Pickup Trucks

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2012 Honda Ridgeline Review: Innovative pickup now available in sport model

Introduced in spring 2005 as a 2006 model, the Honda Ridgeline was the automaker’s debut in the North American pickup truck market. Seven years later, the Ridgeline retains most of its original, space-age appearance. The original Ridgeline, with its innovative look and practical, efficient use of interior space and bed design, was noticed quickly, and it was named Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year for 2006. The Honda Ridgeline still gets stares via its unique design, but it’s now a standard fixture in the pickup fraternity. The 2012 offering comes in four trims: RT, Sport, RTS and RTL and all feature a newly designed grille design and improved fuel economy. Key Takeaways Test car: the new-for-2012 Sport trim of the

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Volkswagen lineup, 2012: sports cars, station wagons and a Bug

By David Colman I have never experienced a press roll out like this in more than 20 years of attending Volkswagen events in the United Sates and Germany, Usually, the occasions focus on one or two new models with long, complex drive routes scheduled to foster a maximum driving experience. This year, there were multiple models available, but in a three-hour window. Here are my brief impressions from either a 15-mile or 25-mile Northern California loop that encompassed flat and hilly driving conditions in the Half Moon Bay and San Mateo areas: 2012 VW GOLF R This baby is a “little bomb.” The Golf R replaces the Golf R32, which has come and gone in several iterations during the past

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Chevy Silverado emerges from Apocalypse in Super Bowl commercial, Ford doesn't

General Motors has opted for a campy tact in its Super Bowl commercial touting the 2012 Chevy Silverado. With Barry Manilow’s hit single “Looks Like We Made It” from 1976 as the theme, a man drives his Chevy Silverado through an apocalyptic world predicted by the Mayan calendar. A group of friends, who are Silverado owners, makes its way to the designated meeting spot but notice one of their buddies is missing. One of the survivors offers the Chevy Silverado driver a Twinkie upon his arrival. The 60-second commercial is called “2012” and it will be broadcast in the first quarter of Super Bowl 46 between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Unfortunately, not everyone makes it to

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Smart car? How about Smart truck? New Daimler concept set for Detroit Auto Show

Pickup trucks are all the rage, with a new offering of alternative fuel selections on the market as well as one of the most unique vehicles, a Smart For-us concept pickup, set to debut at that Detroit Auto Show in January. A Daimler division product, the Smart For-us will be the biggest of the tiny Smart cars, currently represented only the Smart ForTwo. The Smart For-us concept is 140 inches long (11 feet, 6 inches), about six feet shorter than a Ford F-150 pickup, the United States’ best-selling passenger vehicle. “In a tongue-in-cheek manner, the For-us signals that this is the right car for the young-at-heart with active lives who attach importance to low emissions and taking up minimum road

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Ford Ranger soon to join expanding deceased ranks

Another longstanding American vehicle is about to end its legacy. Ford has announced it will stop producing the Ranger this month, marking the end of the manufacturer’s small line of pick-up trucks. The last Ford Ranger for the U.S. market is expected to roll off the line by Dec. 19. It’s estimated about 800 Rangers are still in circulation and that more than 6.6 million sold in the truck’s 29-year tenure. Ford will abandon a segment it led for 18 years until 2005, when it fell behind the Toyota Tacoma. “We’ve got a tremendous heritage and history with Ranger,” said Doug Scott, Ford’s truck marketing manager. “The product has been very good and was true to the Built Ford Tough

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Ford F-150, 2012: Bigger gas tank, fewer stops on long hauls

The Ford F-150, perennially the top-selling vehicle in the United States, will take its owners farther in 2012, up to 756 miles on one tank of gas. The Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4×4 now comes standard with a 36-gallon fuel tank. With an EPA rating of 21 mpg in highway driving for the four-wheel-drive model, the F-150 can now be driven nearly the length, and perhaps even the entire length, of California between fill-ups. The length of California is 770 miles. “We know the majority of our customers use their F-150s daily for work or play. It’s an essential tool that enhances their productivity,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing manager. “Reducing downtime for fuel stops can help them do

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Toyota Tundra, 2012: Simplified technology, more variety

The 2012 Toyota Tundra features simplified option package selections as well as enhancements throughout the lineup, including a standard back-up camera available in the Limited and TRD Rock Warrior editions. The Tundra offers three engine choices, a 270-horsepower 4.0-liter V6, a 310-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 and the 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower. For 2012, all Tundras have standard heavy-duty battery, heavy-duty starter, windshield wiper de-icer, daytime running lights (DRL), front and rear mudguards, and heated, power, outside mirrors. All Tundra grade models feature standard styled steel wheels for 2012. The Tundra DoubleCab and CrewMax models offer an optional Chrome Package that includes chromed exhaust top, side mirrors, door handles and chrome-clad 18-inch steel wheels. The 2012 Tundra is offered in two

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Toyota Tacoma: Restyled, more features for 2012

The Toyota Tacoma, the best-selling compact pickup truck in the United States, offers a restyled exterior and a redesigned, upgraded interior in all models for 2012. The new Tacoma has a redesigned hood, grille, headlamps and front bumper, among other changes. Inside, there’s a new center-instrument panel design with a revised gauge cluster and a new steering wheel. A redesigned center stack adds new air conditioner/heater controls and power point locations. The 2012 Tacoma interior also gets a new look with a black high-contrast center console, switch plate covers, dash and upper door trim, while the SR5 grade features a new seat fabric design. The new Tacoma also offers new heavy-duty all-weather flooring in the 2012 Tacoma Access and Double

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Ford recall: 1.1 million pickups including best-selling F150

Ford, whose line-up of pickups includes the perennially largest-selling vehicle in the United States, is recalling 1.1 million trucks in 21 states and Washington, D.C. because their gas tanks can fall off and cause fires. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall includes the Ford F-150 (1997-2004), the country’s best-selling vehicle, F-250 (1997-’99) and Lincoln Blackwood (2002-’03). The recall affects trucks sold or now registered in cold-weather states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. “Prolonged exposure to road de-icing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank

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Toyota Tacoma, 2011 truck review

As an ultimate utilitarian vehicle, it’s hard to find fault with the Toyota Tacoma. It’s the best selling truck in the United States in its class, and the 2011 edition is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports. Two months ago, the Tacoma also was named top truck in its category in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Dependability Study. It’s another reason why despite peaks and valleys, Toyota Tacoma sales have exceeded 145,000 annually since the compact truck’s debut in 1995. Now 17 years old and a few generations into its tenure, I test drove for a week the 4×4 edition, one of several configurations available in 2011. The Weekly Driver Test Drive It’s not often an urban driver needs a

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Ford recalls 363,000 F-150 pickups — faulty door handles

Ford is recalling nearly 363,000 F-150 pickup trucks, the perennial best-selling vehicle in the United States, because of a potential problem with the door handles not working properly. The automaker and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced 280,294 F-150 trucks in the United States, 68,000 in Canada and 14,000 in Mexico and from model years 2009 and 2010 will be recalled. The F-150 trucks, the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. for the past 34 years, being  been recalled were produced from January 2008 to November 2009. In a crash, according to the NHTSA, “the door handle spring can fail, causing the door latch to open.” Ford reported as of January 21, 2011, no accidents or injuries related

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Ford has new pitch for 2011 F-150: ‘We’ll bring it to you’

Ford Motor Co. isn’t content with the long-standing, best-selling status of its F-150 pick-up truck. So to increase aware of the 2011 model featuring the new EcoBoost engine, an automaker representative will bring the truck to your house for a test drive. Ford is launching a 60-city tour to promote the F-150. Potential buyers can sign up for a Ford representative to bring the truck to the participant’s house or place of work for a 30-minute drive. The new F-150 model has the EcoBoost V-6 engine, which uses twin turbo charging and direct fuel injection. Ford is touting this EcoBoost engine as being just as powerful as a V-8. Its 365 horsepower can tow as much as 11,300 pounds and

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Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, 2011: Roman Mica’s video review

Heavy duty pick-up trucks were once the work horses of the Chevrolet fleet. They were brawny trucks used by brawny men to do brawny jobs. But that’s changing fast as more recreational buyers are opting for vehicles like the Silverado 2500 HD to haul campers, horses and boats. Chevrolet redesigned the Silverado 2500 HD in 2011 to make it even more brawny with a sturdier frame for more towing capacity. Roman Mica, contributing editor of TheWeeklyDriver.com, recently test drove the new Chevy truck. And as a sell-admitted non-truck-kind of guy, he was both surprised and not-so surprised with the Silverado 2500 HD — as the video below details. To read more of Roman Mica’s car reviews, visit: www.TFLcar.com.

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Subaru Outback, 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

It’s hard to imagine any other vehicle as versatile as the Subaru Outback. It’s the all-purpose car. It’s ideal as a family wagon. It’s a workhorse for a small businessperson. It’s as safe as any car on the road in inclement weather. Introduced in 1995, the Outback has gone through several editions, including a redesign and a new lineup of models with more than 40 trim configurations for 2010. The Outback has a new 6-cylinder engine and it’s about 3 inches wider and longer in wheelbase than the 2009 Outback. Two engines and six models are offered, all with horizontally opposed engines. Subaru is also now well into its second decade of offering only all-wheel drive as a standard feature

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Volvo V70, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

If a buyer’s purchase priorities are comfort, performance and safety, Volvo is a fine choice. The 2006 Volvo V70 R (station wagon) further adds to the already nice Volvo overall package with its substantial cargo room. Still, the V70 finds itself in a tough crowd among the industry’s fastest growing sales segment, the premium midsized class. It includes the Mercedes Benz E-Class, the Audi all-road Quattro, Cadillac CTS and Infiniti G35, among others. My test drive for the week was the Volvo V70 R (all-wheel drive), one of four model options including the XC70 (raised suspension). The six-speed automatic features a 2.5-liter turbocharged, 300-horsepower 5-cylinder engine, and it offers more than enough power and acceleration to get the job done.

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