The last video has landed from Ford's 2011 Super Duty video series and is called Power Take Off. It's not the traditional power launch we're used to, but instead a new technology that has been introduced that generates power from the transmission itself...enough to power a snow plow, salt spreaders, and more. Very interesting technology.
Our second to last video from Ford's 2011 Super Duty video series takes a look at the New Turbocharger. Mike Rowe explains the nitty gritty about the new turbocharger from it's central position on the engine to a dual compressor wheel with single shaft design. It's only 52 seconds long but there's a lot of information packed in.
The 5th episode from the 2011 Ford Super Duty video series focuses on Durability and the "toughness" that goes into each truck. This video is a bit shorter at 1 minute but highlights the details that make each truck durable.
Today's episode from the 2011 Ford Super Duty video series is called Extreme Weather Testing, where we take an in depth look of the extreme measures Ford takes as part of the development of their trucks. Here's Episode 4: Extreme Weather Testing.
The third video from Ford's 2011 Super Duty series is called The Voice of the Customer. Hosted by Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs, the video series takes a look at the development, technology, and extensive testing Ford placed into every category of the new truck. Here's Episode 3: The Voice of the Customer.
Leadership demands continuous improvement. When it comes to Ford F-Series powertrains, continuous improvement has been a constant across several dimensions. Fuel economy. Torque. Horsepower. Durability. Reliability. Flexible fueling options. All those attributes are available and apparent across all F-Series truck lines, ready for customers to do their jobs with the best combination of capability and fuel economy. The next-generation Super Duty, available in 2010, features all-new diesel and gasoline engines and a new TorqShift® six-speed automatic transmission, enabling best-in-class towing and payload.
The 2011 Ford Super Duty contains a wealth of new technologies – from all-new powertrains to software designed to take full advantage of the truck’s continuing best-in-class towing and payload capability – so that customers can get the job done efficiently. Ford research shows that 97 percent of Super Duty customers tow, underscoring the importance of the new Super Duty’s best-in-class towing capability.
A new era in Ford diesel technology arrives with the Ford-engineered, Ford-tested and Ford-manufactured 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel engine. Debuting in the next-generation Ford F-Series Super Duty truck, the new diesel engine will deliver significant improvements in torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy while adding more fueling flexibility and easily meeting stringent new emissions requirements.
Chevrolet have updated the 2010 Silverado XFE to get a little better gas mileage, 22 mpg on the highway to be exact. Chevrolet spokesperson, Brian Goebel, spoke with Mike Levine of Pickuptrucks.com, stating "that the increased fuel economy is due to several engineering improvements. The XFE model's 5.3-liter V8 now has variable valve timing, optimized shift pattens in its six-speed transmission, and new tweaks for its Active Fuel Management system that enables the truck to run on four cylinders at cruising speeds for longer".
From the company that was first to introduce the in-cab digital gauge tuning device, Edge Products is proud to announce two incredible “next generation” products built specifically to give truck enthusiasts the power, style and control they’ve been waiting for. The all-new full-Color Screen (CS) and Color Touch Screen (CTS) Evolution offers the most advanced technology in engine tuning available today.
Our friend Mike Levine of Pickuptrucks had the opportunity to interview Ford diesel engineers and ask them questions about Ford's "bobcat" dual fuel engine which blends gasoline and ethanol into each cylinder, delivering power equivalent to a diesel powered engine. The technology is actually really interesting as is worth the read.
ROUSH Performance has announced a line of ROUSH propane-powered pickups and vans will soon be available for Canadian fleet customers. The announcement was made in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Conference of the Propane Gas Association of Canada (PGAC) being held at the Westin Ottawa Hotel June 4 and 5. The first ROUSH propane-powered vehicles that will be available in Canada are based on the Ford F-250 and F-350 pickups, with both offering reduced operating costs and lower greenhouse emissions than their gasoline-powered counterparts. ROUSH also announced that they would be converting E-Series vans to run on liquid propane and these would also be available for Canadian customers later this year. It is anticipated that each model will have the necessary Transport Canada and other required certifications.
In a report by Reuters, California's representatives are already looking for higher CARB standards, beyond those passed last week by 2016 and approved by President Obama. The new standards create a new requirement average of 35.5 miles per gallon for automakers and now California is looking to raise that standard again, striving for "a much more stringent standard", said Mary Nichols of the California Air Resources Board. Nichols continued with (the rules) "doesn't signal any kind of flagging interest on the part of California in being part of a transformation of the auto fleet to something much more efficient than what it is today". A new EPA waiver request is being created and applied for and is expected to appear sometime next year.
General Motors have released their 2010 Fleet Vehicle Guide to dealerships and changes have occurred to their pickup trucks. GM Inside News points out that GM are dropping their 6.0 liter V8 Vortech engine for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks from normal production but will continue to use the engine for their two mode hybrid pickup trucks. Other engine options for 2010 include a Vortec 4.3 liter V6, Flex Fuel Vortec 4.8 liter V8, Flex Fuel 5.3 liter V8 and a Flex Fuel Vortec 6.2 liter V8. The old 6.0 liter will also be available as a standard option for GM's heavy duty 2500 and 3500 series pickup trucks.
