Autoblog

Mahindra delays launch in U.S. to late 2009

Chris Tutor — 2008-08-25T17:01:00+00:00

Filed under: SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, India

Truck shoppers hoping to grab a Mahindra pickup early next year are gonna have to wait a little longer. It seems the challenges of bringing an India-made vehicle to the U.S. are difficult, and the vehicles now won't go on sale in the U.S. before the fourth quarter of 2009.

Even though 324 dealers have signed up to sell the truck, few of them have actually built the needed facilities. That's not enough to keep Georgia-based Global Vehicles from going ahead with their plans to begin U.S. sales. But GV's CEO John Perez recenly spoke to Mahindra's global managing director Anand Mahindra who, according to Automotive News, said that no truck with his family's name on it was going to fail in the U.S. Mr. Mahindra plans to run a fleet of his company's vehicles over 3.2 million miles of U.S. roads before he'll be approve the trucks for sale here.

The plan is for the trucks to utilize a 4-cylinder diesel engine not yet approved by the EPA. But Perez says he has no fear their January application will have any trouble getting blessed.

While the trucks are getting some U.S. experience, Global Vehicles will continue to sign up new dealers, and hopes to have 450 by the end of 2009. The importer has a sales goal of 50,000 vehicles a year, though Mahindra says it could produce as many as 400,000 U.S.-bound trucks if demand is there. And if Mahindra's promise of 30 mpg holds true, there could be huge demand. If things go well, look for a diesel-powered Mahindra SUV to follow.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, Pickuptrucks.com]

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Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-08-25T12:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Special/Limited Editions

Outdoor enthusiasts and urban cowboys get some love from Ford this year in the form of the Blue Oval's first-ever Cabela FX4-edition F-Series and the latest Harley-Davidson tie-up -- the first time ever the Bar and Shield logo has appeared on the heaviest-duty F-450 model.

Apparently, Ford has found that 76-percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish, hence the newly expanded relationship between the automaker and the outdoorsy retailer. Consisting mostly of a paint and badge job, the Cabela buyer gets his or her choice of five two-tone paint schemes: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic -- all with Sterling Grey Metallic lower accents along the rocker panels, running boards and wheel arch moldings.

For the twelfth iteration of the Harley-Davidson edition, Ford will put blue-flames along the length of the vehicle and on the black leather seats. Also included are large chromed vents just aft of the front wheels. Expect plenty of Harley logos all over the truck, though a photo has yet to appear.

Along with these two new models, the Super Duty trucks receive an optional spray-in bedliner from the factory, an integrated trailer brake controller, the new Ford Work Solutions suite, Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link and the heavy duty trucks first application of SYNC.

[Source: Ford, Pickuptrucks.com]

Continue reading Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models

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eBay Find of the Day: Frank's "Million Mile" Chevy Silverado

Dan Roth — 2008-08-21T11:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Time Warp, Trucks/Pickups, Auction Action, Etc., Chevrolet

You've got thirty grand and you want a pickup truck, do you A) buy new, or B) hit eBay for a million-mile Silverado. Frank, who had a mild brush with celebrity when the odometer on his truck hit seven-figures recently, would like you to buy his truck. The 1991 Chevy Silverado 1500 is still on its original 350 small-block, though it's chewed up 5 trannies. Frank raves on and on about its remarkable engine and wants it to go to a collector who will appreciate it, but still go out for a ride from time to time. It is an impressive mileage total, but really, who's going to question that a small block V8 is one of the best engines ever? Maintenance has apparently been rather thorough, which is a help keeping any car alive, though we're surprised it hasn't been ravaged by the tinworm. Frank's auction ends in three days and so far hasn't moved beyond its starting bid of $29,999.99. With Employee Pricing back, however, you can get a brand new Chevy Silverado Regular Cab with a short box and zero miles for just $19,899.

