Autoblog

2013 Ram 1500 ups the pickup ante with new V6, less weight

Zach Bowman — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Truck, Work, Ram

Ram is out to make both Ford and General Motors sweat with the Auburn Hills automaker's newest pickup, the 2013 1500. Debuting at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the half-ton pickup bows with less weight, an efficient new 3.6-liter V6 option and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Chrysler projects the V6 alone should help yield 20 percent better fuel economy over the old 3.7 lump, thanks in part to a start/stop system. While there are no solid EPA numbers as of yet, our estimations put the vehicle at around 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Throw in aerodynamic tweaks like an active shutter system that closes off the engine bay and a standard air-ride suspension that lowers the vehicle by as much as 1.2 inches for better efficiency, easier loading and load leveling and you have a force to be reckoned with.

The Pentastar churns out 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, besting the 3.7-liter V6 in the Ford F-150 by around three ponies. Chrysler has also increased the output of the optional 5.7-liter V8, from 390 hp to 395 and 407 lb-ft of torque. Engineers managed to free up the extra grunt by using an electronic power steering system in place of the old belt-driven unit. Interestingly enough, the V8 will also boast 20 percent better fuel economy thanks to an eight-speed automatic.

In addition, the new 1500 features a tweaked interior, complete with the company's excellent 8.4-inch UConnect touch screen interface. We love the system in vehicles like the Dodge Charger, and the tech should be right at home on the big pickup.

Chrysler also managed to trim a significant amount of weight from the 2013 Ram 1500. In V6 guise, the truck now uses aluminum control arms, an aluminum hood, a new bed and frame design as well as lighter bumpers for a combined weight savings of around 147 pounds over the previous generation. V8 models get away with a more modest trimming. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading 2013 Ram 1500 ups the pickup ante with new V6, less weight

2013 Ram 1500 ups the pickup ante with new V6, less weight originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickup makers reach pact with SAE on tow rating standards

Chris Shunk — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc.

The pickup truck towing capacity wars have been in full-blown Mortal Kombat-style battle mode for as long as we can remember. For years, it's gone something like this: Automaker A claims that its rig can tow 10,000 pounds, then Automaker B increases their truck's stated capacities to 10,500 pounds without changing a single component. And if you've ever wondered if all automakers test towing capacities in the same manner, well... they don't.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Society of Automotive Engineers will change practice that by the 2013 model year by implementing a new a standardized testing methodology. General Motors engineer Robert Krause, who chaired the SAE committee that set the new standard, said that the automakers involved "wanted our customers to know that 10,000 pounds of towing capacity means the same thing for all trucks."

This sounds like a plan that should have been hatched and executed long ago, but at least the deed is finally getting done. Toyota is already using the new standard with its Tundra (resulting in slightly lower tow ratings), while other major truckmakers will comply to the voluntary standard sometime in 2012. Nissan has stated that it will utilize the standard sometime in the future, but hasn't gotten specific with any details.

Pickup makers reach pact with SAE on tow rating standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickup truck becomes third vehicle to land in AZ family's pool [w/video]

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford

Ford F-150 crashes into James Feely's pool - Click above to watch the video after the break

A 32-year-old drunk driver missed a turn in Phoenix, Arizona in the wee hours of the morning and ended up crashing his Ford F-150 through a cinder block wall into James Feely's back yard, landing upside down in Mr. Feely's swimming pool. Feely and his wife were awakened by a shower of broken glass and bricks to discover the truck in their pool.

Feely went outside to see if he could help, sure the driver had perished. "My reaction was, 'Nobody lived through that.' About three-quarters of the cab of the truck was under water." The driver did survive, however, only to be charged with drunk driving by Phoenix police. Turns out the drunk driving charge was the least of his worries, as police discovered he was wanted in Scottsdale on a domestic violence/arson charge.

Luckily both the Feelys got through the ordeal without injury.

The kicker? This isn't something new for the Feelys. Last night's accident marks the second time someone in a pickup truck has crashed through their wall and into the pool. In another incident, a motorcyclist was killed when he hit the Feelys' wall. Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: azfamily.com]

Continue reading Pickup truck becomes third vehicle to land in AZ family's pool [w/video]

Pickup truck becomes third vehicle to land in AZ family's pool [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Fuel economy standards could add up to $15K to price of heavy-duty pickups

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Work, Diesel

It's no secret that today's crop of full-size heavy duty pickup trucks cost a pretty penny to purchase and operate. To wit, the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Mega Cab that we recently reviewed carried a sticker price of over $56,000. A large chunk of that asking price can be accounted for by the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine - largely responsible for the truck's massively impressive capabilities.

