Truckin' Magazine News And Events - Insider - July 2004

This computer-generated rendering, based on spy photos and the H3T concept truck, is the best look we have so far of what the upcoming Hummer H3 will look like. Built on the new Colorado/Canyon midsize pickup platform, the H3 is expected to feature the Vortec 3.5L I-5 engine. The '06 H3 model will be appearing at dealerships sometime in 2005. GM hopes this smaller, more affordable Hummer will bolster the sales of the Hummer brand, which have recently cooled off since the red-hot introduction of the H2.

30th Anniversary Truckin' Projects
In honor of Truckin's 30th anniversary, several staffers have taken on new projects that will debut at the 2004 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will be displayed at Truckin's shows throughout the next show season. Thanks to Ed White of Fast Eddy's Hot Rod Art (www.fehrarules.com) in Katy, Texas, we can show you a peek of some of the projects we have in store for the coming year.

News Briefs
General Motors is recalling about 636,000 '02-'03 model-year GM midsize sports utility vehicles, including Chevrolet TrailBlazers, TrailBlazer EXTs, GMC Envoys, and Envoy XL and Bravadas built between April and November 2002, including some '02 Isuzu Ascenders for a windshield wiper condition.

Porsche is recalling 22,000 Cayenne SUVs worldwide for a wiring problem that could potentially cause a fire.

For the second year in a row, Land Rover's Range Rover has obtained the highest score of all trucks surveyed by California-based consumer research company, Strategic Vision, in the Total Delight Index.

Bridgestone has recalled more Firestone tires supplied to Ford for its SUVs. This time, Steeltex tires are being recalled and are equipped on 80,000 '00-'03 Ford Excursions.

Isuzu is now offering a five-passenger version of its Ascender for 2004.

Rumor has it that both Pontiac and Suzuki will be getting their own versions of the Chevy Equinox, which already shares a platform with the Saturn Vue.

Land Rover may drop the popular Discovery name in favor of an alphanumeric designation when the SUV is redesigned.

New Mexico is considering a law to install breathalyzers in all vehicles. Unless a driver passes the test, the vehicle won't start. According to Reuters, New Mexico has one of the highest rates of alcohol-related driving fatalities in the nation.