2008 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Winner: Toyota Tundra

2008 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Winner: Toyota Tundra

The F-150, Ram, and Silverado guys had better get out of the rain

By Mark WilliamsPhotography by Robert Kerian

When Toyota first announced it was coming out with a full-size pickup truck to go head to head with the big boys from Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, the question arose as to whether an import could truly compete as a heavyweight. The answer is in: The new Toyota Tundra is now ready to take on any American-made pickup truck -- on all levels.

Superiority? Toyota is pulling no punches by introducing one of the biggest, strongest, and most capable vehicles in the segment, as well as investing billions in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the heart of truck country-San Antonio, Texas. Significance? With Toyota looking to more than double its presence in the hotly contested half-ton marketplace, the Tundra represents one of the most highly anticipated new vehicle launches in many years -- car or truck. Value? The new Tundra offers three different powertrains (one V-6 and two V-8s), with the 5.7-liter V-8 a high-tech wonder and torque monster -- and is among the most powerful engines in any half-ton configuration. Toyota's platform has the entire segment covered with three different bed sizes, three separate wheelbases covering five different cab and bed configurations, combined with three different trim packages (Tundra Grade, SR5, and Limited) in 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrains -- 44 different truck flavors to interested buyers, from work truck to luxury touring.

Offering that kind of variety right out of the gate is impressive and ambitious; in fact, some might say too ambitious. The recent launch of the new Tundra has not been without a few hiccups. Several months ago, an early output of camshafts in the 5.7-liter V-8 were failing. Toyota tells us they traced down all the affected parts to a specific batch and have since made the corrections to the design. No failures have surfaced since. More recently, there have been some reports of transmission shudder under certain low-speed conditions, which dealers have traced to a torque converter issue. Toyota says these incidents were isolated and have also been resolved. And finally, there's been chatter on the Internet concerning tailgate problems, which Toyota is in the process of tracking down. Our guess is many of these stories spread like wildfire, given the lightning-rod effect this new truck is having with enthusiasts and the speed with which an Internet item can travel. With all that said, let's take a deeper look at what's special about our 2008 winner.

As mentioned in the introduction to this special section, we ran our contenders through a series of on- and off-road courses at a working Arizona proving-ground facility, subjecting all our test units to a rigorous set of criteria. It was in our work-duty testing that the Tundra first started to catch our attention, with the 5.7-liter V-8 Limited CrewMax Tundra running miles ahead of the competition, with and without a loaded trailer in tow (note our performance analysis in the story and the Tundra's winning Performance Score). The Tundra proved itself a star player in plain dress (Double Cab Tundra Grade, 4.7L V-8; $27K), as well as in fully decked out (CrewMax Limited, 5.7L V-8; $47K). When dressed down, the front bench seating allows for a column shifter and work-truck dash with a dual glovebox and hidden center storage compartment under the center seat. Our fully loaded model had supple leather captain's chairs and a huge center console storage bin, large enough to hold a few laptops and serve as a filing cabinet. The CrewMax model, with its extended passenger cabin, offers a sliding rear seat with drop-forward and slide-forward capability.

One of the more important interior comforts, cabin quiet (while driving on rough roads or at highway speeds) is probably the Tundra's most impressive quality. If there's a quieter truck out there, we haven't driven it. Only two beefs with the interior: the center stack's excessive size and visual split (looks like it's cut in two) and the location of the navigation system almost out of arm's reach for the driver.

Is it the perfect truck? That all depends on what you need, but by offering 44 different flavor choices, Toyota expects to have what you're looking for, stuffing heavy-duty truck capabilities into a half-ton truck that's quiet and strong. After some debate, the majority of our judges agree: The most deserving competitor for Motor Trend's 2008 Truck of the Year title is the all-new Toyota Tundra.

Alfa 147 Ducati Corse

Alfa 147 Ducati Corse

Two versions of the brand-new Alfa 147 Ducati Corse will be on show at Bologna: a Special Series developed from the successful partnership between two great Italian names who have written memorable pages of the history of international racing. Only a limited number of the special series will be produced.

The Alfa 147 Ducati Corse has a new 1.9 JTDM engine (170 bhp) which accelerates from 0-100 kph in just 8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 215 Kph.

The powerful 1.9 JTDM 170 bhp engine is paired with the “Q2” system (self-locking front differential) which significantly improves roadhold, traction and stability while reducing understeer during acceleration and intervention of electronic control systems. Specifically, the Torsen “Q2” system is responsible for the continuous dynamic distribution of torque between the front drive wheels, depending on driving conditions and road surface. The self-locking differential combined with the quadrilateral front suspension allows the Alfa 147 to achieve handling performance and roadhold that are among the best in its class.

