As of June 2006 the Alpha ended production on the assembly line, leaving a Firehouse Red Alpha Open Top (HMDO) as the very last Alpha made. That Alpha was purchased by James Armour (President CEO AM General) for his wife.
The H1 Alpha is fully mature in that it exemplifies the HUMMER concept in virtually every aspect from performance to maintenance interval requirements. Also, there are no plans to further the engineering or production of this longstanding, often culturally controversial machine for personal transportation.
Numerous websites and source references detail the Alpha’s operating parameters and those are listed below. What I am to discuss here is regarding the metamorphosis that led to the Alpha’s design in 2002 forward. These heuristics are being treated in reverse chronological fashion in the paragraphs which follow.
Prior to the Alpha’s introduction, the 2004 H1 exemplified what a refined and pefected 6.5 diesel powered H1 can be. It sported what is considered the best version of the 6.5L diesel dubbed the Optimizer 6500 with CAT engine tuning and made in house at AM General and its subsidiary GEP (General Engine Products). The underpinnings, driveline, frame, suspension remain generally the same physical makeup as models dating from 1999 or earlier. What made the 2004 so unique is that it is the final incarnation of the 6.5L diesel HUMMER. The luxuriously appointed new interior (similar to the early run Alphas) is a giveaway that AMG (AM General) was headed in a substantially newer direction for a longstanding design. With a highly durable version of the 6.5L turbo diesel, little was left to be desired by those who traditionally adored the classing HUMMER, the H1. But of course the Alpha leapfrogged the HUMMER design lifecycle and demonstrated that a tradional design can be made to perform and exceed modern standards in one clean model change transition, from Optimizer 6500 H1 to Duramax/Allison Alpha H1. The 2004 and prior HUMMER vehicles share very little with the Alpha, almost so much that the appearance is what it has most in common. When one reads the performance potential of the Alpha over previous generations, it is no wonder that the Alpha no longer ties itself to traditionally used powerplant, driveline, frame and cooling apparatus. Even the fuel tanks have changed.
Year 1999 through 2004 mark the years in which the HUMMER enjoyed consistent operational reliability along with all of the tradionally HUMMER engineered capabilities for traversing rough, uneven, varied terrain. Changes in this area came in the way of engine, component, comfort, and functional improvements to make the HUMMER a more reliable and off road functional (TT4, Eaton E-lockers, etc.). This period of HUMMER production mark a very discerning group of owners who enjoy a progressive HUMMER wrought with usable luxuries which allow one to travel anywhere in high class comfort.
Prior to 1998 are the proving ground years for the HUMMER, and mark the historical introduction in 1992-1993 through its myriad of product improvements which somewhat originally plagued the reliable stature of this truly military vehicle adapted to civilain purpose. From A/C issues to defective engine blocks, to corroding cooling systems, etc. HUMMER had some challenges in the service arena, all of which were overcome quite admirably by AMG sometimes directly and oftentimes by exclusive HUMMER dealership personnel. These early generation HUMMERs are closest to their military versions in sound and ambience.
The Alpha, is paradoxically, the End of the H1 product line, but still enjoys full factory and dealer parts and service support, and for the foreseeable future, as the HUMMER name lives on.
AM General transcript of end of Alpha production can be found:http://www.amgeneral.com/corporate_news.php/nID/22
H1 Alpha project description can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer_H1
