Archive for October, 2008
Automaker’s Strategies For Improving Truck Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is a hot topic in every American household, and automakers are doing their best to re-tool their production lines to shift the focus of their newer vehicles onto more efficient designs and technologies. While it is not so difficult to create smaller vehicles which are lighter, powered by smaller engines and use less fuel, it is definitely a challenge to take more purpose-built vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUV’s and reduce their fuel consumption without compromising their utility.
There are several characteristics shared by pickup trucks that cause them to inherently use more fuel than an automobile. One of the ‘biggest’ issues is their size. Pickup trucks are heavy vehicles, partly due to their rugged frames which are required for hauling and towing, and partly due to the weight of their 4-wheel drive systems and heavy-duty suspensions. Pickup trucks are also quite large in order to have excellent cargo capacity. Larger size = more air resistance a.k.a. drag. All of that weight and aerodynamic drag requires a fair amount of horsepower to move, meaning that trucks must be equipped with larger displacement motors in order to provide to the flat, linear torque curve that is required for both daily driving and for towing.
The Tundra’s 5.7L V8 with VVT-i.
Popularity: 2%
Criminal Assassins Black 2007 Tundra
We found a handful of Tundra videos on YouTube left by a user calling themselves tundrablack. After a little investigating (and a lot of video watching), we found this user’s CarDomain.com page. This truck is awesome.
Here’s what’s been done to this truck:
Performance accessories:
- Volant air intake
- Throttle body spacer
- 40 Series Flowmasters
- UniChip power tuner
- Underdrive pulley kit
- Performance spark plugs and coils
- Headers
- Fitch fuel catalyst
Popularity: 6%
Dodge Selling The Viper To Highest Bidder
There’s a term for a vehicle that’s so special that it casts a spell on an entire brand – it’s called a “halo car.” There are quite a few halo cars etched in the public consciousness. The Corvette. The Mustang. The Supra. They don’t need to be described by a brand (i.e. Chevy, Ford, or Toyota) – they describe the brand all by themselves.
The Dodge Viper (designs, tooling, brand, trademarks and all) is up for sale, and there’s a good chance the new owner will be overseas.
Flashback to 1990, when the world was abuzz with the news that Chrysler was going to make an affordable supercar. “Chrysler?” people would say – “Really?” The Viper came out in 1991, and it was followed by a series of very successful vehicles (the new Ram, the Intrepid, even the Neon) that arguably resurrected the company. The Viper was, in short, a halo car. It cast a halo upon the entire brand that helped sell cars.
So why in the world would Chrysler part with the Viper?
Popularity: 2%
Edmunds Likes Tundra Long Term
We’re not sure why, but the reviewers at Consumer Reports, Car and Driver, and Edmunds.com don’t seem to know very much about pickups. It’s not because they don’t like our favorite truck – the Tundra always does well enough – it’s just that all the reviews have some variation of this complaint:
The truck is too big. Wah. It’s hard for us to park. Boo-hoo. We don’t like the fact that it rides and handles like a truck. Sniff sniff.
No kidding? You found the “truck-like qualities” of the truck you tested to be a little uncomfortable? Go figure.
They must not be truck people.
Anyone else think this cute widdle guy works for Edmunds.com?
Take this Edmunds.com Toyota Tundra long-term test update. The Tundra enjoyed quite a few compliments – such as:
Popularity: 3%
