2012 Honda Ridgeline Sport first test
Honda — February 20, 2012Ridgeline from Honda always has been in-between automobile. It is hybrid mix of the utility/sport & truck, basically SUT that is quite similar to Chevrolet Avalanche, Hummer H2 SUT, Cadillac Escalade EXT, & Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Ever since Honda joined this particular group in the year 2006, there [...]
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2012 Honda Ridgeline Sport first test
Ridgeline from Honda always has been in-between automobile. It is hybrid mix of the utility/sport & truck, basically SUT that is quite similar to Chevrolet Avalanche, Hummer H2 SUT, Cadillac Escalade EXT, & Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Ever since Honda joined this particular group in the year 2006, there have been plenty of changes. All but Escalade/Avalanche are now gone, & those might disappear in a couple of years. However, there aren’t a lot of changes with Ridgeline. This has led to rumors that uni body half-ton too was going the same way as rest of category of SUT.
Honda refers to this as SUT (Honda is calling it pickup), but it also says that there are not intentions of discontinuing this model. As manager of Honda Truck Planning of Product – Sage Marie said in one statement [...]
February 20th, 2012 | Honda
2012 Ram Laramie Limited is a really fancy truck
Chicago Auto Show was previously as truck show for a lot of years, with the automakers using McCormick Place for showing off their sports-utility automobiles & pick ups. The trends have shifted in world of automotive (the word ‘SUV’ is quite dirty these days), some of companies are still taking time for debuting one or two special truck in Windy City. Pick up truck arm of Chrysler – Ram recently has brought the new 2012 Laramie Limited in Chicago and are offering full-sized buyers of truck a lot of standard upscale amenities in really classy package.
Exterior of Ram Laramie Limited is attended to along with addition of the big wheels of alloy and accents of chrome. On the inside there is leather upholstery smattering along with contrast stitching, heated seats, berber [...]
February 13th, 2012 | News
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid – Questionable value
What is new in the 2012 model?
For 2012 GMC Sierra Hybrid model, the system of optional navigation is now based on hard-drive (the predecessor had DVD) and 3HB trim level now has rear view camera.
Intro
When full-sized pick up truck gives you 20 mpg in city, it gets hard to ignore. In fact, it is hard not to feel tempted, applaud and then text all your friends about it. Combination of power of V8, serious capability of hauling and robust frame simply shouldn’t equate to frugality at pump. Still 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid is a good proof that it can.
For fuel efficiency isn’t easily accomplished. Sierra Hybrid uses technologically sophisticated and advanced hybrid power train which is constantly selecting most competent means of moving the hefty mass of the truck — whether that is [...]
January 27th, 2012 | GMC, Trucks Review
2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Review
Some of the Americans might not wish to admit about this but a lot of items that are made in this country aren’t subtle by any means. Full sized pick up truck is as American as an apple pie and there isn’t any denying that such dinosaurs are kinda ‘in your face’. They are produced and marketed in such a way that the size isn’t hidden but flaunted. Big tires, big beds, and the bigger engines are required for staying competitive and with out these items checked from the list, the bragging rights can be kissed goodbye by any truck. 2011 Ram 1500 4×4 Outdoorsman is all American and there is nothing that will make the truck hang its head in shame.
You won’t find a vehicle of this magnitude anywhere in US. 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman is assembled at Warren, Michigan, [...]
January 20th, 2012 | Dodge, Trucks Review
Ford closes their Minnesota truck assembly plant
Ford decided to shut down production at their St. Paul, Minnesota plant of trucks on 16th of December. It was a plant which assembled Ranger lightweight pickup for American markets. Due to the closure, there were about 800 jobs wiped out and a lot of affected workers went elsewhere to look for work in middle of worse economic recession since 1930s.
Decision to shut down St. Paul facility was first thought about in the year 2006 when the new president of Ford and the CEO – Alan Mulally had announced new plan named ‘The Way Forward’. The plan was to close down 16 plants with termination of 30,000 workers and it reduced the workforce of the company in North America by about 29 percent.
One of the Ford workers who had been working with the automaker since the past 12 workers said that they [...]
January 13th, 2012 | News
Sales of trucks revving despite the high gas prices
People in America just can’t get enough of trucks. Latest reports say that in December, there was a huge boost in the sales of SUVs, vans, and pickups. Combined, there was an increase by 54.8 percent. The trend of truck defies logic. Trucks consume a plenty of fuel and the prices of gasoline are above $3 per gallon.
The trucks, especially pick ups are known as workhorse of the tradesmen and contractors. Brian Irwin, the head of auto practice at a consultancy says that their business is steadily going up. Even if it is not, he says that the tradesman and businesses that are hammered by recession will put off purchasing new trucks but will eventually end up buying one.
Here are two illustrations –
Ford Motor, which is known as a champion in the world of fuel economy automobiles, says [...]
January 6th, 2012 | News
Nissan starts recalling the vehicles having faulty bolts
Nissan started recalling more than 14,000 autmobiles that were produced between 2011 and 2012. Automobiles having faulty bolts in their engine were recalled. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the bolts which connect engine oil cooler and engine oil filter to engine for these automobiles might have been made below the specified strength.
The affected Nissan automobiles include 2011-12 Pathfinder, 2012 Frontier, 2012 NV, and 2011-12 Xterra. Apart from this, 2011 Infinti FX and the 2012 Infiniti M too are recalled due to the same issue.
NHTSA report says that if there is any engine oil leak, then the pressure drops and engine can seize. This isn’t good news.
Recall will be started some where around January and the Nissan dealers are going to replace connector bolts [...]
December 30th, 2011 | News
Sales of Volvo truck climb in November
Swedish manufacturer, AB Volvo, recently said that their truck sales in the month of November increased to 22 percent. This reflects strong performance for Eastern Europe and the regions of North American and the heavy duty automobiles. The total sales of the truck operations rose to 22,440 units from 18,454 units in earlier year. The total sales in the market for Volvo Group operations of truck include UD Trucks, Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, Mack, and Eicher according to the company.
On basis of geography, the sales in Europe rose from twelve percent of last year to about 8,552 units and the sales was boosted by 71 percent rise for Eastern Europe. Western Europe deliveries increased by two percent. This company noted that the macro-economic uncertainty right now is impacting the truck customers [...]
December 23rd, 2011 | News
Chinese military truck shows off its terrain prowess
The automotive industry in China is an emerging force and a lot of foreign automakers are setting up several joint ventures in the most populated country in the world. There are some European marques gobbled up by few Chinese conglomerates as well. The domestic brands in China can make serious automobiles having serious capabilities. The off road military truck that has been included here in this video is an excellent example of this.
It was built by Xiaolong Automotive, based in Wuhan and the name of the vehicle is XLW2090. There were a dozen automobiles built like this and there are different configurations offered based on adaptable chassis. It is an off road truck having three axle system and has four and half liter Cummins diesel engine of four cylinders with ground clearance of over [...]
December 16th, 2011 | News
Chevrolet gets nostalgic on trucks
General Motors is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a tribute to the long truck lineage of the company. This car maker started making pickups in the year 1918 with 490 Light Delivery and they haven’t stopped since then. We were a bit disappointed to see that this video glosses over the tasty looking hardware like 1956 Chevrolet Apache and 1967 Chevrolet Suburban which is really attractive. However, beggars can not be choosers. This time spends some time with Blazer and includes some really good footage of utility which bounces off from dusty trail with the top off.
This video, unfortunately, is served with some dryness of middle school health documentary. Hence you shouldn’t expect too much with regards to entertainment. The people who like this brand and the trucking geeks will [...]
December 15th, 2011 | News