Initiating our new Truckblog TV video series, "Truckblog TV Episode 1" has been uploaded this morning, which highlights the full installation of a Magnaflow catback exhaust system.
The purpose of Truckblog TV is to inform you about the latest aftermarket products, how to install them (in real time), and feature truck related events. You can view our first episode via our home page in the top left corner, or by going to our videos page located here, and clicking the Truckblog TV tab.
Today's gem of "The Internets", which happens to be a perfect heavy weight contender for our weekly Friday Beerblog, is of an extremely unhealthy individual that decided to drive their "old fart cart" through the drive-thru window of a Wendy's fast food restaurant. It is very obvious in the photograph that when you're too fat, even your hybrid car will hate you, or, you are simply fed up with the current price of gas standing at $3.61, according to the EIA. Either way, it made for a good chuckle this morning.
Not that it's going to sell much here in the U.S. anyway (or so we at Truckblog think), Pontiac has announced they have dropped the fabulous "El Camino" name that was given to the newly designed G8 Sport Truck, in hopes to drop the ties with the previous Chevrolet struck model from the 1960's through 1980's. The auto manufacturer have narrowed the selection down to ten names and they are "going through a vetting process" says Brian Shipman, a spokesman for Pontiac. As reported by cars.com.
Known for leaking the 2009 Dodge Ram on the intarweb earlier this year, Dodge has accidentally posted an image of what appears to be the 2009 Dodge Ram R/T or SRT-10. The vehicle can also be found in a promotional video for the new Rambox, a bedside storage system being offered in the new 2009 Ram. Click here to visit the Dodge Ram website.
The Detroit News reports that General Motors has offered a $200 million dollar buyout option to American Axle & Manufacturing Inc, to help end a two month long company strike, which recently caused GM to stop production of their pickup trucks. The $200 million dollar buyout will help the parts supplier pay for their own employee buyouts, retirement accounts and incentives for workers for the differences in wages. American Axle spokeswoman, Renee Rogers, stated "Now that GM has agreed to provide financial assistance ... hopefully both parties can work to bring an agreement to this terribly costly strike".
Overall, it sounds like General Motors really got screwed with their parts supplier, costing the company more than $800 million and 100,000 vehicles in lost production. But in a declining United States market, the timing might not have been any better.
Autoweek is reporting that General Motors has announced they have told their dealers of suspended production of some of their 2008 full size trucks and SUVs, due to the American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings strike. The vehicles effected are the GMC Yukon, GMC Denali, GMC Sierra heavy duty regular and extended cab configurations, GMC commercial heavy duty, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet light duty pickup trucks. GMC spokesman, Randy Fox, said "Essentially, we're not accepting any more orders", referring to the lack of available parts because of the continued strike. General Motors is saying they have a 102 day supply of 3500 heavy duty trucks and a 178 day supply of 2500 heavy duty trucks. "The truck business is so slow in general right now it's hard to measure it".
With rising gas prices, today’s car buyers admit fuel efficiency and diversity is not just a necessity, it’s also fashion forward. If Americans had to choose between driving a car that was beautiful on the outside vs. one that was “greener” on the inside, nearly eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) who plan to buy or lease a car within the next two years would choose the greener car. These and more compelling statistics are a result of a national survey recently conducted by Challenge X – a national collegiate engineering competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors.
Transporting your toys from A to B is as easy as LGA. Let's Go Aero, manufacturer of innovative Gear Management Solutions, offers a variety of compact trailers ideal for your next sand dune, lakeside, mountain camp or winter resort excursion. LGA trailers - including the GearWagon 125, GearLodge Camper, Little Giant Sport Utility Trailer and LittleGiant Trailer Xpand - are perfectly suited for dirt bike, motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile and personal watercraft owners who don't want the hassle - or expense - of a large, dedicated toy hauler trailer.
