Trucks/Pickups auto news

Report: Shanghai GMC dealer offering five tons of free gas with truck purchase

Big trucks just aren't appealing enough on their own, at least in some places. For proof, look to a Shanghai GMC dealer who is offering about three years worth of free gas to anyone who buys a new Sierra Denali. Too bad it'll take about 20 years to pay off the big truck.

The dealer is giving away five tons - about 2,000 gallons, worth around $8,000 in China - of petrol to new Sierra Denali buyers in China's largest city, according to The Detroit Bureau. The offer appears to be a nod to rising China gas prices, which are climbing towards levels similar to those in the U.S. now that the Chinese government is doing less to artificially keep gas prices down. Full-size trucks have been sold in China for about three years and are known to be status symbols in China, says The Detroit Bureau.

There is, of course, a catch. The Denali, unlike most General Motors vehicles sold in China, is built in the U.S., so the price tag is about $134,000, or almost three times what the model sells for in the States. Here's hoping a few free car washes come with those full tanks.

Jeep recalls nearly 68,000 Wrangler models over... skid plate fires?

Chrysler is recalling 67,872 Jeep Wrangler models over a potential issue with the transmission skid plate. The recall deals solely with Wranglers from the 2010 model year, equipped with automatic transmissions. It's been found that debris can collect on the skid plate that protects the transmission, leading to the risk of a fire if the debris makes contact with the nearby catalytic converter.

Chrysler will begin notifying owners this month, at which time they can take their Wranglers to be repaired free of charge at the dealer. Scroll down for the complete release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration.

Continue reading Jeep recalls nearly 68,000 Wrangler models over... skid plate fires?

Official: New Fuso Canter can canter in selectable 4x4 mode

If you're in the market and mood for a 6.5-ton cab-over truck that also offers power to all its wheels, Fuso would like you to have a look at its new Canter 4x4. With the addition of selectable four-wheel drive, Fuso is hoping to expand the 4x2 Canter's traditional market into unpaved uses like construction and municipal services.

Power comes from a 3.0-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel with 175 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. A stop/start system is also used to improve efficiency. Standard features include a locking rear differential, exhaust brake, approach and departure angles that are nearly doubled over the 4x2 model, and a 40,000-kilometer maintenance interval. Options are plentiful, including single or crew-cab bodies, two wheelbase choices, payload up to 3,725 kilograms, 320 millimeters of ground clearance and 100 plain, metallic and pearl-finish paint colors.

For truck fans, there's a press release below and a high-res gallery of the Canter 4x4 in all kinds of poses.

Continue reading New Fuso Canter can canter in selectable 4x4 mode

Video: Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets

The crew at Translogic took the time to stop by and see the the team at ALTe Powertrain Technologies recently. Founded by a group of former Tesla Motors executives, the company focuses on building plug-in hybrid conversions for fleet vehicles. From creations like a Ford F-150 with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and two 60-kilowatt electric motors to full-size delivery trucks, buses and vans, the company is focused on reducing fuel consumption on some of the largest and hardest-working machinery out there. ALTe says the F-150 conversion supplies up to 465 pound-feet of torque, which is more than the old 4.6-liter V8.

Most of the truck conversions come with 22-kWh lithium-ion battery packs, which yield 25-40 miles of all-electric range. From there, the four-cylinder kicks in to keep the batteries charged and the motors spinning.

ALTe says the company has focused on Ford conversions first, since the F-Series is the largest-selling pickup in the country. While E-Series and Panther-based creations are also on the docket, ALTe is also focusing on partnering with OEMs in China. Scroll down to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets

Official: NHTSA proposes mandatory stability control on big rigs, busses

Stability control was made mandatory on passenger vehicles for this current model year, but it's still not a requirement for semis and busses. But that could soon be changing, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed requiring the technology on all new large commercial trucks, motorcoaches, and other large buses.

While big rigs and their brethren are often available with stability control, the rule would make the feature standard, with manufacturers given between two and four years to comply. NHTSA says the change in policy could save about 50 lives a year, and prevent over 2,300 crashes. Further, research into the effectiveness of stability control systems in preventing rollover crashes shows that over half of all such accidents could be prevented by adopting it.

Scroll down to read the full press release.

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Official: Mercedes-Benz launching new Antos short-radius distribution truck

If you thought Mercedes-Benz has expanded its range of luxury automobiles to gargantuan proportions, well... you're right. But its commercial vehicles division hasn't been missing a step, either. The German truckmaker is still in the process of launching the new Citan urban delivery van, and is already working on its next offering to the truckers of the world: the Antos.