On the tunnel inside the cockpit there is a sport button which varies the mapping of the accelerator pedal. The driver has the option of a “touristy” mapping or a more sporty configuration which enhances the car’s response and makes for an even more exciting drive.

The exterior of the Alfa 147 Ducati Corse has a lowered suspension and a distinctively “tough” look that combines the stylistic features of Alfa Romeo and Ducati Corse. The body shell comes in three colours: Giulietta red, micalized black and ice white – and on request can be customised with livery to accentuate the car’s dynamic styling. The embossed “Ducati Corse” logo and chrome frame is placed below the indicators and on the rear hatch.

The well-designed customisation is another distinctive feature of the new Alfa 147 Ducati Corse, such as the chromed exhaust, red brake calipers (optional), satin-finished grille and whiskers. Exclusive features on this version are the 18” alloys with specific finish and red edging, reminiscent of the world of road going bikes.

Other signs of the sporting connection can be found inside the car, such as the dark roof, black front dash and pillars, the specially designed seats upholstered in black fabric with red stitching and the Ducati Corse logo on the front head rests. The steering wheel, gear lever sleeve and hand brake cover also feature the red/black colour contrast. Inside the car there is also an aluminium pedal board, aluminium-effect gear lever knob, kick panel with the Ducati Corse logo, instrument panel with red background and the Ducati Corse logo that emphasises the car’s sporty character.

The Alfa 147 Ducati Corse, the essence of the best in Italian car manufacturing, will be sold in Italy, the main European markets and also Japan and Australia. It is fitted with a wide range of extras as standard: the dual-zone automatic climate control system, stereo system with CD and mp3 player and controls on the steering wheel, Bose system with amplifier and subwoofer, rear spoiler and VDC system.

5 December sees the launch of the original website http://www.livefaster.com/ - in the sense of living with more dynamism, not speed – which invites you to sample the thrill of the sporty drive to be had from the new Alfa 147 Ducati Corse, in complete safety. Visitors to the site can also take part in an entertaining competition, in which they can win an Alfa 147 Ducati Corse, tickets for the 2008 MotoGP and lots of Alfa Romeo accessories.

Source: Internal

Subaru Impreza wins "Top Safety Pick" award

Subaru Impreza wins "Top Safety Pick" award

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the 2008 Subaru Impreza is the only small car to earn the highest rating in the most recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests that now require side head protection and electronic stability control.

The 2008 Subaru Impreza received "GOOD" ratings in the frontal, side and rear-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions. Based on this performance and standard side curtains for side impact head protection, the 2008 Impreza 2.5i with VDC was the first small car to receive the coveted IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award.

"Customers’ safety is our top priority," said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president, Subaru of America, Inc. "Subaru makes industry leading safety affordable with the IIHS award-winning 2008 Subaru Impreza starting at just $16,995. It speaks to the tireless efforts of our engineers to build vehicles with uncompromising active and passive safety features — starting with all- wheel drive, standard."

In its report, the IIHS highlighted the reinforced pillar behind the rear passenger door and standard side airbags of the 2008 Subaru Impreza. It also said the Impreza 2.5i active head restraints "do a better job" than those in other small cars.

The IIHS provides consumers with vehicle safety information in a simple rating system — poor, marginal, acceptable and good, with good being the highest. The IIHS crash tests are conducted at speeds higher than required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for both side impacts, at 31 miles per hour, and frontal offset barrier impacts, at 40 miles per hour. The rear crash test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck at 20 miles per hour, and is a measure of the effectiveness of the head restraint.

Source: Internal

Facelifted Ford Focus ST: the first pictures

Facelifted Ford Focus ST: the first pictures

Yesterday Ford announced the run-out ST500 special edition of the old Focus, today it's shown the new one.
We saw the revised Focus at this autumn's Frankfurt Motor Show, but Ford only teased us with humdrum models. Now the Blue Oval has released the first details of the new ST, with a refreshed look to emphasise its sporty position at the top of the Focus tree.

So there's a new bumper, much shallower grille and more rectangular, swept-back headlamps at the front, giving a more techincal look. The rear has been refreshed, too, but the changes are less noticeable.

So what else is new on the ST?

Err, that's about it. This is a cosmetic nip 'n' tuck only, so the five-cylinder 2.5 turbo is unchanged. That means a 222bhp large-capacity engine in a compact hatch body, for lazy performance and a rally-inspired, Volvo-esque warble.

