Hummer on the Block
 

Though y'all might enjoy this:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...es-839616.html

Beautiful

I can't believe all of this is changing so quickly. What's going to happen in 5 more years?

Well, this story was a big fat "DUH". I'm surprised that it took this long.

This might actually be a really good time to open a bike shop that specializes in utility bikes.

Now that you mention it, I have seen a Hummer-branded folding bike parked in my building.. ;)

United Grounds Planes To Save Fuel

Ford Truck And SUV Sales Drop

Chrysler Also Sees Drops

What's really dumb, IMO, is that they didn't see this coming. Toyota did, apparently. But, when most of us could see this coming, they didn't, and still invested in the types of vehicles people were bound to desert.

Who would buy it? Tata? They just bought Jaguar and Land Rover. China?

Besides trying to sell the Hummer line, GM announced the closing of plants in the US, Canada and Mexico that build light trucks and SUVs. Ford made some similar moves last week.

The US auto companies were caught with their pants down in the 1970s oil crisis. Toyota sold more cars than GM for the first time last quarter, and this is scaring the crap out of them.

On a more positive note, GM also announced that they're rushing production of the gas assisted electric car, the Volt. I believe they're planning to introduce in in the 2010 model year, which is really only a little more than a year from now.

+1, especially about Toyota (and others).

The first engine that passed the then-new US emissions restrictions in the early 1970s, doing it without a catalytic convertor, was by Honda.

This is the direction the North American auto makers should have been pursuing at least a decade ago. At that point, while fuel was still cheap, environmentalists were calling for cleaner transportation. Hybrids, electric vehicles and alternate fuel vehicles can meet that requirement while also providing more reasonably priced transportation.

Developing the Hummer for public use didn't make a lot of sense. It was originally designed as a military vehicle for rough off-road conditions and for moving troops and supplies. For the non-military public, it's far more vehicle than almost anyone will ever need. It also comes with its own handling issues, particularly in traffic, because of its size and weight.

If the demand for the Hummer remains, it would be worth General Motors' efforts to look into offering an electric or hybrid version of this vehicle.

Just thinking out loud. The general public probably has no idea that Volt, Voltage, etc. is Alessandro Volta's legacy, just as Bush's legacy will be the bus :roflmao2:

I'm in. Let's do it!

Actually, Toyota was even dumber - not being saddled with a plant to build big V-8 powered pickups and SUV's, they built one in Texas. And opened it just as the market crashed. Fortunately they've got all the hybrids and small cars which are keeping the profits flowing, but the losses on the trucks are cutting into that.

So much for Toyota's supposed precognitive genius.

Actually, the only major car manufacturer that's looking good at the moment is Honda, who have steadfastly refused to build vehicles for specific markets. They take the attitude that if it can't sell worldwide, they're not interested. And the Ridgeline (half a pickup) is as far as they deviated from that philosophy.

You're jumping the gun - Hummer isn't for sale . . . . . . yet. However, GM is looking into the possibility.

Thanks for the great article! While I feel for the people who will be losing their jobs over this, I think that GM could easily make their money back and create plenty of jobs if they starting nailing out the future of super high MPG vehicles instead of trying to hold on to the ultra-consumerism ideals of the past.

lol, that's awesome.

one of my favorite videos

They had a story here too:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...060303264.html

If you look at the sales, the reasons for this are obvious. Although I have no clue who in their right mind would buy the thing now.

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-...8060400290.gif

A 2008 H1 would be a collectible. Put it on blocks for a couple of decades and you're set. ;)

Hehehe...

And leave it to the guy to say, "Size isn't everything.." ;)

:thumb::roflmao2::love:

I used to amaze people with just how much I could put in my 1978 Honda Civic 1200 coupe...then I bought a 1982 wagon:eek: and it had at least a third more capacity.

Aaron:)