Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: GM kills plans for unibody pickup truck]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/report-gm-kills-plans-for-unibody-pickup-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/report-gm-kills-plans-for-unibody-pickup-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/21/report-gm-kills-plans-for-unibody-pickup-truck/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caminoDenali XTDenaliXtel caminoElCaminoGMC DenaliGmcDenalimid-sizemid-size truckmid-size trucksMid-sizeTruckMid-sizeTruckspickuppickup truckpickup truckspickupspickuptruckpickuptrucksuni-bodyunibody pickupUnibodyPickupunit-body pickupUnit-bodyPickupMon, 21 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Dodge increases towing capacity of 2010 Ram on paper with no hardware changes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/dodge-increases-towing-capacity-of-2010-ram-on-paper-no-hardwar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/dodge-increases-towing-capacity-of-2010-ram-on-paper-no-hardwar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/dodge-increases-towing-capacity-of-2010-ram-on-paper-no-hardwar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



To paraphrase - Dodge: "Gosh, the Ram is even better than we thought." That's essentially the explanation given as to why the Ram's maximum towing capacity has been bumped from 9,100 pounds to 10,450 without any apparent hardware changes. Now fully coil-sprung, Chrysler initially said this new setup (as opposed to leaf springs) offers significantly better ride quality, and since research indicated that 80 percent of owners tow just 6,000 pounds or less, joining the fracas of half ton trucks that can drag around five tons or more wasn't the most important benchmark for the new Ram.

While the stated goal at the time of the new 2009 Ram's launch was to at least match what the previous Ram could do, another look at the latest SAE testing protocols for tow ratings suggested that more brawn had indeed been baked into the new truck. As such, a 2010 two-wheel drive longbed Ram with the 5.7-liter Hemi and 3.92 rear end gets a 1,500 pound bump in gross combined vehicle weight rating to 15,500 pounds. The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the absolute maximum the truck is guaranteed to handle without damage - passengers, payload, trailer and all.

There are other detail changes for 2010, such as trailer-towing mirrors in manual or power specification, an efficiency tweak to the airdam, available iPod integration and 22-inch wheels, along with an engine management revision to eke some more efficiency out of the truck by shutting off fuel during deceleration.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Dodge increases towing capacity of 2010 Ram on paper with no hardware changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodge ramdodge ram 1500dodge ram towdodge ram tow ratingdodge ram towingDodgeRamDodgeRam1500DodgeRamTowDodgeRamTowingDodgeRamTowRatingfull-sizefull-size pickupFull-sizePickuppickuppickupsram tow ratingram tow rating increaseram towingram towing increaseram truckRamTowingRamTowingIncreaseRamTowRatingRamTowRatingIncreaseRamTruckWed, 29 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota overtakes Dodge as third best-selling truckmaker in U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/toyota-overtakes-dodge-as-third-best-selling-truckmaker-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/toyota-overtakes-dodge-as-third-best-selling-truckmaker-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/toyota-overtakes-dodge-as-third-best-selling-truckmaker-in-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodgepickuppickup salespickup truckpickup truck salespickup truckspickupsPickupSalesPickupTruckPickupTrucksPickupTruckSalestoyotatruck salesTruckSalesTue, 13 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: HUMMER H3T]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/first-drive-hummer-h3t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/first-drive-hummer-h3t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/first-drive-hummer-h3t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for hi-res gallery of the HUMMER H3T

If HUMMER had a theme song, it'd probably be the Allman Brothers' Whipping Post -- the one that goes "Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel, like I been tied to the whipping post..." The brand has been the go-to effigy when something needs to burn on the altar of eco desecration. But HUMMER doesn't have a theme song, it has the tagline "Like No Other." It also has a new pick-em-up truck we had the chance to drive recently in the High Sierras: the H3T. Follow the jump to find out if it's another HUMMER like no other, and check out the gallery of hi-res images below.

