LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Traveling at high speed across the Nevada barrens, the convoy of Hummer H1s kicks up such a trail of brown dust that the large vehicles must keep quarter-mile distances between them. This forgotten land around Lake Tahoe’s lush lakeside environs is ideal technical 4WD terrain. Narrow and winding macadam; wide open desert; hill climbs in loose sand; dry washes with sheer, uneven sides; and a boulder-strewn path over large rocks await the 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha. Here, wheel placement, gearing, and locking differentials will be evaluated, along with approach and departure angles and underbody protection of the vulnerable parts powering this four-ton beast.

Looking out at the caravan, nightly news images of The Iraq War spring to mind. The military HUMVEE is well known from its Desert Storm years, and, now, it’s further imprinted in our collective consciousness as a result of its on-going overseas duty. Stateside, its civilian counterpart, the Hummer H1, has two disparate images. It’s fair to say that it has replaced the Tonka truck as an icon for young Americans, and it’s widely known as a bane to environmentalists everywhere.

Undaunted by that fact, General Motors has just introduced a more powerful version of the H1 – called Alpha. GM officials claim that it is the most capable off-road truck available to the civilian market, now with better on-road manners, improved off-road capability, and increased fuel economy. They’ve brought the Hummer H1 Alpha to this technically challenging landscape to prove their case.

Exclusive high-powered versions of almost any premium-priced model are commonplace. Automakers, in an attempt to attract adrenaline-loving horsepower fans, often supplement their car brands with top-of-the-line performance variations. BMW has its M, Volvo its R, and Mercedes-Benz its AMG. At Chrysler, SRT denotes tire-shredding capability, and GM’s Cadillac division has enjoyed additional success by creating its V-series lineup.

But unlike its General Motors sibling Cadillac, Hummer does not define performance in terms of 0-60 acceleration, skidpad adhesion, or high-speed stability. Customers who step up and buy a Hummer clearly desire and define performance and image differently from those who do not. To cater to people who understand what a Hummer is and does, this new super-high-performance offering, and the special-edition Alpha designation, will eventually be available across the Hummer lineup.

The Hummer lineup will also now come in three sizes. The H1, H2 SUV and SUT, and forthcoming H3 comprise, completely, Hummer's product portfolio, and each will be available in Alpha trim. The opening volley is the 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha.

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