The Hummer H3 applies the design cues that made the
Hummer H1 and
H2 so popular and so unlike anything else
on the road. The difference is the more compact package.
The H3 has an extremely upright windshield and side windows
that more closely resemble those in a turret than a typical
family wagon, as well as the very short front and rear overhangs
and increased ground clearance that are vital for negotiating
the sort of extreme off-pavement environments Hummers have
to be able to survive.
One area in which the H3 differs from other Hummers is in
the blistered fenders that cover its widely set wheels and
large tires. The standard tires are 32 inches in diameter;
special off-road tires developed for the Hummer H3 by Bridgestone
are 33 inches tall.
Large round headlamps are positioned on either side
of an upright grille with seven vertical slots. Large fog
lamps positioned below the headlamps underscore the vehicle's
height. Its width is accentuated by amber signal lamps positioned
outboard of the headlamps, up above the front tires at the
front of bulging front
fenders. Lending even more strength to the H3's face is
a wide black bumper with a pair of bolted-in D rings, each
of which can support the vehicle's full weight. A visible
reminder that Hummers are at home away from pavement, the
H3 has a skid-plate, bright metallic underbody armor designed
to protect its oil pan and other powertrain components from
damage.
The hood has louvers that look like those on the Hummer
H2 or H1 and a pair of air boxes at the base of the windshield
supports. While the louvers are non-functional, one of the
air boxes draws oxygen into the 3.5-liter five-cylinder
engine.
Because of its military heritage as a Humvee, the wheels
on the Hummer H1 have an integrated tire inflation system.
The wheels on the H2 and H3 have a similar look, though
they do not provide inflation on the go. However, the Hummer
H3 does come with a standard tire-pressure monitoring system.
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The rear view of the H3 is dominated by the full-size
spare tire mounted on the back of the rear door. A hydraulic
strut eases opening and closing this tire-carrying door,
which is hinged on the driver's side and thus can be loaded
from curbside in parallel parking situations. As
at the front of the H3, a metallic skid
plate protects the fuel tank and other underbody components
at the rear of the vehicle's chassis.
Sport utility vehicles traditionally are built on pick-up
truck platforms, and the Hummer H3 chassis is based on the
platform of the
Chevrolet
Colorado and
GMC Canyon mid-size pick-ups. However, only
10 percent of the pick-up trucks' components carry over
in the H3, and the engine and transmissions account for
most of that commonality. The other thing the H3 has in
common with its pick-up truck cousins is that it is built
on the same assembly line in Shreveport, Louisiana.
