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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Spy Photos , Trucks/Pickups , Green , Ford The Internet got a sneak peek at the new 4.4L Ford diesel engine last April when somebody snapped a pic of the complete package sitting on the floor at Ford's national dealer conference. Now, thanks to some eagle-eyed sharp shooters, we can see the new oil-burning mill in its natural habitat under the hood of a Ford F-150. Sure, there's lots of black plastic covering all the good stuff, but we can get a glimpse of all the assorted plumbing that will make this engine squeaky clean. We can also have a good shot of the intercooler, peaking out between the grille and the radiator. This engine is labeled as a Power Stroke, Ford's long-running moniker for the diesels equipped in its Super Duty trucks. For years, those mills have been made by Navistar, but after the fallout between the automaker and the supplier, Ford is now using a derivative of the diesel from Land Rover in Europe, though the 4.4L iteration...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Chicago Auto Show , Etc. , Commercial Trucks Truckers are like motorcycle riders in the way that they invariably customize their rides. It's probably just as challenging to find a bone stock tractor as it is an unembellished Fat Boy. When you're plying the roads as much as the big rigs do, why not have some fun and stand apart from the rest of the crowd and their mudflaps decorated with conformist chrome silhouettes of questionable taste. International's new LoneStar truck will be factory trickable with a new line of Navistar accessories called DoubleSix Customs. While the Autoblog Garage isn't quite big enough to hold an 18-wheeler, we did dedicate the better part of an hour to International's website designing the perfect vehicle for hauling our tricked out fleet of Zastavas. With International's online configurator, you can start with a basic truck and add a splash of color, a dollop of flames, lots of chrome, and nearly as many lights...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Trucks/Pickups On the final media day of the 2008 Chicago Auto Show , Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com walked us over to the Ford display to show us an inconspicuous Super Duty sitting among a fleet of Ford commercial vehicles. He wanted to show us the bed, which was filled with DeWalt tools and Ford's new Tool Link system for keeping track of one's tools. The purpose of our visit was not Ford's new fancy in-dash computer for the commercial sector, but rather the spray-in bed liner that the truck was sporting. Called Tough Bed, Ford will soon become the second manufacturer to offer a spray-in bedliner behind Nissan, which began offering its Durabed spray-in bed liner on the 2004 Titan. Ford's Tough Bed will be an alternative to drop-in bed liners, which, while popular, can be susceptible to rusting the bed if water gets between them and the truck's metal. Ford's spray-in liner, meanwhile, is applied by robots at the factory and covered...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Concept Cars , Podcasts , Hybrids/Alternative , Minivans/MPVs , Trucks/Pickups , Crossovers/CUVs , Acura , Chevrolet , Dodge , Ford , GM , Suzuki , Volkswagen , India The Chicago Auto Show wasn't that eventful, but that's what we lead off Autoblog Podcast episode #87 with. The Challenger was the biggest deal, followed by the Denali XT , and then a bunch of inconsequential things. We did find ourselves talking about the Suzuki Equator and the Ford Transit Connect , too. We give you our first up close and personal impressions of the Challenger SRT-8 in this podcast. We also saw the VW Routan , which certainly doesn't conjure warm, fuzzy memories of Type IIs gone by. Chevy's Traverse calls into question the usefulness of Saturn's Outlook in the product lineup. Speaking of GM badge-engineering, we got word this week that Pontiac will not be getting a Trans Am companion to the Camaro, dang. Another disappointment is the rumor that Cerberus...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Time Warp , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge If you ever ask a 1960's Mopar fan who the king of high performance is, they'll instantly tell you "Mr. Norm!" Owner of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago, Norm Kraus was known for fitting performance parts to all types of Mopars, and even started the development for factory cars like the 383 and 400 Dart GTS. The king of all Mr. Norm's cars, however, was the Hemi GSS Dart. Each of the cars was fitted with a 426ci Hemi V8 with a pair of Holley carbs, a heavy duty cooling package, and aftermarket headers. In an effort to save weight, a fiberglass hood and front fenders were used, as well as a front bumper and doors stamped for a lighter gauge steel. In addition, the radio, rear seats, exterior mirrors, and window mechanisms were all removed. The result was a non-street legal drag car that could run down into the 10's in the quarter mile, making it the fastest factory built muscle car ever produced...