– General Motors initially will have 150 dealers selling its 2003 Hummer H2, a new sport-utility that weds the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe SUVs. Of those 150, about 60 percent will be Cadillac stores selling the $50,000 Hummer. GM plans to expand the Hummer dealer count to 225 stores soon.
– Some are suggesting the H2, like the monster size H1, needs a diesel engine to obtain far better mileage. The H2 is expected to average 11 to 12 m.p.g. city/highway combined and doesn’t have to carry a fuel economy rating in the window because it exceeds 8,500 pounds in gross vehicle weight. The Isuzu Duramax diesel has been looked at, sources say, but doesn’t fit because the H2 was designed with a short front overhang to allow for off-road climbing. And don’t look for Quadrasteer, or four-wheel-steering, in the H2, because it’s better suited to maneuvering when parking rather than off-roading.
– GM officials are trying to keep mum on the upcoming Hummer H3, a midsize Chevy TrailBlazer size sport-utility coming in a couple of years. But adapting the Hummer off-road ruggedness to a smaller vehicle takes some doing. “We’ve crossed most of the major hurdles already and later this year will know if the vehicle is approved for production,” an insider says.
Calendar
– Classics on the Lake 2002, the ninth annual Classic Auto and Truck Show, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 29 at Lake Park, Touhy Avenue and Lee Street, Des Plaines. Registration, $8 by June 24 and $10 afterward, includes a dash plaque and T-shirt. More than 80 prizes will be awarded. Call 847-297-0083.