Chrysler LLC today announced the company has submitted three proposals outlining a $448-million plan to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in order to rapidly bring Electric Vehicles (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid-electric Vehicles (PHEV) to market. Chrysler LLC applied for two initiatives established by the DOE—the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative and the Transportation Electrification Initiative. Both are designed to speed up development, demonstration, evaluation and manufacturing of EVs and PHEVs. The programs represent a 50/50 cost-share opportunity with $224 million from Chrysler LLC and its partners, combined with a matching $224 million from the DOE. These funds will accelerate the market introduction and penetration of advanced powertrains.
Even supporters of CAFE might be surprised to learn that the standards announced this week will actually require automakers to make much less progress than implied. "Turns out that there are loopholes almost big enough to drive an SUV through," quipped Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl to AutoObserver.com. One might think the government would use a single set of ratings for both CAFE and vehicle window stickers. But the well-known EPA mileage ratings are not used to calculate CAFE, and the difference can be significant. For example, a vehicle that scores an EPA combined rating of 29 miles per gallon actually contributes 39 MPG to its manufacturer's CAFE average.
President Barack Obama is announcing today a new gas mileage standard for all cars and light trucks beginning in 2016. The new requirement will cost $1,300 extra per vehicle but "drivers will be saving at the pump". According to an administration official, the increased mileage of vehicles will help save "save 1.8 billion barrels of oil through 2016 and cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 900 million tons, the equivalent to shutting down 194 coal plants". The new increases will require a 35.5 miles per gallon average for both cars and light trucks, with a raise from 27.5 to 39 miles per gallon standard for cars and 24 to 30 miles per gallon for trucks.
By 2013, 90 percent of Ford’s North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost engine technology, which is one of Ford’s key initiatives to deliver significant advancements in fuel economy without sacrificing the performance customers want. Ford engineers used virtual tools and know-how to perfect the combustion system of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine in order to handle a wider range of operating conditions and pressures, and still deliver V-8 power coupled with V-6 fuel economy.
Good ole' Exxon Mobil earned the first place spot on the Fortune 500 for 2008, achieving $443 billion in sales and $45 billion in revenue, passing Wal-Mart and dropping the giant to second place with only $406 billion for 2008. Not far behind were Chevron and ConocoPhillips in 3rd and 4th place, where ConocoPhillips actually lost $17 billion in 2008 due to money losing oil refineries. Amazingly, Ford Motor Company and General Motors rounded off the 6th and 7th place victories as top companies.
According to the Energy Information Administration gasoline prices will remain an average of $2.23 per gallon this summer in comparison to the $3.81 per gallon price we paid last summer, allowing us to all have a Griswold vacation (I can see Mort already hopping into his van). The reason for such cheap gasoline is due to low crude oil prices and an increase in barrel production thanks to two new oil drilling platforms stationed off the Gulf of Mexico.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has granted approval to the ROUSH® propane-powered F-150 pickup which means that it meets the strict emission standards of the state. This is the first propane-powered vehicle to receive On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II) CARB-approval since the board enacted substantially stricter guidelines on light-duty vehicles for this alternative fuel in 2004.
According to an article on The Detroit Free Press, AT&T announced they will spend $565 million dollars on 15,000 Ford Motor Company hybrid and natural gas powered vehicles over the next ten years. AT&T will spend $350 million on nearly 8,000 natural gas trucks like the propane powered trucks from Roush.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson commented on the decision "While there are no easy solutions to the challenges facing our nation, this investment is a first step on our part to help boost other industries while at the same time encouraging wider use and production of efficient vehicles and domestic fuel alternatives".
ROUSH Performance, with support from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), today introduced two new alternative fuel vehicles available through Ford dealers in the United States and Canada. The 2010 ROUSH propane-powered Ford F-250 and 2010 ROUSH propane-powered Ford E-250 both achieve lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of propane as an engine fuel. On average, propane fleet vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent; create 20 percent less nitrous oxide; produce up to 60 percent less carbon monoxide; and fewer particulate emissions, compared to conventional gasoline. These vehicles follow the introduction of the ROUSH propane Ford F-150 in 2007.
Good news for you diesel truck owners out there, the average price per gallon of diesel fuel has finally dipped into gasoline price territory, cheaper than premium octane at $2.18 per gallon. Recently diesel fuel has taken a beating at the pump due to an increased cost of refinement, price of oil, and premium diesel engine costs, but those worries are starting to go away-for now. With pickup truck sales in the tank and massive discounts being given on new models, maybe now is the time to go out and buy that heavy duty diesel pickup you always wanted.
The governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, is pushing for a "Hummer Tax" to be approved which includes higher registration fees for larger vehicles including pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles and provides a discount for hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles. Who elects these people?
Unlike Ford's reported $6 billion dollar loss this morning for 2008, Exxon Mobil have set once again a new record of $45.2 billion dollars in profit for 2008. The new figures beat their previous profit record of $40.6 billion set in 2007. The second largest oil company, Chevron, also managed to set their own record with a $43 billion dollar profit for 2008.
I don't feel ripped off at all. If that doesn't make you happy, maybe a few episodes of MOTORZ will?
Hammering home their success in offering a propane-powered truck, ROUSH Performance unveiled yesterday at the 2009 International Builders' Show the next product in the lineup - the 2010 ROUSH Liquid Propane Injected F-250. The ROUSH propane-powered F-250 immediately received considerable interest among the attendees who had been looking for a medium-duty truck that could offer both lower operating costs and greenhouse emissions. According to research provided by the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), propane is the most widely-used alternative fuel today, with more than 10 million vehicles around the world using it as a fuel.