Gallery: First Drive: HUMMER H3T

Continue reading First Drive: HUMMER H3T

First Drive: HUMMER H3T originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfirst driveFirstDriveh3h3th3t alphah3talphahummerhummer h3hummer h3tHummerH3HummerH3tpickuppickup truckpickup truckspickupspickuptruckPickupTruckstrucktrucksFri, 08 Aug 2008 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: VW "Robust" pickup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/spy-shots-vw-robust-pickup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/spy-shots-vw-robust-pickup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/spy-shots-vw-robust-pickup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Volkswagen pickup codenamed "Robust" has been caught testing again, this time in the U.S. They aren't too different from these spy shots, both sets showing that VW is not going for any kind of flash with its newest pickup. At one point, the regular cab version was speculated to have buttresses, but we'd be surprised if there was that much difference between it and the dual cab. This hauler is about nothing other than good, solid -- and probably cheap -- transportation. Even the name "Robust" will be changed by the time it's introduced, probably to something like Plain White Pickup. Thanks for the tip, Gavin!

[Source: Wheels24]

Spy Shots: VW "Robust" pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pickuppickup truckpickup truckspickupsPickupTruckPickupTrucksrobustvolkswagenvolkswagen robustvolkswagen robust pi...volkswagen robust tr...VolkswagenRobustVolkswagenRobustPi...VolkswagenRobustTr...vwFri, 25 Jul 2008 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota under spotlight for possible Tacoma sudden acceleration]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/toyota-under-spotlight-for-possible-tacoma-sudden-acceleration/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/toyota-under-spotlight-for-possible-tacoma-sudden-acceleration/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/toyota-under-spotlight-for-possible-tacoma-sudden-acceleration/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Audi went through it in the '80s. Jeep went through it a couple years ago. Other makers have been accused of it, and now it's Toyota's turn: the NHTSA is considering investigating Tacoma pickup trucks from 2004-2008 due to claims of unintended acceleration. In one instance, a man said he turned off his cruise control to exit the freeway, and the truck surged on him, forcing him to dodge a few vehicles -- even as he had his foot on the brake pedal.

Toyota says there is nothing wrong with the Tacoma's drive-by-wire system. The trucks that have been inspected have not shown the error codes Toyota would expect if the throttle and accelerator pedal were out of whack. The company wrote to the NHTSA and said, "Toyota believes that it is likely that many of the consumer complaints about the general issue of unwanted acceleration ... as well as many of the complaints about this subject that have been received by Toyota, were inspired by publicity."

We can't comment on the claims of unintended acceleration, as we have no idea if they are true or publicity driven. But we can wonder out loud why the brakes suddenly don't work. No matter what a car does -- even at full power -- the brakes should still do their job. After Audi's debacle, the NHTSA conducted a 2-year investigation of the issue and found nothing wrong with those cars, and everyone who sued Audi lost in court. Perhaps the folks in Tokyo should make time for a call to Ingolstadt.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Toyota under spotlight for possible Tacoma sudden acceleration originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentsinvestigationsnhtsapickuppickup truckpickup truckspickupsPickupTruckPickupTruckssafetytacomatoyotatoyota tacomaToyotaTacomaunintended accelerationUnintendedAccelerationTue, 10 Jun 2008 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[GM jacks up incentives on trucks and SUVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/gm-jacks-up-incentives-on-trucks-and-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/gm-jacks-up-incentives-on-trucks-and-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/gm-jacks-up-incentives-on-trucks-and-suvs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


click above image for a high-res gallery of the Chevy Tahoe 2-mode Hybrid

We've been waiting for General Motors to step up to the plate with its own incentives now that Ford has offered employee pricing on its F-Series trucks and Dodge has offered $2.99 fuel to go along with its various incentives for the Ram. It seems that GM has finally anted up and increased the incentives for the Silverado, Avalanche and Sierra trucks, along with the Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade and Suburban. The pickups all get $2,000 in customer cash to go along with an extra $3,000 if you already own a GM product for a total of $5,000 total off the sticker price. Those shopping for an SUV will even get an extra grand. In what may be an even larger sign of the times, for the first time ever GM's hybrid Tahoe and Yukon get $4,000 off, but only if you already own a product from the General.

If you want to get in on the savings and don't mind guzzling some gas, you have until June 7 to make it to your nearest Chevrolet or GMC dealer. No rush, we doubt there'll be a line.

