Recent Comments:
I want my FPV: Super sedans hit the desert in new TV spot {Autoblog}
Jul 5th 2008 5:12AM The I6 is a superb engine, it has massive amounts of torque from very low revs (even at 1300rpm it can produce most of its torque), and is a very flat torque curve up to its maximum.
Unfortunately, they are going to stop making the I6 and import the Duratec 3.5 for it instead. I can't imagine the utes with the 3.5 being able to have a 1 tonne payload and still tow 2.5 tonne, I reckon it would probably overload the 3.5. Ford should get their priorities straight and update the I6 to meet the emission standards, given that the I6 doesn't have all of the fancy stuff the Duratec does it does an exceptional job. I'd love to see an aluminium I6 with updated heads, not that duratec crud. As far as economy goes, an updated say 3.3 I6 could be more economical than most of the 4's out there, seeing people with 4 cylinder cars have to drive them hard to get anywhere. The smaller I6 (there used to be a 3.3L version years ago) would be much more efficient as a replacement for larger 4's.
A performance car could be a turbo'd 3.3L I6, it would still be fast! and be economical. Make a mid sized car around that, something which is more comfortable than a small car to drive, able to sit 5 people if needed (although not as well as a large car), and have a 240KW turbo 3.3L... Yes please!
Unfortunately Ford won't do that.
Pickuptrucks.com performs Ultimate Sh-Ute-Out {Autoblog}
May 20th 2008 2:21PM The Ford 5.4 engine is imported, and had come in 3 variants in older models. The first was essentially straight from the US (SOHC), the second was a DOHC model and the hand build one is a QOHC (Quad Cam) engine. The latter two are higher tech than the GM engine, higher tech doesn't necessarily mean more efficient (I find both the Gen IV and the 5.4 Ford engine could be so much better).
I'd like to point out the power figures of the current 6 cyclinder engine compared to the 'higher tech' Duratec. Not only does the current 6 cylinder produce more power, it produces truckloads more torque! The current 6 cyclinder engine max Torque is around 3800rpm, however its a very flat torque curve from around 1800rpm. The 6 cylinder easily handles towing a combined 3.5 tonne load in the normal utes (over 1 tonne in the tray and towing 2.3 tonne) which I was a passenger (and also drove for a short while) a couple of years ago in the older model Falcon Ute. It actually felt the engine could handle so much more, and this is something that when they bring in the Duratec you will no longer be able to do!
Ford recalling 605,000 full-size trucks {Autoblog}
May 14th 2008 3:53PM If the vacuum hose becomes disconnected the engine braking performance will be greatly reduced!... but if it becomes disconnected you'd be 'lucky' if the engine were running at all!
Ford shows the SVT Raptor to dealers {Autoblog}
Apr 10th 2008 11:55PM ah ok! Still I don't understand why they need to be so big for more power, especially with a 'new' engine. If they used direct injection for even more efficiency they should be able to well and truly trump even 420hp with an engine that 6.2L. I'm curious why there's love for big engines, like 6.2L, 427CU etc etc, over smaller more refined engines - smaller as in 5L variants etc. There's nothing a smaller variant can't do the big one can, and if its towing capacity thats the argument, its true that a bigger engine is better in theory, but the towing capacity of a 6L engine stress wise would far outweigh the capabilities of the car in which the engine is used in! The downside of the bigger engine is more weight, so its actually a disadvantage having an old tech 6.2L, like GM uses thats still pushrod port injection, over a much more powerful 5.xL QOHC direct injection.
Ford shows the SVT Raptor to dealers {Autoblog}
Apr 10th 2008 8:11AM It would have to produce more than 290kw 386hp, thats what the current Falcon GT in Australia produces, thats only the BOSS 5.4L (quad overhead cam mind you). Thats being updated shortly. A modified version of this available that has 330kw
The 6.2L going by this should produce 443HP... (520hp for the special version)
VIDEO: Pontiac G8 invades Spy Hunter, circa 1983 {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 10:56PM Really? Thats a good thing then! Do you know what model of Commodore suspension they're using, there's different tunings depending on the spec level. The Clubsport has a very firm suspension whereas the Commodore has suspension designed for comfort.
