Autoblog

Mahindra maps out 'potential' U.S. dealer network for forthcoming small diesel pickup

Chris Paukert — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Work, India, Diesel, Off-Road

Mahindra 'potential' dealer network - Click above to enlarge

No, you're not looking at yet another voting map, or even a topographical depiction of the WalMarting of America (trust us, you don't want to see that). The image seen above is that of Mahindra's "dealership network." We're putting quotes on that because the Indian automaker says on its website that the dots represent only "potential" outlets for their forthcoming small diesel pickup trucks.

Even if the map hasn't been finalized (and doesn't have an associated time frame for each franchise coming on-line), the map is interesting because it illustrates widespread interest in the brand. Credit for that in part should go to the promise of a robust, cheap, and fuel-efficient small truck from a major global player - but it should be equally predictable because there are lots of showrooms sitting empty (or on their way to doing so) thanks to the downsizing of dealer networks associated with General Motors, Chrysler and other automakers.

We could have predicted widespread traction for the brand in regions like the Midwest and even the Northeast, but the concentration of likely franchises in Florida surprises us. Either way, we'll have to wait a bit longer to see just who finally ends up selling the automaker's TR20 and TR40 models - they are expected to go on sale in the first quarter of next year. Hat tip to Sunny B!

Gallery: Mahindra Pik-Up

[Source: Mahindra]

Mahindra maps out 'potential' U.S. dealer network for forthcoming small diesel pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Even without Dodge Ram, Ghosn says Nissan Titan will survive

Chris Shunk — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:51:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

When Dodge announced that it wouldn't be sharing its Ram platform with Nissan, we just kind of assumed that the Titan was going to go the way of the Do Do. Why? Because Titan sales are the suck. Nissan has only sold 15,393 copies of its largest truck through the first 10 months of the year. For perspective, Ford sold more F-150s in the first two weeks of October than Nissan has sold in 43 weeks. Last year wasn't much better either, as only 30,000 customers walked out of a Nissan dealer with a new Titan.

But if a report from Inside Line is to be believed, the Titan will live on. Renault/Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn reportedly told IL that "Titan will have a replacement, we are staying in the large pickup truck market." It makes a bit of sense that there will be another Titan given the fact that Nissan also uses the basic platform for the Infiniti QX56 and the Nissan Armada. But then again those portly SUVs aren't exactly flying off the shelf, either.

Speculation is that Nissan could be looking for an outside partner (or already have one) to collaborate on a new pickup. We're thinking one candidate could be Toyota. The only other Japanese automaker competing directly with the domestics in the U.S. half-ton pickup truck market, Toyota was expecting to produce 200,000 units per year of the Tundra when the it launched, but has sold only 66,000 through October. Teaming up with Nissan would help bring costs down, soak up extra production capacity and mitigate the risk inherent in competing against Ford, GM and Chrysler at what they do best.

Gallery: 2008 Nissan Titan

[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Even without Dodge Ram, Ghosn says Nissan Titan will survive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Knee-high tri-axle pickup by Air-Zenith is down and (not so) dirty

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Truck, Specialty

Air-Zenith custom pickup - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're not exactly sure what this used to be in its former life, but it all kinds of cool in its current iteration. Just knee-high to a Hobbit, this six-wheel convertible was parked in the shadow of Bigfoot and we almost tripped over it.

We were able to locate an Air-Zenith banner on the windshield, however, we couldn't find any other info. But really, what else do you need to know? Air-Zenith is the same group that dropped the drag pickup we saw at SEMA 2008. That one might have been quicker, but this one has a cool bike in the bed!

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Knee-high tri-axle AirXenith pickup truck

SEMA 2009: Knee-high tri-axle pickup by Air-Zenith is down and (not so) dirty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM kills plans for unibody pickup truck

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

GMC Denali XT concept - click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has reportedly cancel plans for a new unibody mid-sized pickup truck after finding it wouldn't get much better fuel economy than existing body-on-frame designs. In early 2008, GM showed off the GMC Denali XT concept at the Chicago Auto Show. That truck was actually based on the same Zeta rear wheel drive platform used for the Pontiac G8. And unlike the star-crossed G8 ST that never made it into showrooms, the intended production truck would have been derived front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive Epsilon II architecture like Honda's Ridgeline.

GM vice-chairman Tom Stephens told Automotive News the unibody design would not give much of an efficiency boost while losing capability that buyers were willing to pay a premium for. That means the trucks would have been less profitable, something GM is obviously trying to avoid. The current four-wheel drive Chevrolet Silverado pickup has an EPA rating of 14/20 mpg while the all-wheel drive Ridgeline only gets 15/20 mpg, so there's clearly something to this.