[Source: Bloomberg]

GM jacks up incentives on trucks and SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gm truck suv incentivesGmTruckSuvIncentiveshybrid incentivesHybridIncentivespickuppickup incentivespickup truckpickup trucksPickupIncentivespickupspickuptruckPickupTruckssuvsuv incentivesSuvIncentivessuvstruck incentivesTruckIncentivesTue, 10 Jun 2008 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[World's Fastest Diesel Pickup controversy settled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/02/worlds-fastest-diesel-pickup-controversy-settled/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/02/worlds-fastest-diesel-pickup-controversy-settled/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/02/worlds-fastest-diesel-pickup-controversy-settled/#commentsFiled under:

The Great Pickup Controversy has been settled. It was reported last week that the Rocket Ranger, from SPAL USA, crossed the Bonneville Salt Flats at 215.091 miles per hour. In doing so, SPAL claimed it set the top speed world record for a pickup truck. However, back in 2002, Gale Banks Engineering's Project Sidewinder Dakota ran the flats at 217.306. So SPAL actually didn't get the world record, yet because of their 215+ run they now hold the national top speed title. Why? Because as in boxing, there are multiple bodies that ignore one another and crown their own champions. The FIA certifies world records, the Southern California Timing Association certifies national records, and neither body acknowledges the other's certifications. SPAL got its from the SCTA, Banks from the FIA. Banks has congratulated SPAL, but wants to unify the titles with its own run in the future. So it ain't over. Stay tuned.

[Source: PickupTruck.com]

World's Fastest Diesel Pickup controversy settled originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonnevillepickupsrecord holdersRecordHoldersrecordssalt flatsSaltFlatsSun, 02 Sep 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Canada's eco-Auto program backfiring, pickup sales increase]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/canadas-eco-auto-program-backfiring-pickup-sales-increase/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/canadas-eco-auto-program-backfiring-pickup-sales-increase/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/canadas-eco-auto-program-backfiring-pickup-sales-increase/#commentsFiled under: ,



A new program to urge Canadian drivers to downsize to more fuel-efficient vehicles from large gas-guzzling SUVs has had the unwarranted effect of lifting sales of pickup trucks. The new ecoAUTO Rebate Program offers a rebate ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 for people who pick up certain fuel-efficient vehicle, but slaps a $4,000 excise tax on fuel-heavy SUVs and sports cars.

Of course, there are many out there who are forced to use heavy pickups for their businesses, so to appease them, the Government exempted the excise on pickups. According to research released by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, the program has been driving up sales of new pickup trucks since its introduction in March as a result. New car-buyers who previously wanted an SUV are now switching to pickup models. Take Ford's Ranger, sales are up 18% for the first seven months of the year, and that trucklet ain't exactly a spring chicken.

Things aren't expected to change anytime soon because the Government isn't about to admit it made a mistake. Now, where have we heard this before?

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

Canada's eco-Auto program backfiring, pickup sales increase originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CanadaecoAutoecoAuto programEcoautoProgrampickuppickupstrucktrucksTue, 21 Aug 2007 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Pickuptruck.com concludes 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout... who won?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/10/pickuptruck-com-concludes-2007-heavy-duty-shootout-who-won/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/10/pickuptruck-com-concludes-2007-heavy-duty-shootout-who-won/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/10/pickuptruck-com-concludes-2007-heavy-duty-shootout-who-won/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



In Parts 1 and 2 of his 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout, Mike Levine and his cohorts from Pickuptruck.com compared the acceleration of gas three-quarter ton and diesel one-ton pickups from Dodge, Chevy/GMC and Ford on flat surfaces, both unloaded and loaded with 10,500-lb trailers. For the third and final report, however, Levine introduced grades of 7% and 15% to the equation.

The results were surprising, and really had the most influence on Pickuptruck.com's final conclusions. We won't spoil the dramatic tail of each hill climb at Ford's Michigan Proving Grounds, but the 2007 Ford F-250 with its 6.8L Triton V10 was particularly impressive in the gasser category, and as anyone who has driven one would expect, the 2007 Chevy Silverado 3500 and its 6.6L Duramax diesel/6-speed transmission combo proved overly dominant among the oil burners. That said, the conclusions are only half the story, as Pickuptruck.com follows each truck through every gear as they climb their grades. These rigorous tests brought every truck's weakness, which were glaring in some cases, as well as their strengths.