Gallery: Million Mile Silverado

[Source: eBay]

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Navistar not going to buy GM's medium duty truck business

Jonathon Ramsey — 2008-08-20T14:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Etc., Commercial Trucks, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

It's an epic poem that could have been written by Byron: you suffered a nasty breakup and met a new girl, you dated for a while, things were looking outstanding, you proposed... and then the bottom dropped out of the medium-duty truck business. We've seen it all before. And now that it's happened, Navistar has backed away from it's non-binding commitment to purchase GM's medium-duty truck operations.

GM and Navistar only had a memorandum of understanding, so there appears to be no harm, no foul in Navistar getting icy feet. The brief announcement of the dissolution presents it as a mutual affair: "Due to significant marketplace and economic changes, GM and Navistar have decided not to renew the memorandum of understanding to purchase GM's medium duty truck business," but we imagine GM standing at the altar, watching its Navistar groom bolt from the church and hop in a taxi.>

GM is still talking to Navistar and looking at other ways to ~~dump~~ find a good home for its medium duty truck business. A shame, because they make some fine vehicles.

[Source: GM]

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2010 Pontiac G8 ST may get direct-inject V6

Chris Shunk — 2008-08-20T12:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, GM, Pontiac, Rumormill

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST

The Pontiac G8 Sport Truck was originally supposed to be powered only by General Motors' 361-horsepower 6.0L V8, but tough fuel economy standards and customer demand for fuel efficient products have conspired to change the General's plans. Edmunds Inside Line quotes an anonymous senior engineer at the General saying that the unique sport ute will receive automaker's 3.6L V6, as well. That's good news for fuel economy, but the better news is that the 3.6L V6 of choice will be the direct injection versoin. That will likely give the G8 ST the same 300+hp as the 2010 Camaro and Cadillac CTS. That should also make the base ST more appealing to enthusiasts and the average Joe, with more power at the pedal and a healthier torque curve. The DI version of GM's 3.6L V6 will also likely be available in the base G8 sedan for the 2010 model year, as well.

It makes sense that GM would go with direct injection for the G8 ST, as the General has already promised the powerful V6 for the Chevy Traverse and Camaro. Putting DI in more vehicles will help drive down the cost of producing these more high-tech engines economy of scale while also giving customers V8ish performance with V6ish fuel economy. Keep in mind, however, that though a GM engineer was quoted, none of this is official word from GM, so plans could change.

Gallery: 2010 Pontiac G8 ST

[Source: Inside Line]

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Dallas HOA prohibits parking F-150 in driveway; Lincoln Mark LT allowed

Michael Harley — 2008-08-18T17:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Etc., Ford, Humor

Yet another example of a Homeowner's Association run amok... A Texas homeowner in Frisco (just north of Dallas) has been told by the Stonebriar HOA that his new Ford F-150 isn't allowed to be parked in his driveway. The Association, established to protect Jim Greenwood's interests (that's the theory at least), will allow his neighbor's Cadillac Escalades, Honda Ridgelines, and even a HUMMER or two, but his new pickup violates a rule that prohibits pickups in the driveway. When Mr. Greenwood inquired as to why a Lincoln Mark LT could park in the neighborhood, but his practically identical F-150 couldn't, the response from the HOA was, "'It's our belief that Lincoln markets to a different class of people." Doh! As of now, Mr. Greenwood's options are to get another vehicle, or move. If it were us, we'd replace the F-150 with a yellow Caterpillar 972H Wheel Loader. Yeah, that would get them to quickly change their mind... Thanks for the tip, Neil!

[Source: Dallas News]

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Ford slashing F-150 customization by 90 percent

Michael Harley — 2008-08-18T13:33:00+00:00

Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Trucks/Pickups, Plants/Manufacturing, Commercial Trucks, Hatchbacks, Ford, Lincoln

