Hummer H3 to get E85 Capable Engines and 4-Cylinder Diesel in 2009

With Hummer’s future uncertain as truck and large SUV sales continue to freefall in the States, you’d think that GM would totally give up on its offroad brand. But for the time being, that doesn’t seem to be the case. As part of its commitment to make half of its vehicles E85 (ethanol) capable by 2012, GM said that along with the H2 E85 FlexPower that will go on sale in the States this October, it is continuing the development of FlexPower engines for the H3 SUV.

Scheduled to hit U.S. dealerships in early 2009, the H3 FlexPower will be able to run on gasoline, E85 ethanol which consists of up to 85 percent ethanol mixed with gasoline, or any combination of the two fuels. According to the American automaker, in the USA alone, more than 3 million of the 7 million flexible-fuel vehicles on the road are GM cars and trucks. -Continued

“Using biofuels, specifically E85, is the most significant thing we can do in the near-term to offset rising future energy demands” says Beth Lowery, GM vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “We believe ethanol used as a fuel, not just as a gasoline additive, is the best near-term alternative to the surging global demand for oil because ethanol is renewable and it significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to gasoline. Best of all, it is available today.”

Aside from the H3 FlexPower, GM is also developing a 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine for the smallest model in its range. The diesel-powered H3 will be an important addition in Hummer’s European range as diesel vehicles across the pond account for more than 50 percent of total sales in most markets. The percentage of diesel variants is even greater when it comes to large SUVs and 4x4s.

Hummer Organizes Driving Academy Event in Morocco

For those of you who are looking to sharpen their off-road driving abilities and to take a break from the daily routine life, GM is launching its first ever Hummer Driving Academy event that will take place in Morocco from 7-12 November 2008. The academy will take a fleet of 14 Hummer H3s on a 1300km (about 800 miles) route which includes the Sahara Desert. Overall, there will be 14 teams consisting of a driver and co-driver. The participating SUVs will carry necessary survival equipment, desert tires and GPS satellite navigation systems, but other than that, they’re standard H3s with 3.7-liter 5-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions. -Continued

The cost of participation in the 2008 HUMMER Driving Academy event has been set at €3.995 or $5,870 per team of two (driver and co-driver), and it includes the use of the H3 vehicles and luxury hotel accommodation but not air fares. According to GM, the Hummer Driving Academy event in Morocco will be followed by a series of events which will be rolled out in 2009. For more information on the event in Morocco you can visit the official site here.