Click the Read link below to read the conclusion to the 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout and learn once and for all what pickup these guys would park in their garage.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Pickuptruck.com concludes 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout... who won? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevydodgeduramaxfordhaulingheavy dutyHeavyDutypickupsRAMshootoutsuper dutySuperDutytowingtrucktrucksTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Truck pr0n: 2008 Ford Super-Duty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/18/truck-pr0n-2008-ford-super-duty/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/18/truck-pr0n-2008-ford-super-duty/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/18/truck-pr0n-2008-ford-super-duty/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image to view high-resolution gallery with 35 new pics

We want a 2008 Ford Super Duty truck. Badly. And the hell of it is, we really don't need one at all. It's just that after seeing the things up-close and in person at NAIAS last week, we can't help but think that the massive, ultra brawny-looking top-tier Fords are just about the coolest thing since the Atari 2600 we got for Christmas when we could count our age using just the fingers on our two hands.

The top-line F-450 has a maximum towing capacity of 24,000 pounds. Excluding Eric, who actually uses his truck to do truck-like things, the most we'll tow on a semi-regular basis is the rented log splitter from Home Depot. With that in mind, the towing capacity of the F-450 causes us to create a mental image of one of the beastly machines pulling a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier through the Panama Canal. (Yes, we're exaggerating. Don't blow our fantasy here, OK?)

The Super Duty runs on premium-grade T85, a blend of 85% ground up Toyota Tundra and 15% pure alcohol. Okay, not really. But admit it --- you almost believed that, for such is the level of its sublime badassedness. If we had one of these, we'd go actively looking for stumps to pull. Or maybe a whole tree. Or maybe an entire forest in one fell swoop.

For now, though, we're simply going to ogle our new gallery of high-resolution Super Duty Truck pr0n that Ford just released. If you'd like to know what the trucks are really capable of, the full press release from Ford is included after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Super-Duty

Continue reading Truck pr0n: 2008 Ford Super-Duty

Truck pr0n: 2008 Ford Super-Duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pickupssuper dutySuperDutytrucksThu, 18 Jan 2007 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Dodge's new diesel debuts at Texas State Fair]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/02/dodges-new-diesel-debuts-at-texas-state-fair/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/02/dodges-new-diesel-debuts-at-texas-state-fair/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/02/dodges-new-diesel-debuts-at-texas-state-fair/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Texas State Fair was the location of another big truck announcement last week when Dodge announced its new Cummins turbo-diesel engine for the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500. Enlarged to 6.7 liters from 5.9 through increases in both bore and stroke, the new inline-six turbodiesel now boasts 350 horsepower and 650 ft-lbs. of torque, all while meeting stricter diesel emissions standards for 2007. The engine also features an optional exhaust brake function that improves braking under heavy towing situations, a common feature of big rigs and large motor coaches.

The new power ratings makes the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel competitive with new powerplants from both Ford and General Motors, each of which has also announced new or substantially upgraded diesel motors for 2007 and beyond.

Follow the jump to see how each automaker's new diesel compares with the others.

[Source: Dodge]

Continue reading Dodge's new diesel debuts at Texas State Fair

Dodge's new diesel debuts at Texas State Fair originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Oct 2006 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cumminsdieseldodgeheavy dutyheavy-dutyHeavyDutypickupsramtrucksturbodieselMon, 02 Oct 2006 06:57:00 EST<![CDATA[General Motors and Isuzu to build pickups together]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/13/general-motors-and-isuzu-to-build-pickups-together/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/13/general-motors-and-isuzu-to-build-pickups-together/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/13/general-motors-and-isuzu-to-build-pickups-together/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

General Motors and Isuzu Motors Ltd. will get together for another joint venture to start developing new pickups together for emerging markets.  The JV, called LCV Platform Engineering Corp., has worked together successfully before on pickup development and production, and despite GM having sold off much of its Japanese investments (Isuzu, Suzuki, Subaru, etc.), the company says the work it has done with Isuzu to develop and produce pickups should continue due to its success in the past.

