It’s baaack!
Debuting in 1992, the humongous Hummer H1 was a barely civilianized version of the mighty military HUMVEE (for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) that fought in Operation Desert Storm. It became the ride of choice among sports celebrities and other affluent extroverts as alternatives to Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but wound up being dropped from the line in 2006 as the poster child for gas-guzzling vehicular excess, foreshadowing the brand’s demise as part of General Motors’ recession-fueled reorganization in 2010.
But with large trucks and super-costly SUVs gaining traction in the new-vehicle market the last couple of years it almost comes as no surprise that someone – though neither GM nor the vehicle’s original builder, AM General – would resurrect the Hummer H1. That distinction goes to Michigan-based Mil-Spec Automotive, which essentially strips down and hand-rebuilds original H1s in Wichita, KS as a new bespoke luxury off-roader that’s being called the Launch Edition.
It starts at a substantial $218,499, which is about $100,000 more than the already costly H1 commanded back in 2015.
For starters, Mil-Spec remanufactures the H1’s chassis, with each component disassembled and rebuilt with new parts, then powder-coated. A specially tuned 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 engine generates 500 horsepower and a whopping 1,000 pound-feet of stump-pulling torque, driving all four wheels via an especially durable six-speed Allison automatic transmission.
The exterior, already menacing looking in its own way, is given a full satin-finished Kevlar coating, both to enhance its durability and make it look truly bad-ass. A ceramic under-body/engine bay coating, along with reinforced skid plates and heavy-duty powder coated bumpers helps enhance its prowess over otherwise impossible terrain (for the record, Mil-Spec says it can ford up to 42 inches of water, climb a 60% grade, and tow up to 9,300 pounds).
Whereas the original H1 offered passengers little more than a stark delivery truck-like experience, the Launch Edition’s massive interior is fabricated completely from aerospace-grade aluminum and is richly clad in marine-grade leather and water-resistant duck, with custom coverings available. It’s still dominated by what’s inarguably the largest center console in the auto industry, however, but this time around it incorporates cup holders. A heaping dose of sound-deadening insulation, which the original sorely lacked, is added to help keep road and ambient noise to a minimum. As one would imagine at this price, a full range of amenities is included.
As with the original H1, the Launch Edition comes in a variety of body styles, including four-door SUV, wagon, and slant-back configurations, along with both two- and four-door pickup variants; the latter comes with an extended (6.3-foot) cargo bed.
At 195 inches in length, 85 inches tall, and 104.5 inches wide (with the side mirrors deployed), this is the most massive of all SUVs, and remains too huge to fit inside the average garage. You’d have a difficult time negotiating narrow city streets packed with parked cars without taking a few side mirrors along with it. And though we haven’t driven it, we can’t imagine that even the addition of a more-sophisticated suspension makes this anywhere as a plush and nimble a ride as, say, a Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Still, while it’s not for everyone, the Launch Edition wins the battle of bespoke people movers hands down by virtue of its sheer audacity. For better or worse, it’s hard to miss, even in a crowded country club parking lot. If and when you ever see one, give it a proper salute.
Click here for additional product information or email sales@milspecauto.com for sales inquiries.
