The HUMVEE is the original HUMMER, the cornerstone of the brand. In 2003, HUMMER introduced H2, reflecting an evolution of the brand and making HUMMER more accessible to a wider audience. For 2005, the HUMMER brand continues to evolve, thanks to the H2 SUT – a vehicle with unmatched capabilities, and still every inch a HUMMER.
"Like its brother the H2 SUV, the SUT draws from its military heritage as the next evolution of the HUMMER brand. The H2 SUT is functional, versatile and almost endlessly reconfigurable, exceeding even the most demanding consumer's standards," said Michael C. DiGiovanni, HUMMER general manager.
HUMMER is the king of the mountain for off-road vehicles. The SUT, like the H2 SUV, has unbelievable, class-leading, off-road capability. This truck is untamed and built for individuals with a rugged spirit because it can go anywhere and do anything.
"While the SUT certainly carries on the traditions of its predecessors, it has a level of unique design, functionality and capability that offers owners a sense of freedom that appeals to their youthful, active lifestyles," added DiGiovanni.
Absolute versatility
H2 owners can already carry passengers, cargo or a combination of the two. With SUT, HUMMER adds even more flexibility.
When SUT owners have to carry four passengers, the bulkhead at the rear of the passenger compartment remains upright, still providing over 30 cubic feet of cargo-carrying capacity.
However, when cargo requirements dictate the need for more space, the rear window can be powered into the Midgate, and the Midgate and the rear seat folded forward, offering a 4-foot by 6-foot pickup bed.
Rubber bed mats help keep the cargo area clean, while a locking hard tonneau cover provides cargo security. Both accessories may be ordered individually, as may bed rail cover inserts and a removable, locking cargo box. SUT owners may also customize their vehicle with a host of other GM accessories.
"There's more to the H2 SUT than merely cargo-carrying capacity. At the push of a single button, the driver can lower all four side windows and the rear window. Using a separate switch, the standard sunroof can also be opened, giving SUT a truly open-air feeling, like driving a convertible," explained Roger McCormack, HUMMER product director.
H2 SUT's interior is as inviting as it is innovative. It features Medium Wheat leather seats standard, or an uplevel Ebony leather interior is available. Either leather-seating configuration features eight-way driver's and front-passenger seats, four-way lumbar supports and memory settings for two drivers. Both front seats also feature three heat settings for the seat cushions and seatbacks. Heated seat cushions for the rear passengers are included with either leather package.
The uplevel interior features an all-black appearance throughout. Perforated leather is used on the instrument panel and the door trim grab handles. Leather is also used to cover the console lid, the door trim armrests and the door trim surround.
"To truly accentuate the Ebony leather interior we've given the door sill plates an aluminum appearance, complementing the chrome appearance of the aircraft-style shifter," McCormack added.
The metallic look is also incorporated into the inside door handle, which features a chrome finish. The result is an interior that epitomizes luxury and precision.
Ask for directions? Never!
The beauty of a vehicle such as the HUMMER H2 SUT is the ability to go pretty much anywhere. And if the driver is unsure how to "get there" – well, it's not a problem, thanks to the available touch-screen Navigation Radio. With the push of a button, the navigation operation will instantly map routes with 2-D and 3-D full-color map views on a 5.8-inch display screen, making maneuvering on highways and streets effortless. Once the navigation DVD is inserted and the address entered on the system's screen, a route map is generated and audio commands – with step-by-step instructions in English or French – are provided.
The verbal commands tell drivers when to turn and alert them if they stray from the calculated route; the system automatically recalculates a new route from their current position if they make a wrong turn. Additionally, drivers can instruct the navigation system to plan a route using the shortest path or one using major roads. Coupled with the standard OnStar system, the navigation system provides additional security to drivers.
Providing uninterrupted listening pleasure while going "from here to there" is the available XM Satellite Radio, featuring 100 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original music, news, sports and talk. Many of the channels are presented commercial-free. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $9.99 a month – less than the cost of a single CD.
Every inch a HUMMER
H2 SUT's exterior is as rugged as its interior is refined. The HUMMER DNA is quickly evident from the exterior design of the SUT, embodying square shapes; flat, chiseled surfaces; hard peak lines; and flat glass panes. These combine to create a significant amount of interior room. The vertical glass opens up a broader front and wider side view.
