Federal regulators have began an investigation into more than 2.7 million SUVs and trucks built by General Motors between 2006 and 2008 after reports of 41 non-crash engine compartment fires, including 8 fires that may have caused significant property damage along with 16 cases where fires started while the vehicles were turned off. The probe covers 21 models sold by Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Hummer.

A set of leaked (high-resolution) images that found their way into the internet today seem to have spoiled GM’s initial plans to unveil the all-new Hummer H3T Pick-Up at next month’s Chicago Auto Show. Details are scarce for the moment, but we do know that the H3T will have a longer wheelbase than the standard H3 while it will also feature a bedrail system and four in-bed storage compartments. The H3T featured in the pictures is the Alpha version which is equipped with a 295 HP 5.3-liter V8 instead of the standard inline-5.

Concierges not impressed with your pimped Caddy Escalade? Then here’s an SUV that will definitely draw all the attention upon you: the Coggiola T-REX Concept. The only setbacks are that a) you have to look at it and, b) the seller is asking for a mouth-dropping €499,000 or $800,000 on the Italian e-Bay.

The way we see it, unless some Saudi prince or Texan gas-ilioner decides to drop the price of an oil-barrel under the $100 mark, by the end of the year Hummer might manage to put itself out of its misery. In June, GM’s brand sold a mere 2,072 units, down 59.3 percent compared to June 2007 when it sold 5,093 vehicles. During the first half of the year, Hummer sales declined a whopping 40.4 percent compared to the first six months of 2007 (16,158 vs 27,108 units). Think Hummer will make it till the end of 2008?

For those in Europe that can withstand the sizzling prices at gas pumps, Hummer is offering a special edition version of its H3 SUV equipped with €4,000 or $6,300 worth of options at no extra cost. Based on the standard H3 3.7 automatic, the Sensation features a unique body-colored grille, a power sliding glass sunroof, black tubular side steps, black roof crossbars, an in-dash 6-CD changer and a Monsoon 7-speaker sound system. The H3 Sensation, which will only be available for short time, is offered exclusively in black or white paint.

With pick up trucks and large SUVs pilling up at dealerships, it’s not exactly the best of times for a vehicle like the all-new Hummer H3T. Set to arrive at dealerships in September, Hummer has priced the H3T at $31,495, including a $745 destination charge. Featuring a five-passenger crew cab and a separate five-foot-long (1.5 meters) bed the H3T packs a 5-cylinder 3.7 liter engine combined with standard full-time electronic four-wheel drive.

The French equivalent of AM General’s Humvee is the Renault Sherpa, a light 4×4 tactical military truck dedicated to projection and intervention units. But unlike its famous American counterpart the Sherpa never found its way to the civilian market. Renault offers two versions of the military truck, the Sherpa 2 which can seat 4 passengers offering a payload of 2 to 3 tons and the two-seater Sherpa 3 pick-up that features 10′ flat bed supporting a total payload of 4.1 tons.

For the 2009 model year, Hummer is adding a new version to its H2 SUV and SUT line-up called “Black Chrome”. The limited edition H2 SUV and SUT models are distinguished on the outside by the black chrome detailing that includes the 22-inch chrome-clad wheels, grille, hood latches and handles, fuel filler door, door handles, mirror caps, badges, side air vents, spare tire cover emblem, rocker moldings and hood louver.

For those of you who are looking to sharpen their off-road driving abilities and to take a break from the daily routine life, GM is launching its first ever Hummer Driving Academy event that will take place in Morocco from 7-12 November 2008. The academy will take a fleet of 14 Hummer H3s on a 1300km (about 800 miles) route which includes the Sahara Desert. Overall, there will be 14 teams consisting of a driver and co-driver. The participating SUVs will carry necessary survival equipment, desert tires and GPS satellite navigation systems, but other than that, they’re standard H3s with 3.7-liter 5-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions.

No, people haven’t lost their mind with the widespread economic turmoil -well, not yet at least- as this Hummer H3 that’s fitted with a set of wooden wagon wheels is actually a piece of art created by Matthew Harrison and it’s on show at the fifth Zoo Art Fair (17-20 October) in central London. Harrison said that he combined the Hummer’s off-road credentials with ‘Wild West’ wooden wheels to create ‘a sculpture that is a mixture of art, engineering and motoring’. Well, in our opinion he should have added a few horses to complete the theme but then again, we’re more humorists than artists.

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