Click on the pic above for our high-res 2009 Ford F-150 gallery

As staggering as it may seem, the 2008 Ford F-150 pickup can be ordered in billions of different combinations. That's all going to change for 2009. In an effort to reduce complexity and cut spiraling costs in the process, Ford will be slashing the number of possible F-150 configurations by 90 percent. The automaker isn't leaving the rest of the lineup alone either. The Ford Expedition goes from 250,000 combos down to fewer than 10,000. The 2009 Lincoln MKS debuts with about 300 combinations, and the 2010 Ford Focus will offer only about 150, which is 95 percent fewer than the current model. Are you in the market for a 2009 Ford F-150 and worried that you won't be able to get it exactly the way you want? Don't fret, Ford will still offer more than 9 million combinations for next year's model, including a brown one we presume.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

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Man buys truck with change, LOTS of change

Dan Roth — 2008-08-14T10:29:00+00:00

Filed under: Car Buying, Trucks/Pickups, Etc., Chevrolet

I once bought an ice cream cone with two fistfuls of pennies. It did not make me popular on that busy summer's day many years ago, but I got my sugar cone with a scoop of Black Raspberry. A 70-year-old Ohio man recently bellied up to the bar at his local Chevrolet dealer and allowed them to count $8,000 worth of coins as a down payment for a new Silverado. James Jones was badly injured by his last truck, a 1981 Chevy that ran him over when the parking brake failed, so it was time to put the old girl out to pasture. After the dealership spent an hour and a half counting through the various coinage in the 16 coffee cans that Jones presented, he got his truck. The full price of the truck was closer to $16,000, so whichever company is financing the truck should go out and buy a coin counter right now. You see, Jones explains that he just doesn't like banks, and wisely realizes that paper money will burn, so he kept his savings in coins all this time. When he says he bought his truck for pennies, he really means it. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Cincinnati.com, Photo by Darren Hester | Creative Commons]

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Officially Official: Pontiac G8 ST it is

Dan Roth — 2008-08-14T00:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, GM, Pontiac

Click above for hi-res gallery of the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST

We often go poking around General Motors' media resources, so imagine our surprise when we were searching for something totally unrelated and found fresh images of Pontiac's iteration of the Holden Ute. Still warm like just-baked cookies, the images show off a great looking dark-hued modern-day El camino. And for what do we deserve a new batch of G8 ute pics? They accompany word from on high that the official name for this trucklet has been decided. Meet the Pontiac G8 ST.

You may remember that GM solicited submissions, or rather suggestions, for what the G8 ST should be named. But after months of waiting and however many submissions, the best they could do was G8 ST? That's the name they started with! Now we feel all cheap and used, like GM knew what they were going to call this thing all along. Whatever, it will be holding court as the king of awesome in your local Pontiac dealer's showroom in late 2009 as a 2010 model. The 74-inch cargo bed and 3,500 lb towing capacity will allow you to haul more than just ass, though the V8 will surely facilitate that nicely. Pontiac's official press release can be found after the jump, and those new high-res images are in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Pontiac G8 ST

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Officially Official: Pontiac G8 ST it is

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2009 Dodge Ram priced from $22,170

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-08-13T12:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Car Buying, Trucks/Pickups, Dodge

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram

Dodge has a tough road ahead when it comes to selling the redesigned 2009 Ram. Though fuel prices have indeed dropped a bit in the last few weeks, consumers surely still have cash registers ringing in their heads when thinking of large V8 engines and four-wheel drive. So, to ease the newest Ram into the market, Dodge has decided to lower its price a bit compared to the outgoing model while also adding some unique and heretofore unavailable content to the mix. The dealings will start at $22,170 for base models with the regular cab, $26,225 for Quad Cab models and $32,530 for Dodge's first-ever Crew 1500 models. Opting for a top-end Laramie Ram Crew 1500 4x4 will cost you $44,140, which is on par with other top-of-the-line competitors from Ford and GM. Engine options include a revised 390-horse 5.7-liter HEMI, which will allow the quickest Ram to make it to 60 mph in less than six seconds, while a 310-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 and an anemic 3.7-liter V6 with just 215 horses on tap brings up the rear. See the full pricing breakdown after the break.