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Videos , Chrysler , Dodge Chrysler has released some video of the Challenger zooming around on some desert tarmac. We think that this video is from the same shoot that produced the teaser pics we all salivated over before the Challenger was officially unveiled. With that, on to the video, after the jump. Hit the gallery for more stills, while you're at it. [Source: Chrysler] Gallery: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Continue reading VIDEO: Dodge Challenger romping in the desert Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Dodge Click above for a high-res gallery of the Dodge Challenger. During yesterday's unveiling of the Dodge Challenger , Chrysler's Vice Chairman, Jim Press, confirmed what we've already known; that Dodge expects to sell between 20,000 and 30,000 Challengers a year once production goes full-bore. All 6,400 Collectors Edition SRT8 models due to hit dealers this spring have been sold and there's a waiting list for the 2009 models. Naturally, more variants will be available next year with less powerful engines and a convertible version is supposedly in the works. According to the Freep, Press expounded on the Challenger's virtues, saying that the SRT8 has a higher top speed (170 mph) than BMW's M5. Kind of a misnomer considering that the M5's speed limiter keeps the BMW sedan below 155 mph - unleashed, it has the potential of doing 205 mph. The Freep also quoted Press as saying that the Challenger has more torque than the...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Commercial Trucks click above for more high-rez images of the International LoneStar We give International full credit this daring design that we spied uncovered earlier this year. Still, it appears as though it's taken a giant leap back three decades with the new Class 8 International LoneStar. International said its mission was to create a big rig that married aerodynamic efficiency with a unique look and a wide range of customization. Having asked truckers what they wanted, apparently customization means 'more cowbell lights and chrome.' As upright and retro Lite Brite as the design might be, it still gets gas mileage as good as the best aerodynamic semis on the market, according to International. Inside, the cabin evokes the kind of ergonomic class that could have been meant for the outside -- the sleeper has hardwood flooring for that at-home feeling. The truck comes with 42 factory options, 23 inside, 19 outside, and International itself...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Sedans/Saloons , Mitsubishi click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Mitsubishi just unveiled its freshened-for- 2009 Galant sedan at the Chicago Auto Show, and unlike our favorable response to the changes made to its Eclipse sibling, we think Mitsu might need to do a hard refresh on the Galant a couple of more times before it looks as handsome as it could. The new uninterrupted grille might look better than the prior split version, but it still doesn't seem to work as well as the nose on the EVO or new Eclipse. Out back, however, the new Lancer-inspired taillights and slightly reshaped fenders are a big improvement. As we recently reported when the info was dropped in our laps a few days ago, the 2009 Mitsubish Galant will be offered in four versions: the top-shelf Ralliart model (red car in pics), V6 Sport, four-cylinder Sport edition and the four-cylinder ES (gray). The Ralliart is still powered by a 3.8L MIVEC V6 producing 258...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Convertibles , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Mitsubishi click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder Mitsubishi rolled out its updated 2009 Eclipse Coupe and Spyder today in Chicago, with revised fascias that complement and simultaneously update the swoopy flanks. The nose in particular brings the Eclipse in line with the design theme spreading across the rest of Mitsubishi's model line. If you happen to have a slight sense of deja vu while looking at it, more than one of us has also noticed that the new schnoz bears more than a passing resemblance to the Nissan GT-R, as well. And lest you think the changes are all skin deep, there are several non-cosmetic updates to augment the rhinoplasty. The GT models sport a newly tuned dual exhaust that promises to not only sound better, but boost horsepower by a deuce as well, bringing the total from 263 to 265. On the inside, power comes via a new 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system as part...