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Jeep and its many descendants were the most popular military vehicles to have seen civilian use, but they’ve now been replaced by what is probably the most rugged off- highway vehicles i in the world: the Hummer.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