The HUMMER HX notion challenges the hierarchy of the path, with its unmistakable HUMMER design and a compact, go - everywhere driving ethos. The nimble, reconfigurable off-roader was displayed by hummer at the 2008 North American International Auto-show.

Its layout influenced by the thoughts developed by a trio of young designers that are new to the studio.

2008 Hummer HX Concept review

"The HX is HUMMER's vision of an agile, trail-prepared, openair vehicle that suits the life styles of everyone who desires or wants to drive-off road," said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager.

The HX is transformed into a real convertible, with the roof panels and roof assembly removed.

Simple removal of the roof panels and back-roof assembly enables fast conversion from a closed vehicle to an open one. The HX also was designed with several roof assemblies, enabling this vehicle to be configured as an SUT (using the roof assembly removed), a slant - rear or even a conventional, wagonlike design that provides a little more cargo room.

Removable doors - easily removable pins in the hinges enable the doors to be removed immediately - an appreciated characteristic of many serious offroaders
Removable fender flares - attached with quarterturn fast - release fasteners, the complex fender flares can be immediately removed for additional trail / stone clearance, or if the flare is damaged during driving
"These characteristics demonstrate a deeper comprehension of enthusiast desires in regards to offroad driving - and the slantback design gives the HX a look all its."

Purposeful outside

The HX notion influenced by some of the designers' original illustrations, but features the greatest thoughts and elements from the other models.

"HUMMER appeals to young people internationally and functioned as a perfect first duty for our newest talent," said Ed Welburn, vice-president, Global Layout. "Today's graduates from top design schools are prepared to hit the ground running. The HUMMER design challenge gave our newest designers a chance to sprint."

Inside and outside, the HX carries a purposeful aesthetic that, from first sketches to finalized clay models, was refined in just six months.

Hummer HX Concept Tour

"The HX has an aggressive look and excellent proportions, with beauty lying in its practical austerity."

In the outside, the subject is evidenced in the look of exposed, billet aluminum suspension parts that feature CNCmachined lightening alleviates, in addition to tidy, unadorned bodywork and minimal trimming. Once roof assembly, the roof panels, fender flares and doors are removed the lightweight subject is taken to its extreme.

Classic HUMMER design cues make the HX immediately identifiable, including the round headlamps found in an upright windshield profile, square housings, minimal overhangs, hood vents and notable air-intakes. While the hood vents are active, the air intakes are practical and feed a V - 6 engine beneath the hood - they pronounce to enable hot underhood air to escape.

And whilst the headlamps and grille are certainly HUMMER cues, they have evolved to the HX with a "chopped circle" theme. The grille slots and headlamps, as well as components to the inside, possess the appearance of circles or ovals which were clipped on top and bottom, creating a distinctive appearance that speaks to the automobile's purposeful aesthetic.

"The 'cut off' circles imply bigger, heavyduty parts which were trimmed to match the compact HX," said Rojas.

Aeronautically inspired interior

It was inspired by the practical and lightweight elements seen in plane.

"Aeronautical parts are designed to be both lightweight and powerful, which is the feeling exuded by the HX's cottage," said Stuart Norris, interior-design manager. "There is not superfluous trimming or decoration - it's actually a purposeful design that conveys beauty through strength."

Strengthening the stripped-to-theessence feel, the outside's matte olive colour carries over onto the inside's mainly sheet metalcovered panels. The colour is highlighted with pressed or extruded-aluminum parts, like the switches, handles and other crucial components.

Furthering the influence is the instrument panel, which uses as its base an open, extruded-aluminum crossvehicle beam. In the beam, the instrument cluster and other critical controls are mounted; and additionally, it includes a unique, removal top cover that provides essential storage ability.

"The instrument panel is really a styling element of the HX, and also removing the top cover reveals another design that improves the vehicle's core design ethos," said Norris. "With the top cover removed, the inside conveys much more of a fundamental essence - and the structure underneath the cover is amazing to people who appreciate finely-crafted steel."

A ballistic nylon and flooring - material covering on the instrument panel and other interior parts reinforces the aesthetic.

Chair and games console details

Like aircraft seats, the HX's seats are built on a lightweight framework with nominal elements that feature lightening holes and strengthenhancing cross-braces or triangulations. They're trimmed with a weatherresistant neoprene material and mounted on exposed, plane - style tracks.

The HX seats four, with a pair of buckettype seats in the row. The back seats mimic the front seats' layout and could be taken out to create more cargo room. All the seats feature a fourpoint, racing-design safety harness.

The interior seat track on both front seats is situated beneath the peripheries of a notable centre console. It's a cover that pops-up whenever the driver is prepared to choose a gear.

The console also houses a resting-place for Mp3-player, telephones and iPods or iPhones. Actually, there's no radio in the HX, just incorporated speakers.

"It is just like a fourwheel back pack which has already been fitted with all the essentials."

HUMMER HX Exterior

Gauges and tools

The "cutoff circles" theme of the outside is seen even more so on the HX's inside, because the gauge cluster, instrument panel vents and yet the steering wheel take the layout component.

A three-component gauge cluster - all of the three device "pods" carries the cutoff circle design - provides critical driver info in either a highway or offroad mode.

Once the transmission is in the lower position the centre gauge pod houses a tachometer and speedometer, but changes to a wheel angle indicator. This offroad mode changeover from the highway mode gives information to the driver that is more relevant to the driver problems. The trail view of the camera mounted within the mirror could be shown in the instrument panel, also.

The offroad mode characteristics of the instrument panel contain the tools of the HX, while some are mounted for physical use, including a torch, folding spade and firstaid kit. All of them take the "clipped circle" design theme found throughout the automobile.

Ready for trails, stones and more

With its compact dimensions, nearly no overhangs and grippy 35inch tires, the HX is prepared for all terrains. Like all HUMMER creation versions, the HX has tough, bodyon-frame building, onto which is mounted front and rear independent suspensions.

An electronic-disconnecting stabilizer bar is featured by the front suspension for increased maneuverability when driving off road, and the back suspension is found with Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) - machined, billet trailing arms. Heavyduty shocks with piggyback reservoirs were custommade for the HX by celebrated racing shock manufacturer Fox; one is mounted at each wheel location.

The torsion meets the trail via custom 35inch-tall offroad tires which are mounted on the group of custom, beadlock-design wheels that have a twotone appearance; darkpainted wheel centers complemented by silveranodized outer rims.

A whole underbody armor kit, including a front skid plate, powetrain protection and more, shields the HX from rocks and other potentially dangerous items. A power-controlled winch is found within the front fender, and the HX has retrieval hooks mounted in the front and back bumpers, just in case its help is needed for wrangling others out-of unlucky offroad situations.

The transmission is teamed with the 4WD system to offer extraordinary lowspeed grip and crawling ability. Four wheel-disk brakes provide confident stopping power.

Hummer HX Concept review