During the late 1990s, the recognition of the popularity for sport utility/crossover vehicles sparked a gold rush in the auto industry. The vehicle type’s adventurous off-roading physique, decent mechanical equipment and a design that maximizes interior space for abundant passenger comfort and cargo room evolved from being appreciated by a loyal niche to appealing to a mainstream. This growth also coincided with the luxury car category being disrupted by a vehicle known as the Hummer that became a trendy new status icon during the turn of the century. The Hummer’s allure around the turn of the millennium encouraged brands such as Lincoln, Cadillac, BMW and Porsche to make their first forays into what would become a vibrant luxury sport utility sector. Along with these existing brands entering the luxury sport utility marketplace, one company envisioned using the category in reviving the name of an old American automotive icon.
In the early 1960s, the Studebaker Corporation was struggling under the pressure of the consolidated American auto industry. An ambitious new vehicle was created in attempt to improve the fortunes of Studebaker. Sculpted by a team led by esteemed industrial designer Raymond Loewy, the vehicle given form was the Studebaker Avanti; a handsome, fiberglass-bodied, eight-cylinder powered luxury sport coupe. Produced in 1962 and 1963, only 5,800 Avantis left the Studebaker factory before the closure of their South Bend, Indiana plant. When the car ceased production, a group of Studebaker dealers bought the equipment and rights to build the Avanti. Under the newly-established Avanti Motor Corporation, production of the car restarted in low numbers. From the 1960s through to the 2000s, vehicles featuring the Avanti’s strikingly unique appearance were built under various corporate owners with a convertible and even a somewhat clumsily-executed four-door sedan variant later appearing. Avanti Motor Corporation’s final owner Michael E. Kelly bought company in 1999 and reintroduced the car in 2001 assembled in the state of Georgia.
In addition to selling two-door coupe and convertible version of the Avanti as well as replicas of late 1950s Lister sports car, the small car builder began sharing details of a sport utility vehicle. In a reversal of fate, Avanti sought to revive the marque that created it. A ruggedly proportioned Avanti Studebaker XUV was formally unveiled at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show. This conceptual mock-up revealed an unmistakable off-roader appearance with bulky fenders, aggressive front bumper guard, large tires and a high ground clearance.
 |
| Avanti Studebaker XUV Concept shown at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show greeted audiences while also being the target for accusations of copying the Hummer line of vehicles. (Photo Source: Avanti Motor Corporation) |
Almost immediately, the Avanti Studebaker XUV’s looks caused many to compare it to the Hummer styling language or, more specifically, the newly-introduced Hummer H2. The Hummer brand’s parent company General Motors was one observer that agreed with the similarities and quickly resorted to legal action against the Studebaker XUV. A lawsuit was issued in February of 2003 by GM against Avanti Motor Corporation accusing them of creating a copy of their sport utility vehicle. GM also attempted unsuccessfully to block the Avanti Studebaker XUV’s exhibition at the Chicago Auto Show. While Avanti initially defending their vehicle against claims, Avanti reached a settlement with GM in August of the same year with the latter company agreeing to make a number of design revisions to differentiate the Studebaker XUV from the Hummer H2 prior to its planned production.
The front end design of the original Avanti Studebaker XUV differed greatly from the shape of
the 2004 followup vehicle. Note the grille design and shape as well as round headlamp
assemblies. (Photo Source: Avanti Motor Corporation)
For 2004, an overhauled Avanti Studebaker XUV broke cover sporting a multitude of retouches clearly motivated by the GM settlement. Changes made to the 2004 vehicle included a front end now featuring a rectangular grille combined with a pair of square headlights, the omission of fender-mounted hood latches, a reconfigured roof rack, door windows framed with more prominent pillars and a change in the rake angle of the windshield. A body-colour matching sun visor was added to the exterior design. The rear of the 2004 Studebaker XUV retained the same taillight design but the rear hitch glass was reshaped into an isosceles trapezoid compared to the rectangular appearance of the concept. Another major change saw the rear passenger doors replaced with the conventional front-hinged variety. The 2003 concept rear doors were possibly rear-hinged (judging from the location of the door handles) unless the black trim piece running behind the door represents glide for some type of van-style sliding doors (it can’t be confirmed as there appears to be no images in existence of the Avanti Studebaker XUV doors opened).
