GM Communications
Detroit, Michigan, USA
media.gm.com
For Immediate Release
HX CONCEPT PROVIDES VISION OF A RUGGED, OPEN-AIR
HUMMER
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Youthful, open-air entry-level-size HUMMER
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Designed by three young designers
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Convertible body with removable roof panels and modular rear roof assembly
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Easily removable fender flares and doors
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Full-time 4WD with front and rear locking differentials
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Aeronautically inspired interior with functional, lightweight design elements
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Reconfigurable instruments for highway and off-road driving
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3.6L direct-injected V-6 E85 FlexFuel engine with six-speed automatic transmission
GENÈVE – With its unmistakable HUMMER design and a compact, go-anywhere driving ethic,
the HUMMER HX concept challenges the hierarchy of the trail. HUMMER displayed the nimble,
reconfigurable off-roader at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
More compact than a HUMMER H3 – 2,057 mm wide, with a 2,616-mm wheelbase – the HX
concept is an open-air, two-door off-road vehicle that packs the off-road acumen for which
HUMMER has become legendary, along with an easily convertible body that acclimates to
varied trail conditions, cargo needs or passenger whims. Its design is based on the ideas
developed by a trio of young designers who are new to the HUMMER studio.
“The HX is HUMMER’s vision of an agile, trail-ready, open-air vehicle that fits the lifestyles of
everyone who needs or wants to drive off road," said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager.
"Of course, it carries exceptional off-road capability and the distinctive styling for which all
HUMMERs are known.”
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. With the roof panels
and roof assembly removed, the HX is transformed into a true convertible.
Easy removal of the roof panels and rear-roof assembly enables quick conversion from a closed
vehicle to an open one. The HX also was designed with several roof assemblies, allowing this
versatile vehicle to be configured as an SUT (with the roof assembly removed), a stylish slantback or a traditional, wagon-like design that offers a bit more cargo space.
The HX was shown with a slant-back configuration, wearing a desert-inspired matte olive paint
scheme, at the Geneva Motor Show. Additional convertible features include:
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Removable doors – easily removable pins in the exposed hinges allow the doors to be
removed quickly – an appreciated feature of many serious off-roaders
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Removable fender flares – attached with quarter-turn quick-release fasteners, the
composite fender flares can be quickly removed for additional trail/rock clearance, or if
the flare is damaged during off-road driving
“The modular design of the roof and removable body panels mark an evolution of HUMMER’s
design aesthetic,” said Carl Zipfel, director of design. “These features demonstrate a deeper
understanding of enthusiast desires when it comes to off-road driving – and the slant-back
design gives the HX a look all its own.”
Purposeful exterior
The design of the HX was driven by input from three young designers who were new to GM and
the HUMMER design studio. As part of their “initiation,” they were charged with developing
concept drawings for a smaller, youthful HUMMER and the HX is a direct result of their
creativity. The HX concept is based on one of the designers’ original illustrations, but
incorporates the best ideas and elements from the other designs.
“HUMMER appeals to young people globally and served as a perfect first assignment for our
newest talent,” said Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design. “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.”
Inside and out, the HX carries a purposeful aesthetic that, from initial sketches to finalized clay
models, was refined in only six months.
“This is the HUMMER design language stripped down to its essence,” said David Rojas,
creative designer. “The HX has an aggressive appearance and great proportions, with beauty
lying in its functional austerity.”
On the exterior, the lightweight theme is evidenced in the appearance of exposed, billet
aluminum suspension components that feature CNC-machined lightening relieves, as well as
clean, unadorned bodywork and minimal trim. The lightweight theme is taken to its extreme
when the roof panels, roof assembly, fender flares and doors are removed.
Classic HUMMER design cues make the HX instantly recognizable, including the round
headlamps located in square housings, an upright windshield profile, minimal overhangs, hood
vents and prominent air intakes. The air intakes are functional and feed a V-6 engine beneath
the hood, while the hood vents are active – they articulate to allow hot underhood air to escape.
And while the headlamps and grille are clearly HUMMER cues, they’ve evolved on the HX with
a “chopped circle” motif. The grille slots and headlamps, as well as elements on the interior,
have the appearance of circles or ovals that have been clipped at the top and bottom, creating a
unique appearance that speaks to the vehicle’s purposeful aesthetic.
“The ‘cut-off’ circles suggest larger, heavy-duty components that were trimmed to fit the
compact HX,” said Rojas.
And while it is unadorned by extraneous embellishments, the HX’s exterior is nonetheless
outfitted with features that speak to HUMMER’s legacy of technology and innovation, including
HID headlamps with focusing rings that adjust automatically when they’re turned on – much like
the lens of an auto-focus SLR-type camera. LED technology is used for the front turn signal
lamps and taillamps.
Aeronautically inspired interior
From aircraft-inspired seats to integrated, off-road-ready tools, the HUMMER HX’s interior has a
beauty that lies in its purposeful intent. It was inspired by the functional and lightweight elements
found in aircraft.
“Aeronautical parts are designed to be both lightweight and strong, and that is the feeling
exuded by the HX’s cabin,” said Stuart Norris, interior design manager. “There isn’t superfluous
trim or decoration – it is a purposeful design that conveys beauty through strength.”