What about global cooling? {BloggingStocks}
Mar 14th 2008 10:52PM Global warming is a trend, it doesn't mean you can't still have the coldest Winter on record! Some parts of the world will actually cool down (to a certain point) due to increased precipitation and resultant evaporation which has a cooling effect.
There's also natural cyclic events that play a very large part in global temperatures, one of these at the moment is the La Nina. Whilst it may be true that America has had a cool Winter, where I am in Adelaide (Australia) we've just had the longest running heatwave (temperatures above 95F) for any Australian capital on record for any month, and it won't be over for another couple of days! This has occurred in March, where January is normally the hottest month. So far this month the average temperature has been 11C (20F) above normal for March!
VIDEO: Pontiac G8 invades Spy Hunter, circa 1983 {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 3:54PM Great ad! The suspension probably is soft though, something that I see in most American cars. The suspension on the Commodore for which its based looks much better, and the HSV models are even firmer.
The few American cars we have seen over here in Aus have all been terrible in terms of suspension (let alone build quality issues). The Ford Taurus was here for a while, that was disgustingly soft. Owners of the Ford Explorer here had to upgrade their suspension due to stability issues and being way too bouncy on rough roads. It was later fixed as a modification for the models here, although it didn't do too well due to the disgusting performance of the engines, especially in the base model.
Even the Chrysler 300C looks too soft, I was driving behind one the other day and it looked terribly uncomfortable bouncing all over the place, how that is more comfortable I'll never know!
I would have liked the engine to have been modified, and not just a direct American import version of the engine. I can't understand why such old technology is being used in the engine when its capable of producing so much more power with possible even less fuel usage (direct injection, Twin cam instead of OHV etc. etc.)
On a separate note, its disappointing the 4.0L straight six will no longer be made for the Falcon here, and instead using the American Duratec V6. The Duratec has at least 16 percent less torque, and produces it at 3000rpm more! bleh. The 4.0L straight six has an almost flat torque curve from 1900rpm, and in fact... at 1900rpm it has more torque than the Duratec which produces it maximum torque at what, 6500rpm!
Real production Pontiac G8 spied, new concept logo ditched {Autoblog}
Sep 2nd 2007 3:51AM I wonder just how many comments on here are a true perspective, and not just because the person is anti-GM or something else.
Looking at many American cars they're a lot more plain than this vehicle. Someone was commenting on the size of the car, and calling it a mid-size vehicle from comparing its length to other cars. I'm not sure whether those figures are correct or not, but what I do know is that its definately a full size family car. We have all the vehicles in the list in Australia, we did have the Taurus for a short time in the late 90's but most ended up at the wreckers within a couple of years because of disgusting build quality that made them fall to bits.
Anyways, the car is actually more roomy than the Avalon, definately much bigger than the Camry or Honda Accord. Its not just about the length of the car, but how effectively the space is used. The Commodore (Pontiac G8) makes very good use of space, and has a roomier cabin and boot space than the so called 'larger' vehicles on that list.
When the disgusting joke of a vehicle the Ford Taurus was sold here - they're still available second hand but why would anyone want one is a mystery, the equivalent models in the Falcon and Commodore had similar size stats to the current models, and yet comfort wise they were definately had a larger 'feel' than the Taurus. Looking at some of the pics, you can see the length isn't efficiently used. They seems to have a bumber that sticks out which serves no purpose except to add to its length for example.
El Camino may return, but it won't be a Chevy! {Autoblog}
Aug 26th 2007 7:00PM Wonder if they keep it just as a sports or fashion model - and ruin the suspension and make it soft and horrible, or keep the suspension as the same for toughness.
Wonder if they're going to bring in the one tonne work ute, which has a removable tray based on the chassis (instead of having the normal tray as in the pic) on the back and different suspension.
Yes, the one tonne work ute can actually have one tonne in the tray, I've seen a lot more that that, but thats what its designed for. Looking at most of the American 'truck' vehicles, they only take half a tonne.
