Hummer: New H2 & H3 Alpha
The new year came early around the Hummer display in New York as the manufacturer debuted two '08 models: a revised H2 and an addition to the H3 lineup, the H3 Alpha.
Most of the H2's changes lie beneath the skin. The key improvement is in its powertrain; under the H2's squared-off hood is a 6.2L aluminum V-8 that produces 393 hp and 415 lb-ft of peak torque. Backing the new engine is a six-speed Hydramatic 6L80 RWD electronically controlled automatic transmission with "tap-up/tap-down" shift buttons on the column shifter. A lower first gear brings the H2's crawl ratio to about 39:1, a 20 percent improvement.
The SUV's interior also received a thorough freshening. The instrument panel, door panels, and seats have been redesigned, and there's now a third seating row for two passengers in back. All of these changes (except for extra rear passenger seating) will be available on the H2 SUT as well as the standard H2. Look for the new SUVs on sale later this year.
Also new in the Hummer stable is the H3 Alpha, distinguished from run-of-the-mill H3s by its 5.3L, 295hp V-8 engine. Other equipment on the top-line Alpha model includes Hummer's luxury equipment package, chrome package, chrome 16-inch wheels, and 4.10 gears. To support the V-8's torque output, the H3 Alpha's front differential case is made of cast iron, while other models come with an aluminum case. New engine mounts, higher torsion bar rates to support the engine's increased mass, and specific shock valving also are unique to the V-8-powered model. Look for the H3 Alpha on sale this summer.
Jeep: Grand Cherokee "Refreshed"
Though it makes the SUV sound like it just woke up from a nap, Jeep is calling the Grand Cherokee's new-for-'08 styling "refreshed." The changes are subtle and include a reworking of the grille and headlights, and a new, two-piece front fascia with a lower panel that can be removed before hitting hard-core trails.
The bigger news is under the hood: You will be able to choose from five engine options for the Grand, including an all-new 4.7L V-8 and a 3.0L common-rail diesel V-6 (in addition to the 3.7L V-6, 5.7L Hemi V-8, and SRT-only 6.1L Hemi). Thanks to two spark plugs per cylinder, a compression-ratio bump, ported cylinder heads, and other refinements, the new 4.7 produces 291 hp (a 24 percent increase over the previous 4.7) and 322 lb-ft of peak torque (up 6 percent).
Look for the new Grands on sale in the fall.
Jeep: Liberty Ragtop
Jeep's '08 Liberty is far more than "refreshed." It's all new "from the ground up." And they do mean "up": The Lib is now available with a Sky Slider canvas roof that opens fully to bring tons of fresh air into the SUV.
If you think the Liberty's new styling bears more than a passing resemblance to the Dodge Nitro, well, that's because the two share engineering features. The Liberty now sits on a new independent front suspension and five-link rear, and steering is done via a new rack-and-pinion system. Power comes from the familiar 3.7L V-6 (sorry, no diesel this year), and the SUV is available with either a full-time Selec-Trac II or part-time Command-Trac 4WD system.
The '08 Liberty is expected in Jeep showrooms by the third quarter of this year.
Lexus: New V-8 for LX 570
Lexus calls the third generation of its fullsize SUV "packed with the luxury appointments and seamless technology our buyers expect." As you probably guessed from its name, the big Lexus is now powered by the 380hp, 400 lb-ft, 5.7L V-8 engineered for the new Tundra. That much grunt under the hood should raise the behind-the-wheel excitement level; it certainly had a positive effect on the truck's towing capacity, which jumped 2,000 pounds to 8,500.
Not all the news is underhood. Lexus has engineered new chassis and driveline features to improve the SUV's on- and off-road abilities. Four-Wheel Electro-Hydraulic Suspension with Active Height Control (AHC) automatically raises the chassis height 3 inches when the transfer case is in low range and lowers it 2 inches when the vehicle is stopped to ease entry and exit. There's also a new Crawl Control feature that "helps maintain appropriate low speeds" when the LX is in low range, "allowing the driver to concentrate on steering the LX 570 on the desired path." (Does that mean it automatically turns off the driver's cell phone?) Crawl Control also "actuates a set of virtual locking differentials to minimize tire slippage and maximize chassis behavior." Can't wait to give those a try.
The new Lexus should hit dealer showrooms "early in 2008," says the maker.
Volkswagen: Touareg 2 Debuts
The "2" is the second generation of VW's midsize SUV, with a freshened exterior and revised powerplants. The base V-6 has grown from 3.2 to 3.6 liters and, with the addition of VW's FSI direct fuel injection, now develops 280 hp, up 40 from the previous engine. Output of the 4.2L V-8 with FSI also grows by 40 hp, to 350. The 5.0L V-10 turbodiesel still puts out a whompin' 553 lb-ft of torque and 310 hp.
VW says the '08 Touareg 2 will arrive in dealerships "this spring," which means they may be available as you read this.
Environmental & Political Watch
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency could and should regulate the automotive emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and others that are believed to contribute to global warming. This issue is way more complex than we have room to detail here; suffice it to say that in covering the story, Automotive News asked the question, "Did the U.S. Supreme Court kill the V-8 engine?" We hope that's not the case, but we'll try to keep tabs on all the political wrangling that's sure to ensue between environmentalists and the auto industry.
SEMA's Washington, D.C., office reports that the House Natural Resources Committee approved legislation (HR 886) to create a 106,000-acre wilderness area in Washington's Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. While the Senate has approved the measure three times in the last five years, this marks the first time in which the bill was approved by the House Committee. The SEMA-opposed bill would close existing roads and trails. Last year lawmakers failed to pass a SEMA-supported approach to set aside about 93,000 acres of the "Wild Sky Wilderness" in Washington and also create a 13,000-acre "backcountry wilderness management area" to maintain the previously developed lands and roads. No compromise to include the 13,000 acres is expected when the bill is scheduled for a vote by the full House of Representatives.