LCV Platform Engineering Corp. is a 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu based in Fujisawa, Japan. The arrangement and accompanying facilities should be ready to go in September of this year.

[Source: Associated Press via the Detroit Free Press]

General Motors and Isuzu to build pickups together originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>isuzujapanjoint ventureJointVentureJVpickupsTue, 13 Jun 2006 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[GM to offer Cinch Jeans editions of Kodiak and TopKick pickup trucks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/gm-to-offer-cinch-jeans-editions-of-kodiak-and-topkick-pickup-tr/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/gm-to-offer-cinch-jeans-editions-of-kodiak-and-topkick-pickup-tr/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/gm-to-offer-cinch-jeans-editions-of-kodiak-and-topkick-pickup-tr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

General Motors and Monroe Truck Equipment are teaming up with "western" clothing manufacturer Cinch Jeans to offer special editions of the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick pickup trucks.

Starting with a 4500-series GM medium-duty vehicle that's a significant step above the typical one-ton "dually" pickup, Monroe adds a pickup bed and other creature comforts to create what many feel is the ultimate pickup truck. If that's not enough, though, the Cinch Jeans edition brings Monroe's new "So-Low" air suspension that drops the truck four inches for easier ingress/ egress and trailer hook-up. The sound system is upgraded with MTX loudspeakers, and a DVD system with a 15" flip-down monitor is standard. Also included are heated seats covered in "distressed" leather, and plenty of Cinch logos so everyone knows just how serious you are about your cowboy lifestyle. A Brett Boakius edition will also be offered, but we don't know who he is (apparently he's a rodeo rider, but that's a sport we fail to follow on a regular basis).

Admittedly, we here at Autoblog are a bit uncomfortable with the idea of driving around in any special edition of a big truck that has a textile tie-in. Well, maybe we'd make an exception for any truck manufacturer who joined up with Carhartt.

The full press release is posted after the jump.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM to offer Cinch Jeans editions of Kodiak and TopKick pickup trucks

GM to offer Cinch Jeans editions of Kodiak and TopKick pickup trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 May 2006 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4500Chevy Truckscommercial trucksGMCKodiakMonroe Truck EquipmentpickupsTop KickThu, 11 May 2006 19:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Two steps forward for Ford, one step way back for two Ford plants]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/16/two-steps-forward-for-ford-one-step-way-back-for-two-ford-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/16/two-steps-forward-for-ford-one-step-way-back-for-two-ford-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/16/two-steps-forward-for-ford-one-step-way-back-for-two-ford-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mark Fields revealed last week during his update speech detailing Ford's progress with its "Way Forward Plan" that two Blue Oval plants will be idled in 2008. The two plants affected include the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, MN and the Norfolk Assembly Plant in Virginia.

One word can sum up why these plants were chosen to be idled: inflexibility. Both were built in 1925 around the time dirt was invented. Though the Norfolk plant assembles the F-150, the best selling vehicle in history that's on pace to sell a record 900,000 units for the third year in a row, Ford realized that flexible manufacturing at fewer plant sites could maintain its full-size truck production. The Twin Cities plant, however, was betrayed by its own product - the Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series small pickups. Ranger sales are down 15.9 in the first quarter and the aged trucks haven't received a major redesign since 1992 (MY1993).

The idling (read: closing) will affect 4,318 hourly and salaried workers. Ford did say that it would reveal its plans surrounding a Ranger replacement closer to the time the Twin Cities plant goes dark in 2008.

Follow the jump for some additional stats and a history of production for each plant.

[Source: Ford]
[Photo: AP Photo/Janet Hostetter]

Continue reading Two steps forward for Ford, one step way back for two Ford plants

Two steps forward for Ford, one step way back for two Ford plants originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Apr 2006 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>B-SeriesF-150MinnesotaNorfolkpickup truckspickupsPickupTrucksRangerSt. PaulSt.PaultrucksVirginiaSun, 16 Apr 2006 07:04:00 EST