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Humvee reborn on the battlefield... with a chimney?!

The military's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known to most of us as the Humvee, has already served a long and distinguished career in the battlefield, and there have been a number of replacements waiting in the wings to take over where the HMMWV left off. Or, should we say, leaves off... assuming that ever happens.
It seems that the Humvee is set to get a new lease on life as military budget constraints are forcing the government to reconsider its replacement. But there are still some pesky safety issues to work out before American soldiers will feel comfortable inside the confines of the off-road box on wheels.
As you're likely aware, improvised explosive devices are an ever-increasing threat to the lives of American troops serving overseas. The Humvee, which traces its design all the way back to the year 1984 when it first saw duty as a replacement for the long-running series of military Jeeps, has seen a number of incarnations over the years that added armor and improved safety, but the latest version may feature something hitherto unseen: a chimney.

Robby Gordon withdraws from 2016 Dakar after stupid accident

Accidents are bound to happen in motorsports, and for that very reason, modern racing vehicles are built to a very high standard of safety. Unfortunately, the accident that caused Robby Gordon to withdraw from the 2016 Dakar Rally involved a road-going Hummer H2 driven by members of the American racing driver's support staff – a vehicle without racing harnesses or roll cages. As the video above shows, this is one accident that was completely avoidable. According to news reports flowing out of Argentina, Gordon had already finished the 13th and final stage of Dakar and was driving his HST Gordini competition truck on a highway headed to the podium where all the back-patting, trophy presentations, and champagne sprays typically happen. Along the way, someone from Gordon's crew decides to pass some bottles and paper bags, window-to-window, from a support vehicle to Gordon's race machine. At about 80 miles per hour. Does that sound like a bad idea to anyone else? And a bad idea it ultimately was. Gordon swerved one too many times to get closer to his support car, coming into contact with it and causing what looks to be a pretty bad accident. Making matters worse, a member of Gordon's team was hanging halfway out of an open window with bottles in hand at the time of the accident. Reports indicate there were two injuries. Thankfully, everyone will apparently recover. It's not clear where exactly Gordon would have finished had he not withdrawn. It is clear, however, that this was a stupid maneuver that never should have happened. For those keeping track, this latest incident isn't the first time Robby Gordon has been involved in an off-road rally accident, having injured a spectator in the 2015 Baja 500. According to Autoblog.com.ar (no relation), Gordon's Dakar accident is under investigation. News Source: Autoblog.com.ar, YouTube Motorsports Hummer Safety Racing Vehicles Videos Dakar Rally robby gordon

My year in EVs: 8 electrics that are changing the car industry

The year 2021 will go down as an inflection point in the auto industry’s transition to electric vehicles. It's when many much-anticipated models became reality. No longer sketches or sketchy prototypes, electric vehicles appeared from all corners with everything from the Lucid Air to Ford Mustang Mach-E changing how we think about transportation. I managed to drive a lot of them, and as I went through my notes, I realized IÂ’ve got a mini memoir of the seminal EVs of 2021. HereÂ’s my take on eight of them. Hummer EV Easily the most over-the-top EV I tested this year. The 1,000-hp super truck lived up to the hype with its domineering presence, stupendous power and simply being a reincarnated Hummer. I took it for a short spin on- and off-road at the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, Mich., and was impressed with the airy cabin, removable sky panels and expansive touchscreens. Yes, I crab walked, which felt like steering a pontoon boat, though I can see why it would be useful. Lucid Air Dream Performance The most beautiful sedan I tested all year, EV or otherwise. Unlike the futuristic Mercedes EQS — which is quite attractive — LucidÂ’s car is a blend of mid-century modern interior aesthetics and classic European exterior styling. When I walked up for my test drive, someone who IÂ’m pretty sure was comedian Jon Lovitz was sitting inside and taking it all in. As it sat in the valet of a hotel in a wealthy suburban enclave north of Detroit, the Lucid drew more attention than any of the Mercedes, Cadillacs or Lexus models passing by. The driving experience was enveloping. Starting at $169,000 for the Performance model (reservations are closed), the Lucid I sampled packed 1,111 hp and 471 miles of range. From the precise steering to the comfortable suspension, the dynamics were spot-on. It's a formidable product, and all the more impressive given itÂ’s LucidÂ’s first. Chevy Bolt EV The Bolt was the most pleasant surprise for me. It handled well, offered low-to-the-ground hot hatch dynamics and the steering was dialed-in. Adding a crossover variant for the new generation was a smart play. On a summer morning where I went to a first drive of the Ford Bronco at an off-road course, my hour-long commute in the Bolt was an enjoyable appetizer.  The Bolt was also my biggest disappointment due to its extensive recalls for fire risk. Ironically, I had the Bolt in my driveway when the initial recall went out for the previous generation (2017-19).