As a mid-sized truck, the unibody would have likely replaced the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, two vehicles that are getting long-in-the-tooth. It's not clear how GM plans to handle those products (or that segment) going forward.

Gallery: Chicago 2008: GMC Denali XT concept reveal

[Source: Automotive News - sub req'd]

REPORT: GM kills plans for unibody pickup truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas truck sales uptick seen as bellweather for auto sales?

Chris Shunk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota

2009 Ford F-150 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When auto sales began to circle the drain in 2008, no single segment was hurt more than pickup trucks. Sales were cut in half in many instances, pummeling the domestics from Detroit more often than their foreign competition. Truck sales even dropped in Texas - easily the world's largest market for all things with four wheels, a bed and a V8 engine. Some Texas dealers saw sales drop 30% or more in 2008 and 2009, but some signs point to a turning point for truck sales and perhaps even the auto industry as a whole.

In August, the Ford F-150 saw its first year over year sales increase in three years. Automotive News is reporting that dealers in Texas are reporting more fleet and retail traffic, and one ton trucks are beginning to move off the lot again. Analyst Erich Merkle with Autoconomy.com told AN that the increased truck activity in Texas could mean that the auto industry is on the back swing, and more importantly, perhaps the entire American economy.

As an example of how this could play out, Texas is home to many of our nations biggest ranches. Dealers often sell entire fleets of trucks to these massive ranches, and if they are asking for more trucks, the results will be noticeable in our monthly By the Numbers update. And if ranchers are buying trucks again, that means we're making more things and more money changes hands, which means the economy may be bouncing back to life.

We know it's a bit of a stretch to hang the entire economy on Texas truck sales, but more trucks usually means more building and more construction. We're not sure if that's a bellweather for success, but it can't exactly be a bad thing either.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

[Source: Automotive News - Subs. Req'd]

Texas truck sales uptick seen as bellweather for auto sales? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Work, Toyota

Still from 2007 Toyota Dealer Training clip - click above image to watch the video

Over the past couple of weeks, we've shown you the did-not-age-well 1989 Ford dealer training videos, and the completely laughable + hopeless late-Eighties Chevrolet dealer training clips. Interestingly, in the waning years of Ronald Reagan's America, the domestics weren't doing so bad. The Big Three still had over 70% of the U.S. market and sentiments like, "Mazda! Not in my parking lot" still existed in cities outside of Detroit. Fast-forward twenty years and, well, you know the story. Ford mortgaged the farm to keep the lights on while General Motors and Chrysler sought government shelter. Meanwhile, Toyota is the largest automaker in the world, bar none, though these days Volkswagen's nipping at their heels. And we'd bet that you've owned at least one "import."

Here we have a Toyota dealer training video from just two short years ago. In it, a Dan Cortez-style host tells a trailer-towing Tundra dealer/driver to "take off like a bat out of hell" and then engage the ABS (panic stop) with his hands off the wheel. And yeah, the Tundra is an impressive truck in the video. As the host says, "The domestics were asleep at the wheel." And you could make that argument in 2007. Too bad for Toyota that Ford came out with the 2008 F-150 and Dodge followed up with the 2009 Ram. Full video after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Toyota Tundra

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra

VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM, Isuzu recalling 185,000+ small pickups over faulty brakelights

Dan Roth — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

GM's midsize Colorado and Canyon pickups are being recalled, along with their Isuzu cousins, to replace a brake light switch that may be faulty. Nearly 186,000 of the pickups are affected by the problem, which could result in either no brake lights or brake lights that stay on.

The afflicted vehicles were either originally sold, or are currently registered in 14 states and territories, though a program to cover other locales will be swinging into effect soon. New parts are in the pipeline, but won't arrive until February 2010. in the interim, owners who have trouble with their trucks can get a free repair, and they will be required to return to have the new part swapped in when it becomes available. More information can be found at NHTSA's safercar.gov website. Check out the press release after the jump for more details.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading GM, Isuzu recalling 185,000+ small pickups over faulty brakelights

GM, Isuzu recalling 185,000+ small pickups over faulty brakelights originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen continues inscrutable naming practice with new Amarok pickup

Chris Paukert — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Hybrid, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen

2008 Volkswagen Concept Pickup - Click above for a high-res gallery

Remember when Volkswagen just named their cars for different winds? Scirocco, Jetta, Corrado, Santana - they all had a certain clean, sweeping quality about them, even if it wasn't immediately clear where the names came from. More recently, however, VW has gone further afield, invoking cryptic names like Touareg (a nomadic Saharan tribe) and Tiguan (Tiger + Iguana). Add this to the list: Amarok.

