It’s the Hummer Tonka!

I love Hummers! Only an adolescent country like America could make them. They’re mad, daft, huge and embody every ‘Tonka’ trait there has ever been. And now it looks like we’re going to get another – the H4 (it’s just a guess of course, as the first 3 models are called H1, H2 & H3 – but it should be the Hummer Tonka!).

This is the off-roader Jeep should have gone on to make. It’s bold and brash and looks like what it is – a hugely fun off-roader for grown-up boys. No pretence at real sophistication (although it is in some areas), just the perfect toy.

The Hummer H4 is just like having your own full-size Tonka. Just about every roof panel bolts on and off, so you can have anything from a full hard-top to an exposed fastback. And if you yank (no pun intended) the c pillars off you end up with something that looks like a Buck Rogers Willys Jeep! Fantastic.

Hummer are calling this a concept. Just like every other car manufacturer these days they seem frightened to commit to production until the world says it’s OK. A bit like every politician in the world – design your policies to reflect public opinion (or in the case of politicians, design you policies to pacify the most vocal of News Editors). But this is more than any concept. It has a fully functioning drivetrain & power plant (a 3.6 ‘FlexiFuel’ deisigned to run on E85 – an 85/15 Ethanol/Petrol mix rapidly gaining popularity in the States). Be in no doubt. This is ready to go.

So keep your eyes out for the Hummer H4 for sale sometime early 2009. It will be a hoot!