Archive for December, 2009
Ford’s New 5.0-liter V-8 Debuts in the 2011 Mustang GT
Posted on 27. Dec, 2009 by admin.
Ford’s all-new 5.0-liter (302 cubic-inch) V-8 is finally official. Yay! For now, it’s only confirmed for the 2011 Mustang GT but all signs still firmly point to the 5.0 replacing the 4.6-liter V-8 and 5.4-liter V-8 engines in the F-150 by 2011.
Inside the Mustang’s engine bay, the 5.0-liter V-8 is rated at 412 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and produces a very respectable 390 pounds-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm.
For more information, check out the full story from our car-loving colleagues at KickingTires.
[Source: KickingTires]
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2011 Ford Mustang GT at 2010 Detroit Auto Show
Posted on 27. Dec, 2009 by admin.
- Competes with: Chevrolet Camaro SS, Dodge Challenger R/T
- Looks like: Ford has built a V-8 engine that will make enthusiasts drool on their shirts
- Drivetrain: 412-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
- Hits dealerships: Spring 2010
The reshaping of the Ford Mustang's powertrain offerings continues with the debut of a new V-8 engine for the 2011 Mustang GT. It's rated at 412 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and produces a tire-melting 390 pounds-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm. The introduction of this new V-8 helps separate the uplevel GT from the base Mustang, which recently received a new 3.7-liter V-6 rated at 305 hp, just 10 hp shy of the outgoing Mustang GT. Pricing information for the new GT hasn't been released.
The GT's new V-8 also has a displacement of 5.0 liters, a hallowed engine size for Mustang enthusiasts that was enshrined in muscle car history with the application of “5.0″ badges on the sides of previous Mustangs. Those badges return for 2011, replacing the “GT” lettering on the front fenders. Expect Mustang fans of a certain age to stop and stare when they see them. Pop the hood and more ogling is likely to ensue, as the new V-8 is a pretty engine.
In developing the all-aluminum 5.0-liter V-8, Ford paid particular attention to airflow into the engine. It features a composite intake manifold, and the alternator has been moved out of the valley between the cylinder banks for enhanced downward air movement. Other performance components include stainless-steel exhaust headers and a forged steel crankshaft. The engine weighs only about 10 pounds more than the outgoing 4.6-liter V-8, according to Mike Harrison, V-8 engine programs manager, but it makes 97 more hp. Ford isn't revealing what kind of zero-to-60-mph performance the new GT will offer, but it expects to have figures closer to when the GT goes on sale in the spring.
The dual overhead cam engine also features variable intake and exhaust valve timing, which Ford calls Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, or Ti-VCT. Ford says the system improves performance and gas mileage.
Despite the big bump in horsepower, Ford estimates that the 2011 Mustang GT's fuel economy will match or exceed the previous GT. The automaker claims models with the six-speed manual transmission will get 16/24 mpg city/highway — same as the 2010 Mustang GT — while those with the six-speed automatic should achieve 17/25 mpg as opposed to 17/23 mpg for the automatic-equipped 2010 Mustang GT. Premium gas is required to achieve the GT's performance figures; you can use regular gas, but then output is closer to 402 hp.
Part of the credit for the fuel economy figures goes to the six-speed transmissions, which replace the five-speed ones in the 2010 Mustang GT. I was a little disappointed to learn that the six-speed manual has “skip-shift,” a fuel-saving provision that forces the shifter from first to fourth gear under modest acceleration. It's an annoying feature in a muscle car, though one that gear heads will find a way to disable.
Though the 5.0-liter V-8 is the big news for the Mustang GT, the car receives some other changes for the 2011 model year, including an electric power-steering system, a new rear lower control arm and revised spring rates and dampers. The GT will also offer a Brembo brake package that features large brake discs and calipers lifted from the Shelby GT500, 19-inch alloy wheels and summer tires. On the inside, the Mustang GT gets illuminated vanity mirrors, a universal garage door opener and a message center.
The Mustang GT is one of our favorite muscle cars because of its lively, fun-to-drive nature, and despite a significant horsepower disadvantage it beat a Chevy Camaro SS and a Dodge Challenger R/T in a recent Cars.com comparison test. We can't wait to test the new 5.0-liter V-8.
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The Top 10 Concept Trucks of the Decade
Posted on 24. Dec, 2009 by admin.
With the end of 2009 just a few days away and the North American International Auto Show set to kick off the next ten years of automotive progress in mid-January, now is the perfect time to take a look back at the Top 10 Concept Trucks of the Decade.
