After Pittsburgh police noticed a Hummer (yep, a Hummer... what else?) sitting conspicuously close to a five-hundred gallon tank of gas at a golf course, the vehicle suddenly took off. Considering that the top speed of a Hummer is right around one-hundred miles per hour, we can safely say that the driver was giving it all he had in an attempt to get away. The high-speed chase ended as the Hummer smashed into a tree and rolled several times in a nearby parking lot. The eighteen-year-old-driver sustained leg injuries which required a hospital stay and will face charges after being deemed healthy.

Sixty-eight gallons of gasoline were said to be found missing from the tank by the golf course superintendent. To recap: this story is further proof that:

1. Hummers are very expensive to fill up.
2. Gas thefts are on the rise in the face of record-high fuel prices.

[Source: WPXI News]

Every month, our intrepid leader over at Autoblog crunches every automaker's U.S. sales figures and dutifully reports how well each brand is doing. This month continues the trend of fuel efficient vehicles recording record sales and closely mimics the trend of gas-guzzlers going down the toilet. The two brands which best seem to mark the turning of the tides, so to speak, are Mini and Hummer. Mini's brand of small, sporty and fun to drive coupe's 5,211 sales represented an increase of 40.5-percent over June of last year. Hummer's downward spiral also continues, as its 2,072 sales represent a 54.2-percent decrease from one year ago.

Honda managed to set a monthly record in June by selling a total of 142,539 vehicles -- an impressive 17.9-percent gain -- while its arch rival Toyota sunk 10.3-percent for the month. Part of this contrast in sales can be attributed to the fact that Honda does not offer any full-size trucks or SUVs while Toyota's sales figures are burdened by the huge Tundra pickup and Sequioa SUV. The Prius hybrid sedan, down 25-percent, continues to be plagued by supply issues, though demand for the fuel efficient vehicle remains very high.

[Source: Autoblog]

Stalwart PBS is moving into the interactive science show realm with the new program called Your Week. Currently in beta version, Your Week has figured out that controversial topics are one way to get viewers like you involved. Topics in the new show include Frankenfoods, Christopher Hitchen's views on American politics and that debunked CNW report on the energy use of the Prius vs. the HUMMER. You know the one, it's the story that just will not die, even though it should - many, many times

Called, Prius Envy, the preview clip that's available after the jump shows co-host Michelle Cottle (of the New Republic, hosts Your Week along with Rich Lowry of the National Review and Fox) talking to CNW's president, Art Spinella. Spinella says he doesn't have anything against the Prius, but that it's on its way to obsolescence. Oh, and any new data to back up CNW claims? Nada.

Watch the clip after the jump.

At this point, it seems certain that the old Prius versus Hummer "debate" is never going to die. Despite being proven false, the study continues to pop up every now and then as forum fodder or as ammunition for hybrid-haters all over the globe. It's alright if you don't like hybrids, but real factual data would be much preferable to lies and misconceptions of the truth. The most recent evidence of hybrid-hating comes from an article contained in the latest Autowritiers Newsletter and is penned by Bill Maloney, who cites the oft-debunked CNW Marketing study we mentioned earlier.

A bit of truth rings out from Moloney's column regarding some hybrid purchasers, as some Prius owners admit to basing their buying decisions out of a desire to appear green. It has been argued, and may in fact be true, that many consumers chose the Prius over another hybrid model due to the fact that it is readily recognized as a green choice. Still, to suggest that all hybrids are purchased solely to make a statement is ludicrous, as it is the savings in gasoline that prompt the vast majority of fuel-sipping choices.

[Source: Autowriters.com Newsletter]

I had my issues with last summer's Transformers movie, as did some others, about the missed opportunities for green vehicle placement. Remember the HUMMER HX concept from Detroit earlier this year? Looks like it might be the biofuel beast to beat in the sequel. Even as GM considers ditching the HUMMER brand, some spy shots (apparently taken by someone called Marceli over at Releaselog) of the start of filming revealed the vehicle above on the set. Authentic? I have even less of an idea than you do, but speculation is running rampant all over the chat rooms about what the HX is doing there. Does it say NEST or NERT? Would it be for humans to drive or is this a new robot thing? We're sure to hear more as time moves on, but one things for sure: that's a HUMMER HX all dressed up for something.




