Back in the day, the original Humvee was, perhaps not coincidentally, often compared to a typical Italian 4x4 multi-purpose vehicle.
This Italian car was old and had a valuable badge on it. Yet it bore even the formal blank to be the original H1. Yet there were Lamborghini (yes, under U Red) 0002s.
General Motors has built the Hummer line ahead of its time with an all-electric configuration. The first units to go on sale in 2022 were the He pickups. Lamborghini also has some big electric plans. The Hummer electric pickup was a success. What if Lamborghini could revisit the LM002? And can the all-electric configuration compete in this market? How would the hypothetical all-electric LM002 stack up against the current all-electric Hummer?
Winning hearts and minds
But first, a quick history lesson. In 1983, AM General, a subsidiary of American Motors Corporation, won a contract with the US Army. The contract was to produce 55,000 cars over five years. The vehicle in question was the original M998 A0 Series or Hummer H1.
The original military model tipped the scales to 11,500 pounds. It had a payload of 3,350 pounds and came with a 6.5-liter turbocharged V8 diesel engine.. It had a 3-speed automatic transmission. It was a simple yet durable and reliable powertrain. The engine produced 190 horsepower at 3400 Considering its low power output and high weight, it is not surprising that it was not a very fast vehicle.
Its service in the US Army lasted between 1983 and 2018. The Highly Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known as the Humvee, first saw combat during Operation Just Cause in Panama, in 1989. It then went on to serve in most of the subsequent US. army. military operations until his retirement in 2018.
This car served its purpose well. Not only in combat but also as a road legal product in the US. The American public was first introduced to the Humvee during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. For the first time, there was a lot of television coverage of the war. Humvee has become a protagonist on the small screen. The car's brutish, purpose-driven design captured the attention of the American public.
Rambo Lambo
The LM002 was produced between 1986 and 1993. Just like the original Hummer, the LM002 was also made for military use. Being a Lamborghini, performance had its place in the paradigm. It features a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter, petrol V-12. It produced 450 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. With a curb weight of 5,952 pounds and a five-speed manual transmission, it can go from 0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds. It will reach 117 mph.
Just Like the Hummer, Lamborghini has worked on a civilian variant, too. And as if the original 5.2-liter V-12 wasn't enough back then, you can order a special edition called the L804. This comes with a 7.2L V-12 marine engine that is used in marine powerboats.
Electric wars
Currently, the only Hummer design on offer is one with three electric motors. That makes a total of 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque, according to GM estimates. Some independent tests showed a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds.
The full-size electric truck that accelerates at that speed seems to push the line a bit. It would be reasonable to assume that Lamborghini will use a similar configuration. Maybe with more power, it would be a Lamborghini and all. Hummer tests showed long stopping distance and remarkable brake fade. An all-electric LM002 would be superior, given Lamborghini's experience with performance cars.
Range, interior, safety features and amenities
he Hummer has a range of more than 350 miles, according to GM estimates. Since a pickup truck is expected to carry weight on the bed and have towing capabilities, that range could come down to 200 miles.
The same is expected from Lamborghini. Since it's performance based, it's hard to imagine that designers would add more heavy batteries for the sake of range.
The Hummer EV has a great interior. It has everything you'd expect for a starting six-figure car. Safety features have become a kind of commodity in high-end cars and both will be equal in this aspect. Lamborghini, being a luxury brand, will bring luxurious interior designs and materials. The Lamborghini is probably more expensive than the Hummer.
Conclusion
The all-electric Hummer has proven to be a full-size pickup truck. In the past, when the original H1 was compared to Lamborghini's LM002, it was clear that the H1 focused on durability, while the LM002 focused on performance. Their civilian variants bore many of the same characteristics. It is difficult to say which one will be better on the battlefield. Never before has this Lamborghini military SUV seen such real action.
But the twin-barrel carbureted six would be hard to work behind enemy lines. This may be why the LM002 didn't sell well in its military form, while the H1 sold in the hundreds of thousands. The Lamborghini was, regardless, the first ever true performance SUV. This legacy and lineage must be based on something. Just look at their recent success with the Lamborghini Urus.
Here's why the EV Hummer is such an awesome off-road vehicle.
The world of off-roading is a strange world now. There is a massive mix of old and new technologies fighting for the title of best off-roader. The Hummer EV definitely falls into the new category and GMC says it's the best off-road vehicle the world has ever seen. Big statement - way too big. While there's no denying that the new EV Hummer's off-road capabilities are impressive—especially considering its weight—there's absolutely no way it can beat the best of the current market when it comes to the tough stuff. To prove it, let's delve into all the reasons behind it.
The Hummer EV is the definition of extreme
The Hummer EV is the definition of extreme
The new EV Hummer is huge. It's roughly the same size as a full-size truck, and weighs in at 9,023 lbs. Its batteries alone weigh 2,923 pounds, and its three electric motors produce 1,000 horsepower. Now, wait a minute here. How can a car that used so many materials to make it (most of it coming from the other side of the world) be considered environmentally friendly? The rate at which the new Hummer will chew through the tires and brakes should be an indication that this is a waste.
What makes a good Hummer EV for off-roading?
A good off-road vehicle should have a variety of features. These are good ground clearance, good approach, departure, rollover angles, low range, various locks, good suspension travel, a nimble body that can squeeze through narrow lanes, underbody protection, and a relatively lightweight body that makes driving over obstacles easier. A great example of the aforementioned features would be a Jeep Wrangler or a Ford Bronco; Arguably the two most capable off-roaders money can buy right now (brand new). So, from all of the above, what are the points that Hummer manages to hit? Well, it has good ground clearance thanks to the air suspension, acceptable approach and departure angles, simulated differential lock through electric motors, underbody protection - that's all. The wheel articulation isn't great due to the independent four-corner system, the long wheelbase means it has a low roll angle, is very heavy, doesn't have low range, and isn't as flexible for its size (although rear steering helps a lot). The aforementioned problems were evident as soon as the TFLoffroad crew took their new EV Hummer off-road.
First of all, a slow and controlled approach cannot be taken due to the lack of a low range. The driver needs to maintain momentum or the Hummer will not be able to lift his weight over a large obstacle. This issue is reminiscent of the Subaru's with the CVT transmission. Due to the huge hood and overall dimensions of the car, it was very difficult to measure where the car's wheel was located and what angles it had in relation to the track. Then there's the constant worry that you'll scrape the sides because of the width of the thing. It should also be noted that the car the TFLoffroad Crew used had only had 1000 miles and the front lock button was already broken, the off road displays had some glitches and the suspension refused to engage in the higher ride height positions.
The Hummer EV has its strong points
Its drawbacks when it comes to off-road driving are obvious. However, it must be said that the EV Hummer also has some strengths For example, rear-wheel steering works great and helps hide the bulk of the car in tight turns. It can also help while trying to drive over certain obstacles as the driver can change the wheelbase of the vehicle by turning the wheel. Furthermore, the independent air suspension provides better ground clearance and ride quality. This is combined with the solid skid plates that protect the batteries to make for a car that won't have too many problems driving over big rocks. Finally, the camera system also helps reduce the stress of taking this behemoth on its way because it provides a great view of rocks, trees, and any other obstacle in front of you.
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