These are the futuristic and fun pickups that we dreamed we'd be parking in our driveway in 2010, though it didn't quite turn out that way for most of these rigs.
No. 10: 2000 Dodge MAXXcab
Chrysler called the Dodge MAXXcab a “Passenger Priority Truck.” It blended the ride quality and interior attributes of a sedan with the cargo hauling utility of a pickup truck.
The MAXXcab had car-like ride and handling and an altogether different appearance than any other truck on the road. The idea sounds familiar today but it was quite revolutionary at the turn of the century.
Best Concept Feature:
The “Cone of Sound,” which used integrated ultrasonic transducers (didn't Darth Vader torture Han Solo with those in “The Empire Strikes Back”?) based on an idea developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. Each passenger could listen to their own audio stream without the use of headphones.
Powertrain:
238-hp 4.7 liter Magnum V-8 mated to four-speed (with an alternate 'kick-down' second gear capability totaling a five-speed range) automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
We're not saying it totally inspired Honda, but the Ridgeline has an independent rear suspension and looks that are a bit similar to the MAXXcab. Hmm.
No. 9: 2001 Nissan Alpha Truck
They weren't mental. Nissan was telegraphing loudly that it intended to enter the full-size pickup truck segment when it dropped the Alpha Truck concept on stunned journalists in Detroit. Its radical shape was penned by the same designer who had created the wild looking Isuzu VehiCross SUV. Are you surprised? We didn't think so.
Best Concept Feature:
The flexible tailgate, with an integrated toolbox, doubled as a powered cargo loader while the floor of the bed slid out for easy access to your stuff.
Powertrain:
300-hp 4.5-liter V-8 paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
The Alpha's swept-back A-pillar and windshield were virtually the only ideas that were carried over to the 2004 Nissan Titan.
No. 8: 2008 GMC Denali XT
General Motors’ segment-blurring GMC Denali XT combined the best attributes of a car and truck into one vehicle? Sounds a lot like the Dodge MAXXcab, yes? Well, it was, except that the XT was much cooler because it was designed in Australia with gangster swagger, it was based on a four-door Holden Ute and it borrowed a highly buffed version of the 2010 Chevy Camaro's interior.
Best Concept Feature:
326-hp flex-fuel, direct injection 4.9-liter small block V-8 paired with a two-mode hybrid transmission that was estimated to improve fuel economy by 50 percent over comparable midsize trucks on sale today.
Powertrain:
See above.
What Made It To Production:
Nada. Zilch. Zero. GM killed its midsize unibody pickup truck program earlier this year.
No. 7: 2002 Ford Mighty F-350 Tonka Truck
When we were in kindergarten, this was the truck we dreamed we'd own when we grew up. Ford truck design chief Pat Schiavone — who's leaving Ford shortly for Whirlpool — reached into our heads, pulled out that fantasy, melted it at 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, mixed it with titanium and testosterone and forged it into the Mighty F-350 Tonka Truck. It was a pickup that even Toby Keith would have to juice up on steroids to credibly drive.
Best Concept Feature:
Hydraulic Launch Assist, which used stored hydraulic pressure captured during braking to accelerate the truck from a stop for the first 10 to 15 seconds while the engine idled, to save fuel.
Powertrain:
300-hp 6.0-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel and five-speed automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
Though nowhere near as chiseled, the 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty and 2009 F-150 both inherited some of the Tonka's tough truck DNA in their exterior styling.
The 6.0-liter Power Stroke V-8 made it to production, too, though many owners probably wish it hadn't.
No. 6: 2006 Dodge Rampage
When truck enthusiasts think of a unibody replacement for the Dodge Dakota, the Dodge Rampage concept is likely the first thought that springs to mind. It combined the width of a full-size Dodge Ram 1500 with the overall length of a midsize Dodge Dakota. A host of people and cargo-carrying innovations were made possible by a combination of unitized body construction, front-wheel drive and a unique independent rear wheel suspension.
Best Concept Feature:
The Rampage's front passenger seat and rear seats could be folded into the floor for extra interior storage, and it delivered exceptional cargo carrying capacity by giving its cargo box a dual-deck bed. A midgate provided pass-through space into the cabin when more room was needed.
Powertrain:
345-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and five-speed automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
Multi-displacement V-8 that runs in four-cylinder mode during stead-state driving to help save fuel. The rest of the Rampage's innovations have yet to arrive.