The big shift is on at Ford Motor Company, as the automaker plans to more than double the number – to 1.4 million – of fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions in its North American cars and trucks by the end of 2009. The advanced transmissions provide customers 4 to 6 percent improved fuel economy compared with typical 4- and 5-speed gearboxes, as well as better acceleration and a quieter and more refined driving experience.
Scott Burgess of the Detroit News recently test drove the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and wrote a review, stating the new hybrid SUV has great fuel mileage ratings, ratings that are "on par with '09 Camry", a hybrid sedan in a seperate vehicle class and nearly 3,000 pounds lighter. "The Tahoe Hybrid hits the same city mileage as a four-cylinder 2009 Toyota Camry. Its 21 mpg (on the two-wheel drive model) is even 2 mpg better than a Camry with a V-6". Powered by a six liter V8 with a hybrid system that includes two electric motors running on 300-volt system, the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid tips the scale at over $52,000. Is the price really worth it? Find out inside.
Industry-exclusive Ford SYNC is a fully integrated, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system that works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players. Beginning later this year, SYNC will also provide accident assistance through ‘911 Assist,’ and will be able to send customers Vehicle Health Reports on key systems to help them plan routine service appointments and alert them to critical systems issues.
SIRIUS Travel Link technology provides customers with a valuable tool that can be used daily to get just-in-time details about traffic, current weather conditions, gasoline prices, movie theater details and sports updates. The system will be available on several 2009 models including Ford Flex, F-150, and Lincoln MKS.
In response to direct customer feedback citing the prospect of rising gas prices as a top concern, Chrysler LLC today announces its own economic stimulus package: an exclusive gas price protection policy that eliminates the risk of further spikes in fuel prices. With the U.S. purchase of eligible Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, customers can enroll in the “Let’s Refuel America” program and receive a gas card that immediately lowers their gas price to $2.99 a gallon, and keeps it there for three years. The offer is available at 3,511 U.S. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships through June 2, 2008, and is available on vehicles ranging from popular new compacts, crossovers and minivans to full-size diesel-powered pickup trucks.
Solid By Design, Inc. has been granted a license by AMP Research to manufacture AMP’ patented Alloy Fuel Doors exclusively for the automotive aftermarket. AMP Research will continue to manufacture its custom alloy fuel-filler doors sold through OEM accessory programs that include GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Mitsubishi.
General Motors Corp.'s revolutionary new 4.5L V-8 Duramax turbo-diesel, which makes its debut in Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light duty trucks in the 2010 model year, is compact, powerful and fuel-efficient. The engine also is lighter, an important consideration in the competitive light truck market, because it was designed with more than 70 fewer parts. The new dual-overhead cam, four-valve V-8 diesel engine boasts a number of innovative design approaches that have enabled its compact size and mass, including integral aluminum cylinder head exhaust manifolds, integral cam cover intake manifolds and a narrow V-angle block.
Edmund's Inside Line have posted their thorough review of the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD SUV. Earning an average of 19.3 miles per gallon, the new diesel powered Jeep Grand Cherokee serves as a perfect replacement for it's V8 SRT8 cousin, which only boasts a hefty 13.4 miles per gallon. Another advantage of the new 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee's diesel engine is it's price, at only $1,655 which is far cheaper than it's full size heavy duty pickup truck brothers. The bottom line of the new Cherokee is that it provides an "Affordable diesel option [that] makes the Grand Cherokee a far more practical proposition". Click here to read their review.
If you're furious at work right now and are not happy with the events of your Monday morning (case of the Mondays?), and have also announced to your fellow co-workers that work sucks, then just remember what Lawrence said to Peter in Office Space... "No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man". If that's the case, don't leave your cubical, and take a moment to read last weeks blogging wrath.
General Motors Corp. and Mascoma Corp. today announced a strategic relationship to develop cellulosic ethanol focused on Mascoma's single-step biochemical conversion of non-grain biomass into low-carbon alternative fuels to help address increasing energy demand. The relationship, which includes an undisclosed equity investment by GM, complements an earlier investment in a cellulosic ethanol startup that uses a thermo-chemical process to make ethanol from non-grain sources.