We originally brought you the story last week and now other sources are saying that the 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck will offer Ford's 3.5 liter twin turbo charged EcoBoost V6 engine. An additional 5.0 liter motor named "Coyote" will be added as well that features four valves and pulls 400 horse power and 400 foot pounds of torque. Sources are also saying the new 5.0 liter V8 will be found in the new 2010 Mustang as well.
The FS-2500 is a bypass filtration system specifically designed for diesel engines. Diesel engines generate a lot of soot that grinds away the moving parts of your engine. Modern emission controlled engines with EGR and post-injection technology are even more serious offenders when it comes to oil contamination. Every engine needs a full-flow filter, but they have limitations. Because of the high volume of oil they must process, full-flow filters cannot be too restrictive or they would risk starving the engine of oil.
According to Pickuptrucks.com Chrysler LLC have delayed the light duty diesel engine for the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. Frank Klegon, Chrysler’s executive vice president of product development, says "It will be 2011 calendar year or later". Chrysler also noted the main reason for the delay has to do with the "high cost of new hardware needed to meet diesel emissions regulations in all 50 states for 2010". Klegon concluded with "We were hoping to use our current system (NOx catalyst trap), but the extra cost is a reason to bring (urea) SCR forward in time".
Jeep Patriot EV joins the growing portfolio of electric-drive vehicles being developed by Chrysler LLC. As a Range-extended Electric Vehicle, the Jeep Patriot EV combines the electric-drive components of an Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles.
Land Rover announced they will add a new engine to their LR3 and Discovery SUV lineup, borrowing Jaguar's 3.0 liter twin turbocharged V6 diesel engine. Delivering 272 horsepower and 420 foot pounds of torque, the diesel engine offers a 12 percent increase in gas mileage which is a desperate need for the sport utility vehicle. The new motor will be replacing Land Rover's current 2.7 liter TDV6, good for 190 horsepower and 324 foot pounds of torque. Not too shabby, increase in power and fuel efficiency at the same time!
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle that provides a glimpse into the future of a “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” vehicle with renowned Jeep Wrangler capability. “One of our goals at ENVI is to develop electric-drive solutions for every segment and for every customer,” said Lou Rhodes, President – ENVI, and Vice President – Advance Vehicle Engineering, Chrysler LLC. “An electric-drive Jeep Wrangler brings ultimate fuel efficiency and ultra-clean transportation to a market segment whose consumers want to explore the environment to the fullest.”
In an interview with Chrysler LLC, Mike Levine of pickuptrucks has confirmed that Chrysler is in fact planning on offering a light duty diesel engine for their Dodge Ram 1500 pickup as well as a Ram Hybrid version. “It still makes sense to offer a light-duty diesel,” said Frank Klegon, Chrysler’s executive vice president of product development. “We think from the total perspective of the regulatory environment, fuel efficiency and other things down the road, diesel is still going to be an element that’s important in this market, and that customers will be attracted to a diesel light-duty truck". In order to develop and build the new light duty diesel engine, Chrysler has teamed up with Cummins who have been producing their current diesel motors since 1988. Fuel efficiency is also noted as a priority for the new motor, over towing performance and other common requests, and the new engine may be produced as a 5.0 liter version. Mr. Klegon also confirmed that Chrysler has promised a hybrid version of the Ram for the 2010 model year and the Ram Hybrid "is still on track". We'll keep you posted Truckblog!
When Ford Motor Company set out to redesign the F-150 – the 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the Year™ and the best selling pickup of the past 31 years – the truck team knew it wanted to improve fuel efficiency. Even before fuel economy jumped from 10th to third place among pickup buyers’ top purchase considerations, the design team knew it needed to deliver a substantial improvement over the outgoing model, without sacrificing any capability.
The news has just broke at MSNBC that OPEC have agreed to cut oil production back nearly 2.2 million barrels per day, the single largest cut ever in history. OPEC President Chekib Khelil stated "I hope we surprised you" after reporters were surprised at the large cut. "If you're not surprised we need to do something about it". OPEC made the announcement as an effort to help counterbalance consumer confidence and drive the price of crude oil back up, after it sank to nearly $40 dollars per barrel, a figure not seen in nearly 5 years. "In just five months, crude has given up all of the price gains made over the past four years". Khelil finished his statements with "if unchecked, prices could fall to levels which would place in jeopardy the investments required to guarantee adequate energy supplies in the medium to long term".
What do you think Truckblog? Do you believe this is just an attempt by OPEC to drive oil prices back up?
ATS announces the new Aurora Plus Turbo System - a perfect choice for truck owners that want the ultimate towing or streetable hot rod performance. For diesel drivers who are thinking about, or have already added a power module to their truck, this is the perfect turbo kit to control the raised exhaust temperatures that the additional fuel causes. The Aurora Plus Turbo System provides incredibly quick response with fantastic midrange torque and a nice top end power level. By utilizing the factory turbocharger that comes on the Dodge Cummins...
Jalopnik had the opportunity to test drive the Roush Propane Powered F-150, which features an industry first ever propane conversion system on the stock 5.4 liter eight cylinder motor. The kit itself from Roush includes an aftermarket fuel pump, fuel injectors, fuel rail, Roush custom programming, and an option of either a 25 gallon propane tank mounted underneath the truck, or a 59 gallon tank located in the bed. They test drove the truck for over 600 miles and came out with a fuel economy average of 9.6 miles per gallon.