[Source: Releaselog]

Gas prices in excess of $4 a gallon and a collapsing market for new home construction is triggering General Motors to undertake yet another round of restructuring and plant closings. The latest victim of the rapidly changing American automotive marketplace may be perpetual green whipping boy, the HUMMER brand. General Motors has just begun a strategic review of HUMMER. Ahead of today's annual meeting GM CEO Rick Wagoner has revealed that the HUMMER could either be strengthened or disposed of going forward. GM Spokesperson Joanne Krell told us that HUMMER's lineup could be strengthened, the brand could go the way of Oldsmobile, or it may be sold "in whole or in part." "The HUMMER brand is a great brand and we're probably not maximizing it to its fullest. Perhaps somebody else would have that opportunity." GM has only just begun the review and has informed employees but no time frame has been set for completion. GM hasn't talked to any potential buyers yet, but it's not clear who would want to buy HUMMER among major automakers.

In other news from GM, the company will move beyond the already announced shift eliminations at truck plants and close four factories. The closures of the truck plants in Janesville, Wisconsin; Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; and Toluca, Mexico will occur by 2010, affecting 10,000 workers. Workers at those plants who are not taking advantage of the current round of buyouts will be offered transfers to other plants where available.

It's not all gloom and down down at the Tubes though. Wagoner revealed that the board of directors has approved two programs for the production. The new compact Chevrolet sedan we talked about yesterday, has been approved for a 2009 launch at the Lordstown Ohio plant and the Chevy Volt has been approved for a 2010 launch in Detroit. Thanks to Craig and Matthew for the tips!

[Sources: Chicago Tribune, General Motors]

We gave a pretty detailed write-up last summer on GM's new light-duty diesel V-8 that will premiere in 2009. The new engine was specifically designed to fit within the same package dimensions as the long-running small-block V-8. As such, the diesel can potentially be installed in any GM vehicle that currently carries the V-8. GM has announced that the new 4.5L engine will have output of 310hp and 520lb-ft of torque. The Duramax 4500 will also provided a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption compared to the similarly powerful gasoline engines. That puts it on a par (when comparing combined city/highway numbers) with the two-mode hybrid system when it debuts in the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups next year.

When the engine debuts for the 2010 model year it will be the first GM diesel to use selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to reduce NOx emissions. SCR is also known as urea injection. Vehicles with this engine will meet Tier 2 Bin 5 standards and be fifty-state legal. In order to fit the dual overhead engine in the space of the cam-in-block small-block, GM engineers reduced the angle of the block and reversed the intake and exhaust flow through the cylinder heads. The intake valves are now on the outside of the heads and the manifold feeds air in from the top. The exhaust manifolds are now in the valley of the block along with the turbocharger. Previously, GM has also indicated that this engine would also go into the Hummer H2 which would do a lot to improve that vehicle's mileage.

[Source: General Motors]

Although none of the Hummer models are really all that worse than any other body-on-frame SUV powered by a large engine, the ex-military marque is considered by many to be the anti-green brand. If that's how you feel, you'll likely be glad to hear that Hummer models are languishing on dealer lots all over the country. Hummer spokeswoman Joanne Krell suggests that the downturn in sales is directly related to the upturn in fuel prices. That makes sense, now doesn't it? Maybe not... Acura is the only brand that has seen similar drops in new registrations with nary a V8 engine in sight. All of this raises a few questions: Is the Hummer brand is just plain falling out of favor? If so, would flex-fuel engine options help their cause?

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

On an episode of her Mob Logic.TV called "Hybrid Hullabaloo" the lovely Lindsay Campbell (pictured right) had the opportunity to ask an owner of the iconic super-sized Tonka toy something she has been wanting to ask for a long time.

While interviewing random people in the parking lot of a "big box" store about hybrids and why they aren't driving them, she spots a man returning to his king-sized ride and runs to confront him. With mic in hand and cameraman in tow she starts, "Tell me seriously, I've always wanted to talk with a Hummer owner and find out what the hell you were thinking when you bought this car" Find out his reaction after the jump.

As our brothers at Autoblog like to say, it's "officially official." GM has confirmed their plans to offer all Hummers with biofuel-capable engine options. According to Automotive News, a Hummer official has said that the 2009 H2 and H2 SUT will be equipped with flex-fuel engines capable on running on gasoline or ethanol, making them the first such Hummers available. The 2010 Hummer H3 will be offered with a flex-fuel version of GM's direct injection 3.6L V-6 and we've heard plenty of rumblings regarding diesel Hummers too. Currently, the Hummer H3 is offered with a five-cylinder gasoline engine and a 5.3 liter small-block V8, both of which struggle to get fuel mileage in the mid-to-high teens. The H2 is available only with a larger 6.2 liter V8, which, as you can probably surmise, offers dismal fuel economy, and it would use even more fuel if it were running on ethanol. Emissions would probably be improved, but we're still talking about lots of fuel being burned here. We'll be on the lookout for more information on the biofuel capabilities of the Hummer brand, but we remain firmly in the bandaid-on-a-broken-arm camp on this particular announcement.