In a nod to the functional aspect of design, exposed components – such as hood lift handles, hood latches and fasteners – give H2 SUT's appearance an individually component-assembled quality. Exposed components shout ruggedness and exemplify yeoman-like functionality and workmanship.
The rear bumper also includes large, military, HUMMER-style retrieval loops; the front bumper includes tow loops. Both bumpers have access holes for the hitch receivers attached to the chassis that can accommodate a winch, which can be plugged in, locked (just like a trailer hitch) and hooked up with an electrical connection, allowing H2 SUT to free vehicles mired in mud or otherwise hopelessly grounded.
Both receivers accommodate a regular Class 3 trailer hitch, providing additional flexibility for such tasks as pulling a boat out of the water or backing a trailer into a tight spot.
Because it is based on the H2 SUV, the SUT enjoys short overhangs, for radical approach and departure angles and exceptional ground clearance for minimal impact on trails. The 17-inch wheels and heavy-duty independent front suspension and five-link rear suspension provide superior handling, carrying and towing capability.
Powering the H2 SUT is GM's 6.0-liter, Vortec 6000 V-8, which delivers 325 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 365 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The Vortec 6000 is mounted longitudinally and mated to a heavy-duty Hydra-Matic 4L65-E four-speed automatic overdrive transmission with full-time all-wheel drive. "Exceptional off-road capability and versatility in the SUT allows HUMMER owners the ultimate opportunity for adventure," said McCormack.
Concept to reality
"We first introduced the H2 SUT as a concept vehicle in Times Square with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the 2001 New York Auto Show," said McCormack.
The H2 SUT will be built at the AM General assembly facility in Mishawaka, Ind., by the United Auto Workers Local 5, the oldest UAW local union in the country. The H2 SUT will go on sale in the second quarter of 2004.
General Motors and AM General reached an agreement in December 1999, in which GM acquired exclusive ownership of the HUMMER brand name worldwide. To find out more about HUMMER, visit the web site at www.HUMMER.com
HUMMER H2 SUT REDEFINES 'CAPABLE'
"Capable" and "HUMMER" are synonymous. After all, how many other vehicles can ford a stream 20 or 30 inches deep (H2 and H1, respectively) or climb 16-inch vertical steps? H2 SUT is all of that, of course, while also adding a higher level of versatility and fun to any excursion.
"The reconfiguration aspect of the H2 SUT greatly enhances its versatility. SUT can be a fun and luxurious family hauler, a practical truck or a little of both. And because it's a HUMMER, it can traverse the toughest terrain easily and comfortably," said Michael C. DiGiovanni, HUMMER general manager.
Versatile
H2 SUT can comfortably accommodate up to five people. It also has 60/40 folding rear seats, allowing drivers to conveniently carry a combination of passengers and cargo inside the vehicle. Where SUT really shines, however, is during those times when cargo requirements increase.
"The SUT features an open-back cargo bed. The open feature means that tall items can be more easily transported," explained Roger McCormack, HUMMER product director. "What's more is that the cargo area is expandable."
With the Midgate closed, the SUT offers more than 30 cubic feet of space inside the cab. When even larger items must be accommodated, SUT is up to the challenge.
"Extending cargo-carrying capacity is a very simple process in the SUT. Fold the rear seats and fold the Midgate, and you have a 4-foot by 6-foot cargo bed and you increase your cargo-carrying capacity to more than 52 cubic feet," said McCormack.
For securing cargo, the bed has four tie-down provisions, each capable of holding 500 pounds. Cargo security, meanwhile, can be ensured with the available locking hard tonneau cover or the locking cargo box.
"We envision SUT owners will take their vehicle off-road, maybe camping or mountain biking. For easy cleanup once back home, the SUT features cargo bed drain holes and rubber bed mats, allowing owners to clean the cargo area with a garden hose," McCormack said.
Another feature that will likely come in handy during such excursions is the SUT's optional air suspension. In addition to improving ride quality and increasing ground clearance, the air suspension adds an auxiliary air outlet in the cargo area, allowing owners to inflate tires, camping equipment, beach toys or what have you.
Powerful
When it comes to performance, the H2 SUT is unmatched. Its 6.0-liter, Vortec 6000 V-8 delivers 325 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 365 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The Vortec 6000 is mounted longitudinally and mated to a heavy-duty Hydra-Matic 4L65-E four-speed automatic overdrive transmission with full-time four-wheel drive.