No. 5: 2008 Toyota ABAT
So what if it originally started out as a Scion pickup truck? Toyota's Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck returned the Japanese automaker to its small truck roots and gave hope to many that the age of the bloated and neglected midsize truck might be over. The four-passenger ABAT had a tiny footprint and a hybrid powertrain that prioritized fuel economy over towing and hauling capability.
Best Concept Feature:
The ABAT's four-foot bed could be extended to eight- feet when the midgate and tailgate were folded down.
Powertrain:
Four-cylinder gas engine with Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive.
What Made It To Production:
The 2010 Toyota Prius uses solar panels like the ABAT's to circulate ambient air on hot days to help keep the interior cool when its parked. The rest is indefinitely shelved.
No. 4: 2003 Chevrolet Cheyenne
GM designers diligently studied the heritage of Chevy trucks and took the best styling elements of the 1955 Cameo, the 1967-73 C/K Cheyenne, and the 1988 C/K Silverado to create the Chevrolet Cheyenne concept. It featured cab-forward design with the wheels positioned at the corners and an independent rear suspension instead of leaf springs. It was as big as it was beautiful, and it was really freakin' big.
Best Concept Feature:
The bed was accessible from the outside through two side-access doors located just behind the cab, and a dual-folding tailgate opened two ways — horizontally split in half or traditionally folded down. Inside the cargo box were multiple storage bins that rolled out from the sides and were integrated into the floor.
Powertrain:
500-hp supercharged 6.0-liter V-8 and four-speed automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
Not much except for some watered-down styling cues in the current Silverado. The grille, however, made to almost every other Chevy vehicle.
No. 3: 2005 Jeep Gladiator
There wasn't anything not to like about the diesel-powered Jeep Gladiator concept. The extended cab, no-compromise, off-road pickup featured an open-air canvas roof, removable doors, a fold-down windshield and an expandable bed with built-in storage compartments.
Best Concept Feature:
It was a Jeep pickup truck.
Powertrain:
163-hp 2.8-liter four-cylinder common-rail turbodiesel engine with a six-speed manual transmission.
What Made It To Production:
Nothing. And we're still in anger management therapy because of it.
No. 2: 2000 GMC Terradyne
When have GMC trucks not wanted to distinguish themselves from their corporate twins that are sold with gold bowties? The wedge-shaped GMC Terradyne was supposed to be a major step towards giving GM's 'Professional Grade' trucks their own readily identifiable looks and character. It was penned by GM designer Carl Zipfel, who later designed the Hummer H3 SUV and H3T pickup.
Best Concept Feature:
Four “gliding doors” that slid like the portals on a minivan and an innovative cargo box that could be extended from 6 feet to 8 feet when extra space was needed.
Powertrain:
300-hp 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V-8 paired with a five-speed Allison 1000 automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
The better question is, what didn't make it to production?
Quadrasteer four-wheel steering made it to the 2002-05 GMC Sierra. The Duramax diesel famously made its way into GM's 2001 Heavy Duty pickup trucks and is still used today. You can find the tailgate-mounted rearview backup camera, GPS and LCD display in almost every full-size truck.
The rest of the Terradyne's mobile office features arrived bundled in the 2009 Ford F-Series trucks, like the in-dash computer, cell phone integration to connect to the Internet and a portable printer. F-Series trucks also have power extendable rear view mirrors.
Side saddle storage (with powered access doors) that made use of previously unavailable space in the cargo box by creating two enclosed, lockable bins in the outer rear side panels is uncannily similar to the RamBox storage option for the Ram 1500.
No. 1: 2002 Dodge M80
The Dodge M80 is (and likely forever will be) the one that got away. The body-on-frame trucklet still wows us after nearly a decade. It was basic transportation and your best friend if you needed to move a couch, table or small bed into your studio apartment. Weighing in at only 2,500 pounds, it would have been fuel efficient too.
Best Concept Feature:
Two doors, four-wheel drive, a five-foot cargo box and a six-cylinder with a handshaker.
Powertrain:
210-hp 3.7-liter V-6 paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
What Made It To Production:
Nothing. Hey, Sergio – stick a four-cylinder gas or diesel Fiat engine in it and bring this baby Ram to market, stat!
Honorable Mention: Suzuki X-Head
Arigato gozaimasu to Suzuki's design team for totally rethinking the small 'pikku appu'. The brilliant X-Head micro truck had tall stance off-road capability and an upright cab for interior efficiency. It also featured a full-time four-wheel drive system with a limited slip center differential
Best Concept Feature:
The sides of the X-Heads cargo box folded down to reveal shelved storage compartments. Three different excursion tops were designed to go on the back, one for camping, one for urban errands, and a third for search and rescue.
