Throughout its short history, the H3 SUV has had dreams of being a truck. Hummer first showed a concept for a smaller offering at the 2004 Los Angeles auto show - a two-door pickup dubbed H3T. In 2006 the brand borrowed the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon truck chassis to underpin the H3 SUV. Now, in a crazy automotive circle of life, the truck-based SUV will spawn an actual pickup truck.
Those Hummer buyers concerned with measurements will be glad to know that this truck is all about numbers. The H3T gains twenty-two inches between its wheels compared to the T-less H3 SUV. That extra length allows Hummer to fit a five-foot bed instead of making do with whatever would have fit on the H3's shorter wheelbase and also increases rear-seat room over a Canyon or Colorado crew cab. Thirty-two inch tires are standard while thirty-threes are available in the Off-Road Adventure package that also features locking front and rear differentials.
Engine choices are direct carryovers from the H3. A 3.7-liter I-5 is standard, with the choice of either a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission. A V-8 will reside underhood of the top-of-the-line H3T Alpha, sending 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque through a five-speed automatic. The eight-cylinder Alpha will have a tow rating of 5900 lbs.
Like the H3 SUV, the H3T should prove useful as an off-roading accessory. Full-time four-wheel drive is standard, as are skid plates to protect the undercarriage. The H3T has been designed as a toy hauler and will accommodate dirt bikes, motorcycles, and ATVs. A full line of factory and licensed accessories should aid in bed storage and gear-carrying.
Production of the H3T will begin in the third quarter of 2008. We'll get our first look at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show.