Now that General Motors finds itself in a very deep hole, the Hummer brand is also in danger of getting axed. But it’s not going to leave without making its momma proud. Four Wheeler magazine names Hummer’s newest model, the H3 Alpha, the Pickup Truck of Year. Hummer’s v8-powered truck defeated other pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, Suzuki Equator, and the Dodge Ram to bring home the bacon.



PRESS RELEASE

[Source: FourWheeler via Source Interlink]

Four Wheeler Names Hummer H3T 2009 Pickup Truck of the Year

Los Angeles, CA (December 4, 2008): Four Wheeler magazine, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious four-wheel drive enthusiast magazine, and a publication of media and marketing services company Source Interlink Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SORC), has named the 2009 Hummer H3T the winner of its coveted Pickup Truck of the Year award. The in-depth competition has been held annually since 1989, and this year marks Hummer’s first-ever win.

The 2009 competitors’ list included four new four-wheel-drive pickup trucks: The H3T, the Dodge Ram, the Ford F-150, and the Suzuki Equator. To qualify, each vehicle had to be entirely new, or sport substantial mechanical revisions from a previous model year, in addition to using a two-speed transfer case.

“The competition this year was fierce, with any of the four competitors capable of taking home the trophy, but in the end, it was the Hummer H3T that emerged from the dust as our 2009 Pickup Truck of the Year,” said Four Wheeler Technical Editor, Sean P. Holman. “Not only was the Hummer highly competent and the staff favorite on the trail, it also has the added pluses of on-road comfort, distinctive looks, and a usable pickup bed. Hummer has done its research to provide the four-wheeling enthusiast with a vehicle that has been designed around their needs from the beginning, rather than offering an off-road version of an existing product and it shows in the final product. Congratulations to Hummer’s 2009 H3T, our Pickup Truck of the Year.”

“The new H3T Alpha is perfect for the person who has to have a pickup to tow and haul, but can’t live without above average off-highway capability,” added Senior Editor Ken Brubaker. “The H3T is the Alpha male in its segment. Nothing else comes close.”

The Hummer won the competition’s prestigious Off Highway Performance category, and performed strongly in all other scoring categories. The week-long Pickup Truck of the Year test consisted of a 1,000-mile curriculum on streets, highways, rocky trails, desert sand dunes and steep hills. Elevations ranged from sea level to over 6,000 feet, and the H3T excelled in virtually every type of driving environment.

Photo Credit: autoblog

For a vehicle to qualify for the Top Safety Pick Award, it should have electronic stability control (ESC). Just what is electronic stability control? This is considered as one of the greatest enhancements in vehicle safety. According to IIHS:

Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.

Unlike airbags, which only assist you in times of collision, ESC will guide you so you won’t loss control of your vehicle at high speed. It will help you stay in control of your automobile during emergency maneuvers such as coming into a bend too fast, swerving, skidding, or braking suddenly to avoid an obstacle. This means that ESC will assist the driver even without sending out commands to the vehicle.

So you may now ask, how does ESC do this very important task? ESC keeps an eye on your steering versus the vehicle’s direction. When it senses that the two factors do not match, the ESC will automatically actuate the brakes in the appropriate wheel for short periods of time and will reduce engine power.

Electronic Stability Control is such a great feature for your ride. It assists you at times when you need to be in control of your vehicle. It will make sure that you and your vehicle are on the safe side and not towards danger even if your ride oversteers or understeers.

Image Credit: conti-online