Reinforcing the stripped-to-the-essence feel, the exterior’s matte olive color carries over onto
the interior’s largely sheet metal-covered panels. The color is accented with pressed or extruded
aluminum components, such as the handles, switches and other necessary parts.
Furthering the aeronautical influence is the instrument panel, which uses an exposed, extruded
aluminum cross-vehicle beam as its foundation. On the beam, the instrument cluster and other
vital controls are mounted; and it also features a unique, removal top cover that provides
significant storage capability.
“The instrument panel is a styling element of the HX, and the removal of the top cover reveals a
secondary design that enhances the vehicle’s core design ethic,” said Norris. “With the top
cover removed, the interior conveys even more of a basic essence – and the structure beneath
the cover is beautiful to those who appreciate finely crafted metal.”
A rubberized floor and ballistic nylon-material covering on the instrument panel and other
interior components reinforces the functional aesthetic.
Seating and console details
Like aircraft seats, the HX’s seats are constructed on a lightweight framework with minimal
components that feature lightening holes and strength-enhancing cross braces or triangulations.
They are mounted on exposed, aircraft-style tracks and trimmed with a weather-resistant
neoprene material.
The HX seats four, with a pair of bucket-type seats in the second row. The rear seats mimic the
front seats’ design and can be removed to generate more cargo room. All the seats feature a
four-point, racing-style safety harness.
The inner seat track on both front seats is located beneath the outer edges of a prominent
center console. The console offers exceptional storage capability and houses a unique shifter
that mounts low and out of the way when the vehicle is parked – also hiding from sight the
engine starter button. It has a spring-loaded cover that pops up when the driver is ready to
select a gear.
The console also houses a resting place for phones, MP3 player and iPods or iPhones. In fact,
there is no conventional radio in the HX, only integrated speakers. Passengers plug in an iPod,
or similar device, to a USB connector to play music in the HX.
“From the console to the cargo area behind the seats, there are simply untold storage
possibilities within the HX,” said Norris. “It’s like a four-wheel backpack that’s already fitted with
the necessities.”
Gauges and tools
The “cut-off circles” motif of the exterior is seen even more so on the HX’s interior, as the gauge
cluster, instrument panel vents and even the steering wheel carry the design element.
A three-element gauge cluster – each of the three instrument “pods” carries the cut-off circle
design – delivers crucial driver information in either a highway or off-road mode. This conceptual
reconfigurable gauge layout uses LCD screens with multiple layouts, including a navigation
system. The nav system features GPS and compass information; and is designed to upload trail
information before setting off on an excursion.
The center gauge pod houses a speedometer and tachometer, but changes to a wheel angle
indicator when the transmission is in the low position. This off-road mode changeover from the
highway mode gives the driver information that is more pertinent to the driver conditions. The
trail view of a camera mounted in the rear-view mirror can be displayed on the instrument panel,
too.
The off-road mode features of the instrument panel comprise the virtual tools of the HX, while
others are mounted for physical use, including a folding shovel, flashlight and first-aid kit. They
all carry the “clipped circle” design motif found throughout the vehicle.
Ready for rocks, trails and more
With its compact dimensions, almost no overhangs and grippy 35-inch tires, the HX is ready for
all terrains. Like all HUMMER production models, the HX has sturdy, body-on-frame
construction, onto which is mounted front and rear independent suspensions.
The front suspension features an electronic-disconnecting stabilizer bar for enhanced
maneuverability when driving off road, and the rear suspension is located with Computer
Numerical Controlled (CNC)-machined, billet trailing arms. Heavy-duty shocks with piggyback
reservoirs were custom-made for the HX by renowned racing shock manufacturer Fox; one is
mounted at each wheel position.
A full-time 4WD system pulls the HX over, through and around off-road obstacles. It transfers
torque to the front and rear axles, each of which is equipped with a locking differential. The
torque meets the trail via custom 35-inch-tall off-road tires that are mounted on a set of custom,
bead-lock-style wheels that have a two-tone appearance; dark-painted wheel centers
complemented by silver-anodized outer rims.
A complete underbody armor kit, including a front skid plate, powetrain protection and more,
protects the HX from wayward rocks and other potentially damaging objects. A power-operated
winch is located in the front bumper, and the HX has recovery hooks mounted on the front and
rear bumpers, just in case its help is required for wrangling others out of unfortunate off-road
situations.
Motivation for the HX comes from an E85 FlexFuel 3.6L direct-injected V-6 that is backed by a
six-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is teamed with the 4WD system to offer
exceptional low-speed traction and crawling capability. Four-wheel-disc brakes provide
confident stopping power.
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Contacts:
Dick P. Braakhekke
Cadillac, Corvette et HUMMER Europe Public Relations
Téléphone: +31 (0) 346-258-627
E-mail: dbraakhekke@cch-europe.com
Klaus-Peter Martin
GM Global Product Communications
Téléphone: +1-313-665-3168
E-mail klaus-peter.martin@gm.com
Dayna Hart
GM Global Product Communications
Téléphone: +1-313-667-0092
E-mail: dayna.hart@gm.com