GMC today announced pricing for two new models arriving in dealerships in early 2009, further reinforcing the channel’s reputation for value combined with efficiency and capability. The 2009 Sierra Hybrid joins the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid as the only full-size hybrid pickup trucks on the market. Equipped with GM’s two-mode hybrid system, Sierra Hybrid is offered in the crew cab body style and is also available with 4WD.
Lexus unveiled the all-new, next generation RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid at a press conference today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle that pioneered the car-based luxury utility vehicle segment when it launched in 1998, is completely redesigned and will continue to set new benchmarks in areas that have made it the best-selling luxury utility vehicle: innovation, styling, performance, utility and comfort. At the heart of the new RX models are two improved powertrains. Entering its second generation, the RX 450h will feature an enhanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system with a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine that runs on a highly efficient Atkinson cycle. Combined with a new, more efficient inverter, the total system output will be 295 horsepower, 27 more horsepower than the current generation RX hybrid.
Chevrolet today announced pricing for the 2009 Silverado Hybrid - the only full-size hybrid pickup on the market. It starts at $38,995, including a $975 destination charge, for 2WD models with the 1HY package. The MSRP does not reflect a $2,200 federal tax credit that applies to many customers who purchase the Silverado Hybrid. The Silverado Hybrid delivers fuel economy comparable to many midsize sedans, but with the cargo and towing capability expected from a full-size truck. It is offered in the crew cab body style and also available with 4WD.
According to Gasbuddy.com, gasoline prices continue to fall to a national average of $2.11 per gallon in comparison to the $2.76 one year ago. The national average is one of the lowest prices since 2005, a relief not often felt since then. Lucky motorists in Tulsa, Oklahoma are only paying $1.69 per gallon, the lowest price in the country. If you want to save a buck or two on gasoline for your truck, head on over to Gasbuddy.com's Map Gas Pricing page.
What would you do with $1,865.69 dollars per second? Those are the profits that oil giant Exxon Mobil Corporation posted for their quarterly reports this morning. In an article from CNN Money, the United States oil company said its third quarter net profit "was $14.83 billion, or $2.86 per share, up from $9.41 billion, or $1.70, a year earlier. That profit included $1.45 billion in special items". Earlier this year during the second quarter the company reported a previous record of $11.68 billion, but that has obviously been broken again in just a few months. Their total revenue for the third quarter has marked a record $137.7 billion, a 40 percent jump over one year ago, accounting for a net income of $12.2 billion and 28 percent surge in revenue to $131.13 billion. Meanwhile, oil prices that were trading at a high of $140.97 this past summer are now trading at less than $70 per barrel. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike this past year only made a small dent in the company, accounting for only $50 million lost before taxes. Bummer, and I thought the whole world was going to end when the hurricanes hit our "oil filled" Gulf of Mexico.
The official SEMA 2008 countdown has begun. Exactly one week from today it's going down, Truckblog.com, Las Vegas, right here, right now. A summary of Truckblog's Live Blogging can be found here.
Check out the list below of our top stories from last week:
Gizmodo posted this neat gadget yesterday called BioBot (warning: their website sucks), which allows you to create your own bio diesel fuel from home. In just eight easy steps, BioBot can produce nearly 20 gallons of diesel fuel per cycle. It uses cooking oil, methoxide, and a catalyst mix to produce the fuel and does so in as little as six hours. The whole BioBot system costs approximately $5,000 and is said to "pay itself within two years". (Note: Cougar not included).
Autoblog posted information about General Motors' new 4.5 liter Duramax diesel motor that is promising a near 35 percent increase in fuel economy for their full size pickup truck segment. The new engine design utilizes an aluminum cylinder head exhaust manifold, integral cam cover intake manifold, hollow balance shaft, aluminum upper oil pan, reduction in vibration, crank journal design, and overall uses less parts within the motor. All of this combined, the new 4.5 liter is expected to produce 310 horse power and 525 foot pounds of torque. Look for the new engine next Fall where it is slated for the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.
Our pre-SEMA show coverage continues with four more project vehicles that were added last week including trucks from Chrysler & Dodge and Screet Scene Equipment. A new episode of MOTORZ was uploaded which covered the install of a AMP Research Bed X-Tender on a 2008 GMC pickup truck, a gas station charged only 35 cents causing a fueling frenzy, and General Motors announced more SUV factory closures.
Yeah, it’s gotta HEMI Hybrid. And best-in-class fuel economy, too. Official EPA fuel economy numbers for the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid are 20 city and 22 highway, achieving best-in-class fuel economy ratings for a full-size 4x4 SUV. Chrysler LLC’s first production hybrids are coupled with the renowned 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS) technology. Total output, when combined with the advanced two-mode hybrid system, is 400 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque – the most powerful hybrid SUVs. The Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid are priced nearly $8,000 below the competition.
Mike Levine of Pickuptrucks uncovered new information about the status of the 2010 Ford F-150 4.4 liter diesel motor. Ford's truck and SUV marketing manager, Doug Scott said "We’re TBD on diesel-engine timing (for the F-150)" and "We can go either way", after questions were raised about the status of the new diesel motor and the current market conditions. Scott noted the reason for the changes is the "continued premium at the pump for diesel fuel as the primary reason for re-examining the business case of a light-duty diesel engine" and concluded with "Even though fuel prices have fallen recently, the (price) differential between gas and diesel hasn’t changed".
