Archive for July, 2010
Monterey Motorsports Reunion To Host Dan Gurney Tribute
Posted on 29. Jul, 2010 by admin.
Pebble Beach is fast approaching, and Motor Authority will be on hand to bring you live coverage for the event. One of the highlights of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion that runs concurrent to the Concours d’Elegance will be a tribute to Dan Gurney, featuring 24 famous Gurney cars. If you don’t know Dan Gurney, you don’t know American…
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UPDATE: Watch A Ferrari 458 Italia Melt Completely
Posted on 29. Jul, 2010 by admin.
A week ago we brought you the first images of a Ferrari 458 Italia that had been burned so completely that it literally melted the entire car into a pile of dull white aluminum and steel. Today, photos of the fire in progress show the car as it slowly turns from one work of modern art into another. Depressing, disturbing, and just plain sad, the…
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Ivan Stewart Shifting Gears from Off-Road Racing to Electric Bikes
Posted on 29. Jul, 2010 by admin.
You know the times are changing when Baja racing legend Ivan “Ironman” Stewart is getting out of the off-road racing business to open an electric bicycle store in San Diego, according to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“I’m simplifying my life,” Stewart said. “I’m changing to something more suited to what I want to be. I still want to be connected to off-road racing. I’ll still be at some of my favorite races. But not every day.”
Stewart won the Baja 500 17 times and was the only driver to earn both the SCORE and Unlimited Class series championships in the same year. He was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006.
In 1983, Stewart started a long-running affiliation and partnership with Toyota, racing its trucks off-road. That relationship also led to limited-edition versions of the Toyota Tundra that were built and sold by Toyota (first-generation Tundra) and accessorized by Stewart directly (second-generation Tundra).
As Stewart prepares to shift gears and his attention to his newly opened electric bike shop, he’ll be auctioning off some of his most famous memorabilia, including his famous Toyota-powered Mickey Thompson stadium truck that led to the successful “Ivan Ironman Stewart’s Super Off Road” video game series in the 1980s.
We’ve had the opportunity to meet Ivan and go for a drive in one of his supercharged Tundras. The man is class act, and we wish him all the best in his new endeavors.
[Source: San Diego Union-Tribune]
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2011 Toyota Tacoma Gets Two New Limited-Edition Option Packages
Posted on 29. Jul, 2010 by admin.
Toyota is adding two new limited-edition trim packages for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma — the best-selling small truck in the U.S. — that are based on the Tacoma TX project vehicle shown at last year's SEMA Show. The T|X and T|X Pro packages build upon the Tacoma's current Off-Road Package by adding new wheels, exhaust and appearance items from Toyota Racing Development's accessory catalog.
T|X stands for “Tacoma | Extreme.”
The standard TRD Off-Road Package, underlying both T|X editions, includes an electronic locking rear differential, progressive-rate front springs, specially tuned Bilstein shock absorbers, a 28 mm front stabilizer bar and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires. Added features on the TRD Off-Road Package include a 400-watt/115-volt power point in the bed, sport seats with adjustable lumbar support and unique fabric, plus an overhead console with a compass and outside temperature display.
Base T|X trim adds beefy TRD 16-inch black alloy bead-lock wheels and 265/70R16 BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires for extra capability off-road over the standard TRD Tacoma. It also features black tube side steps, a stainless-steel exhaust tip and unique exterior graphics. The MSRP of the T|X Package is $1,699, a savings of $754 compared with the package items ordered as separate options.
The T|X Pro Package adds performance flare with a TRD cat-back performance exhaust system that gives the Tacoma's 4.0-liter V-6 a deeper note and slightly more power. Also priced at an MSRP of $1,699, the T|X Pro Package represents a savings of $720 compared with the package contents added as separate accessories.
Both T|X and T|X Pro packages are covered under the three-year/36,000-mile comprehensive vehicle limited warranty.
Ordering for the 2011 Tacoma T|X Pro Package will begin in July, and the T|X Package will launch two months later in September.
[Source: Toyota via AutoGuide]
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Review: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport
Posted on 28. Jul, 2010 by admin.
There’s a great playground in Berkeley, near the Rose Garden, that has a two-story tall twisted and banked concrete slide down the side of a hill, of the sort that cities would never build again in our modern liability-freaked danger-averse era. Blissfully unaware of this, the local kids use torn-up cardboard boxes to reduce their [...]