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram

[Source: Chrysler LLC]

Continue reading 2009 Dodge Ram priced from $22,170

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9/11 Silverado featured in Olympics commercial

Alex Nunez — 2008-08-13T08:28:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM

A tip of the cap is due to GM for the automaker's new Chevy Silverado TV spot, which premiered this Sunday during the Olympics. The spot features brief testimonials from drivers of high-mileage pickups wearing the bowtie badge, but one stands out more than the rest. Twenty seconds in, FDNY Firefighter Craig Monahan's segment opens with a wide shot of him standing in front of the Manhattan skyline. His battered truck has melted lights and a Ladder 5 placard affixed to the bed on the driver's side. In the spot, he recounts how the damaged truck started when he reached into the singed interior and turned the ignition key, saying that it served as an isnpiration, "If that truck could keep going, then we could all keep going."

This all happened on 9/11, a fact left unsaid but tactfully implied in the commercial. Veteran New York Daily News reporter Michael Daly knows Monahan and tells the truck's full story in an excellent piece that ran in Tuesday's Daily News. Frankly, you need to go there and just read the whole thing, because Daly's account is first-rate. Reading it also underscores the level of restraint GM exercised in how it used the truck in the commercial. It's a great TV spot, but the story behind that one particular 14-second segment is more remarkable and inspirational than you'd ever guess. Firefighter Monahan agreed to let his truck be used because he felt it was important for people see it and get a feel for what it represents. Monahan was compensated by GM for his participation, but he donated that money to another FDNY family, showing that even now, that burned and battered Chevy still helps him help others. We salute him, and we hope he keeps that truck forever. Thnks for the tip, Julius!

[Source: New York Daily News]

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GM debuts fuel-saving XFE versions of Silverado/Sierra and Tahoe/Yukon

John Neff — 2008-08-12T00:31:00+00:00

Filed under: SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Green, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevy Tahoe XFE

Remember earlier in the year when Chevy quietly added the 36-mpg XFE model to its Cobalt lineup? XFE stands for "Xtra Fuel Economy" (should we tell them they spelled "Extra" wrong?) and means these vehicles have been equipped with some easy fuel-saving technologies to eek out as many miles per gallon as possible. GM announced today that the Cobalt XFE will be joined by XFE versions of the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon for the 2009 model year.

The General already offers hybrid versions of its full-size SUVs, which are also joined by hybrid versions of its half-ton trucks for 2009, but the XFE models will continue to be powered by a flex-fuel version of the company's 5.3L gasser V8. It produces 320 hp/340lb-ft in the Tahoe and Yukon, and 315 hp/338 lb-ft in the Tahoe and Yukon. All are rear-wheel-drive only and mated to GM's 6L80 six-speed auto with a fuel-saving 3.08 ratio rear axle. In order to maximize fuel economy, all four of these new XFE models get low rolling resistance tires, aluminum wheels, an aluminum spare wheel, aluminum lower control arms and a lowered suspension with revised tuning. In addition, the Silverado and Sierra also get a new front lower air dam and soft tonneau cover that improve their aerodynamics.

What does it all add up to? 1 mpg. All four standard vehicles were rated at 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway, while their XFE counterparts bump those numbers to 15 city/21 highway. The gains are certainly minimal and we're not sure yet what sort of price premium XFE models will demand, but we give GM credit for at least reacting to the current shift in consumer tastes so quickly. We would have preferred, however, that it had just made these fuel-saving changes standard equipment rather than a separate model.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Tahoe XFE

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM debuts fuel-saving XFE versions of Silverado/Sierra and Tahoe/Yukon

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Toyota considering exporting big trucks

Chris Shunk — 2008-08-11T17:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Euro, Toyota

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota Tundra.

The Toyota Tundra is the most competent pickup Toyota has ever produced, but the two-year-old truck has been hit hard by the harsh reality of the US auto slump. Gas prices and a sluggish housing industry have conspired to put a wet blanket on the Tundra party, and the San Antonio plant will be closed from August 8 until mid-November to allow dealers to clear out Tundra inventory. When the Texas plant does come back online, a portion of its production could wind up overseas.

