Hummer HX Engineering Green Light

Contrary to what I've read in the press The Phantom called this morning to advise me that the engineering group has been given the green light to produce a "Phase III engineering mockup" of the Hummer HX. In their desire to keep the design quiet, the team is doing their work "off campus."
Design criteria to include: rugged frame design, use of composites and alloys to include carbon fiber when feasible, Lexan clear vision panels, a body shell that looks Hummer like (#2 criteria), lockup front and back axles, Goodyear offroad run flat tire technology (still in the works), constant speed drive (CSD) transfer case technology (more to follow on this new technology) and the use of composite skid plates. A 24 mpg combined mileage target (#1 criteria) for fuel economy and appeal to a younger aged buyer. The Phantom was uncharacteristically mum when questioned on power plant considerations. He said there are many "high ups at GM" that are fighting for the continuation of the Hummer and its improvement. The Hummer, which has only been on the scene for 5 years, in its current form, is now the #1 recognized GM brand name worldwide. As Confuscius says, May You Live In Interesting Times!

Corrections from The Phantom 8-21-2008 1:06 PM EDT.. After reading my post The Phantom called to tell me the transfer case technology uses some principles of a constant speed drive unit but has variable speed and is called an IDU, Integrated Drive Unit. It combines the automatic transmission with the transfer case into one unit, eliminating numerous gears and frictional losses and uses the "hydraulic pressure technology of a CSD." This technology has been used on aircraft but never on mass produced land vehicles. It has little else in common with a CSD.
Also, in the Hummer like design he stated there is strong interest in keeping a military Humvee type slant back design and swing away spare tire. The swing away spare would be a design statement rather than an actual need if the suspension geometry can be worked out with the new tires. Finally, run flat tire design for off road has been tested but never brought to bear on SUVs because of stiff sidewall compliance and maufacturers OTHER than Goodyear are producing and testing them. This author sincerely regrets any misunderstanding or misstatements from The Phantom.