[Source: Automotive News (sub. req'd)]

The erroneous contention that a Hummer is more efficient and earth-friendly than a Prius over the vehicles' lifetime has sailed across the net for months. The argument defies common sense, and has been debunked repeatedly. The "studies" were flawed by design, but they served the purpose of sowing confusion and doubt. The point by point rebuttal to this nonsense can be found here and here. To take just one point, it is presumed that a Hummer will drive more miles than a Prius, thus spreading out its environmental impact over a longer period of time. Huh?

So, when we saw the picture to the right, we had to wonder: is this Hummer a rolling advertisement for bad science or just a twisted sense of humor?

[Source: Where is Holden? h/t to Stefano P.]

During a first drive event for the new HUMMER H3T in Moab, Utah, Mike Levine of PickupTruck.com got confirmation of an engine change coming to the H3 lineup. When the H3 debuted it was saddled with the 3.7L inline five cylinder from the Chevy Colorado pickup it was derived from. Unfortunately, that engine struggled mightily with the H3's 4,700lb mass. That meant it worked hard all the time and got notoriously lousy fuel economy. When a V-8 engine option was added last year, it got the same fuel economy as the five because it wasn't working so hard.

At the Detroit Auto Show HUMMER showed the HX concept with a flex-fuel version of GM's direct injection 3.6L V-6. Thanks to Mike, we now know that engine will move into the H3. Although Mike wasn't given a timeline, GM has previously said that all HUMMERs would be biofuel capable by 2010. The DI V-6 is both more powerful and more fuel efficient than the five cylinder, meaning it doesn't have to strain as hard and with cellulosic ethanol hopefully coming on stream in the next few year, the ethanol option should get more palatable as well. Now if most of the people who drive these things could just come to grips with the fact that they don't actually need such a vehicle in the first place we'd be all set.

[Source: PickupTruck.com]

click to enlarge

No, I don't get this story either.

Apparently, someone has turned an actual Hummer H3 into a remote control vehicle. That someone is Engineer Dr James Brighton from Cranfield University, who spent a month adapting the iconic vehicle into something you can control from your hands. What's the green angle here? In a few years, H3s running on biofuel and diesel will be available. Sure, we knew this already, but now any of you who are interested in having the largest RC on the block can imagine it filling up your toy at the local biodiesel co-op. Hehe.

I double-checked, and there isn't an April 1 embargo date on this story. The Mischief PR agency put the release out and, for what it's worth, they claim to be "the most straight talking agency in the industry."

Leading presidential candidate Barack Obama earmarked $1 million for research on turning Hummers into hybrids. The earmark money will go to the Illinois Institute of Technology (Obama just happens to be the senator from Illinois) for the development of a cost-effective hybrid conversion kit. These kits could turn the army's gas guzzling Humvees into fuel efficient hybrids and would be a real endorsement for hybrid conversion in general.

The military is very interested in electric power trains because they offer many advantages on the battlefield like shorter supply lines and quiet operation. Obama has also been a very big supporter of hybrids even calling for every single government car to be a plug-in hybrid when it becomes possible. While, technically, GM can hybridize their Hummers and celebrities like Paris Hilton are willing to voice support for such a plan, GM probably won't make a hybrid Hummer.

[Source: Wired News, ABC News]

The anti-icon of the green transportation movement is about to lose a sales outlet in the home of the American high-tech industry. With sales of HUMMERs down 22 percent in 2007 and gas prices well on their way to $4/gallon and more it's understandable that a dealer might be reluctant to spend several million dollars on a new showroom and off-road test track. Ron Battistella, owner of Silicon Valley HUMMER, stopped selling new vehicles early this month and will shut down the service department at the end of March after GM decided to take back his franchise. Even though Battistella won't be selling the big SUVs anymore, the area likely won't be without their military poseur fix for long. There are several other GM dealers in the area, one of whom will likely take over the franchise soon. The question is will any other dealer be willing to invest the money in the kind of dealership that GM wants.

[Source: San Jose Mercury News, thanks to Steve for the tip]