just might be your ride.

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