In an article posted by MSNBC, Monday morning a Citgo gasoline station in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin accidentally typed in the wrong fuel price at the pump, $0.34 cents per gallon, causing a 90 minute long wait for gasoline. The sign outside the station advertised $3.43 for premium. "That was amazing" said Kelly Joosten, a very happy customer that morning who usually spends over $100 per fill-up on her 1998 Ford Expedition SUV. It only cost Joosten $8.85 for 25 gallons. Gas station owner JP Raval said "the attendant on duty couldn't figure out why the station was suddenly so busy"..."People kept coming, so fast...Everything was crowded; it was like a fairground".
Last week we bought you two new SEMA project trucks, the Turbonetics 2009 F-150 and ICON's Toyota FJ45 classic pickup truck. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab truck was put to the test, as well as Toyota placing the Tundra Heavy Duty under its own tests of whether or not the truck will survive. General Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation both announced huge savings deals on new vehicles, and Ford's new 6.7 liter diesel engine was spotted.
Oil prices continue to plunge just like automotive sales have to a 13 month low last Friday, closing at $77.09 per barrel, the lowest price experienced since September 11, 2007. The government released a report last week stating a 5.3 percent decline in consumer demand for motor gasoline during the same month time span compared to a year ago. "Supplies of cruise in the United States grew by 8.1 million barrels" as well. OPEC have released their response to the government's report stating "The rapid decline in crude prices...
Pickuptrucks.com spotted the 2010 GMC Sierra 2500 heavy duty diesel pickup truck on the road again in Michigan last Friday. Slated to feature GM's updated 6.6 liter Duramax diesel eight cylinder motor that can produce over 700 foot pounds of torque, the truck also features an upgraded grille, head light assembly, and front bumper.
Toyota Technical Center (TTC) celebrated the grand opening of its new engineering and safety testing facilities here today with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Congressman John Dingell, as well as several hundred government officials, community leaders, suppliers and Toyota team members. TTC, a division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA), already has a site in Ann Arbor. With the expansion in York Township, TTC is adding 400 new jobs and will boost its employment to 1,100 by 2010.
Pickuptrucks obtained the latest image of Ford's next generation diesel motor slated for the F-Series Super Duty pickup truck. Dubbed "Scorpion", the 6.7 liter diesel eight cylinder engine was found driving around the factory in Dearborne, Michigan. The new motor is expected to replace the current Navistar 6.4 liter "Power Stroke" by 2011 and is said to produce nearly 390 horsepower and 720 foot pounds of torque. If you look closely at the photo, you'll notice that the motor is actually slanted back, almost to allow for an even larger radiator. What do you think?
Chrysler LLC announced today that the Company and its ENVI organization have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in three different vehicles – one for each of its brands, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, approximately 100 Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009. The Company said that it is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles, and that it will apply electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.
America's best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series, is raising the bar once again – this time with unsurpassed fuel efficiency on the new 2009 F-150, thanks to significant miles per gallon improvement across the entire F-150 lineup. On sale in October, the new F-150 offers fuel economy that has improved an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup as a result of a wide-range of engineering enhancements. The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume 3-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 engine.
Today Electric Vehicle conversion company Envia announced the REV-H Plug-in Ford F150 Hybrid conversion offers fleet customers up to 48 miles per gallon, while reducing carbon emissions by 63%. The concept of a Plug-in Hybrid has become very popular in the last year. Plug-in Hybrid cars take power off the electric-grid at night when demand is low and use it to charge a large battery. The cars can then operate as pure Electric Vehicles at lower speeds, which dramatically reduces gas consumption and carbon emissions. This is ideal for many of the 30 million fleet vehicles in North America, which operate over shorter distances in cities.
The 2009 Dodge Ram pickup is an amazing pickup truck, loaded with state of the art features and offers new options never released on trucks before. What the truck is lacking though (and what Chevrolet and Ford are currently developing and ready to launch soon), is its dual mode hybrid powertrain currently equipped in the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango sports utility vehicles. The new Dodge Ram will also not see a next generation diesel engine, but Dodge promises both will appear "sometime after 2009". The reason they are waiting? We're not quite sure. That question was asked to Dodge Director of Truck Marketing, Joe Veltri, who responded "It's kind of like trying to cover every bet on a roulette wheel" and "No one has the money it takes to cover every possibility at launch. If you want to execute a well-designed product with maximum quality, you have to set some priorities. We set our priorities, and we're pretty happy with the [Ram] product mix".
General Motors' luxury brand, Cadillac, have decided to re-engineer their popular luxury sport utility vehicle, the Cadillac Escalade, into a crossover sport utility vehicle from it's current pickup truck frame platform. Dubbed the "Lambda Escalade" and based off of Chevrolet Traverse, Cadillac needed to develop a more efficient version of the aging SUV that makes more economic sense to the company in a changing market. What will show up under the hood is unknown at this time, but we'll take a guess and say a possible six cylinder or E85 ethanol motor may appear. The Escalade EXT may be on the chopping block as well with the design of a new model.
If you were too concentrated on the
Republican National Convention last week and did not check out Truckblog at all (which is a depressing thing), this is your chance to get a recap on our top stories.
Also for our jubilee of "Office Space" remembrance this week I ask, how many pieces of flare did you wear to work today or over the weekend?