Powertrain:
1.3-liter four-pot paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
What Made It To Production:
Nothing yet but our fingers are still crossed.
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LA Times Investigates Toyota’s Safety Record
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by admin.
In a scathing story in today’s Los Angeles Times, Toyota is painted as a company that has repeatedly covered up safety lapses and product defects. Some have resulted in driver injury and, on more than one occasion, fatalities. According to the Times, Toyota said it had “acted appropriately in product liability cases and in all reporting to federal safety regulators.”
It turns out the recent recall of millions of vehicles over defective floormats is just the most recent issue that has brought a lot of attention to the company’s record.
We won’t go into detail of each defect and allegation — some from attorneys looking for large payouts — but if you own a Toyota, you might want to read the full story at the link below.
Toyota found to keep tight lid on potential safety problems (L.A. Times)
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Review: Dodge Attitude
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by admin.
Puerto Vallarta is a lovely vacation spot for fans of beauty and tranquility mixed with unique Pistonhead sightseeing opportunities. Take the Chrysler K-car: a stateside rarity, but not an uncommon vehicle in a country known for taking our tired, neglected automobiles, giving them a new lease on life. But I never saw a [...]
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Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Hyundai Tucson
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by admin.
We were really impressed with the 2010 Hyundai Tucson at the recent L.A. Auto Show. But after driving it, how do we feel? Or, more accurately, how does Kelsey Mays feel about this little crossover? Well, he likes it. Except for the fact that it is little. Find out if the Lilliputian dimensions completely sour him in his full review.
2010 Hyundai Tucson Review
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New Truck Buyers Can Still Qualify For Federal Tax Credit
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by admin.
You still have until the end of the month to qualify for a federal tax credit if you buy a new truck, according to the New York Times.
“If you are planning on buying a new car, truck or motorcycle, you may qualify for a federal tax break if you purchase it before Dec. 31. The break allows eligible taxpayers to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price. But the amount of the tax break, which can be used whether you itemize deductions on your tax return or not, begins to phase out for individual taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is $125,000 to $135,000 and $250,000 to $260,000 for joint filers.”
[Source: The New York Times]
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Ford Agrees to Sell Volvo to Chinese Company
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by admin.
Ford announced today that it has come to terms with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. to sell the Volvo brand. Details of the sale, namely how much it’s for, were not released. But Ford says all “substantive commercial terms” have been settled. They basically just need to finish the paperwork, which should be completed early in 2010.
Ford said it would not “retain a shareholding in the business” after the sale goes through, but it could still work alongside the new ownership to develop technology. Currently, many of Ford’s products ride on platforms developed by Volvo.
Current Volvo owners in the U.S. shouldn’t expect to see much change in their current dealership and service operations in the short term or even the next few years. It’s expected Geely will continue to operate Volvo in much the same way Jaguar and Land Rover are being run under new, Indian-based ownership.
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Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by admin.
“Hot Rod Granny” from Utah refuses to let old age dampen her driving fun. She recently purchased a new 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe and has since fallen in love. Read about her exploits in the Coupe, as well as those of her cat, in her full review. Then let us know what you think of your vehicle by posting your own Reader Review here.
“I'm 64, have white hair and wrinkles. But I refuse to accept being old. I walked into the dealer, saw the 2.0T with Premium Package, bought the car and drove it out. I love the handling, acceleration and sporty look, both inside and out. I've had everything from a '68 [Oldsmobile] 442 to a Trans Am and this is the best.
“I need winter tires, and they are expensive but worth it. My only other complaint is the horn. They need a more robust sounding horn on such a stud muffin.
“Even my cat loves the car. The cat and I took a 3,000 mile road trip last summer, and she traveled the best she ever has.
“The ride is great, and I didn't get tired driving 10 to 12 hours a stretch. I only use the backseat for packages and such so that is not a problem. This is my first Hyundai, but not my last.
“I love the gadgets and especially the Bluetooth phone connection and the radio adjustment on the steering wheel. I have manual transmission, and shifting is easy and smooth.
“If you don't want to accept old age, go out and buy a Genesis Coupe.”
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Mahindra’s U.S. Distributor Says First Trucks On Sale By Spring
Posted on 22. Dec, 2009 by admin.
Mahindra’s new diesel-powered TR20 and TR40 small trucks will be on sale by the spring, said John Perez, CEO of Mahindra’s distributor Global Vehicles USA.
