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Manufacturer Brochure - 1998 AM General Hummer
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| Updated |
Jun 3, 2004 17:14:29 |
| Rating |
 143 ( 17 +11.88% ) |
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Description:
When your product is in a universe by itself, there's little need to make major changes. That's the case with AM General's Hummer. It's been called uncompromising, unstoppable and unrivaled. And for the most part, for 1997 it remains unchanged in character. However, as has been the case for several years, each new model gets better through product improvements and upgrades. For 1997, a number of enhancements have been made.
The optional turbo-diesel is now rated at 195 horsepower and has a substantial increase in torque to 430 lbs.-ft. Both it and the standard naturally-aspirated diesel have piston spray oil cooling for longer engine life. Interior noise has been greatly reduced through a new insulation package that includes soft headliners and various sound-dampening processes. At top highway speed, there is a 4.2 dbA improvement.
The vehicle gets a heated windshield that dramatically reduces the time to clear ice and fog from the glass. The Hummer's air conditioning system has been upgraded with a higher capacity auxiliary unit, 15 percent more air flow, revised refrigerant charge level, repositioned outlets, increased air flow from the main HVAC unit and other improvements. Interior changes include a low coolant warning light, rear view mirror with compass and temperature display, and map lights over rear seats. The seats are more durable and comfortable and all controls are now located to the front below the seat. Since the Hummer's military counterpart muscled it way to victory in the Middle East during the Gulf War, the amazing vehicle has been giving civilians a piece of the action, plowing through three-foot snow drifts, scaling 18-inch vertical ledges and fording two-and-a-half feet of water -- all while carrying up to two tons of cargo.
It is what it is. It's not a car. It's not a truck. It's in a universe all its own. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of the U.S. Armed Forces and expected to last 12 years under the most strenuous use, the Hummer has power, agility and durability like nothing else in existence. And except for a few comfortable and practical refinements, the civilian Hummer is basically unchanged from its celebrated military counterpart. How can this one-of-a-kind all-terrain vehicle accomplish what was previously considered impossible for sport utility vehicles? It's because every inch of the Hummer has been obsessively engineered to give unrivaled performance. The secrets to the Hummer's mobility include 16-inch ground clearance (double that of most 4x4s) steep angles of approach and departure 72-inch track width with an extremely low center of gravity for stability full-time 4-wheel drive a 4-wheel, fully independent suspension system, an optional Central Tire Inflation System that allows the driver to change tire pressure on the move, a torque-doubling geared hub final drive, an optional Runflat Tire System that allows the vehicle to travel up to 20 miles at 30 mph on flat tires But the Hummer's prowess does not begin where the road ends. Navigating through city parking garages, drive-thru windows or rush-hour traffic couldn't be easier. Thanks to its power steering, 4-wheel inboard/mounted brakes, 4-speed automatic transmission and unique suspension system, the Hummer handles more like a sports car on the highway than a truck. The ride is enhanced by the Hummer's roomy interior cabin, made even more comfortableby its abundant head and leg room, as well as high-back bucket seats.
The Hummer also meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Class 3 trucks. Its list of safety features includes a padded dash, an energy-absorbing steering column, a steel roof and steel doors with side impact beams. And, when getting stuck is not an option, the Hummer's unique Central Tire Inflation System gives the vehicle the mobility to maneuver out of any and every situation.
Beneath the Hummer's ominous exterior lurks a choice of two power sources. A General Motors 6.5L, V-8 diesel engine with 170 horsepower and 290 lb.-ft. of torque is standard on all Hummer models, and a General Motors 6.5L, V-8 turbo diesel engine with 195 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. torque is an available option. Both engines provide increased travel range, thanks to a 17-gallon auxiliary fuel tank, standard on all Hummers.The same company that would later become AM General manufactured the legendary World War II Willys Jeep. Originally designed in 1979, the military Hummer was engineered and built by AM Generaf to meet the U.S. Army's requirements for a new kind of vehicle -- versatile, reliable, and easy to maintain -- the Hummer replaced several vehicles in the Army's fleet, including the Jeep. Today, 50 years after WWII, the civilian Hummer is in its sixth year of production and can proudly boast that 90 percent of its content is manufactured in the U.S.A.
More than 140,000 Hummers have been fielded around the world since 1985. In addition to individual consumers and the military, the vehicle is also utilitized by a variety of commercial industries. Headquartered in South Bend, Ind., AM General and its predecessor companies have been a leader in the design and manufacture of light- and medium-duty trucks for the military for more than 50 years. The civilian Hummer is available to consumers through a global dealer network and new dealers are constantly being added. |
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