GM Upgrades Hummer Series, New E85 Engines Join the Range

In contrast to recent rumors surrounding Hummer, claiming the parent company GM plans to sell the brand, the American automaker today announced the 2009 upgrades for the entire lineup. In essence, the appearance of the Hummer range remains basically the same but, more importantly, a couple of new and less-polluting engines were confirmed for H2, H3 and H3T. The main improvement is represented by the FlexPower capability "that will allow these models to run on E85 ethanol, gasoline or any combination of the two fuel," as GM said.

The upgraded H2 SUV and H2 SUT models will be powered by a 6.2-liter all-aluminum V8 engine producing 398 horsepower (293 kW) and 574 Nm of torque. A new six-speed Hydra-Matic electronically-controlled automatic transmission also joins the range, delivering "excellent balance of performance and fuel economy".

The H3 lineup on the other hand will feature two engine options, the old Vortec 3.7-liter engine delivering 244 horsepower (180 kW) and the new 5.3-liter V8 unit producing 305 hp (224 kW) and 432 Nm of torque. In addition, this new engine helps the H3 accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, according to figures provided by General Motors.

Last but not least, the 2009 Hummer H3T is "the only pick-up to come with full-time four-wheel drive, 32-inch tires and functional skid plates as standard equipment," as the American automaker said in the statement. In addition, Hummer created a new series of H3T-compatible accessories that will become available in the near future at all authorized European dealerships.