The paper deals with the numerical simulation of the elastic-viscoplastic deformation and localization behavior of metals. The model is based on a generalized macroscopic theory taking into account sensitivity to hydrostatic stress and irreversible dilatant deformation behavior observed in experiments. Hence, particular attention is focused on the introduction of an equivalent stress measure which is based on a generalized I 1 -J 2 criterion to be able to simulate numerically the effect of hydrostatic stress on the viscoplastic flow properties of metals. Corresponding computational aspects are discussed in some detail. Finite element analyses of large strain elastic-rate-dependent plastic problems involving severe localization will be presented, and the influence of various model parameters on the deformation and localization behavior will be discussed.