One of Hummer"s top...

One of Hummer"s top brass has confessed she"s a big fan of getting such a car into showrooms. "I"d love one," said general manager Susan Docherty. "Hummer is not something somebody needs, it"s something people want. It"s a household"s third or even fourth vehicle. We have to be careful how we build on that, but I want a pick-up truck and something smaller than the H3."

Docherty"s comments are the clearest sign yet that there are more vehicles to come from Hummer. A dune-buggy style SUV designed to rival vehicles such as the Wrangler would fit under the H3 in the range. The Jeep is a favourite with people who live in America"s most glamorous hotspots because of its simple mechanics and rugged image. Another benefit is that it can be easily customised, which is a market Hummer bosses would be keen to tap into.

The firm"s trademark round front lights in square cut-outs and slotted chrome grille would obviously feature on the car. However, it"s unlikely to have a folding hard-top, because of the cost involved in developing one. The most likely alternative would be a Wrangler-style canvas hood. Naturally for a brand which modestly calls its own vehicles "rugged icons of off-roading", mud-plugging ability would be key for getting down to the beach and back.

However, Docherty was quick to rule out a number of options for Hummer. "I can"t make it everything to everybody. It has to be fun and daring. A four-door saloon or a sports car wouldn"t work," she explained.