Measuring in at thirty feet long, ten feet high and weighing as much as a school bus or 13 tons, the "Monster Motorbike from Hell" was designed by stunt driver, Ray Baumann of Perth, Australia. Powered by a Detroit Diesel truck engine, six speed Allison transmission, and a two speed Eaton differential, the monster motor bike also has 10 foot tall tires. Check out the pictures and video inside.
The 2009 Ford Escape, equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission, is the coveted fuel economy leader among all small SUVs. With fuel prices at record highs, the 2009 Ford Escape with front-wheel drive is the smart choice for SUV customers, thanks to its 28 highway/20 city mpg, fun-to-drive performance. “With gas prices rising, we want to offer our customers even more fuel-efficient vehicles,” says David Finnegan, Escape marketing manager.
Yahoo Finance reports that Toyota Motor Corp, General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Corp, Chrysler LLC and other manufacturers have complained to the United States government about its strict proposal to raise fuel efficiency rates by the middle of the next decade. The manufacturers stated the deadline of 2011 through 2015 is "unworkable".
This year, Ford Motor Company is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the car credited with "putting the world on wheels," the Model T. Henry Ford's iconic vehicle, which officially brought the world into the age of the "horseless carriage," also is responsible for hundreds of innovations that jumpstarted the automotive industry as we know it. This list focuses on the 10 most important influences of the Model T and how the world was forever changed by them.
The following video is of some dumbass moron who decided to drive daddy's Hummer H2 SUV through a pond and ends up failing miserably. Just because it's a Hummer does not mean it can do everything. Check out the video inside.
WorldCarFans got their hands on some spyshots of the 2009 Ford F-450 Harley-Davidson edition pickup truck. The exterior features a couple modifications including chrome inserts, special wheels, upgraded grille assembly, new fender vents, and the famous blue flames down the doors and body panels. The interior is getting the usual Harley Davidson black leather upgrade with chrome accents around the cab. No word yet on any performance upgrades though and the expected sticker price will be around the $60k mark.
Mygallons.com is making it easier for consumers to save money on gasoline prices by pre-purchasing gas at today's rates and saving you money at the pump by using your MyGallons Card when fuel prices rise. An example given on their site is if you purchase 100 gallons of fuel at $3.50 per gallon and when the actual price of fuel at the gas station is $4.00 per gallon, you save $.50 cents per gallon. The cost for the card is $29.95 annually and it is accepted at most major gas stations including Exxon, Citgo, Getty, Sundco, Wawa, Lukoil, 76, BP, Chevron, Amoco, Shell, Texaco, and more.
The 2008 Ford Explorer is more resistant to damage and less likely to cause damage to other vehicles in low-speed crashes than other midsize sport utility vehicles, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported today. “The Ford Explorer has been the benchmark SUV for family capability, safety and value for two decades,” said Darryl Hazel, president, Ford Customer Service Division. “Insurance companies are more likely to give Explorer customers discounts because of this established track record.”
Chrysler LLC today reported total June 2008 U.S. sales of 117,457 units, which is 36 percent below the same period last year. Total June sales reflect a continued contraction of the market, especially of pickup trucks and SUVs, continued reductions in fleet sales, and increases in Chrysler’s newest highly fuel-efficient vehicles. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.
Cars, SUVs, and pickups share the road but they don't share the same standard for bumpers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has petitioned the federal government to regulate the bumpers on light trucks (SUVs, pickups, and vans) just as it regulates those on cars. The same bumper rules should apply to all kinds of passenger vehicles. To meet federal rules, car bumpers must be 16 to 20 inches off the ground and limit the amount of damage that can be sustained in a low-speed crash. The idea is to ensure that the bumpers on colliding cars engage, absorbing most of the energy of the impact and keeping damage away from expensive-to-repair parts like fenders, grilles, headlights, and taillights.
Pickuptrucks.com obtained information about the new 5.7-liter eight cylinder TRD supercharger from Toyota for the 2007 and newer Tundra pickup trucks. Set up as a twin screw roots-type unit at a boost pressure of 8.5 pounds per square inch, the TRD supercharger cranks out 504 horse power and 550 foot pounds of torque, up from the stock 381 horse power and 401 foot pounds of torque. Toyota is backing their TRD supercharger with a 12 month, unlimited mileage warranty, or remaining balance of the factory 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. The new unit will set you back a hefty $5,875.
Gold Eagle Co.’s DieselPower! diesel additives are perfect for the growing market of diesel-powered trucks and cars. The DieselPower! line consists of four products: Complete Fuel System Treatment, Fuel Injector Cleaner, Performance Improver & Cetane Booster and Anti-Gel & Fuel Treatment. These additives are available in a 12-ounce and 20-ounce size – perfect for either a light-duty truck or diesel car owner, or the driver of a larger diesel vehicle such as a motor home, large boat, farm equipment or commercial truck.
If you live in the state of California or Washington, beginning today the law will require drivers to use hands-free devices on cell phones while driving any vehicle. The new law also bans any drivers under the age of 18 years old from using cell phones or other mobile devices while behind the wheel. Many states across the nation are quickly passing laws requiring the hands-free devices to help make the roads safer. There is also a no grace period for drivers caught talking and driving without the hands-free devices. The only clause to the new law is if drivers are making emergency calls to law enforcement, medical, fire department or any emergency services agency. For more information about the law in California, visit dmv.ca.gov and Seattlepi for Washington residents.
The auto industry is going through a period of unprecedented change. A dramatic U.S. economic slowdown and an auto industry contraction leaves Chrysler LLC – like other automakers – to face difficult issues and decisions. In order to meet those market challenges, the company is announcing that it will make volume-related manufacturing reductions at two of its North American assembly plants.
Edmunds Inside Line has uncovered information that performance experts, Saleen Inc., have released their VI twin-screw supercharger for the 2007 to 2008 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The supercharger unit features a revolutionary two-stage water-to-air intercooler system which adds up to 100 horsepower and 100 foot pounds of torque.
If improving the fuel economy of your truck or SUV is of importance to you, then you need to continue reading on. Hypermiling or "fuel efficient driving" is a term that was created by drivers who use certain driving techniques to greatly improve their gas mileage. Inside, I have composed a list of fifteen hypermiling techniques that will hopefully ease your pain at the pump. Check them out inside.
I am not quite sure who persuaded Mike Levine to climb inside the new "RamBox" bedside found on the 2009 Dodge Ram, but this YouTube video explains why he did it. Mike does a good job of demonstrating the size and volume of the newly added cargo area when climbing in, but it makes me wonder if the new Ram Box option could have been displayed better with actual contents such as tools, paint buckets, ropes, tow hooks, or other common accessories that are actually found in the beds of pickup trucks and not human bodies. Check out the video inside.
Did you get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic this morning like Peter Gibbons does in "Office Space"? You slide on over to the fast lane just in the nick of time for it to slow down and the lane you were in then speeds ahead. This stop and go traffic completely destroys the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, causing you to get worse gas mileage. Our top blog from last week, Fuel Saving Tips Revisited, Save Dollars And Cents Using These Techniques, can be used as a guide to help your vehicle become more fuel efficient and save you money at the pump. And while you are scrolling, take some time to check out our other top articles from last week. We all know how many minutes of actual work are done anyway, right?.
