The Hummer H3 Alpha

Unfortunately, with all the press about the possibility of GM selling or discontinuing Hummer, and the outrageously high gas prices this summer, the new 2009 Hummer H3 Alpha has been quietly overlooked. The 5.3L 300 horsepower engine makes the H3 a world class contender at offroad and onroad events. The major criticism of the H3 has always been the 5 cylinder base engine, but with the V8, this 4 X 4 presses you back in the seat when you accelerate and seems like it can climb straight up the side of a mountain. Real life gas economy difference between the V8 and inline 5 is about 1 mpg. 15 mpg is in the ballpark of most SUVs, however, few if any can do all the Alpha can do. The zero to 60 mph time of 7.9 seconds with the Alpha is significantly better than the 11.1 seconds with the 5 cylinder.

The V8, coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission, cast-iron differential housing, and 4.10 axle ratio, enables the H3 to tow 6,000 pounds—more than 33-percent greater than the base H3s that are powered by the 220hp inline five-cylinder and 5-speed manual.
Although both the base Hummer H3 and the Alpha model look very similar, the Alpha comes standard with the Luxury equipment package, the Chrome Appearance package, 16-inch chrome wheels, and special Alpha touches such as headrests embroidered with the Alpha insignia and little badges placed on the tailgate logo and horn pad. Alphas can also be distinguished by the silver lower bumper that includes a Z06 Corvette grillwork covering a wide air opening, needed to help the V8 stay cool under severe use.

Lee Visci, the chief engineer of the H3 Alpha platform, says stuffing the V-8 inside the baby Hummer’s tight engine bay wasn’t all that easy. Her engineers had to redesign the firewall and narrow the distance between it and the dash to get a couple more inches of space lengthwise. In addition, they had to make a few nips and tucks in the front frame rails to handle the aluminum-block 5.3L’s engine mounts. The end result is an engineering work of beauty and driving the Alpha can be described as being in an H3 on steroids with a Corvette heritage.