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Update 1: Sources Say Toyota is Sticking with the Tundra, Designing Next-Gen Half-Ton
Posted on 27. Jul, 2010 by admin.
Update #1 July-28-2010 05:17 PM PDT:
Toyota has released the following statement regarding the Sequoia's future:
“Toyota denies any reports of the discontinuation of the Sequoia. For obvious competitive reasons, Toyota does not discuss future product plans. Sequoia continues to be a profitable, high-quality vehicle for Toyota and several years remain in the life of the current generation. Our focus remains on building our vehicles, including the Sequoia, with the highest possible quality.”
This statement doesn't contradict our sources' claims. As we originally wrote, our sources said the Sequoia will not be renewed after the end of its current lifecycle. Or at least it won't be based off the Tundra's platform, which it currently shares.
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The 2007-10 Toyota Tundra hasn’t been quite the success that Toyota envisioned, but that doesn’t mean the automaker is ready to give up on its sales-challenged half-ton hauler. The company is planning a thorough redesign of the truck, according to our sources.
The current Tundra was designed from the ground up to compete with full-size pickups from Chrysler, Ford and GM. On paper, the story was compelling. The Tundra featured a strong 5.7-liter V-8, could tow up to 10,800 pounds and was available in regular, extended-cab and crew-cab configurations.
Toyota was so confident in the strength of its new truck and the American truck market that it invested more than $1 billion to build a dedicated assembly plant in Texas with the capacity to build 200,000 Tundras a year in addition to a second Tundra factory in Indiana that could produce 100,000 annually.
The Tundra came close to meeting its annual sales goals of 200,000 trucks per year in the first year but has missed each year since by a wide margin, suffering from the effects of both the economy and high-profile quality and safety issues. About 460,000 Tundras have been built since 2007, and less than 80,000 were sold in 2009.
In response to lower-than-expected demand, Toyota consolidated all Tundra production in Texas – shifting Toyota Highlander production to its Indiana factory – and also moved production of the midsize Toyota Tacoma to the Tundra’s plant in Texas to soak up the extra production capacity.
That’s led some to wonder about Toyota’s long-term dedication to the Tundra, especially in light of tough new fuel-economy rules set to take effect by 2016. Will Toyota continue to invest in the Tundra?
Our sources say the next Tundra will arrive by 2014, just in time to take on all-new full-size light-duty pickups expected from GM, Nissan and Ford. That time period is looking like it will be a replay of 2007-08, which also had a fast cadence of new half-ton introductions.
But while Toyota is keeping the faith in Tundra, at least for one more generation, the Japanese automaker is said to be cutting its losses with the Toyota Sequoia full-size SUV that’s based on the Tundra platform. We hear the big people-mover will be killed at the end of this life cycle.
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Looking Back: 1955 Studebaker E Series V-8
Posted on 26. Jul, 2010 by admin.
Photos by Mark Williams
We stumbled across this classic 1955 Studebaker E Series V-8 half-ton pickup in Ann Arbor, Mich., on display at the Rolling Sculpture Car Show earlier this month. It's been meticulously restored by owner Ron Cripe.
Studebaker's E Series trucks were inaugurated in 1955. There was the 2E in 1956, 3E in 1957-58 and so on until the 8E models marked the last Studebaker pickups that were sold in 1964. Styling was a mix of carried-over sheet metal from the 1949-53 2R Series and 1954 3R Series.
According to Cripe, 1955 was also the first year an eight-cylinder engine option was available for
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Review: 2010 Infiniti G37 Anniversary Edition
Posted on 23. Jul, 2010 by admin.
Two decades have elapsed since rocks and trees went on TV to announce the birth of a new, proudly Japanese luxury car brand from Nissan. Infiniti somehow survived that car-free campaign and the (baker’s) dozen years of wandering in the desert that followed to finally enjoy some success with the 2003 [...]
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Four Ways to Lift Your Truck for Less
Posted on 23. Jul, 2010 by admin.
By Dan Sanchez for PickupTrucks.com
Truck owners are always looking for ways to improve the appearance and performance of their vehicles. Raising the ride height is one of the most popular upgrades, as it allows you to add larger-diameter wheels and tires without any rubbing or contact against the vehicle’s fenders.
A slightly taller truck with some aftermarket all-terrain or mud-terrain tires not only looks great, but it can also dramatically add to ride comfort and improve traction in a variety of road conditions. Heavy-duty and work trucks can also benefit from being lifted, as bigger tires often carry an increased load rating, which can improve the ride and safety when hauling heavy tools or cargo, and for vehicles that constantly tow a trailer.
