Auto Shows

2008 Chicago Auto Show

 

Advertisement

More in Auto Shows

Auto Shows Main Page
Chicago Main Landing
2008 Chicago Landing
Straightline from Chicago
2008 Chicago Photo Gallery
Auto Shows Site Map

More in Auto Shows

2008 Chicago Auto Show - 2009 Hummer H3T Video

Pictures

From the B-pillar forward, the 2009 Hummer H3T is exactly the same as the standard H3.
General Motors Corporation
Hanging a 5-foot-long utility bed might have killed the H3T's departure angle if they hadn't also extended the wheelbase by nearly 2 feet over the standard model.
General Motors Corporation
Optional cargo rail accessory system is exactly the same setup offered on GM's full-size trucks.
General Motors Corporation
All the H3T's drivetrain components are identical to the standard H3 and H3 Alpha models, so it's either a 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder or a 5.3-liter V8 under the hood and a full-time four-wheel-drive system delivering the power.
General Motors Corporation
Nothing changes on the inside either, as the H3T has the same styling and features as any other H3. Options include a Monsoon audio system, navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.
General Motors Corporation
Passenger space in the rear seats wasn't compromised by the addition of the cargo bed. That said, there still isn't much room for adults to stretch out.
General Motors Corporation
Folding the seats adds some extra cargo room, but without the midgate system like the bigger H2 SUT, the H3 is still limited when it comes to interior storage space.
General Motors Corporation

2009 Hummer H3T

STORY TOOLS
Print thisPrint this Save thisSave this Digg this storyDigg this
Email thisEmail this Most PopularMost popular del.icio.usdel.icio.us

What is it?
2009 Hummer H3T

What's special about it?
Nothing in particular, at least not in any kind of "segment busting" way. The 2009 Hummer H3T is exactly what it looks like — a truckified version of the standard H3 SUV. But unlike some of the more carlike sport-utility trucks, like the Ford Explorer Sport Trac and Honda Ridgeline, the Hummer H3T is a real truck.

It rides on the same basic body-on-frame platform as the standard H3, so there's a torsion bar independent suspension up front and a leaf spring live-axle setup in back. The only significant difference between the H3T and the standard model is the wheelbase. On the H3T it's been stretched to 134.2 inches, 22 inches longer than the standard model.

This opens up plenty of room for the addition of the 5-foot-long utility bed without crowding the rear seats. The extra-long wheelbase also keeps the H3T's departure angle to a respectable 30.1 degrees when equipped with the optional 33-inch tires. They come standard if you upgrade to the off-road suspension, a setup that also includes retuned shocks, front and rear locking differentials and lower gears in the transfer case. The standard Z85 suspension uses 32-inch tires and its own set of shocks.

There's nothing new under the hood, as the H3T will use the same drivetrains as the current H3. Base models get the 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder rated at 242 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of torque, matched to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. All H3T Alphas will use a 5.3-liter V8 hooked to a four-speed automatic transmission. It's rated at 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque; enough to give the H3T Alpha a maximum tow rating of 5,900 pounds.

Inside the H3T, the overall dimensions and feature content are essentially the same as the H3 SUV's. The rear bench seat is split 60/40 and can be folded flat to open up additional interior cargo room. There's no midgate opening like the H2 SUT, but the utility bed itself will offer the same reconfigurable cargo rails as GM's full-size trucks.

Production of the 2009 Hummer H3T starts in the third quarter of this year, so expect to see it in dealerships by October.

What's Edmunds' take?
More useful for sure, but the H3T is certainly not the best-looking Hummer around. Not good for a brand that relies so heavily on its image. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor