Pickup Trucks

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GM adds to new corps of pending electric trucks

General Motors has joined several other manufacturers and will debut a Chevrolet electric pickup by 2025. It’s another boost to the truck industry as buyers continue to abandon sedans for trucks and sport utility vehicles. The manufacturer, which revealed concept sketches of the pending vehicles to Car and Driver, reports the electric truck won’t be identical to the recent announcement of the electric GMC Hummer. The Ford F-150 electric, Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Bollinger B2, the Lordstown Motors Endurance are all predicted to debut within the next few years. The Hummer EV SUT will debut in the fall of 2021. While the Hummer is being billed as a lifestyle vehicle, the new Chevy truck is expected to more resemble a

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Is Ford soon announcing a new pickup truck for 20K?

It may be called the Courier or the Ranchero. It currently has the codename 758. For now, it’s wait and see as Ford is likely to officially announce a new, small pickup truck with a base cost of less than $20,000. The unnamed vehicle, according to various industry publications, will debut in late 2021 with perhaps a return to the new of two former iconic vehicles. Ford has used the Courier nameplate on several cars and trucks, dating to the early 1950s and ending less than a decade ago in Brazil. Ranchero was the name of the coupe utility vehicle made by Ford from 1957 to 1979. The new truck, which has been discussed for several years, will continue Ford’s

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Why not tow your RV with a Tesla Cybertruck?

The design resembled a vehicle is a Sci-Fi movie, and the flashy, carnival-like debut of the electric Tesla Cybertruck was everything Elon Musk desired. If nothing else the flash unveiling last November at the Los Angeles Auto Show was polarizing. The truck drew cheers and jeers. Officially, it’s “an all-electric, battery-powered, light commercial vehicle. Three models have been announced, with range estimates of 250–500 miles and an estimated 0–60 mph time of 2.9–6.5 seconds, depending on the model.” Is it possibly a precursor to more utilitarian vehicle creations or was Tesla owner Elon Musk pranking the industry? For RV enthusiasts, the prevailing question was, is it really a truck and, if so, can it tow an RV or trailer? Tesla

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2020 Toyota Tundra Review: Improved, still trails truck royalty

Like multi-word vehicles’ exterior paint colors, the names of cars and trucks are no longer simple. Welcome the 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro CrewMax. The initials TRD stand for Toyota Racing Development, with the word Pro added as embellishment. Combined, it’s one vehicle simultaneously focused on racing and off-road duties. Key Takeaways TRD Pro CrewMax tested: 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower, a six-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. $52,780 base price. 13 mpg city and 17 highway, with a 30-gallon tank. Towing: approximately 10,000 pounds with the V8 and a standard 4.30 axle ratio. Controls: Controls are large, marked well and easy to use. Rivals named: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. Trim and Equipment The TRD Package means

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Big, badass and beautiful? Hummer set for 2022 return

It may be hard to imagine, but the pending resurrected Hummer will have 1,000 horsepower and is being marketed to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in three seconds. The truck was “teased” during the recent yearly Super Bowl extravaganza of commercials and is the idea of General Motors. The new Hummer is scheduled to arrive in dealerships next year. The resurrected Hummer will be made and sold under the GMC brand at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck factory. The automaker is investing $2.2 billion into its mass production of electric vehicles. With the country’s continued increase in truck sales and electric vehicles, don’t be surprised if the new Hummers are the vehicles of choice for pulling small RVs as well

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2019 Nissan Titan Review: Tough competitors, tough road ahead

Pickup trucks for many years have topped annual sales charts. With their sport utility vehicle cousins as co-conspirators, several manufacturers did what seemed unfathomable: abandon their sedan lineups. Poor gas mileage, difficult entry and exit and sometimes clunky rides don’t matter. Masculinity and versatility reign in new automotive purchasing. The top six best-selling vehicles in the United States in 2018 were either pickups or SUVs. Key Takeaways 5.6-liter V8 with 390 horsepower and a seven-speed automatic. 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds, average for the segment. 15 mpg city and 20 highway. 52 configurations, from $30,030 for the Single Cab to $67,575 for the Diesel Crew Cab Reserve. $54,290 for the Pro-4X with its four option packages, from a $46,710 base.

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2020 Jeep Gladiator Review: Stands alone among truck malaise

Lots of new vehicles look similar cruising down the highway. One family sedan is likely related to another. The flood of SUVs, with rare exception, could all be made by the same manufacturer. Tesla and pending electric competition from Byton and Rivian are non-conformists. A Porsche Panamera stands out anywhere. Hummers stand alone in gaudiness. A few gimmick cars get attention. Key Takeaways Overland tested: 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower; the Gladiator is available in Sport, Sport S, Overland and Rubicon. $54,145 as tested, crossing the $50,000 plateau. 17 mpg city and 22 highway. Towing: The Gladiator can tow a class-leading 7,650 pounds, up from its standard 4,500-pound capacity. Ground clearance: 11.1 inches. On the road: With its off-road leanings,

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2019 Ford Ranger Review: Back but with a few warts, flat tires

After an eight-year absence, the Ford Ranger was re-introduced to the North American market late last year as a 2019 model. It marked a 60-year timestamp since the nameplate’s debut on a 1958 Edsel Ranger. The Ranger name was first used on a pickup in 1983 when Ford replaced the Ford Courier. With its return, the Ford Ranger is now mid-sized, comparable to its sibling, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The latter debuted in 2006 and was discounted a few years later. Key Takeaways Powertrain: 2.3-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder with a 10-speed automatic, the only powertrain. 21 mpg city and 26 highway, the best in the segment. 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Payload: Maximum payload is 1,860 pounds. 300A equipment

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Kaiyun Motors offers new, cheap EV pickup for $8,950

Cheap new vehicles aren’t a new phenomenon in certain countries. But so far it’s only been wishful thinking for a few niche manufacturers in the United States, until now. Kaiyun Motors will soon arrive. It will soon introduce the Pickman, an all-electric pickup in the U.S. It has a base price of $8,950. The price was listed mistakenly listed previously at $5,700, but it was for a non-street legal version of the truck not available in the U.S. The Pickman has a 5.5 horsepower engine and a top speed of 35 miles per hour. It’s classified as a low-speed or neighborhood electric vehicle (LSV/NEV). Kaiyun Motors Co Ltd. was founded in 2014 and is based in Xingtai, China. Kaiyun Motors

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2019 GMC Sierra Review: Gets big, bold makeover

The GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado have been about as close in recent years as two full-size pickups can be as different brands. But for 2019, the GMC Sierra has a new identity that differentiates the near-twins while still maintaining family ties. As the start of the fourth generation for the now 21-year-old truck, the GMC Sierra 1500 is available in six trims, including the top-line Denali. Multiple beds and cab configurations and four-wheel drive are offered on all trims. Key Takeaways Denali tested: 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission. $67,735 as tested, from a $58,000 MSRP. Towing: 9,400 to 12,500 pounds, depending upon trim. 15 mpg city and 20 highway by EPA estimate. Six trims,

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2018 Ford F-150, 2018 Toyota Corolla icons of success

The Ford F-150 pickup, the overt sentinel of masculinity, and the Toyota Corolla, the tiny titan compact sedan, have little in common with two exceptions, reliability and enduring success. The Corolla, manufactured since 1966, is the best-selling car in history with more than 43 million sold. The Ford F-Series, introduced in 1948, has been the country’s best-selling vehicle for decades. It’s the second best-selling vehicle in history with more than 40 million sold. While the sedan might be able to fit in the bed of the pick-up and cost one-third as much, driving either vehicle is experiencing automotive royalty. There’s little out of the ordinary about the Corolla. It’s understated and remains increasingly popular because of its consistency. The F-150

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2017 Nissan Titan improved, but still trails truck pack

The automotive landscape is dominated by large trucks. The Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado and Ram pick-ups are perennially the country’s top-selling vehicles. So what are the other guys supposed to do to sell trucks? Nissan, which launched the Titan in late 2003, decided it needed to regroup. Except for a V8 diesel, the Titan wasn’t available as a 2016 model. It’s back in 2017 with a new look and an expanded warranty. Key Takeaways Test vehicle: the Pro-4X, a 4×4-only crew cab with a 390-horsepower V8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission. $45,020 MSRP and $52,305 as tested. 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. 15 mpg city, 20 highway and 17 combined. Warranty: a new 5-year, 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Ride: The ride

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1955 Ford F100 best of show at Concours & Cocktails

Supercars, family heirlooms and affordable vintage vehicles are nothing new to the Monterey Peninsula, particularly during Classic Car Week. Gawk at a new multi-colored Rolls-Royce or a carbon-fiber Pagani. Admire a classic Aston Martin, Ferrari or Porsche. They’re all automotive works of art. Bob Kavner appreciates cars as much as any collector or enthusiast. But he has a different perspective. While plenty of sports cars and classic sedans were showcased at the recent Concours & Cocktails at The Santa Lucia Preserve, Kavner presented two trucks. Kavner’s Two Ford Trucks The former Silicon Valley executive, now a resident of Carmel, lives just down the country road from The Hacienda, the 20,000-acre private community’s idyllic clubhouse. As he’s done before, it was

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Mercedes-Benz breaks from tradition with first pickup

For some purists, viewing a Mercedes-Benz station wagon is odd. Now the German luxury carmaker is further expanding tradition with its first pick-up truck. The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class concept will be presented at the Geneva International Motor Show. It will be available later this year in selected global markets. One caveat: The new luxury midsize truck won’t be available in the United States, at least for now. Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has announced the X-Class will debut in “key markets”: Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and some European countries. A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said the pickup “will close one the last gaps in our portfolio. The X-Class will set new standards in a growing

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2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO Review: Ruggedness defined

Toyota likely has the most varied lineup of pickup trucks. The offerings expand again with the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO, the compact’s sixth available trim in extended or double crew cabs. Key Takeaways 3.5-liter V6 with 278 horsepower and a six-speed automatic, in a four-wheel-drive TRD Pro. $42,760 MSRP and $45,042 as tested. 18 mpg city and 23 highway. Sixth trim: the TRD PRO is the compact’s sixth available trim in extended or double crew cabs. Bed: The Tacoma’s 5-foot bed is sturdy with plenty of toggles and a 12-volt power outlet. Standard features: Bluetooth, a rearview camera, a USB port, a windshield mount for a GoPro camera, and Toyota’s Entune infotainment system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Tacoma

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2015 Chevrolet Silverado: Rugged, powerful, versatile

The Chevrolet Silverado was the second best-selling vehicle in the country in 2014. With its identical cousin, the GMC Sierra, the two vehicles remain largely unchanged for 2015. Introduced in 1999, the two full-sized pick-up trucks have steadily increased audiences via their combination of rugged versatility, comfort and spaciousness. Nearly 530,000 units sold last year, more than a 10 percent increase over 2013 and largely because of the Silverado’s new generation of trim levels. Key Takeaways Test truck: Silverado 1500 LS Double Cab with four-wheel drive and the Custom Package, which brings a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and a six-speed automatic. $35,985 MSRP and $39,210 as tested; the Custom Package is a $3,700 option. 16 mpg city and 22 highway

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