There are many methods to raise a pickup that range in price from under $100 for simple coil spacers to well over $3,000 for a full suspension system.
For the average truck enthusiast, a low-budget method is always the first choice. Here are the best low-cost methods to lift your pickup that won't void your truck's warranty, yet still give your vehicle the amount of ride height it needs to add the tires and wheels you want.
Torsion Keys
Aftermarket torsion keys can add 1 to 1.5 inches of ride height on pickups with a torsion bar suspension system. But unlike the factory torsion keys, these forged keys from Trail Master Suspension don’t add more spring preload and can provide a smoother ride.
Many four-wheel-drive trucks use a torsion bar suspension system. Torsion bars are actually springs that twist rather than compress like a coil spring. The vehicle's factory torsion keys hold the bars in place and provide some preload so the bar can keep the vehicle at a factory-set ride height. Adjusting the factory torsion keys is tempting and will add some height, but it can come at the expense of excessively preloading the suspension, which can result in a harsh ride and add premature wear to the rest of the suspension.
Aftermarket torsion keys cost anywhere from $100 to $150 and will add 1 to 1.5 inches of ride height that’s good for a tire about 1 inch taller than the factory size. Aftermarket torsion keys can also maintain the factory preload settings to maintain a smooth ride and will often come with shock extensions that keep the shock's range of travel within factory specifications.
Look for forged keys, which are stronger than cast units and will provide much longer service life, especially if the vehicle will be under heavy loads.
Leveling Kits
Leveling kits can consist of a variety of components. These steel spacers from ReadyLift fit on top of the coil-spring strut assembly to raise the front just enough to keep it level with the rear of the vehicle.
Leveling kits are extremely popular and can add 1 to 3 inches of ride height to most pickups using a front coil spring or coil-over strut suspension system. The term is derived from the fact that most pickups are taller in the rear than in the front, and raising the front suspension allows the truck to sit level.
Depending on the vehicle’s make and model, leveling kits can use a variety of methods to lift the vehicle. These include polyurethane coil spring spacers that fit between the coil spring and the inside of the spring perch. Some use aluminum spacers or strut extensions that sit on top of the coil-over strut unit. Others use blocks and U-bolts that will raise the ride height on leaf-spring vehicles.
Leveling kits cost as little as $30 for simple polyurethane coil spacer kits to $500 or more for kits that include shocks, anti-sway bar end links and other components needed to keep the suspension geometry in its original location.
Some leveling kits use a simple coil spring spacer that fits on top of the spring within the coil-spring strut. Shown here is a standard spacer (right) compared with a leveling kit spacer (left).
For the low cost, leveling kits work great for adding tires that are 1 to 2 inches taller than your truck’s original tires. They are also easy to install for the experienced home mechanic, but some kits may require a spring compressor tool. The tool is necessary to remove the coil spring preload on models using a factory coil-over strut assembly. If you don't have access to this tool, you should have a qualified mechanic or truck specialty shop do the installation.
The advantage of a leveling kit is that it doesn't affect the ride of the vehicle or cause any warranty issues. If your truck or SUV is on a lease program, the leveling kit can be easily removed and restored to stock. In addition, there are leveling kits for just about every make and model pickup available (front-wheel and four-wheel drive), making these kits one of the most popular methods to lift your vehicle.
Body-Lifts
Body-lifts are another popular and inexpensive way to raise a pickup truck. Shown here is a Performance Accessories body-lift providing 3 inches of extra ride height on an F-150.
Before trucks and 4x4s had independent suspension systems and integrated coil-over struts, body-lifts were a popular way to add as much as 3 inches of ride height. The advantage of a body-lift is that it doesn’t affect the vehicle's suspension and provides enough ride height to fit tires that are 2 or 3 inches taller than the original tires (typically a 32- to 33-inch tire).
Body-lifts are popular because they are inexpensive, ranging from $110 to $600. Depending on the truck’s make and model, they can provide more ride height than leveling kits alone.
Body-lifts use urethane blocks that are stacked on top of the factory body mounts to raise the body above the frame. Because a wider gap is formed between the truck’s body and frame, the bumpers and some components of the vehicle also need to be altered. This is accomplished with heavy-duty bumper brackets and spacers that are typically included in the kit. In addition, the steering shaft must be extended. Because of this, many truck owners look for kits that include a high-quality CNC machined steering extension as well as Gap Guards that fit in the vehicle's wheel wells and hide the space between the frame and body.