Ford Motor Company are calling their new ethanol boosted engine "Bobcat", not the EcoBoost engine slated for the F-150 pickup truck platform, sources told Pickuptrucks.com. The new ethanol boosted direct-injection gasoline engines "will deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy" thanks to ethanol boost technology. What is ethanol boosting?
Pickuptrucks.com have been able to confirm after speaking with Chrysler LLC chairman Jim Press that the next generation Nissan Titan pickup truck, slated to be built by Chrysler and based off of the Dodge Ram 1500, will receive Chrysler's 380 horse power 5.7 liter Hemi eight cylinder motor and dropping the current Nissan 5.6 liter Endurance eight cylinder motor. Production of the new "Dodge Titan" will begin in 2011 as production of the Nissan Titan ends sometime in 2010.
Just like the scene from "Office Space" where Drew talks about a particular person showing their "OH" face, Truckblog.TV HD is guaranteed to make you show your "OH" face. Check it out at hd.truckblog.tv on Apple iTunes. Here's our wrath from last week, just in case you missed it.
In an article by The Wallstreet Journal, Toyota Motor Company announced they will make their hybrid engine system available in every model by the year 2020, including the popular Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Questions were raised when the announcement was made, inquiring about previous statements that most automakers stated they lose money on hybrids. The statements were clarified by Toyota's North American Head of Sales, Bob Carter, stating "his company makes a profit on its Prius hybrids, which recently exeeded sales of 1 million units globally".
Tests performed by Ford Motor Company show that motorists coached by eco-driving experts can significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their cars, trucks or SUVs. Eco-driving refers to specific driving behaviors that can improve fuel economy, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote safe driving. Ford and Phoenix-based Pro Formance Group have teamed up to pilot an eco-driving program for fleet customers. The program would employ certified master trainers to deliver hands-on coaching to maximize mileage in everyday driving.
It should not come as a surprise that Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd of Mumbai, India have delayed the launch of their pickup truck in the United States until the fourth quarter of 2009. The light duty diesel pickup truck will spend the extra time on United States roads for testing and evaluating, intending to travel 3.2 million miles across 25 trucks before the pickups go on sale. Oddly enough, of the 324 dealers that signed up to sell the Mahindra pickup truck, only a couple of them have actually constructed dealerships.
Chrysler LLC’s Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) began rolling off the assembly line this week at its Newark (Delaware) Assembly Plant. Chrysler is offering the two-mode hybrid powertrain on both vehicles built at the plant, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen. In order to smoothly add one of the automotive industry’s most advanced technologies into their established build process, cross-functional launch teams conducted highly accurate, cost-effective computer simulation of new assembly processes. Similar efforts were conducted at tooling suppliers.
The 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner compact sport utility vehicles added to Ford's leading number of top-safety-rated vehicles by earning five stars in each of the government's crash-worthiness tests. The results top the Toyota RAV-4 and, with the 2009 Escape's improved fuel efficiency, offer better combined safety and fuel efficiency ratings than the Honda CR-V.
Advanced Engine Design Manager, Brett Hinds of Ford Motor Company believes the 3.5 liter six cylinder EcoBoost engine that will find its way into the Ford F-150 pickup truck in 2010 will produce "significantly more than 340 horse power and 340 foot pounds of torque" which beats the current 300 horse power 5.4 eight cylinder currently offered with the pickup truck. The new EcoBoost option is also believed to be equipped with two turbochargers, which prove to be very fuel efficient while producing more power. There is also a chance that the EcoBoost engine may find itself under the hood of the re-designed 2010 Ford Mustang but that has yet to be confirmed. Truck owners, get excited. Reported by AutoNews
Edmunds' Inside Line has test driven the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup truck and the results are positive. Equipped with the same hybrid technology that is used in the 2008 Tahoe and Yukon sport utility vehicle hybrids, the new Silverado Hybrid can tow up to 6,100 pounds and still achieve an average fuel economy rating of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway.
If all of the computer equipment at your work is malfunctioning and makes you T.O.'d like the guys in the movie "Office Space", maybe it's a good time to leave your cubical for a few and go purchase a "Birthday Cake Remix" ice cream love affair from a local Cold Stone Creamery. Or if you want to take your mind off things check out Truckblog.TV on iTunes. Click it and subscribe, you know you want to.
Pickuptrucks has reported that General Motors are delaying the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickups "until the first half of 2009" because of GM reducing their full-size pickup truck production. According to Gary White, Vice President of GM North America, a small number of hybrid pickup trucks will reach showroom floors by the end of the year, but the numbers will be limited. Both trucks were slated to launch this Fall.
General Motors is building on the segment-leading fuel economy of its full-size pickups and SUVs with new XFE models of the 2009 Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon. The vehicles use a combination of mechanical, aerodynamic and mass-reducing enhancements to deliver a 5-percent increase in EPA-estimated highway fuel economy and more than 7-percent improved mileage in city driving. The aero enhancements make Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE models the most aerodynamic full-size pickups in the industry, with a “Best in Class” 0.412 coefficient of drag.
It seems even the automotive juggernaut Toyota Motor Corporation cannot escape the misery of the North American automotive industry after posting a 28 percent drop in profit to $3.2 billion in just three months. The drop in profit and lack of pickup truck and sport utility vehicle sales have also contributed to the sudden stop in development for the Toyota Tundra heavy duty diesel pickup truck. We originally broke the news back in May of a 7.0 liter diesel eight cylinder motor Toyota had been developing but it seems the glory days of large, gas sucking motors is over (at least for now).