Designed from the get-go as a short-radius distribution truck, the Antos pioneers a new class of maneuverable and versatile workhorse. Still in the development phase, the Antos will be revealed in full at the Commercial Vehicle IAA this coming September, at which point it will be made available in a staggering array of configurations. Mercedes-Benz plans to offer the Antos in two cab styles, with no fewer than thirteen powertrain options (ranging from 238 horsepower up to 510) and a whopping 67 wheelbase lengths to make it almost infinitely adaptable to whatever use its owners and operators have in mind.

The possibilities with a truck like this are virtually endless, extending to refrigerator boxes, flat beds, high cubes and beyond. Scroll down below to read more about it in the full press release.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz launching new Antos short-radius distribution truck

Report: Truck Nuts lead to overnight stay in jail for driver

The Smoking Gun reports that one Joe Cervantes-Rodriquez recently spent a night in jail thanks to his flesh-colored pickup balls. A Spartanburg County Sherrif's Office deputy spotted the Truck Nuts during a patrol and decided to pull over the driver.

For the Truck Nuts, Cervantes-Rodriquez was given a warning citation; for not having a driver's license he spent the night in jail-an experience that would likely have been avoided were it not for the "obscene object" that triggered the traffic stop, which was described as being the size of a softball and anatomically correct.

Cervantes-Rodriquez was released from jail after posting a $237.50 bond. We'd guess that he's since removed the Truck Nuts.

Richard Hammond picks 10 best American cars

Of the three "Top Gear" hosts, Richard Hammond may be the most sympathetic towards American tastes. He's made no secret of his love for American machinery, including our big-boned muscle cars and pickup trucks. Hammond even spent some time filming in our neck of the woods while working on his new show, "Crash Course." The series puts Hammond behind the wheel of the largest machinery on the planet, and not surprisingly, the first episode focuses solely on the monstrosities of America.

Hammond sat down with GQ to discuss the project as well as some of his favorite vehicles from the States. While cars like the 1969 Dodge Charger and 1968 Ford Mustang GT are obvious picks, Hammond also seems to favor creations like the modern Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the Jeep Wrangler. Head over to Wired to take a look at the full list for yourself. "Crash Course" airs Mondays at 10 on BBC America.

Video: Watch Volvo's hybrid semi-truck set a land speed record

Volvo is taking its Mean Green hybrid truck on U.S. tour for a few months. One of the stops between Toronto Tuck World and the Volvo Ocean Race in Miami was Wendover, Utah, to attempt a couple of record-breaking speed runs.

Mean Green uses a 16-cylinder engine that puts out 1,900-horsepower, tied to an electric motor that adds 200 hp and 885 pound-feet. With that package, the Swedish Viking Speed Records Team and pilot Boije Overbrink were aiming for 165 miles per hour in the flying kilometer. They didn't quite make that lofty goal, but they did well enough to break not one, but two world records. Scroll down for the story of the day.

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Report: Ford rescue concept truck pressed into service to help tornado victims

From show floor to evacuation route, one concept vehicle got the chance to test it's meddle in the real world.

The Ford F-550 Super Duty Rescue Truck was created to demonstrate extreme rescue capabilities not actually use them. It first went on display in February at the Chicago Auto Show.

But on April 3, with just two miles on its odometer, this concept vehicle found itself in the thick of a real-life rescue mission. A series of devastating tornadoes had ripped through Arlington, Texas, overwhelming every fire-rescue department in the region. Destruction was everywhere.

Worse yet, many of the neighborhood streets were filled with debris ranging from roofs to cars and the big fire trucks couldn't maneuver through them.

That's when Brad Snyder, vice president of marketing at NewScope Marketing in Grandbury, Texas, got a call the Arlington emergency services director for help. The director knew the local volunteer fire department had advised Snyder on building an extreme rescue vehicle for Ford Motor Co. and now the city needed its help.

"When we proposed the truck to Ford, one of the things Ford required was that everything on the truck actually work," Snyder said Tuesday. That's not always the case with concept vehicles, which often could not even qualify to ride on a U.S. highway.

"We never intended to put it into service," Snyder said. But put it to work they did. Keep on reading to find out how.

Continue reading Ford rescue concept truck pressed into service to help tornado victims