The New Hummer: Youthful Design, as it should be
The New Hummer HX Concept
While some of us languished after graduating from college—caught in the Catch 22 of needing experience to get a job and needing a job to get experience. But three engineering superstars -- David Rojas, Min Young Kang and Robert Jablonski -- managed to earn the trust of carmaker HUMMER to design the next generation of Hummers, the HX.
Designed by three rooky recent grads of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., the HX is more compact than the HUMMER H3 and builds in more features that make the car more “practical” to its original design intention (driving in extreme conditions).
The size of cars, and more importantly how much emissions it dispences into the atmosphere, is a hot button topic right now— dividing the auto enthusiast community. Some might say that the bigger the car, the smaller the … driver … but I really think this is generalizing a diverse group of drivers, who choose HUMMER for a variety of reasons. I know men who drive H2s who are no more slight or insecure than a ticked off bull, and I also know women who drive these vehicles in extreme climates for safety reasons.
Of course status plays a role in the decision to buy a luxury vehicle of any kind. But why do Hummers elicit such an intense response? Maybe we don’t need H2s but isn’t it a person’s right to drive whatever he or she chooses? And at least the company is changing with the times.
I think it was a smart decision to bring in these young designers to address the growing concerns over “big, mean, driving machines” and to feed into the desires of the true off-roader/extreme driver. The HX concept is an open-air, two-door off-road vehicle, with an easily convertible body that acclimates to varied trail conditions, cargo needs or passenger preferences. By the look of the pictures, I can already envision the next generation of PlayStation loving drivers. It just looks like a fantasy vehicle that’s fun to drive.
Specifically, the HX features removable doors and fender flares. Easily removable pins in the exposed hinges allow you to quickly remove the doors (a feature serious off-roaders will love). 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
Some additional features of the Hummer HX:
• Convertible body with removable roof panels and modular rear roof assembly
• Full-time 4WD with front and rear locking differentials
• Aeronautically inspired interior with functional, lightweight design elements
• Reconfigurable instruments for highway and off-road driving
• 3.6L SIDI V-6 E85 FlexFuel engine with six-speed automatic transmission
Can these three young designers save HUMMER? Weigh in on the discussion at the Wired blog AUTOPIA.
Check out HUMMERForums to read more about the HX Hummer Concept. Hear what the designers have to say about their design, watch the video.
::A. Covington for Belisi Fashions
Lisa on Jan 27, 2008 7:07:21 PM:
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