The launch of the world’s first hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, begins this month. Achieving a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving, Escalade Hybrid arrives at Cadillac dealerships in the United States with an MSRP of $71,685. That represents a premium of only $3,600 over a comparably-equipped Escalade.
When you attended your "Monday meeting" this morning did your boss ask everyone "is this good for the company?" in reference to any negative actions that occurred around the workplace lately, just like Bill Lumbergh does in "Office Space"? Searching for the latest apps on iTunes for your iPhone or checking your email for hours on end may be not be the best, but subscribing and watching our Truckblog.TV podcast and reading through our best blogs of last week certainly won't hurt the company at all.
Ford Motor Company have canned the F-100 pickup truck project for the time being, focusing more on the current F-150 with alternative fuel solutions and transmissions for the best-selling pickup truck. Ford recently announced the extension of the Ford Ranger pickup production through 2011, which offers a smaller and lighter solution from the F-150. Ford Americas President, Mark Fields, said Ford "is making the investment to catch up with changing consumer demands for smaller gas-sipping vehicles" and also hinted of Ford's new EcoBoost turbo-charged engine to debut on the F-150 "...in 18 months".
Four United States residents crossing the border from Del Rio, Texas into Cuidad Acuna, Mexico last Friday had their trucks impounded and were fined for carrying extra diesel across the border. Those fines are equal to "70 percent of the value of the diesel confiscated", the city report stated. Diesel fuel prices in Mexico are about $2.25 per gallon and drivers have been trying to sneak diesel fuel across the border for months.
Need reliable fuel delivery but not ready to make the investment in a full FASS system? As we continue to set the standards for our industry we are proud to announce our latest innovation to the FASS product line. The Direct Dodge Replacement fuel pump better known as the DDRP, will replace the Dodge 1998.5 to 2002 factory fuel pump.
Now you have the dependability of FASS brands without the cost of a full system. With a half an hour or less of install time we’re even offering a 4 year warranty. That means for the low cost of $299 you will have about a 33 percent of increased flow than what your stock fuel pump can offer. Your new DDRP will have a high torque to gear ratio to ensure extreme cold weather starts. For more information visit www.fassride.com– DrSpeed
According to the Detroit News, Nissan Motor Company will soon be selling vehicles featuring their "ECO Pedal" system, which forces the gas pedal upward when it senses the vehicle speeding up too quickly, helping improve fuel efficiency by 5 to 10 percent. The system "calculates the most efficient rate of acceleration in a vehicle based on how fast fuel is being burned and other factors and causes the gas pedal to push back to alert overzealous drivers".
An avid Ecomodder member by the name of Brett Herndon has created an alternative aerodynamic product for pickup trucks, specifically his F-150, to help cut the drag ratio caused by an open bed and increase the F-150's fuel efficiency by as much as $455 annually. "With pickup trucks, the big, open bed is a big no-no," Herndon said. "If you can cover it even with a bed cover, you're going to improve fuel efficiency," Herndon stated. Made of fiberglass and plastic, Brett also designed the cover to convert into a camper shell.
Is that no talent ass clown in the cubical next to you listening to the radio loudly while you are trying to collate information, just like Peter Gibbons experienced in "Office Space"? Unfortunately right now, the time is 9:00 AM and he is allowed to listen to the radio from 9 till 11. That gives you a two hour time frame to check out Truckblog.TV and read through the list of blogs below from last week.
Last week they brought you the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4x4, and now this week Edmund's Inside Line brings you their review of the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid sport utility vehicle. Dubbed "The Gas-Saving Gas Guzzler", the new Durango Hybrid achieves a fuel economy rating of 19 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway and is powered by a 345 horsepower 5.7 liter eight cylinder motor that also features two additional electric motors. Check out the road test video by clicking here.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. (HEVT) unveiled the world's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the popular Ford F-150 pickup truck at Plug-In 2008 Conference and Exposition, the first international plug-in conference and expo. Converted with a proprietary adaptive controller and using a scaled-down version of the proprietary drive train HEVT has designed for transit buses, the F-150 has been transformed from a standard combustion engine vehicle getting about 16 MPG to a PHEV getting up to 41 MPG for a typical day's driving.
Did you have a severe road rage incident while driving to work this morning just like Samir Nainanajad does in the beginning of the comedy movie "Office Space"? Now that you are at work and have hopefully cooled down before receiving your TPS reports (you can go ahead and ignore them), take some time to check out our big blogs from last week, then watch the best of Office Space on YouTube so that you understand all of my Office Space references I've made every Monday morning for the past six months. Once you are done with that, please subscribe to our free podcast on iTunes and check out our latest Truckblog.TV episode.
Ford's new 4.4 liter eight cylinder diesel motor has been caught by Pickuptrucks.com, this time showing the whole engine compartment of the F-150. Expected to be in production by late 2009, the new motor will be built in Mexico and is expected to feature 340 horsepower and 430 foot pounds of torque!
Raser Technologies today announced it is developing a 100 mile per gallon (mpg) light truck in addition to a 100 mpg SUV. Raser’s plug-in electric drive system is designed to allow light trucks such as the Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, or Dodge Ram to achieve over 100 mpg in typical local daily driving with near zero emissions, by using electricity instead of petroleum as the primary fuel.