Performance is unchanged, with 0-66mph in 6.6sec and top speed around the 150mph mark. The Focus has been one of our favourite hot hatches in recent years, vying with the Golf GTI and Civic Type-R for class honours.

Prices of the ST are a couple of hundred less than before, now starting at £17,995 for a basic three-door - but it's still more than the Honda and several grand less than the VW. Ford has kept the ST, ST2 and ST3 trim levels, priced accordingly and topping out at £20,595 for the top-spec five-door.

What about the rest of the Focus range?

The facelifted Focus range lands in dealerships in January 2008, priced from £11,945. That's £250 more than the previous incarnation, but ESP is now standard fit across the range (previously it cost, you guessed it, £250). Buyers can pick from Studio, Style, Zetec, Titanium and ST trim ranges.

Although the facelift is mainly cosmetic, there's a new twin-clutch automated manual gearbox. It seems that the Volkswagen group really set the cat among the pigeons with its DSG transmission, and manufacturers are now falling over themselves to offer rival systems. Ford's new box is called PowerShift, and it was developed with Getrag.

Three- and five-door hatchbacks and estates arrive first, but the new look will spread to Coupe-Cabriolet models in spring 2008.

Source: carmagazine.co.uk

2008 Ford Focus officially launched in USA

2008 Ford Focus officially launched in USA

The element of surprise still isn’t over for car enthusiasts. After keeping everyone guessing for days, Ford Motor Company revealed the all new 2008 Ford Focus in four top Hispanic cities simultaneously. With a totally redesigned exterior and all-new modern interior, the Ford Focus is sure to keep enthusiasts busy for days as they discover an all-new driving experience.

For three straight days, the 2008 Ford Focus stood hidden behind an 8-foot wall of crystal-like cubes strategically placed in specific hotspots in Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami and Houston, keeping passersby’s wondering what was inside. Mimes removed cubes every day, giving consumers a hint of what was hiding inside until the car was completely revealed Saturday night, followed by a surprise party with music and the opportunity to explore what the new Focus is all about. The events kicked-off the 2008 Ford Focus Hispanic advertising campaign created by Zubi Advertising.

Equipped to surprise, the 2008 Focus features a brand new exterior design and a modern interior which includes optional ambient lighting that allows drivers to personalize the interior lighting of the car with seven colors to choose from and with Ford SYNC, the optional in-car voice activated communications and entertainment system powered by Microsoft which allows drivers to control most MP3 players including the Apple iPod and Microsoft Zune as well as most Bluetooth-enabled phones with voice commands. With new features on the inside, outside and under the hood, the 2008 Ford Focus lets drivers experience European-inspired suspension, efficient and responsive powertrain and impressive fuel efficiency.

“The 2008 Ford Focus’ distinctive exterior and interior design, along with its innovative technology, provides drivers with the latest in voice-activated technology and customized lighting systems setting it apart from any other car on the road right now,” said Dave Rodriguez, Multicultural Marketing Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company. “The 2008 Focus is all about the element of surprise, which is why we kept it hidden in four different cities for three days. What’s more, the surprises don’t end yet because there are so many new features to discover behind the wheel of the all-new Focus.”

The new exterior design of the Focus includes a chrome 2-bar grille, fog lamps, headlamps, tail lamps, hood, rear decklid, fenders and doors, chrome fender appliqués, "Focus" badging, 16-inch wheel offerings and comes in three new colors: Light Ice Blue, Vista Blue and Vapor Silver. The new modern interior includes ice blue backlighting for instruments gauges and controls, instrument panel, cluster and IP appliqué seats, center console with improved storage, leather wrapped steering wheel with cruise, redundant audio (standard on SES), leather with contrast stitching (optional on SES) and gear shifter. In addition, it also provides plenty of space for passengers. And the roomy cargo space allows drivers to store everything they need while on the go.

Safety features include standard six airbags including dual-stage driver and passenger front air bags, seat-deployed side air bags for driver and front passenger and roll-fold technology side curtain rollover air bags, a tire pressure monitory system and optional ABS with traction control.

The 2008 Ford Focus Coupe starts at $14,695 and the Sedan at $14,995.