That's the official name for VW's forthcoming overseas market pickup truck. According to the automaker's press release, Amarok means "wolf" in the language of the hearty, frigid-dwelling Inuit. Alternatively, VW says the appelation "translates into 'he loves stones' in the languages spoken in South America." We'll have to take their word for it, but we can certainly see some sort of stoning at work here.

For its part, Volkswagen actually hasn't unveiled the production version of the Amarok yet, although it did display the fetching concept version (labeled simply as 'Concept Pickup') seen here at last September's IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, Germany, and a prototype example was even spotted running around the Nürburgring in April.

In any case, VW promises the Amarok will launch as a double-cab, four-wheel drive pickup, with a smaller single-cab variant to follow. Built in Argentina, the diesel pickup will hit South America early next year, with Central America coming on stream in the spring, followed by Russia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. As expected, North America isn't in the model's plans at this time. Check out the full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Volkswagen Concept Pickup

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen continues inscrutable naming practice with new Amarok pickup

Volkswagen continues inscrutable naming practice with new Amarok pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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37,000+ Dodge Ram pickups recalled over... faulty HVAC software?!

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Dodge

Dodge is recalling 37,407 Ram pickups from the 2009 model year to repair faulty software that controls the manual temperature controls (not the digital dual-zone temp controller).

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the system's faulty programming can render defrosting and defogging functions inoperable, which could impinge upon visibility and lead to a crash. The recall begins next month and dealers will reprogram the module at no cost.

Back in late March, Dodge also recalled some 72,000 new Ram trucks over a windshield wiper motor defect.

You can read the full text of the recall after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading 37,000+ Dodge Ram pickups recalled over... faulty HVAC software?!

37,000+ Dodge Ram pickups recalled over... faulty HVAC software?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac EXT owners make serious coin, spend lots of it on truck

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Cadillac, Lifestyle

Not surprisingly, owners of the most expensive pickup truck in America tend to have lots of money themselves. According to SEMA, 71% of Cadillac Escalade EXT owners make over $100,000 per year, and they also dole out plenty of coin for aftermarket improvements. While that little nugget of knowledge doesn't come as a shocker, the fact is that the average Cadillac Escalade EXT owner spends a whopping $5,814 to customize their wreath-and-crested blingmobile, which is twice as much as the next truck on the list, the Chevy Avalanche at $2,652.

Owners of the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra and Dodge Ram all add between $819 and $1,040 on accessories for their trucks, which might indicate that these purchases were often made to do real work. Of the compact and midsize pickup segment, owners of the Honda Ridgeline spent the most on their trucks at $1,441 on average per vehicle. Somewhat predictably, the inexpensive and long-running Ford Ranger brings up the rear with just $565 spent on improvements.

[Source: SEMA via PickupTrucks.com]

Cadillac EXT owners make serious coin, spend lots of it on truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rest in Pickup: Man buried in 1967 Chevrolet truck

Chris Shunk — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Chevrolet

Albert Dancy Jr. of Sutton, West Virginia told his family that when he passed away, he wanted to be buried in his 1967 Chevy pickup truck. On February 15, Mr. Dancy was unfortunately shot and killed in a domestic dispute, so his son Adam gave his father the burial he always wanted. Dancy, an avid hunter and fisherman, was laid to rest in full camouflage with his beloved pickup, an Old Timer pocket knife and a Remington rifle.

To ensure that the buried truck caused as little harm to the environment as possible, it was stripped of its engine and transmission, brake fluid and tires. Dancy's son said his father owned the truck for as long as he could remember, and that the unique burial was the last thing he could do for his dad.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Rest in Pickup: Man buried in 1967 Chevrolet truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4

Chris Shunk — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Truck, Ford, Reviews, Off-Road

2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Blue Oval delayed the introduction of its all-important 2009 Ford F-150 by two months late last summer. The company claimed it could save some cash by postponing the pickup's launch, but in the interim, the cost to fill up the F-150's biggie-sized tank was slashed in half. The delay couldn't have been better timed. Marketing North America's best-selling vehicle is an expensive endeavor to begin with, but add in the trepidation of $4-per gallon gasoline and an economy spiraling towards the floor, and there's no doubt that the F150's intended audience would've had a hard time plunking down the coin for a brand new pickup.