 |
| The considerably revised Studebaker XUV (Photo Source: Avanti Motor Corporation) |
Powerplant options for the Studebaker XUV were to utilize Avanti’s new connection with the Ford Motor Company. Following the Avanti coupe’s transfer of ownership from Studebaker in the 1960s, production restarted with Chevrolet V-8 engine power and eventually would be built on a Chevrolet chassis either from the Caprice or Monte Carlo. Kelly’s Avanti Motor Corporation departed from the bowtie brand in 2005 opting to build their coupe or convertible models on the Ford Mustang platform propelled through a 4.6-liter V-8 powerplant. The Avanti Studebaker XUV would obtain performance from engines related to Ford’s Super Duty truck range. A 6.8-liter Triton V-10 gasoline engine or the 6.0-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel power unit were initially advertised for the Studebaker XUV. The 5.4-liter V-8 powerplant was also proposed with the sport utility in 2006 along with a supercharger option for the V-10 engine. With the gasoline-fueled Ford Triton engine family, the 5.4-liter V-8 engine featured a horsepower rating 300 while the 6.8-liter V-10 generated 362 horsepower. The Power Stroke turbo diesel option would present the Studebaker XUV with 570 pound-feet of torque. All engines choices for the sport utility vehicle were to be mated to a five-speed Torqshift automatic transmission.
Not specifically stated, the Avanti Studebaker XUV was likely to have the option of two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive via references to the front suspension in vehicle specifications. Suspension details gave away the Studebaker XUV’s additional connections to the Ford Super Duty line with the Avanti vehicle being based on the truck’s chassis. The 137-inch wheelbase and 80-inch width for the Avanti sport utility vehicle closely mirrored that of the Super Duty-based Ford Excursion. The Avanti Studebaker XUV overall length was 16.7 inches less than the Excursion at 210 inches. Website information also teased availability of a DRW (dual rear wheel) variant of the Studebaker XUV while no concepts either real or virtual ever appeared to exist of such a model.
 |
| (Photo Source: Avanti Motor Corporation) |
Details on the Avanti Studebaker XUV’s interior were never well detailed. The 2003 car shown as the Chicago Auto Show featured blacked-out windows revealing nothing of the cabin design. However, no interior images were publicly shared by Avanti of the updated Studebaker XUV. According to a 2005 brochure on the vehicle, “unlike other “Big” SUVs, we have enough seating for everyone, and plenty of cargo for all of their things.”
Leather upholstery and an audio system with CD player were listed as standard equipment. The 2005 brochure slated all models would be equipped with three rows of seating but third-row passenger capacity appeared as an option for 2006. GPS navigation, DVD entertainment system, moonroof and rearview camera were also shown as available add-ons for the 2006 Studebaker XUV. The 2006 model year also involved Avanti promoting an additional variant for their sport utility lineup in the form of the Studebaker XUT combining a four-door cab with a small open truck bed.
The Avanti Studebaker XUV imagined with an alternative body style called the Studebaker XUT
(Photo Source: Avanti Motor Corporation)
The potential for production of the Avanti Studebaker XUV dipped in 2006 as the Avanti Motor Corporation appeared refocused in the sale of the classic Avanti car. Along with the Ford 4.6-liter V-8, a V-6 powered version as well as supercharged V-8 option were being touted. 2006 would also see the automaker relocate operations from Villa Rica, Georgia to a facility in Cancun, Mexico. The final Avanti models were sold in 2007 with the company behind the car being dissolved shorty afterwards.
While at best the Avanti Studebaker XUV would have enjoyed limited production as a niche luxury vehicle, major economic issues including years of high gas prices would have hindered sales even if Avanti Motor Corporation would have survived. These factors were enough to force the end of the Hummer brand and made the large sport utility vehicle category unattractive for a long time.
The one thing that this sport utility vehicle succeeded in doing was reuniting Studebaker and Avanti ahead of what is, so far, a drive into the sunset.
References:
ROCKCRAWLER.com - Avanti and General Motors Settle Studebaker Dispute
Comments
Post a Comment