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Historically, we can trace the Hummer's beginning to 1979 when the US military was looking for a new general-purpose vehicle to efficiently replace the Jeep. Although the Jeep was the motorized symbol of the army during Word War II, and the Korean War, by the 1970s it had become obsolete. As such, a call went out for the development of a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to meet the army's need for moving troops and light equipment to/from the battlefield. In July 1980, AM General's prototype Hummer was chosen over two other military contractors: Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental. Based on a steel frame with an aluminum and fiberglass body, the first Hummer sported a fully independent suspension, and a General Motors 370-inch diesel V8 engine. It produced 150 horses and was able to reach top speed of 60 mph. An automatic transmission put the power to the ground through an all wheel drive system with geared hubs. The tires that propelled the vehicle were 36 inches tall and air pressure could be adjusted from within the cockpit. As such, the first Hummer was a design and engineering marvel. Today there are more than 20 versions optimized for specific military applications.

The Hummer was introduced to the American public in 1990, with the start of Operation Desert Storm. The TV coverage showed U.S. Special Forces driving the Hummer to action in Kuwait and Iraq. That same year, movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger pulled up in one at the Academy Awards. His custom Hummer was the first civilian version and featured the Corvette's V8 engine. Two years later, the first civilian Hummers were delivered and were much different from their military cousins. For starters, the "civvies" included insulation, sound deadening, and a semi-comfortable interior. However, the price of $50,000 to $90,000 put it in an exclusive category, out of reach for most people.

The Hummer H3 is really a tight vehicle that communicates the responsive feel of the road on smooth and rough terrain. The welded, ladder-type frame is based on the Chevrolet Colorado, and makes handling the Hummer H3 much tighter than it should. There are no rattles to be heard that may be otherwise expected of a more utilitarian vehicle. The Hummer H3 has bridged the gap between rural trails and urban living. Powering the 2007 Hummer H3 is a lighter 3.5-liter, 220 horsepower engine that combines performance with fuel economy. The 2007 H3 achieves 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg highway. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and the optional four-speed automatic delivers an impressive 225 pound-feet of low-end torque at 2800 rpm. By offering more torque lower in the rpm, you can feel more precise control for off-road handling in hard to reach places. The 17-inch high wheel clearance further makes it possible for the Hummer H3 to go where few SUVs dare to roam.

The only downside to owning the 2007 Hummer H3 is that the four-wheel drive is permanently engaged and the stability control does not come as standard equipment, but is available as an option. The 2007 Hummer H3 comes equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), dual front airbags, and an exceptionally strong frame for enhanced safety. Head curtain and side airbags can also be purchased as options.

When Papa Smurf and his team returned from their Napa outing, they were refreshed and exhilarated to get back to work in their Hamlet by the Bay. The leaner (4980 lbs) H3 is 4.9 inches shorter than the competitive GMC Envoy and considerably more refined than the Toyota Highlander, Cadillac Escalade and the Ford Explorer. Proud to be a truck, the totally awesome 2007 Hummer H3 is radically engineered to turn the tide of cooling SUV demand.

Saurabh Sharma is an avid motoring enthusiast who is inspired by cars, and emerging automotive technology. His fascination with automobiles began during his infancy when his father brought him matchbox cars from a trip to Singapore.

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2007 Hummer H3