ANAHEIM, Calif. - Icons of masculinity. Success symbols of the nouveau riche. Conveyance of choice for our nation's military. It's no wonder that men have always longed for Hummers, and it comes as no surprise that the majority of Hummer buyers are male. Just 25 percent of Hummer H2 buyers are women, and the number is much lower for the rugged original, the nasty Hummer H1. But that's about to change with the introduction of the right-sized 2006 Hummer H3, which made its world debut at the 2004 California Auto Show this week.

The Hummer H3 might be the first in history to appeal as much to women as it does to men. Looking like a junior version of the massive Hummer H2 (we won't call it a Baby Hummer, though that nickname is likely inevitable), the 2006 Hummer H3 is based upon the rugged ladder-frame architecture of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups. Compared to the H2, the H3 is 16.9 inches shorter in length, six inches shorter in height and 6.5 inches narrower. This translates to a vehicle much better sized for urban warfare. The 2006 Hummer H3 also possesses a 37-foot turning circle, fully 6.5 feet tighter than the H2, making it far more maneuverable in both the most remote countryside and the Trader Joe's parking lot. But don't go thinking this is some kind of sissy truck for city types, because the Hummer H3 boasts:

9.1-inches of ground clearance A 25-degree breakover angle with the optional 33-inch tires A 40-degree approach angle A 37-degree departure angle Ability to ford 16 inches of water at 20 mph Ability to ford 24 inches of water at 5 mph Ability to climb a 16-inch vertical step or rock These capabilities ensure that manly men, and manly women, who dare take their new Hummer H3 off-road can enjoy the same capabilities as the industrial-strength H1 and brutish H2.

Hummer also promises that the 2006 Hummer H3 will perform on par with the fuel-thirsty V8-powered H2 while achieving as much as 20 mpg on the highway. Under the H3's squared-off hood resides a Vortec 3500 engine with dual overhead camshafts, variable valve timing, and drive-by-wire throttle control. This is the same 3.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine from the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon that has underwhelmed critics who complain that the motor delivers sluggish response off the line. Making 220 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm, the engine is expected to equal the H2's V8 performance under most conditions.

Power is delivered to all four wheels through a standard five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic transmission. The Borg-Warner two-speed full-time 4WD transfer case includes 2.64:1 low range gearing, but an optional 4.03:1 low range ratio is available for optimum rock hopping capability.

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