08 HUMMER -- outside the same, redesigned interior   By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net The Hummer ruggedness is legendary.  The Hummer power is anticipated.  The Hummer looks are recognizable.  For 2008, however, the H2 is being redesigned throughout the interior. There is, of course, an H-1, and recently, the H-3 and SUT models have been introduced.  But the mainstay of the HUMMER line-up is the H-2 model.  I had my first chance to see the new 2008 H-2 a few months ago at the New York Auto Show.  There are some slight exterior changes, but most people won't notice these.

Customers expect more comfort today than they did with the original models.  They also want safety and refinement.  The new H-2 delivers on those requests.  The instrument panel has been completed redone, featuring six gauges and more tactile controls.     There are new seats, including a full seat back in the third row.  There are new trim panels for the doors, heating and AC for the rear seats, and a whole lot more.  The panel also has new vents for cooling and heating.  Even with all the new revisions and refined craftsmanship, the H-2 retains its trademark feel of the rugged outdoors.

The heart of the new H-2 is an all-new V-8 engine that maximizes fuel efficiency and performance.  It features lightweight materials, including an aluminum block.  It's a 6.2 liter, 393 horsepower with 415 lb-ft of torque.  The engine is matched with an all -new six speed Hydra-Matic electronically controlled automatic transmission.  The engine features a larger capacity cooling system, a regulated voltage control, an electric engine cooling fan, and a standard 3.73 rear axle ratio.

For safety concerns, the 2008 H-2 includes some features that are standard.  They include a new traction control system, tire pressure monitoring system, roof rail head curtain side air bags, safety belt pretensioners for the front row, and a panic brake assist feature.  As an option, you can get the Turn-By-Turn navigation system by OnStar and a new rearview camera system.

The soul of the Hummer is the foundation, which remains a fully welded ladder-type frame.  It features a modular, three-piece design that incorporated several hydroformed components.  This design, according to the Hummer engineers, delivers a lot more stiffness, dimensional accuracy, and outstanding strength.

Of course, the H-2 can be obtained in the SUT mode, with is an open cargo bed.  It's not really a pickup, but functions much like one for most people.  The cargo area on the H-2 SUT model is 4 foot by 6 foot.

Martin Walsh, Hummer's General Manager, commented, "From performance to comfort to safety and overall refinement, the 2008 H-2 lineup delivers more of what customers expect from Hummer.  They will be especially impressed with the new, more refined interior."  I couldn't have said it better myself.  The interior simply looks good.   And with the enhanced performance of the new powertrain, highway maneuvers, as well as off-roading, is almost effortless.

Check out the new H-2 at a Hummer dealership yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised at the price being much lower than expected.