Hummer Guy Hummer News and Opinion from an experienced off-road instructor
There’s only one reason brave the streets of Detroit in January – the North American International Auto Show – or as most people call it, the Detroit Auto Show. With over 6000 press expected to attend this weekend, it’s one of the most popular venues automakers use to announce new concepts and ideas of where their brand is headed. For General Motors and HUMMER, this means the first public appearance of the new HX concept vehicle. For bloggers, it means the chance to meet with some of GM and HUMMER’s top dogs – and maybe have some fun while we’re at it.
This is the first year I’m going to the Detroit Auto Show, and I’m going courteously of General Motors. I like to think it’s because of HummerGuy.net’s awe-inspiring journalistic qualities, but let’s be sensible, it’s probably because there’s a void of HUMMER-specific media. In any event, the schedule looks unbeatable, starting with The General’s kick-off event Saturday night.
Maroon 5, Kid Rock, Mary J. Blige will lay down the soundtrack for the GM Style event, which puts ‘stars and cars’ on a fashion show runway. HUMMER will have one vehicle make an appearance, the racing inspired H3R concept that made its debut at the 2007 SEMA Show. Last year celebrities made appearances alongside each vehicle, so it will be interesting to see if GM pairs the H3R with anyone special. Since it’s in town, you think they’ll let me drive the LS7, 500 horsepower H3R? What’s the worst thing that could happen?
Sunday is the big day – the opening of the auto show gates to let in floods of media. Perhaps the REAL reason auto manufacturers give advance images and pictures to the media is so they wont rush the doors like it’s Black Friday at Wal-Mart. 
With so many journalists from all over the world, that could have international incident written all over it. The dust will have settled upon our arrival since a tour of the OnStar command center is on tap first thing. During the tour, they’ve promised to show us how they spy on unsuspecting drivers singing their hearts out. I’m KIDDING – they couldn’t listen to your ‘man-version’ of Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry if they wanted to, but honestly, would anyone want to?
Later in the morning is the HUMMER press conference, where the HX will be shown for the first time in public, followed by a barrage of interviews with lead HUMMER designers and marketing types. Then it’s on to group interviews with HUMMER’s #1 Martin Walsh, and the always exciting and outspoken Bob Lutz, Vice Chair of GM.
If there’s any HUMMER questions you’re dying to have answered – drop me a line at brian (at) hummerguy.net, and I’ll do my best.
