ier time:

carrier enters civilian service

New multi- “Purpose military vehicle built in America by Americans for Americans

Greg

AUTOMOTION

FEW 4X4s can claim to be
‘“‘combat-proven,’? or to
have earned their battle

stars as multi-purpose troop
carriers and weapons plat-
forms.

The venerable Willys Jeep and
its many descendants were the
most popular military vehicles to
have seen civilian use, but they’ve
now been replaced by what is
probably the most rugged off-
highway vehicles i in the world: the
Hummer.

Yes, this is the same vehicle we
‘saw on our TV screens motoring
across the Iraqi desert during the
Gulf War.

The Hummer — or HMMWV
(High-Mobility Multi-purpose
Wheeled Vehicle)’ — has seen ser-
vice as a tactical troop carrier,
weapons platform, shelter carrier,
and ambulance.

Now you, too, can own the
toughest 4X4 in the Western
Hemisphere. Hummers are sold
only to U.S. customers and
friendly foreign nations.

The Hummer is built to meet
strict, and 1I- mean really strict,
U.S. Army specifications.

How strict? The Hummer can
be dropped’ out of the back of a

.
ees

Photo submitted

dependable, fuel-efficient, low-
speed off-road performance
rather than normal city and high-
way use,

This is reflected in the Hum-
mer’s performance statistics: 0 to
60 mph in a leisurely 19.5 seconds
and a maximum speed of 110
km/h. To improve performance
and appeal, AM General is look-
ing at the possibility of putting a
big-block gasoline V8 into the
Hummer nex! year.

Hummers offer a couple of
unique features that you won’t
find on other off-road vehicles.

The huge Goodyear MT-2A ra-
dial tirss can be run flat for up to
50 kilometres (31 miles) at a

constant speed of 50 km/h (31 —

mph).

This is possible because inside
the tire is a centrally located solid
rubber ‘‘wheel’? which carries the
load should the tire lose pressure.

I can’t vouch for ride comfort,

though. :

An optional Central Tire Infla-
tion System allows the driver to
inflate and deflate the tires from
the cockpit. The tires can: be
deflated from 35 pounds to 10

THE MILITARY version of the Hummer can be parked underwater overnight, restarted, and driven pounds for use in severe terrain
out of the water under its own power.

low-flying cargo plane from 100
feet and driven away. It will climb
60 degree gradients with a 40
degree side slope, and ford rivers
up to 76 cm (30 inches) deep. It
has ‘a’ full 41 cm (16 inches) of
ground clearance, about 15 cm (6
inches) more than any other 4X4
on the market.

There’s even a military version
of the Hummer that can be park-
ed. underwater overnight,
restarted, and driven out of the
water under its own power. Try
that with your Geo!

Of course, Hummers are built
in America by Americans in South
Bend, Indiana, and I can almost
guarantee that you won’t find any
import parts in this vehicle.

The manufacturer, AM Gener-
al, is primarily a U.S. defence
contractor, but recent cutbacks in
U.S. government military spend-

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ing have driven AM General to
seek civilian markets for the
Hummer.

“The defence industry is now
changing and defence contractors
must respond by looking for ap-
plications for existing products
and reinvesting in new business,”
said AM General president James
Armour during a plant tour last
year. ‘‘Consumer interest (in the
civilian Hummer) is high. We
have a product ready for the
market and a market ready for the
product.’’

Hummers are now being offered
to civilians in five models: a
two-passenger hardtop; four-
passenger hardtop; four-passenger
Open canvas top; two-passenger
industrial fleet hardtop; and. a

four-door wagon.

Prices in the U.S. range from
$43,000 to $53,000, but there’s no
word yet on Canadian prices.

Canadian Hummers will have
yet to meet stricter Transport
Canada safety standards, and I
have little doubt that the Hummer
wil! meet the five mph (eight kmh)
bumper standard. .

In fact, I feel sorry for the test
wall that will have to bear the
force of a 6,200 Ib. (2,790 kg)
Hummer crashing into it at five
mph.

The Hummer is powered by a
General Motors 6.2-litre diesel V8
engine with 150 horsepower
coupled to a three-speed
automatic transmission.

The powertrain is designed for

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such as sand or mud, and then
reinflated . without leaving. the
driver’s seat. :

The Hummer is available. in
low-gloss Sand, military Green,
Black, White,- and even Red. If
you live in a really rough neigh-
borhood, - you can ‘order your
Hummer with a polyurethane
chemical agent resistant coating.

Hummers are backed by a
three-year/50,000 km warranty,
but considering the incredibly
rugged construction of the chassis
and body, this would appear to be
a low estimate. The’ U.S. Army
requires Hummers to last a mini-
mum of 12 years.

My guess is that if you treat it
nicely, it'll last a rninimum of 30

years. Just don’t drop it out of an.

airplane too often.

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