What is it lately that people don't seem to understand about hardcore off-roaders? They're not supposed to be aerodynamic, and they're not supposed to be pretty. And yet here we are yet again – after the modified Hummer recently spotted on eBay – looking at one of the world's most serious rock-climbing workhorses that's been smoothed out in controversial fashion, and in metallic Barney purple, no less.

What we have on one hand is the Mercedes Geländewagen, the same essential truck that Magna Steyr has been building for the Three-Pointed Star for some thirty years now. It's got the aerodynamic profile of a barn. Attached to a parachute. On the other, we have the E-Class, one of the most aerodynamically slippery cars on the market. Part of the same company's line-up, but just about as different as can be. And yet, thanks to what looks to be a not inconsequential amount of elbow grease, the two have come together to breed this remarkable concoction, which, we gather, was recently put up for sale on eBay. While we can't locate the auction itself, one has to figure that the owner is going to have a hard time selling a vehicle that's been so extensively "personalized."



[Source: Autogespot]

As expected after this morning's initial leakage, BMW has released a staggering amount of images of the 2011 BMW X1 showing the brand's new soft-roader in every conceivable environment before it's officially revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Along with the pics, BMW put out a brief statement (below the fold) confirming the X1's arrival in the U.S. sometime in 2011 and its plans to offer both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive (xDrive) versions, along with "a wide variety of gasoline and diesel powertrain choices." BMW won't officially confirm what mils will make the trip across the Atlantic, but the automaker says the X1 will use its EfficientDynamics system and that one gasoline engine and three diesels will be available when the X1 launches in Europe this fall. Check out all 183 high-res images in the gallery below and expect official U.S. market information to be released closer to the X1's launch in the States.

General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Honda and everyone else may not think there is much of a market for mainstream diesel vehicles in the United States, but Volkswagen would beg to differ. Since it launched its new generation diesels last fall in the Jetta and earlier this year in the Touareg, they have been selling like hotcakes with June being its best month yet. Last month was the best sales month to date for the Sportwagen with 1,982 sales and a whopping 81% of those were equipped with the 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder.

Among the 8,431 Jetta sedans sold in June, 40% were diesel powered. And while the Touareg followed most other SUVs with a 41% overall decline to only 330 units in June, 29% of those had the 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine. Rabbit sales were down 69% in June, but a redesigned Golf is arriving in September, including a TDI – and if fuel prices keep climbing through the summer, it could see a huge sales spike as well.



[Source: Volkswagen]

It takes a special talent to infantilize the brute strength of a Hummer H1, but someone's gone and done it with an oddly swoopy redesign. One of only two made (yes, there is another), this unique Hummer features a custom hood and front bumper, as well as a multi-section removable roof should the driver and occupants actually wish to be seen tooling around the neighborhood in this beast.

Inside, it's been all tricked out with a trifecta of television screens, ostrich leather interior, iPod-compatible entertainment system, sat-nav, back-up cameras...the works. Even the turbodiesel V8 has been tweaked and mounted with a polished aluminum snorkel, complimented by a chrome Mack truck bulldog hood ornament. Oh, and it has a $2,000 train horn, just in case someone can't see this behemoth coming from a mile away. All this can be yours for the low price of $89,900 or best offer.



[Source: eBay Motors via Carscoop]

Last year, we compared the dirtside manners of the Hummer H2 and Toyota Land Cruiser. Both trucks did everything we asked of them, but at the end of the excursion we were left with another question begging to be answered: could the Hummer H3T stand up to the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon? These cruiserweights live on a fatter part of the buying curve, and any time a Jeep is summoned to the ring, the other vehicle is inevitably the challenger. Even though the H3T is still relatively new to the world, it came time to find out if it was ready to stand up and fight for its place. Follow the jump to see how it held up.



Photos Copyright ©2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, the company that recently surfaced as the top bidder for Hummer, is about to start talks with Chinese regulators to secure the deal. While General Motors has a tentative agreement with Tengzhong, the two companies have yet to receive the state's blessing, which is necessary for the sale to go through.

Tengzhong, GM and Hummer have been working on a proposal to present to the National Development and Reform Commission, despite speculation that the deal will be blocked by those Chinese officials. Tengzhong reportedly remains optimistic, saying they haven't heard anything from the authorities and don't expect to until their proposal is actually submitted.