No doubt, Ford is relieved that gas prices dropped, but the sketchy fluctuations in the commodities market have changed the way this 106-year-old company looks at the truck business. One consequence of high gas prices has been the sharp drop in truck buying for recreational purposes, so Ford has marketed the new F-150 as the ultimate work truck. Labor-friendly features like an integrated trailer brake controller and pop-out side steps are winning buyers over, but will they be enough to pass muster in the Autoblog Garage? Hit the jump to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4

Continue reading Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4

Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ROUSH unveils liquid propane-powered Ford F-250

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Green, ROUSH

LPG has come to the masses massive, with ROUSH introducing a conversion for the Ford F-250. The changes are minimal: fuel tank and pump, stainless steel fuel lines, aluminum fuel rails and PCM calibration. They'll mean cheaper running costs but no loss of horsepower, torque or towing capacity. Depending on which conversion you choose, though, you could lose bed capacity: an under bed tank provides a 250-mile range, or a 62-gallon tank that goes in the bed means 500 miles of running.

The conversion costs $7,995, but you get a federal tax credit of $5,000 and some states offer additional credits. It can be purchased as a kit for home fitment or as a ROUSH-built vehicle. Both options carry a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. Ordering is open as of January 26 and deliveries are expected in the fall of this year. If you're interested in a medium-duty liquid gas burner, you can check out the exhaustive press release after the jump.

[Source: ROUSH]

Continue reading ROUSH unveils liquid propane-powered Ford F-250

ROUSH unveils liquid propane-powered Ford F-250 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota overtakes Dodge as third best-selling truckmaker in U.S.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota

As we all know by now, auto sales are down, dropping by around 18% in 2008. Pick-ups actually fared worse, posting a decline of 26.5% over the same period. Still, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado maintained their positions as the two best selling vehicles in the United States, and these two manufacturers managed to post incremental increases in total pick-up truck market share after all was said and done.

Those increases came directly from the competition, especially Dodge. The full-size Ram truck managed to see its piece of the pie dwindle by almost one full percentage point. Dodge's drop in overall market share allowed Toyota, for the first time ever, to grab the bronze medal behind Ford and General Motors. However, it's not particularly good news for the Japanese upstart, which owns just 8.52% of the market after seeing Tundra sales fall by over 30% in '08 and well short of its stated goal of 200,000 units per year. The last place trophy goes to Nissan, as its 34,000 sales represent a meager 2.11% of the market.

These market share figures include both full-sizers and their smaller brethren, and it was the Toyota Tacoma and the aging Ford Ranger that made the biggest upward moves among the mid-size pick-ups. Again, the biggest loser award goes to Dodge, which saw its Dakota sales fall nearly 65%, and its Mitsubishi Raider stablemate, which posted an insignificant 2,900 total sales.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Toyota overtakes Dodge as third best-selling truckmaker in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram HD goes for the Big Horn

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Chrysler, Dodge

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram HD

The 2009 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty was left to rumble on its own out back while the electric concepts took to the Chrysler stage at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. But the hulking oil-burner certainly deserves mention. Powerplants come in two flavors on the 2500 models: a 5.7-liter V8 with 355 hp and 395 lb-ft. of twist and twizzle, and the big daddy 6.7-liter Cummins with 350 hp and 650 lb-ft. The 6.7-liter diesel particulate filter reduces NOx emissions by 90%, meaning the car passes 2010 standards right now, and if you step up to the Ram 3500, you get the 6.7-liter standard - because obviously you go by the name Hoss.

Inside, the manual is no longer an option with the 5.7-liter, but Dodge wants to make that up to you with an available Infinity sound system, Internet connectivity with uConnect, and a power-sliding rear window. You'll want to make sure you choose your truck carefully, though - Dodge touts them as the longest lasting trucks out there: the 6.7-liter is expected to get you 350,000 miles before its first major overhaul. You can learn more than you ever wanted to know about Dodge Rams after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram HD goes for the Big Horn

Detroit 2009: Dodge Ram HD goes for the Big Horn originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Thai-market 2010 Ford Ranger MAX

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows

A cunning photographer has grabbed some shots of what appears to be production versions of the Thailand-bound Ford Ranger Max. While hardware and interior information are scarce at this point, it's clear that some of the details have been toned down from what was shown on the concept (namely the notches on the fender flares and the hood intakes). That said, the production compact pickup remains essentially true to what we saw at last Fall's Thailand Motor Expo, giving it a bed-load of personality. Wouldn't be a bad thing to bring over to America, eh, Ford? Thanks for the tip,Torrent!