At the Management Briefing Seminars, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Inc. President Steve St. Angelo said some Tundras and Sequoias could be produced in the US and shipped overseas. While markets like Europe and Asia aren't likely to turn to trucks and SUVs in large numbers, both the Tundra and Sequoia could be a welcomed addition in the Middle East, where cheap gas prices makes big vehicles more acceptable. While the overseas truck market isn't likely to produce huge demand for the Tundra and Sequoia, the currently untapped markets could help the San Antonio plant come closer to running at its peak efficiency.

Gallery: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited

Gallery: 2008 Toyota Sequoia

[Source: Auto News (subs req'd)]

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Mexico confiscates trucks crossing border for cheap diesel

Michael Harley — 2008-08-09T19:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Trends, Trucks/Pickups

Thinking with their wallets, and avoiding $4.59/gallon fuel prices, truck owners in the States have been sneaking across the Mexican border to fill up with low-cost diesel (in Mexico, the fuel averages just $2.20/gallon). While filling a primary fuel tank isn't illegal, Mexico prohibits additional fuel tanks (aka auxiliary tanks) to be filled and moved across the border, so many truck owners with long-range tanks are finding themselves breaking Mexican federal law. Truck owners are getting stopped on the Mexican side of the border and their trucks are confiscated while authorities run tests to determine the origin of the fuel. If found in violation, owners face stiff fines. The Mexican Consulate is offering a blanket warning for all truck owners equipped with secondary fuel tanks to not drive those vehicles into Mexico. Not only do those owners risk truck confiscation, but the Mexican fuel is not formulated to U.S. ultra-low-sulfur regulations meaning emissions components will likely be damaged. (As if the trucks breaking the law are fitted with emission components in the first place...)

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

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First Drive: HUMMER H3T

Jonathon Ramsey — 2008-08-08T11:59:00+00:00

Filed under: SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, HUMMER, First Drive

Click above for hi-res gallery of the HUMMER H3T

If HUMMER had a theme song, it'd probably be the Allman Brothers' Whipping Post -- the one that goes "Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel, like I been tied to the whipping post..." The brand has been the go-to effigy when something needs to burn on the altar of eco desecration. But HUMMER doesn't have a theme song, it has the tagline "Like No Other." It also has a new pick-em-up truck we had the chance to drive recently in the High Sierras: the H3T. Follow the jump to find out if it's another HUMMER like no other, and check out the gallery of hi-res images below.

Gallery: First Drive: HUMMER H3T

Continue reading First Drive: HUMMER H3T

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Ford F-100 put on hold

Michael Harley — 2008-08-07T13:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

Ford's plans to manufacture the F-100 pickup, its answer for consumers who want a more fuel-efficient pickup, have been shelved (for now). A proposed smaller and lighter sibling to the popular F-150 pickup, the F-100 would have been built at the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Instead of designing a new small truck, one that consumers may not have warmed up to in the first place, Ford is reportedly making an "unprecedented" investment in more fuel-efficient powerplants to drop under the hood of the best-selling F-150. According to Ford, much of the funding will be directed towards its EcoBoost engines that utilize turbocharging and direct injection to deliver increased power and efficiency. The company is also looking at a technology called "ethanol boosting" which injects a small amount of the biofuel into the engine to increase fuel economy even further. Investing in new engine technology is expensive, but Ford is counting on reduced warranty costs (they have decreased by $1.2 billion in the past 18 months) to help offset development fees.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

[Source: The Detroit News]

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2009 Honda Ridgeline introduced early to internet

John Neff — 2008-08-06T11:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Honda

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Ridgeline

All we have to go on are the images and information posted on Carscoop, but it appears the redesigned 2009 Honda Ridgeline is stepping out a bit early to what may be disinterested public. The Ridgeline for '09 gets Honda's new grille that first appeared on the '09 Pilot CUV, along with a new front bumper, headlights and all that jazz in the rear. The interior, while not all-new, gets major upgrades like a new steering wheel, gauges, and HVAC controls, as well as a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, satellite navigation, a 115-volt power outlet and requisite jacks for the iPod and other MP3 players. According to Carscoop, Honda has largely left the Ridgeline's 3.5L VTEC V6 the same except for a new camshaft profile and better breathing practices that net a 3 horsepower bump to 250 at 5,700 RPM and a torque increase of 2 lb-ft to 247 at 4,000 RPM. New ratios in the 5-speed automatic transmission are said to take advantage of the new torque and improve acceleration.

