Monday, December 27, 2010

HUMMER H3 Alpha (2008)

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HUMMER H3 Alpha (2008)

For 2008, HUMMER has addressed one of the sticking points many people have had with the smaller H3 model, namely, the lack of a V8 engine. While the 3.7L inline 5 has adequate power to shuttle the H3 around, the burble of a V8's exhaust note and the associated extra thrust would certainly have been more in keeping with the brand image created by the monster-sized H1 and solidified by the more-realistic H2.

With the return of the Alpha moniker last seen on the top-end H1, HUMMER fixed the H3's biggest problem. The Alpha, you see, has 5.3 liters of V8 power underhood. Read on after the jump.

The freshly-available small-block V8 dishes out 295 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, a very healthy and welcome increase over the I5's 242 horses and 242 lb-ft of torque. The available V8 gives the small HUMMER a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.

Inside, the H3 Alpha's cabin remains essentially unchanged save for an "Alpha" badge on the steering wheel. it's well-appointed to begin with, as the H3 Luxury Package is part of the greater Alpha trim level. Roof-rail side-curtain airbags, an option on the '07 truck, are now standard equipment as well. Like its big-brother H2, the '08 H3 gets a silver-painted lower front bumper. The Alpha package can also be combined with the H3X to give the maximum-bling H3 the newfound V8 punch as well. With the availability of V8 power for the H3, HUMMER has now fleshed out its existing lineup and given potential buyers two distinct flavors of the entry-level HUMMER to choose from. This is good. Now, where's that long-rumored Wrangler competitor?