Women get behind wheel as the Hummer invades
Philip King and Solveig Faul | October 05, 2007

THE Hummer, the humungous, petrol-guzzling off-roader modelled on a US military vehicle, will soon be invading a street near you - and don't be surprised if the person behind the wheel is a woman.

The Hummer went on sale this week and about 400 Australians have signed up for one in the 12 months since Holden announced it would begin imports. Early anecdotal evidence suggests young Australian women will form a significant proportion of Hummer buyers, attracted to its high driver's position and the security it provides.

Nicole Grant, 26, from Sydney's Wattle Grove, was one of the first to test-drive the Hummer yesterday, taking a yellow model for a spin around Sydney's eastern suburbs. "My boyfriend races motorbikes, so we're into flash things," she said. "We need a bigger and more powerful car to tow trailers, transport people and appeal to sponsors. Anywhere we can drive, we will."

Ms Grant is likely to buy a model with all extras, and perhaps with a camouflage finish. She said she was not concerned about its impact on the environment as any vehicle she drove would "be a petrol-guzzler".

Demand for test drives of the Hummer has been high, with one dealer reporting a waiting list of 500 people. To most, the Hummer will be familiar from its starring role in the Iraq wars. With a reputation for lane-straddling dimensions and the eco-friendliness of a coal-fired power-station, its success in US showrooms has been matched by the anger it generates among environmental activists.

The version coming here is the smaller H3 model - about 150 are already in the country - and Australian executives are playing down its global warming potential and spruiking its practicality.

GM Premium Brands in Australia director Parveen Batish said: "Outstanding off-road performance together with its iconic design and city-friendly size make it the ideal vehicle to launch the brand in this market.

At nearly 2m wide and weighing well over two tonnes, the Hummer H3 is hardly the "economical and manoeuvrable" vehicle described in the press material, but nor is it the largest 4WD on our roads. A Toyota LandCruiser is longer and heavier.

The H3 isn't the worst offender in terms of carbon dioxide emissions either, with a figure in line with similar-sized Jeeps and Land Rovers. All H3s are powered by a 180kW 3.7-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, which guzzles about 14 litres of premium unleaded per 100km.

Prices start at $51,990 and buyers can choose from a range of colours, such as "Victory Red", and make their vehicle even more menacing with bull bars, side steps and other add-ons, including plenty of chrome.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22533812-26017,00.html