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The Hummer H2 enters its second generation for model year 2008, with key interior upgrades, some tweaks to the exterior, but no major changes to the styling of a vehicle that everyone either loves or loves to hate.

While its average fuel economy of about 11 miles per gallon makes the H2 a favorite target of some environmental activists, this vehicle still turns heads wherever it goes, and General Motors was careful not to change the exterior much because that’s what fans like the most about it.

The vehicle’s detractors chose to display their un-affection for the H2 in a rather childish way during a recent media preview of the 2008 model in Durango, Colo., according to a report in the industry weekly Automotive News.

The vehicles, lined up outside a hotel waiting for the visiting journalists to drive them, had been pelted with raw eggs overnight, the magazine said.

There are more mature ways to advocate better fuel economy, and there also are vehicles other than the Hummer that are fuel-inefficient – including many of the large pickups Texans favor.

But the Hummer’s unique styling and extremely loyal consumer following make it an easy mark for those who want to show their disregard for vehicles that use a lot of gas. With the higher fuel prices, Hummer sales are down about 30 percent this year, so the marketplace might be taking care of the issue on its own.

But there are legitimate uses for a vehicle such as this – even more so than some of the big pickups that are being used as routine family haulers.

For instance, it’s hard to find a vehicle anywhere that can roll over rugged terrain the way an H2 can, and for those of us who enjoy trail driving, the Hummer is a great option. GM says the most improvement in the new model comes inside, where it has been greatly refined to make the vehicle more carlike.

The more-carlike attributes are confined to the interior, though. The outside of the vehicle, including its awesome four-wheel-drive system, has been kept rugged, just the way H2 fans want it.

Power has been increased significantly, however. A new 6.2-liter V-8 engine has replaced the previous model’s 6.0-liter V-8, and horsepower has risen to 393 from the previous 325. Even with this boost, though, fuel economy remains the same.

GM does not publish fuel-economy figures for the H2 because its weight – over 6,000 pounds – exempts it from the EPA ratings requirements, at least for now.

But GM’s specifications sheet for the 2007 model shows it to have a cruising range of 367 miles and a fuel capacity of 32 gallons, which would mean an average fuel economy of 11.4 miles per gallon.

GM says it will offer a diesel-powered version of the H2 beginning perhaps as early as 2010. That one will offer better fuel economy.

The newest H2 comes in wagon and pickup versions, just as the previous model did. And the vehicles remain on the GMT800 chassis of the previous generation of GM’s full-size pickups; it has not been moved to the architecture of the redesigned light-duty pickups, the so-called GMT900 chassis.

Of course, for the H2, that truck chassis was radically altered, including making it wider so it would look like a Hummer.

The extreme width is one of the Hummer’s hallmarks, derived from the military Humvees that were the basis for the original civilian Hummer. That model, most lately called the H1, has been discontinued for lack of consumer interest.

The new engine turns out an impressive 415 foot-pounds of torque, up from 375 in the 2007 model. This allows an increase in maximum trailer-towing weight to 8,000 pounds, up from 6,500.

This engine is connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission. “Performance-optimizing engine technologies,” including variable valve timing, and the new transmission’s gear ratios helped make this model more efficient than its predecessor, GM said.

Inside, the H2 gets a new instrument panel, more-comfortable seats, a full third row of seating, and other refinements.

“The 2008 Hummer H2 represents a major step in the evolution of this iconic vehicle,” Hummer General Manager Martin Walsh said when he introduced the vehicle in April at the New York auto show.

“From performance to comfort to safety and overall refinement, the new H2 lineup delivers more of what customers expect from Hummer. They will be especially impressed with the new, more refined interior.”

The same interior is used in both the wagon and the pickup, which is known as the H2 SUT (sport utility truck). The only difference is that in the SUT, there is a small cargo bed in place of the third row of seats and enclosed cargo area of the wagon.

Other interior changes include new door panels, controls, a rear-seat climate control system, an overhead rear DVD entertainment system, and a variety of audio system offerings.

The company said the major complaint current or previous H2 owners had about the vehicle was that the interior was not as refined as it should be for the price – which begins at just under $55,000 for the 2007 model.

“The new interior delivers a refined, premium feel while maintaining Hummer’s trademark ruggedness,” interior designer Dennis Burke said in connection with the New York unveiling. “Everything from the flushness of the controls to the feel of the materials exudes craftsmanship in the H2’s new interior, while the fine details, like leather seat piping, create a consistent, premium interior design across the entire Hummer family.” Emphasis was put on increasing passenger comfort. One key change was to move the mounting of the front seat shoulder belts from the back of the seats to the sides of the vehicle. Also new are front safety belt pretensioners, designed to lock up more efficiently in an emergency.

The new instrument panel includes a six-gauge cluster that “features a more-refined appearance,” GM said. “Soft-touch materials and new, more tactile controls enhance the feeling of craftsmanship.”

Also redesigned was the center instrument stack that includes the controls for the climate-control and audio systems. Standard is a premium Bose audio system, and a surround-sound system is optional.

New air-conditioning and heating vents in the instrument panel were designed to move the air more efficiently to the second and third rows.

Other amenities include a rear-view camera system and heated windshield washer fluid. Also standard are GM’s OnStar and XM satellite radio.

Besides the engine and transmission, improvements in the drivetrain included a larger-capacity cooling system. Standard is a 3.73 rear axle ratio.

The transfer case for the four-wheel-drive system was upgraded, too, GM said. A new traction-control system is standard, and steering has been improved with a quicker turning ratio.

The engine also is quieter, thanks in part to new tuned air intake and exhaust systems, the automaker said.

For safety, there are roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows of seats, activated by a new rollover sensing system. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard as well.

Also new is electronic brake assist, the first time this has been used in a full-size GM truck or SUV. This system is designed to detect an emergency braking situation and apply maximum brake pressure to help stop the vehicle quickly and with more control, GM said. This is standard on all 2008 H2 models.

Always a nice feature is OnStar, which for 2008 offers optional turn-by-turn navigation.

The H2 retains its signature seven-slot grille, but the lower part of the grille has been enlarged to allow for more air to cool the bigger engine, GM said. The bumpers are now painted silver; they were black before.

No prices have been announced yet. The new model goes on sale in September.

Hummer’s biggest competitors are the Land Rover LR3 and Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LX 470 models.