We admit that Honda was smart not to dive head first into the full-size truck market in the U.S. like Toyota did with the Tundra, but the Ridgeline with its V6 and unit body has never enjoyed hot sales. It's both terrifically ugly and ill-suited for those super hard core tasks that, while rare, require a real rig. Nevertheless, this is Honda, a brand that really doesn't care what we think about its trucklet and will continue tweaking and perfecting it until we change our minds. Looks like that won't happen in 2009, though we're told to expect it in dealers as early as this September.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Ridgeline

[Source: Carscoop]

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2009 Ford F-150 officially tows 11,300 pounds

Chris Shunk — 2008-08-05T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

The pickup truck market may have run out of steam, but the 2009 Ford F-150 can haul an 11,300-lb trailer full of coal if the need ever arises. The next F-150 will keep its light duty pickup towing title when it hits showroom floors in the fall after being delayed a bit. Its official pulling power has increased a full 300 lbs, which is 500 lbs more than the second place Tundra and 1,600 lbs more than the new 2009 Dodge Ram. What's more amazing is that the F-150 achieves this feat with less horsepower and torque than those models: just 310 horsepower and 365 ft-lbs of torque according to Pickuptrucks.com. To pull that much weight you'll need a very specific model: the Supercab 4x2 with the 5.4L V8 and Heavy Duty Payload package.

On Sunday our buddy Mike Levine from Pickuptrucks.com discovered that the online F-150 owner guide noted that towing capacity for the truck had increased to 11,400 lbs. Ford has since acknowledged that the owner guide was wrong and the 11,300 lb number has not been eclipsed. Given that the '09 F-150 is still the tow king at 11,300 lbs, we doubt owners will miss the extra hundred libbies. If they do, their local Ford dealer would be happy to sell them a Super Duty.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

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Weekend Photo Fun: Adventures in re-branding

Alex Nunez — 2008-08-02T17:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Etc., Chevrolet, Ford

Click image to enlarge and see the front view, too

Identity crisis? Repressed brand allegiance? People who intentionally rebrand their rides have reasons all their own. Take this pickup I encounted on my drive home yesterday. Maybe the giant bowtie on the tailgate is trying to compensate for something, but size doesn't matter here; there's no hiding the fact that this thing's still a Ford Ranger. Bowtie stickers also get applied to the front fenders, but the proverbial cherry on top revealed itself when I pulled ahead. Yep, that's a genuine gold bowtie badge where the blue oval ought to be. If you want to make your car or truck a member of the transbranded community, all you need is a few badges, some adhesive, a sense of humor, and maybe an ASE certified technician. Hey, everybody's doing it.

Gallery: Ford Ranger Identity Crisis

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Nissan offering buyouts to Tennessee workers

Jeremy Korzeniewski — 2008-07-30T17:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Nissan

Following up Nissan's first set of U.S. buyout packages offered a year ago, employees at both the Smyrna and Decherd powertrain plants in Tennessee will be offered a lump sum payout along with medical and car purchase benefits to leave. Last year, the buyouts attracted 775 workers, though the payout at that time was just $45k plus an additional $500 for each year of service. This time, the lump sum starts at a heady $100k. Not surprisingly, Nissan is expecting more people to take the package this year than last. In fact, Nissan spokesman Fred Standish says that "market realities" mean that the Japanese automaker needs to shed some 1,200 excess employees. The packages are open for a three-year window, with the greatest sum being offered for workers who accept the packages this year. The Smyrna plant assembles the Frontier pickup, Altima, Xterra, Maxima and Pathfinder. Our bet is that the sedans will continue production as normal with the trucks and SUVs accounting for the lowered head count.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

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