Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge Hornet concept
Besides the introduction of the Dodge Challenger, there has been very little good news coming out of Chrysler lately. Sales are down 22% for the year due to a lineup that’s still heavy on trucks and SUVs, but there may be some help on the way as soon as 2009. Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli has hinted that a fuel efficient new vehicle(s) could debut next year, and platform sharing with other automakers would be behind the quick turn-around. Nardelli says the Auburn Hills-based automaker has re-prioritized its capital in an effort to quickly get to market the fuel-efficient vehicles that the market demands. Debuting even a single vehicle that’s more fuel-efficient than anything else in the Chrysler lineup would likely have a big effect in light of the fact that its brands offer some of the least fuel-efficient lineups in the industry.
Nardelli didn’t give any details as to which vehicle could arrive ahead of schedule, but speculation is that the Dodge Hornet is on the short list. The handsome Hornet (if it looks like the concept) will be based on the Nissan Versa small car platform, and was originally slated to arrive in Dodge guise in 2010. Chrysler is also rumored to be working on alliances with Tata, Fiat, and Chery, and each automaker has plenty of small, efficient vehicles at its disposal. None of those automakers has a presence in the U.S., though, so a quick turnaround on a platform that hasn’t been properly crash tested doesn’t seem likely.
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The Toyota Land Cruiser has been on the road for more than 27 years, and amassed more than 400,000 miles on its odometer.
In the past three months, it has endured a broken engine mounting, ruptured handbrake cable, broken cross-shaft, damaged power piston and more than a few cosmetic blemishes.
Time to head to the dealership, right?
For Emil and Liliana Schmid, not even close. While driving the 1982 Land Cruiser FJ60 over the past 27-and-a-half years, the Swiss couple has gone through 166 flat tires, 138 spark plugs, 54 shock absorbers, 31 batteries and 22 air filters.
The couple, which embarked on a worldwide travel extravaganza in 1984, hasn’t stopped, and neither has their Land Cruiser. They’ve ridden it through 172 different countries and logged 413,654 miles. The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized them and their vehicle for the longest travel journey, the most miles, and the most countries visited in a single car.
The journey began as a one-year escape from his job as a software developer and hers as a secretary, but it quickly spiraled into one without a return date. So far, they’ve parked the Land Cruiser near Egyptian pyramids and Australia’s Ayers Rock. And everywhere in between.
They’ve been on the road for 9,493 days, according to the meticulously kept statistics on their website, consumed 43,497 gallons of gas and been behind the wheel for 18,482 hours.
Truth be told, they pondered replacing their Land Cruiser once. But after a spirited debate in 2006, they found a place to fix the original in the town of Miri on the island of Borneo, and haven’t regretted the decision one bit.
Thinking about taking an epic journey like the Schmids? We’ve got a few cars that we think will serve you very well while you see the world.
MSRP: $77,955
Given how much success the Schmids have experienced with their 1982 Land Cruiser, we have to recommend the 2013 model.
The Toyota Land Cruiser remains at the top of the class when it comes to luxury and off-road capability. It provides legendary durability and reliability thanks to Toyota’s impressive level of quality control. A 381-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission sends power to the four-wheel drive system. Driving at low speeds on rough or steep terrain, the Crawl Control system automatically controls the vehicle’s engine and brakes which allows the driver to focus on steering
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[Source: Detroit News]