The four-wheel-drive system is perhaps the most advanced ever offered on a consumer vehicle. With its five operational modes and two-speed planetary gearset, the SUT is capable of adapting to many different road conditions at the touch of a button. Selections include:
- 4 HI Open for normal, everyday driving on dry road surfaces at any speeds.
- 4 HI Locked for semi-slippery surfaces like snow, light sand or wet areas, such as those around a boat launch.
- 4 LO Locked for severe off-pavement use, such as crawling over large rocks or logs.
- 4 LO Locked + Rear Diff Locked, available only when the transfer case is in Low Lock position. It permits locking up the rear differential for optimum slow-speed capability in climbing over large rocks or up long, steep grades.
- Neutral, obtained by simultaneously pressing the "4 LO Locked" and "4 HI Open" buttons and holding them down for 10 seconds. It permits flat-towing the H2 SUT behind another vehicle.
Adding to the overall sense of control is a highly developed Bosch four-channel anti-lock braking/traction control system (ABS/TCS). In addition to providing optimum control on slippery surfaces, the ABS can detect and adjust its braking capabilities to rough off-road surfaces, such as gravel and potholes.
The TCS also provides the ability to gain traction through a single wheel, if necessary. A second mode of the TCS system, "TC2," used in conjunction with the transfer case's selections, provides three additional operating modes: "4 HI Locked + TC2," "4 LO Locked + TC2" and "4 LO Locked + Rear Diff Locked + TC2." This provides distinct advantages in different driving conditions, such as loose sand or gravel in the desert or mud or slippery conditions.
With three transfer case selections, two rear axle differential selections and two modes provided by the TCS mode switch, the driver actually has a total of seven driving mode selections, providing unprecedented versatility to tailor H2 performance to match driving conditions.
On and off road, SUT drivers will appreciate the independent torsion bar front suspension, which features 46-mm monotube gas-charged shock absorbers and a 36-mm front stabilizer bar.
The rear suspension, meanwhile, features a five-link trailing arm, air springs and a 32-mm stabilizer bar. The spring rate is variable, from a soft on-road rate, to a transitional rate, to a stiff off-road rate, which helps prevent bump impact input forces from entering the vehicle's body. A coil spring version will be available in June 2004.
The result is smooth cornering on pavement and a less jarring ride off road. The standard air suspension also aids the off-road capability of the SUT. It helps keep the vehicle level under load and, with its extended ride height feature, makes for a steeper departure angle when conditions call for it.
SUT INTERIOR IS VERSATILE, ACCOMMODATING AND LUXURIOUS
H2 SUT is like a multipurpose tool. It can seat up to five people very comfortably, hold more than 52 cubic feet of cargo, or a combination of the two.
When SUT owners have to carry four additional passengers, the Midgate at the rear of the passenger compartment remains upright, still providing more than 30 cubic feet of cargo-carrying capacity. Or, at the driver's discretion, some cargo may be carried inside the vehicle, thanks to the folding 60/40 rear seats.
However, when cargo requirements dictate even more space, the rear window can be powered into the Midgate and the rear seats and Midgate can be folded forward, revealing a nearly flat load floor and 52.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Cargo capacity is maximized by the single-pivot, swing-out spare tire carrier, providing an unencumbered loading area.
The cargo bed features four tie-down provisions, each capable of holding 500 pounds. Since the SUT features an air suspension, there is an auxiliary air outlet in the cargo area, enabling SUT owners to inflate tires, camping equipment, beach toys, etc.
Items that are likely to get dirty or muddy – such as the available HUMMER bike – are ideally suited for the cargo compartment, since the bed is easily cleaned with a hose and designed to drain quickly.
"HUMMER owners are rugged individualists. These are people who are likely to take their vehicles off-road or to engage in outdoor activities. We've also designed a number of accessories for SUT owners to customize their trucks to match their lifestyles," said Roger McCormack, HUMMER product director.
These accessories include rubber bed mats; a locking hard tonneau cover for cargo security; and a locking cargo box. SUT owners may also customize their vehicle with a host of GM accessories.
"Another innovative feature of the SUT is the way it creates the feeling of a convertible. We think it will be a popular aspect of this vehicle's ownership," McCormack added.
At the push of a single button, the driver can lower all four side windows and the rear window. Using a separate switch, the standard sunroof can also be opened, giving SUT a truly open-air feeling.
Source: Hummer