Source: Internal,topspeed.com

Volkswagen Tiguan by ABT

Volkswagen Tiguan by ABT

The managing director of the successful Allgäu-based company is convinced that the Abt Tiguan will become a big hit. Actually the designers from Kempten tailored a body kit for the newcomer which underlines the dynamical car body and the powerful appearance of the many-sided automobile. The single components perfectly harmonize with each other. Front spoiler and front grille accentuate the impish face and let it look considerably more aggressive. Thanks to the fender extensions the Abt Tiguan appears even more brawny, the door strip attachments in the entry area take up the hip bend of the serial car. Rear skirt and rear wing form a suitable rear view of the overall successful car. Both perfectly harmonize with the 4-pipe rear muffler, also optimized in sound for the Diesel so that the self-igniting engine sounds really aggressive and sporty.

Recommendable as perfect completion are the noble wheels from Abt Sportsline. If the owner of a Tiguan decides for the classic AR or the new BR wheel with its expressive, corresponding spokes, is a matter of taste. And so is the size of the wheels, available in 18, 19 and mighty 20 inch. Of course, also complete wheel-tyre sets can be ordered.

But the Abt Tiguan not only looks powerful, its riding qualities authorize it to be a sporty car for all opportunities. No matter which motorization the Tiguan driver chooses, in the Allgäu one always gets a significant power increase. This means, the power of the 1.4 TSI will be increased from serial 150 hp (110 kW) to 200 hp (147 kW). And the Turbodiesel with two liters cubic capacity then offers 170 hp (125 kW) instead of 140 hp (103 kW). If more is demanded, Abt Power S with the new Abt Turbo comes into consideration.

Then, in the 2.0 TDI (147 kW) engine, 200 Diesel horses come into force, noticeably pushing the car. Thanks to the suspension springs and the adjustable sports suspension from Abt, the Tiguan brings its power onto all lanes and offers a lot of driving pleasure, especially on curvaceous country roads. Due to the fact that such an active car must remain controllable in every situation, the team from Kempten installed the Abt brake system, measuring 345 x 30 millimeters, in their compact SUV.

The latest member of the Kempten SUV family is easily able to get out of the mighty shadows of the Abt Touareg and Abt AS7 because the Abt Tiguan is a compact extra class of its own.

Bullitt Mustang unveiled

And about time too…

Yes, this is the one we’re been waiting for, but they had to make it a 2008 car to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bullitt and the best car chase of all time.

So pull on your turtlenecks; Ford will reveal the new Mustang Bullitt at the forthcoming LA Motor Show, and will sell only 7700 at a reasonable $31,075, from January. You can have it in the original Highland green (unique to this model), or black. Either way the cabin leather is a black as a villain’s heart.

It looks as mean as Steve McQueen in every scene with Robert Vaughan… Just as McQueen frequently used to demand fewer, rather than more lines, chief designer for Mustang Doug Gaffka and his team stripped this car down to essentials. He says: 'It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing'. We'd have to agree, it looks pretty good.

Like the original, it sheds the pony from its mesh grille. The only badge is a roundel on the trunk. The 18in wheels mimic the original Torq Thrusts, and the turned aluminium dash seeks to evoke the era. The gearlever is a stubby, short-shifter like the one on the soundtrack (although cabin shots reveal an auto.)

So could it catch a Dodge Charger 440 R/T? Only if the plot demanded it. The real Bullitt car was a modified GT, its 6.4-litre V8 delivering 325bhp, while the previous-model 2001 Mustang Bullitt managed only 265bhp. The 2008 car will churn out 315bhp at 6000rpm and 325lb ft at 4250rpm from its 4.6 V8.

The film car was hopped up by racing driver/builder Max Balchowski. This one has been tweaked using upgrades from Ford Racing Performance Parts plus revised cam timing and a unique air cleaner.

Can it corner hard without losing it and smacking the camera? Doug Gaffka reckons this car is all about handling rather than straight-line performance. It borrows the Shelby GT500’s limited-slip rear axle with a 3:73:1 ratio for improved off-the-line acceleration; the ride height has been lowered and it has sport-tuned suspension.

What would McQueen say? Gaffka muses: 'I’d like to think he wouldn’t say anything, he’d just grab the keys and drive off'.

R.I.P. Bud Ekins Stunt driver, Bud Ekins, who made Bullitt’s Mustang fly over the humps in San Francisco, passed away on 6 October 2007 of natural causes. He and Steve McQueen became buddies when the bike-mad star wandered into his California Triumph dealership.

He started a new career doing all the stunts McQueen was prevented from doing by producers and insurance. In Bullitt he also comes off a motorbike ahead of McQueen in the Mustang. His most famous stunt was jumping the wire for The Great Escape.