Speculation that the deal was in jeopardy began when a China National Radio station reported that government regulators would block the deal based on environmental concerns about Hummer vehicles and the fact that Tengzhong doesn't have much experience as an automaker. Tengzhong is better known as a manufacturer of special-use vehicles, structural components for highways and bridges, construction machinery and energy equipment, so some have suggested this is little more than a publicity stunt for the company, but it certainly sounds like they are serious about the deal now.

[Sources: Reuters, Wall Street Journal]

General Motors' pending deal to offload its unwanted HUMMER brand may have hit a major snag. Although no official word has come from the Ministry of Commerce or the National Development and Reform Commission, state-run radio organizations are reporting that the Chinese government will indeed block the sale of HUMMER from GM to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. It's impossible to know exactly how this whole mess will play out, but these reports clearly jive with the general sentiments we've been hearing since the deal was first announced.

According to Chinese radio reports (via the BBC), there are two main objections to the HUMMER deal. First, the brand's environmental credentials don't match up with the direction the Chinese government wants its automakers to head. Second, there are questions as to whether Tengzhong has the expertise to properly manage a large automaker as it's business dealings so far have all been in the construction equipment segment.

Not so fast, says Tengzhong. In a newly-released statement regarding these latest reports, the company had this to say:

Some people may have views and speculation, but the Chinese government has a process that we respect... The view expressed on China National Radio's website did not quote or source anyone at NDRC. We do not yet have a definitive agreement, but are developing our proposals with GM and Hummer and we will continue to engage with the appropriate authorities in an appropriate manner.

At this point, it seems equally as possible that a decision could either come down in short order or come only after a long series of protracted negotiations. Stay tuned. Thanks for the tip, Dave S!



[Source: BBC]

As Chinese media outlets continue to voice derision over GM's agreement to sell its unwanted HUMMER division to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., there are real questions as to whether or not the Chinese government will even approve of the purchase.

State-run media outlet Xinhua News Agency has suggested that Tengzhong's interest in HUMMER may be little more than a publicity stunt, saying, "It couldn't achieve this result (of raising its profile) even if it spent $100 million on advertising." Commenting on Tengzhong's deal to purchase HUMMER, China's Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said:

We hope Chinese companies learn more about international market rules and development trends in their industries and make prudent investments.

While none of that sounds particularly promising, it doesn't necessarily mean the deal won't be approved, and HUMMER CEO Jim Taylor is reportedly moving forward with the automaker's future plans as it looks for a new location outside GM's corporate headquarters in the Renaissance Center to call home. According to the Nashville Business Journal, HUMMER could stay in the Detroit area or possibly join Nissan by taking root in Tennessee.



[Sources: Autocar, Nashville Business Journal]

Automakers that hope to continue doing business over the next few years need to be increasingly aware of their fuel consumption, emissions and environmental credibility. In deference to this fact, Auto Express in the U.K. is reporting that Land Rover is moving forward with plans to launch the new LRX compact hybrid 'ute, possibly with a bit of help from the U.K. government.

According to the report, Land Rover will borrow liberally from corporate partner Jaguar's hardware stable, which is rumored to soon include both hybrid and extended-range EV options. Land Rover's innovative electric drive rear axle is supposedly on the LRX menu, which would work along with the automaker's well-known and highly-effective Terrain Response System to put power to the ground wherever possible.

If there's any truth to these rumors, we shouldn't expect Land Rover to have the hybrid LRX in production until at least two years have passed. In the meantime, the British-built, Indian-owned automaker is set to debut stop/start and regenerative braking on all of its models to improve their environmental performance.



[Source: Auto Express]

HUMMER's relationship with the American Red Cross extends back to 2005 when the SUV manufacturer first began supplying the agency with donated trucks for use in the disaster-stricken areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This relationship has been ongoing ever since, and in 2007, Brad Mellon, a volunteer with the San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter, snapped a stunning photograph of one the ARC's HUMMER H3s against the harrowing backdrop of a California wildfire.

While HUMMER waits to write a new future for itself under Chinese stewardship, its ties with the Red Cross have now been immortalized as part of a postage stamp issued by the Republic of Guinea. The stamp, commemorating Red Cross founder Henri Dunant, features artwork by Frenchman P. Pavilland, who saw fit to make the image of the H3 against the raging fire the background of the postage he was commissioned to design. So HUMMER goes out in a blaze of glory, so to speak... in Guinea, at least.



[Sources: HUMMER, eBay]