Autoblog

When we first locked eyes on the 2008 Dodge Dakota at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, we were breathless. The reason for our inability to process oxygen had everything to do with the ungainly sheet metal that covered the latest iteration of Dodge's midsize truck offering. The new Dakota is boxy with an awkward, Pug-like front end, and the interior is Dodge-tastic.

Not all is wrong with the Dakota, however. It's the largest of the midsize pickups, has the only optional V8 in its class, and thus can out-tow and carry larger loads than its competition. We wanted to see for ourselves if the Ram Lite could overcome its visual shortcomings with affordability and clever packaging, so we took a blacked-out KITT look-a-like version for a week in the Autoblog Garage. Hit the jump to see how the Dakota fared.


All photos Copyright ©2008 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc.

In Parts 1 and 2 of his 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout, Mike Levine and his cohorts from Pickuptruck.com compared the acceleration of gas three-quarter ton and diesel one-ton pickups from Dodge, Chevy/GMC and Ford on flat surfaces, both unloaded and loaded with 10,500-lb trailers. For the third and final report, however, Levine introduced grades of 7% and 15% to the equation.

The results were surprising, and really had the most influence on Pickuptruck.com's final conclusions. We won't spoil the dramatic tail of each hill climb at Ford's Michigan Proving Grounds, but the 2007 Ford F-250 with its 6.8L Triton V10 was particularly impressive in the gasser category, and as anyone who has driven one would expect, the 2007 Chevy Silverado 3500 and its 6.6L Duramax diesel/6-speed transmission combo proved overly dominant among the oil burners. That said, the conclusions are only half the story, as Pickuptruck.com follows each truck through every gear as they climb their grades. These rigorous tests brought every truck's weakness, which were glaring in some cases, as well as their strengths.

Click the Read link below to read the conclusion to the 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout and learn once and for all what pickup these guys would park in their garage.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

The first time we laid eyes on Ford's new F-450, we knew that we wanted to run one through the ringer. Intended to satisfy those customers who find traditional "one ton" dually trucks to be a bit too limiting, this massive vehicle pegged our more-is-better meter. The F-450 is, in fact, so big as to make the title of this post a complete misnomer, as it takes something more like a barn to house this much truck.

Click photo above to view a gallery of Tundra shots

I wanted to hate this thing. Toyota? Taking on the last bastion of red blooded American pickups? Yeah, right! The domestic manufacturers have kept cranking up quality, capability and refinement levels - who's this upstart think it is, anyway? Not only has the Tundra garnered a metric crapload of commentary, it's ugly. Okay, not to everyone, but it reminds me of that time I got sand in my eyelids. When a Tundra Limited Double Cab unexpectedly arrived wearing a rather appropriate shade of Herman Melville white, I was primed to register severe intestinal discomfort. Dang.

click on image to enlarge

This bit of news will no doubt be a big badge of honor for the few owners there are out there of the Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI. VW is hoping the number of Touareg TDI owners will grow, and demonstrated the diesel ute's mighty pulling power recently in a press event that pitted it against the standing weight of a Boeing 747. The Touareg was "lightly modified" with the addition of 7,030 kg (15,498 lbs.) of ballast weight (!) and the fitment of the 4.56 axle from Touareg V8 model. The latter mod turned out to be unnecessary since the driver, Uew Krieghoff, performed the stunt in the low ratio, second gear. Other than that, the Touareg was also fitted with a special tow adapter to marry the two vehicles together and wore outer body panels that made it look the same as the next gen Touareg being launched early next year. The engine, transmission, suspension, tires and brakes were all stock.

The plane used for the stunt was a decommissioned Boeing 747-200 that weighs 155 tons. VW had initially calculated the Touareg could successfully pull 200 tons, and had even done a dry run with a 190-ton Boeing 747-400. Unfortunately, the only plane that could be acquired for the PR stunt was this one that is usually used as a giant prop in films. Apparently it didn't put up much of a fight, as the Touareg towed the jet 150 meters at 5 mph before slowing itself and the plane to a stop with its stock brakes. Impressive indeed, and we think the Touareg V10 TDI has laid down the gauntlet for our domestic heavy haulers. Let's see what crazy objects the Ford Super-Duty, Chevy Silverado HD and Dodge Ram 3500 can tug around.

Follow the jump for more pics of the Touareg's towing exploits.

[Source: VW]

Through the digital grape vine we came across an article on MSNBC that rehashes the impending battle between Ford, Chevy and Toyota on the full-size pickup front. We've heard this story before, hell, we've told this story before, but what caught our eye was close to the end of the article when MSNSB Business Editor Roland Jones tells us that the 2007 Toyota Tundra's top engine, the i-Force 5.7-liter V8, will produce 381 horsepower. Wow! We've been trying to get that info out of Toyota since the Chicago auto show back in February, and Roland just lets it roll of the tongue like he were quoting rear-seat leg room. Unfortunately no torque numbers were mentioned, though we're far from sure this number is accurate anyway.