Gallery: Ford Ranger Max Thai Spy Shots

Gallery: Ford Ranger Max Concept

[Source: Ford Club]

Spy Shots: Thai-market 2010 Ford Ranger MAX originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota will debut Tundra Work Truck Package in San Diego

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Toyota

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Toyota Tundra Work Truck Package

One glaring omission in the range of Tundra trim levels is a stripper model suitable for duty as a basic work truck. Toyota will change all that at this year's San Diego Auto Show (Dec. 31, 2008 to Jan. 4, 2009) when the 2010 Toyota Tundra Work Truck Package debuts. Like any good work truck, a Tundra with the Work Truck Package is decontented enough to guarantee that your employees don't enjoy the drive too much. All the chrome on the Tundra's exterior has been replaced with black plastic, including the front and rear bumpers and grille, the latter of which has been slightly revised with a two-bar design. The side view mirrors are only manually adjustable, the bench seat is upholstered in washable vinyl, the floor is rubber and the dash is all black plastic. Cruise control and remote keyless entry are also gone as standard features. Available on Regular and Access Cab models in standard and long bed configurations with your choice of a V6 or V8 engine, the Work Truck Package will lower the price of your Tundra by as little as $550 and as much as $665. While not exactly the most exhilarating debut this auto show season, Toyota no doubt sees the benefit of broadening the Tundra's appeal to businesses that get their hands dirty.

Gallery: Toyota Tundra Work Truck Package

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Toyota will debut Tundra Work Truck Package in San Diego originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Works Solutions gets priced, not exactly cheap but not bad

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Truck, Technology, Ford

Ford Works Solutions caters to the kinds of commercial builders and workmen who will buy trucks no matter what state the economy is in because of one simple fact: they need them. Its four main features -- Internet access with limited Office functionality, Tool Link, Crew Chief, and Cable Lock -- are meant to not only help owners and workers look after their trucks, but also look after the tools necessary to do their jobs. As usual, that kind of convenience is going to cost you.

You can get all four features installed for $2,815 on regular and Super Duty F-150s. To that cost you add the monthly charges: Crew Chief is $16 or $20 per month per vehicle for a minimum of three years; Internet through Sprint is either $25 or $50 per month plus taxes and fees; and LogMeIn, used to access the desktop back at the office, is an optional $50 per year. If you went for the full functionality of Works Solutions you'd spend about $80 after taxes on the service, which isn't exactly nothing, but not bad considering how much the extra knowledge is worth and how much tools cost nowadays.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ford Works Solutions gets priced, not exactly cheap but not bad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Dodge Ram earns 5 stars for crash safety

Chris Shunk — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Safety, Videos, Dodge

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram

The 2009 Dodge Ram was all aces in the latest round of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash testing, with the big D-wagon achieving five stars in both driver and passenger front crash ratings. The Dodge Ram follows the 2009 F-150 and Chevy Silverado as the only pickup trucks to score five stars for both the driver and passenger in a front end crash.

NHTSA determines crash-worthiness by driving cars and trucks into an immovable wall at 35 mph. A five star rating means that there's a 10% or less chance of serious injury. Our favorite part of any new crash test score is the accompanying video footage, and you can view Ram vs. Wall after the jump. The wall wins, but the Ram puts up a five-star fight.

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Continue reading 2009 Dodge Ram earns 5 stars for crash safety

2009 Dodge Ram earns 5 stars for crash safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What the...? Volkswagen considering Beetle-based pickup?

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Of all the wild-ass rumors we hear on a ~~weekly~~ ~~daily~~ hourly basis, this one has that special air of cow manure. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen is considering a pickup truck for the U.S. based off the second generation Beetle, which is due out around the turn of the decade.

The rationale behind this implausible idea stems from VW's goal to boost annual vehicle sales in the U.S. from its current 230,000 units to 1 million vehicle sales per year by 2018. Other derivatives of the new new Beetle could also include a crossover and a wagon.

Although the recently revealed VW Pickup Concept is only bound for markets outside the U.S. and Europe, a compelling case can be made for a light-duty truck for occasional haulers here in the States. But we somehow doubt that the U.S. consumers could warm up to a Beetle-based truck - nostalgia can only go so far.

[Source: Automotive News (sub. req.) via Pickuptrucks.com | Image: CargoFun]

What the...? Volkswagen considering Beetle-based pickup? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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