Body-lifts also require readjusting the height of the factory bumpers. This Performance Accessories kit has bolt-on bumper brackets on this 2009 Nissan Titan.
Body-lifts typically take six to eight hours to install, depending on the vehicle, but the overall effect provides plenty of wheel and tire clearance for most popular tire upgrades. Furthermore, they don't affect the factory ride or cause any warranty issues with your vehicle.
Premium Lift Systems
A Premium Lift System combines a body-lift with a leveling kit to provide the same lift as a full suspension but at a fraction of the cost. Shown here is a PLS kit from Performance Accessories that provides 5 inches of lift to fit 35-inch-tall tires on a Ford F-150. The kit costs around $800.
A relatively new concept is to combine a leveling kit and body-lift to provide a comparable ride height to that of a full suspension kit at a fraction of the cost.
Depending on the vehicle, a Premium Lift System can provide up to 6 inches of lift without affecting the vehicle’s factory suspension geometry and ride. For enthusiasts wanting to go big and add 33- to 35-inch off-road tires, a Premium Lift System makes a perfect choice.
Premium Lift Systems include everything from coil spring spacers, bumper brackets, body-lift blocks, hardware, a steering column adapter, Gap Guards and everything else you need to raise the vehicle in about six to eight hours.
Depending on the vehicle make and model, a Premium Lift System can cost $219 to $900, leaving you with enough cash to lift the vehicle and buy the tires you want all at once.
Because these types of systems don’t affect the factory warranty, many truck dealerships are installing them onto some of their inventory, appealing to customers who want the look of a full-suspension system with aftermarket wheels and tires straight off the showroom floor.
No matter which method you choose, look for high-quality parts that are made in the U.S. Beware of lower-priced “bargains,” as they often don't include all of the components and you’ll end up purchasing more parts to get the job done in one sitting.
Either way, your final decision will ultimately depend on the size of tires you want to fit under your pickup. With the variety of inexpensive lifting methods, the cost of personalizing your truck has become much more affordable and enjoyable.
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Driven: Prototype 2011 GMC Sierra 2500 Regular Cab Duramax Diesel
Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by admin.
While testing the latest heavy-duty pickup trucks during our 2010 HD Shootout comparison, General Motors showed up with a prototype 2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD regular cab work truck with the new 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel for some high-performance fun at Milan Dragway. We drove it.
A two-door GM heavy-duty pickup with an 8-foot-long cargo box and Duramax oil burner is a $8,395 upgrade over the standard truck. The base engine is a 6.0-liter V-8 gas engine with 360 horsepower and 380 pounds-feet of torque.
The Duramax is the most powerful diesel engine in the segment, rated at 397 hp and 765 pounds-feet of torque. Put that mill under a regular cab Sierra HD’s hood and, according to Brent Deep, GM full-size truck development engineer, the truck isn’t just a workhorse; it’s also a fuel-efficient hot rod.
“We call the truck ‘the rocket,’” Deep said. “When we were putting [the idea for it] together, we were trying to beat the best fuel economy and performance [numbers] in all of today’s full-size pickup trucks, both light- and heavy-duty.”
Deep got close to meeting both of those objectives. He said that in “real world” testing – heavy-duty pickups aren’t required to carry EPA fuel economy labels – only the GMC Sierra 1500 Two-Mode Hybrid beats it for highway mileage, and the GMC Sierra Denali 1500 with the high-performance 403-hp, 417 pounds-feet 6.2-liter V-8 gas engine is faster in the quarter-mile.
To find out for ourselves how fast the prototype is, we got behind the wheel and timed it on the asphalt at Milan.
The fastest run of the day went to Johnny Fort, a senior financial analyst for Cars.com with the reflexes of a puma. Fort nailed the quarter-mile in only 14.79 seconds, beating journalists and truck engineers alike. He was the only person to break the 15-second barrier.
The best zero-to-60 time? According to Deep, it’s only 5.86 seconds. Not too shabby for a 6,522-pound work truck.
If you want a similar truck for your driveway or job site, it’s on sale now.
Update 1: July 22, 07:33 am PT
Corrected statement that said the Duramax diesel is a new option for RCLB. The same configuration has been available in previous models. H/T to Alex for pointing that out (again).