If it is, the Tundra will have a significantly more powerful large V8 to offer customers than will Ford, Dodge or Chevy. The F-150 offers the 5.4-liter Triton V8 that produces 300 hp and 365 ft-lbs. of torque, while the Dodge RAM can be had with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 producing 345 hp and 375 ft-lbs. of torque. Toyota, however, would clearly be aiming at Chevy if this number is accurate, as the Silverado's Vortec MAX 6.0-liter V8 produces 367 hp and 375 ft-lbs. of torque. Toyota promised us back in February that the Tundra would be able to tow 10,000 lbs. with this engine, though since then both Ford and Chevy have increased the maximum towing capacities of their half-ton pickups to 10,500 lbs. With such a powerful V8, the Tundra should have no trouble meeting and/or exceeding the new towing limits of the domestics. Of course, that's assuming the Tundra's frame can take it.

[Source: MSNBC via GMInsideNews]

The 2008 Ford Super Duty F450 pickup is what an pickup truck is supposed to embody. It's big, real big and with reason. The new uber-truck boasts the highest towing capacity in its class, with the ability to pull 24,000 pounds or haul around 6,000 in payload. It will come equipped with Tow Command, a integrated trailer brake controller, TorqShift, to boost power in high-load conditions, and a few other toys that make loading, unloading and towing less of a chore. As expected a large oil burner provides motivation, with a 6.4-liter Powerstroke Diesel finding its way under the hood.

With that much rugged-usefulness, Ford decided to balance the F450 with what they're calling 'tough luxury,' which is exactly what you're thinking it'll be; nice leather, pleasing plastics and lots of toys.

The new exterior design, specifically the new headlight placement, may take some getting used to, but we're guessing that whoever buys this beast is going to be less concerned with the styling and more concerned with what's after the jump, namely the full press release and with the hardy details.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Nissan does plan on building a heavy-duty version of its Nissan Titan pickup that will be ready for sale in late 2009. Production of the Quest minivan at the company's Canton, Miss. plant where both models are produces will likely be moved to make room for the bigger pickup. The Detroit News reports the truck would target contractors and trailer haulers, though doesn't comment on whether the new Nissan would gets its own beefy design like Ford's Super Duty line or settle for a pumped up version of the Titan's skin. Nissan sold 99,775 Titans last year, which, considering the market for full-size trucks is either holding steady or falling means that those sales were swiped from Ford, GM and Dodge. Expect this segment to get even more crowded when the new Toyota Tundra arrives.

[Source: WSJ via The Detroit News]

Few people think about car crashes before they happen, and immediately after one occurs isn't the time to start. Therefore, putting a few minutes into post-crash preparation makes sense before finding yourself staring into a deflated airbag with a dazed look. Doug Flint from The Car Connection has some great tips - he refers to them as "rules" and has good reasons to do so - and we'd recommend giving his list a thorough read.

From our collective crash experience, encompassing everything from parking-lot fender-benders to leaving the road at 105 mph, we can indeed assure everyone that it's tough to keep your wits about you after unintended physics intervenes with driving. Make some plans now for who you'll call for a tow and how you'll pay, and don't leave the scene until things are sorted out with the authorities, medical personnel, and someone who can give a level-headed assessment of your car's drivability. A good roadside assistance plan that covers all the drivers in your family is a great idea (going through your insurance company will probably yield a discount).

Include every driver in your family in on this planning; even if you've got nerves of steel and aren't rattled by bent sheetmetal... odds are good that there's a less experienced crasher in your household.

[Source: The Car Connection]

 

A few years ago, some enterprising One Lapper that was short on lebensraum and/or tool space sourced a small trailer and a hitch for their racecar. The next year, what was a mere curiosity became a major piece of pit gear overnight, quickly evolving into a game of 'one-upsmanship,' a common theme among gearheads. What started out with basic little U-Haul types and little flat-bed steel-frames begat a full-blow trailer war, with One Lappers showing up with custom trailers painted to match their racecars, rigs capable of hauling bicycles for track recon laps and trundling about the paddock, etc. A few years ago, a particularly quick early 90's Ford Thunderbird sported a 'mini-me' version of itself in tow, with South Park figures at the helm. Though some of the rental trailers post warnings about traveling above 55 mph, we have it on good authority that the little load luggers 'remain rock solid right up until around 110 mph... that's when things start to get a little spooky.'

This year, trailers are once again out in force, with setups attached to everything from Truck/SUV class entrants to bespoke hitches and trailers on the backs of Vipers, 911s, and even that Ultralite Lotus Seven knockoff, making for an odd scene for passers-by on America's roads. Some have built-in tool racks, while we've even spotted a rig with a wireless Internet workstation and vehicle diagnostic equipment. In years past, a 1960's Corvette GS even had a sizeable auxiliary fuel tank with some aircraft-grade hoses running to the racecar itself.

This year's selections have become a little tamer, but trailers remain a major component of One Lap paddock life, enabling a large amount of tools, parts and detritus to be shuttled around the country, and we thought you'd like a quick peak at some of this year's entrants.

Click through to the jump, and enjoy.