The civilian Hummer H1 had a good long run; a good decade and a half before GM pulled the plug. But the military version was around a lot longer than that… and what’s more is that it’s still in production.
But while the basic package has remained essentially unchanged since its introduction way back in 1984, its manufacturer has just revealed a substantially upgraded version.
AM General revealed the enhanced NXT 360 version of the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or “Humvee”) at the Eurosatory military equipment expo in Paris, bringing with it a series of upgrades to make it even more utile while offering better protection for the personnel inside.
Not the least of those upgrades is the installation of a more powerful engine. It’s still a 6.5-liter turbodiesel V8, but instead of the 190 hp (142 kW) and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm) of torque with which it came initially, this new electronically controlled version packs a far more robust 250 hp (186 kW) and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm). And instead of a three- or four-speed automatic transmission, the NXT 360 packs six.
Coupled with an upgraded suspension, that gives the Humvee NXT 360 a higher payload capacity – the gross vehicle weight rating now up to 15,500 pounds (7,100 kg). Considering that the vehicle itself only weighs about a third that amount, that means it could (theoretically) haul another two of itself, and do so across a wide array of terrain.
An upgraded central tire inflation system (now with two compressors), greater wheel travel, bigger tires, higher ground clearance, and increased approach and departure angles also mean it can go where previous Humvees couldn’t.
Plus it can withstand barrage from stronger weapons thanks to improved armor – all the while retaining the same tried-and-tested platform, accepting the same array of equipment (like the new Hawkeye 105mm Howitzer cannon kit), without changing its basic footprint. Perhaps best of all is that the NXT 360 can be ordered not only on newly manufactured Humvees, but retrofitted to existing ones, too.
“What excites me about the NXT 360 is our ability to intently listen to the customer and utilize our engineering expertise to develop and deliver a solution that builds on the core strengths of the successful HMMWV platform,” said AM General CEO Andy Hove. “The NXT 360 provides added protection, payload capacity, and superior handling performance to perform in any rugged or urban environment.”