Of course, it's also going to cost quite a few Benjamins to keep that truck running on a steady diet of low-sulfur diesel fuel, and the Feds are considering some legislation that could potentially have a massive impact on both fuel consumption and the aforementioned bottom line... both positively and negatively, depending on your point of view. While we all want better fuel efficiency, we doubt many would be willing to front a staggering $15,000 surcharge on top of their already pricey work truck for the mileage benefits.

According to a new study by The National Academies, there are lots of ways to increase the fuel economy of a full-size HD pickup, some of which cost just a few hundred dollars. Others, such as adding a hybrid powertrain or switching from a gasoline-fed engine to a diesel, cost several thousand dollars each.

At present, truck manufacturers aren't required to meet any specific fuel mileage requirements. But that's soon to change, as the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation are drafting up a series of regulations for these types of trucks. Exactly what those regulations will entail - and, of course, how much added price they will require to meet - isn't yet known. Stay tuned, and check out PickupTrucks.com for more data from the study.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Fuel economy standards could add up to $15K to price of heavy-duty pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM working on new small truck

Zach Bowman — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Rumormill

The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon have never exactly been the sales successor to the S10 throne. While the original baby pickup from General Motors sold like Tastykakes at fat camp, the public has never exactly warmed to the newest generation of short beds. That fact has grown even more apparent in recent months - according to PickupTrucks.com, sales of the Colorado have fallen off 30 percent since last year. But the Colorado isn't alone - small truck sales have plummeted from their once lofty heights, thanks in part to their mediocre fuel efficiency, outdated designs and often surprisingly high price tags. These days, buyers who really need a truck tend to simply step up to a full-size and call it a day.

But word on the interwebs is that The General is legitimately considering cranking out another take on the small pickup - something that would offer vastly improved fuel efficiency, relatively small dimensions and pint-sized price tag. When can we expect the new truck to show up? Who knows, but it can't come soon enough for our tastes.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: GM working on new small truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Hyundai really considering full-size pickup truck?

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 08 May 2010 21:05:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Hyundai

Is Hyundai about to repeat the mistakes of Toyota and Nissan? PickupTrucks.com reports that Hyundai has been showing off a modified Dodge Ram pickup at some consumer clinics to gauge interest in such a product. This wouldn't be the first time the Koreans have looked down this road. A midsize pickup based on the new Kia Sorento had been considered before being killed off two years ago. Tackling the full-size truck market could be an even more perilous endeavor.

Nissan never made a significant dent in the big truck segment with the six-year-old Titan. The enormous resources that Toyota has poured into the development and production of the Tundra are considered by some analysts to be one of the causes of the automaker's recent spate of quality problems and recalls. While many of Hyundai's recent introductions have done well, not everything has been a hit. The Veracruz hasn't been particularly successful in the larger CUV segment and the Genesis Coupe, while getting good reviews, is still very much a niche player against the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Is Hyundai really considering full-size pickup truck? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 May 2010 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM may euthanize Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon small pickups

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Rumormill

2010 Chevrolet Colorado - Click above for high-res image gallery

The future of the small pickup truck market in the United States doesn't look good. A new global Ford Ranger is in the works, though we have good reason to doubt that will replace the model currently available in North America. For its part, Chrysler has plans to nix the Dodge Dakota next year, and new reports suggest that the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins may have their plugs pulled, as well.

In speaking with General Motors vice chairmain Bob Lutz, PickupTrucks.com asked about plans to kill off the two models, with Lutz responding, "It's uncertain at this point...They may well [go away]."

GM has not announced any official plans to update or kill off the Colorado and Canyon, but we won't be surprised if these two dated models meet that Great Car Crusher in the sky over the next couple of years.

Gallery: 2010 Chevrolet Colorado

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: GM may euthanize Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon small pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PickupTrucks.com calls out decade's 10 most significant trucks

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

We love ourselves a good top 10 list, and when talk turns from cars to trucks, there's nobody who's opinion we respect more than the brain-trust behind PickupTrucks.com. That said, we now present the Top 10 Significant Pickup Trucks of the Decade as chosen by the aforementioned truck nuts (no, not that kind) and AutoPacific.com.

Every major automaker that sells pickup trucks here in the United States is represented on this particular list, which only seems fitting in today's competitive landscape. Further, there's a truck for just about every need - no matter what size, towing power, seating capability or fuel mileage you are looking for, you'll find it offered here in the States... except perhaps for something really small.

Though it just hit the market at the very tail end of the allowable date range, we'll happily throw a vote in the direction of the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. It's truly unlike anything else ever offered for sale from a major automaker, and we're happy Ford had the guts to build it. That said, click here to read the complete list, then come back and let us know what you think.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

PickupTrucks.com calls out decade's 10 most significant trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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, New Car 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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