Electrifying evolution

Remember this rough and tough military vehicle, that you've seen in every action movie made in the past twenty years? I believe it's a mandatory prop. Watch the TV news? Any story about military action in the Middle East has these driven by either the good or bad guys or both. For almost thirty years this has been an iconic military vehicle. It's name for those of you just emerging from a thirty year cave hibernation is the Hummer H1.

Wide, high, ugly and intimidating.

With those thoughts in mind, some bright soul named Arnie S. (hint: future governor of California) thought it would be a great civilian ride and asked its manufacturer, AM General, to whip him up one to use in the mean streets of Los Angeles.

They did and so the story begins......... 

 

 

 

This almost perfect military icon found a home in the driveways of the rich and (maybe) famous. A few also found their way into construction or mining companies, where they actually belonged. But we live in a crazy (Donald Trump, president???) and often illogical (ditto) world and this beast became a status symbol. I've lost a lot of hair from head scratching over this move.

The Hummer became so popular that the then mighty General Motors bought the rights to the name and tried to make Hummer an upscale Jeep competitor with models like the H2, based on the Chevy Tahoe.....

.........and then the poorly received H3, based on Chevy's under powered, junior pick-up, the Colorado........

.........and finally oblivion. Too much of a good thing, bad marketing or bastardizing the brand? Pick one.

And now to 2020 and the current evolution of this military and insurgent's tool.......

Does the phrase, "I'll be back." seem appropriate here? Yes, the Hummer lives on for 2022 as a pure luxury EV!  This one will never reach foreign battle fields (a truce is called while the Hummers are being recharged)  -  you get the picture.

Actually the Hummer name seems to suit an electric vehicle (although they make no noise at all). To make this new Hummer more versatile, it has some Jeep like features.......

Remove the roof, so better to be seen by your less fortunate neighbours. You know them, they are the ones who didn't invest in Tesla stock.

So how will this new EV fare against all the other planned, but yet to hit the market electric pick-ups (Rivian, Tesla, Bollinger, etc)? It has the name, but I wonder if it still has any of the cache Arnie once thought it had? Another EV flash in the pan or will it become the darling of the let's look tough, although we're not set?

Due Fall 2021 as a 2022 model, the reservation bank is already full, but intro is a full year away. Lots can happen. Maybe even more electrifying news?

Until next time........