Pickuptrucks.com uncovered new information about the development of the new 6.7 liter eight cylinder diesel motor nicknamed "Scorpion" by Ford engineers. Set to replace the current Navistar 6.4 liter eight cylinder diesel motor, the new engine is expected to pack a hefty 390 horsepower and 720 foot pounds of torque, along with an improved fuel economy of three miles per gallon which is huge for such a heavy truck.
Jalopnik obtained new pictures of the 2010 Ford F-150 diesel pickup truck in the wild, showcasing the first evidence of the 4.4 liter diesel engine actually being tested, which proves that Ford really is working on the new power platform for the lighter duty pickup truck.
With elevated gas prices and the summer travel season in full swing, Americans are looking for ways to save at the pump. Ford has some quick tips for all consumers, suggesting changes to their driving behavior. Fuel-efficiency experts agree that learning to drive differently can increase fuel efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving behaviors such as rapid acceleration, speeding and braking can lower gas mileage significantly. Sensible driving not only helps conserve precious fuel resources while saving money, it’s also safer for all drivers.
Has the boss approached you yet this morning about the missing cover sheet on your TPS reports? Did you see the memo about Truckblog.TV and Apple iTunes within those reports? Just in case you haven't yet, check out the TPS report here, which lists information about our free podcast on iTunes. Click the subscribe button within iTunes and help support Truckblog. Positive feedback and comments are appreciated too! As Bill Lumberg from "Office Space" says, "If you could make sure you do that from now on, that would be grrrreeeat....and i'll make sure you get another copy of that memo, Mmmmkay?".
There's also another memo about reading the top blogs from last week but that can come second, after subscribing to our podcast. Educate below.
I posted an article at the beginning of the month about how you can save money on gasoline purchases with the MyGallons Card and as the old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Well, that happens to be the case for MyGallons. MyGallons.com have suspended accepting membership fees due to not having a contract in place to process transactions. Caught by the Better Business Bureau (wow, they actually do something?) of South East Florida, MyGallons.com have been forced to roll their current fees into a non-interest bearing escrow account until an operating contract is established.
In an article by Detroit News, automakers are seeking new and different ways to meet the current consumer demand of more fuel efficient vehicles, specifically for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of those new ideas consist of the basics, which are equipping vehicles with low rolling resistance tires that help achieve an extra mile or two per gallon. One of the first vehicles to see these "energy-saving tires" is the 2009 Ford Escape hybrid SUV.
Go Wide. Save Green. Michelin is going coast-to-coast to share what thousands of fleets have already learned - environmentally-friendly transportation makes good business sense. Michelin's North American tour will feature real world examples of commercial trucking fleets and owner/operators who have benefited from the improved fuel efficiency, weight savings, and time savings that MICHELIN X One wide single tires deliver.
According to sources that spoke with Mike Levine of Pickuptrucks.com, Ford Motor Company are possibly working on an Ford EcoBoost four cylinder engine for their popular (and now struggling) F-150 pickup truck by the year 2013. The source claims the engine displacement will be "around 2.5-liters, produce 260 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque". Ford has made the decision to drop their 4.2 liter six cylinder motor into the F-150 for the 2009 model year and only offering the 4.6 liter eight cylinder, dropping the 5.4 eight cylinder motor. It is too soon to tell how these engines will be put into effect since the price of gasoline and crude oil are unpredictable, Ford's director of powertrain research, Dan Kapp, stated "The EcoBoost range of engines are likely to find their way into several different models across Ford's line up". We shall see.
The Jeep J8 multipurpose vehicle made its first appearance at a consumer event during Euro Camp Jeep 2008 in Northern Germany. The J8 marks the Jeep brand's return to commercial and military vehicle production with a thoroughly modern vehicle designed to meet the needs of both non-government organizations and government agencies. "The new Jeep J8 combines the legendary capability and dependability that makes the Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited famous with unmatched cargo capacity and an exceptional towing rating," said Thomas Hausch, Vice President – International Sales, Chrysler LLC.
Don't you hate it when you are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on your way to work and there's some no talent ass clown blasting his stereo so loud even the dead can hear it? Plus they are rapping words such as "I got this killa up inside of me...I can't talk to my mother so I talk to my diary". That incident happens to be one of my favorite scenes from the movie, "Office Space". If you have not seen it, click here for the YouTube link.
An alternative idea for dealing with the situation is to throw a brick at their window check out the list of last week's blogs at www.Truckblog.com via your new Apple iPhone 3G you desperately waited in line all day for over the weekend, or watch our latest Truckblog.TV video on iTunes from your laptop while stuck in traffic. Check out the list below.
Edmunds.com have put together a cool little calculator that allows you to determine how much money you would save by trading in your gas guzzler truck or SUV for a more fuel efficient vehicle. The calculator shows you how many months it will take to pay off the balance of your new purchase before you actually start saving money on fuel. The results will most likely be several years before you see any savings. Click here to check out the calculator.
For 2009, General Motors offers 18 FlexFuel models capable of running on E85 ethanol, ordinary gasoline or any combination of the two – more than any automaker. The models cover the gamut from the four-cylinder Chevrolet HHR small crossover to the full-size Cadillac Escalade ESV luxury utility. E85, which consists of up to 85 percent ethanol mixed with gasoline, is a cleaner-burning, higher-octane fuel that can help offset rising demand for oil. “We continue to believe that biofuels, specifically E85, is the most significant thing we can do in the near-term to offset future energy demands,” said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy.