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Crossovers/CUVs , Porsche click above for high-res gallery of the Porsche Cayenne GTS Following breakfast here at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, Porsche took the cover off its new Cayenne GTS for the first time on our shores. After emphasizing how well the updated 2007 Cayenne has done in the market, the Stuttgart-based automaker talked about running the 2007 TransSyberia Rallye with what is essentially a stock Cayenne S. In the hands of rally veteran Rod Millen, the Cayenne with added safety equipment and spare parts finished first overall in its first attempt at the 4,000 mile race. Porsche NA marketing VP David Pryor proclaimed the GTS, however, as the best handling SUV in the world thanks to its 21-inch wheels, 20mm lower ride height and Porsche Active Suspension Management. Its 4.8L V8 has direct fuel injection to help it put out a stout 405 hp, and it's mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. If you're up for it, the 405-hp GTS model goes on sale now...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , SUVs , Etc. , Ford click above for high-res gallery of the Alton F-650 XUV We've seen some outrageous F-650-based vehicles like this before (the DeBerti for one), but for some reason, the Alton F-650 XUV jumped out at us at the Chicago Auto Show. Perhaps we were already focused on Ford's Work Solutions trucks in the vicinity, but this insane beast just put our DSLRs on autopilot. The F-650-based XUV was built by Alton Manufacturing and carries a GVWR of 25,999 lbs. That makes the 660 ft-lbs of torque generated by its 7.2L Caterpillar engine seem paltry. Besides the big-rig-meets-Excursion bodywork, your nearly $200,000 expenditure for this XUV will get you hardwood floors, custom captains chairs, a 42-speaker sound system, two drop-down 16-inch TVs plus a 42-inch plasma, four computer workstations, plus a train horn. Oh, you'll also get bragging rights for the biggest, baddest truck in 99% of the world's neighborhoods. Gallery: Alton Mfg...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Scion Last year, we were surprised by Motor Week's choice for its 2007 "Best Of The Year" , the Honda Fit. This year, we were simply shocked that its choice for 2008 is the Scion xB . It's not that the xB is a bad car, it's that there are so many better choices. In fact, peruse the list below of winners in other categories. Almost any of the other cars on the list would be a better choice, save for the Sebring Convertible and possibly the minivans. Lexus makes fine vehicles, but its LS 600h L does not belong on a "Best Dream Machine" list. Best Small Car - Scion xB Best Family Sedan - Honda Accord Best Minivan - Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country Best Convertible - Chrysler Sebring Convertible Best Luxury Sedan - Mercedes-Benz C-Class Best Sport Sedan - Cadillac CTS Best Sport Coupe - Infiniti G37 Best Performance Car - Volkswagen R32 Best Small Utility - Nissan Rogue Best Large Utility - Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Scion click above to view more live high-res pics of the Scion tC Release 4.0 If you saw our preview of the Scion tC Release 4.0 and want more, you're in luck 'cause we've spotted it here in Chicago. We already knew pretty much all there was to know about the machine, including the DAMD body kit and Galactic Gray Mica paint. As is often the case, though, live photos seem to show more detail than official pics from the manufacturer, so be sure to check out our live photos in the gallery below. If you like what you see, perhaps you should act fast, only 2,300 of the 4.0s are going to be built. We're sure that Scion will sell all of them, but we think the tC is in need of a bit more freshening than this version 4.0 offers. Gallery: Scion tC Release 4.0 Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Sedans/Saloons , Lexus , Lifestyle Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the Lexus ES 350 Pebble Beach Edition The Lexus ES 350 is the second model this year to get the Pebble Beach Special Edition treatment, along with the Lexus RX 350 . Both of them join Lexus' Pebble Beach regular, the Lexus SC 430 , in the bespoke-paint-and-packages options. We don't mind the 17-inch wheels with the liquid graphite finish one bit. And just as with the RX, you get your choice of three additonal special packages that can bestow you with Callaway goods, custom luggage or Viking cookware for you epicureans. For full details, check out the press release after the jump, and take a gander at the gallery of hi-res pics below. Gallery: 2008 Lexus ES 350 Pebble Beach Edition Continue reading Chicago 2008: Lexus ES 350 Pebble Beach Edition Permalink | Email this | Comments
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