The upcoming 2015 Ford Super Duty trucks may not follow the F-150's footsteps in making the transition to an aluminum body anytime soon. Ford may stick with steel for the bodies of its flagship "Ford Tough" pickups. The F-150, it was recently announced, will be made almost entirely out aluminum for the 2015 model year and beyond. The reason is mainly to meet federally-mandated … [Read more...] about 2015 Ford Super Duty Trucks Sticking With Steel?
Auto Industry
2015 Ford F-150 Sheds 700 Pounds, Gains Tons Of Tech
The 2015 Ford F-150 has been revealed, and it is arguably the biggest reveal of the year. Utilizing lots of aluminum to shed about 700 pounds of weight and employing all sorts of new technologies, like active grille shutters and a new, smaller EcoBoost V6, the 2015 F-150 promises to remain Ford tough while delivering class-leading fuel economy...and then some. Analysts had … [Read more...] about 2015 Ford F-150 Sheds 700 Pounds, Gains Tons Of Tech
500 Mile Test Drive: 2014 Chevy Sonic Turbo
For those of you curious to find out how the 2014 Chevy Sonic turbo + manual transmission stacks up who don't want to read a long, rambling review, let me tell you this: the Chevy Sonic is good. Like, really good. Those of you who are hoping for a little more context and clarity regarding the little Chevy are invited to read on. A Little Context Back in November, I took a … [Read more...] about 500 Mile Test Drive: 2014 Chevy Sonic Turbo
PRI 2013: Rock the Lawn w/ a Midwest Supercub Brute
One of the best things at PRI is a little room, tucked just off the main hall, that usually houses the first-time exhibitors or late entries. This year's "new arrivals" included an outfit called Midwest Supercub and Midwest Supercub's line of homemade, alcohol-burning, CNC-milled racing engines. For lawn tractors. You read that right, kids- Midwest Supercub offers a variety of … [Read more...] about PRI 2013: Rock the Lawn w/ a Midwest Supercub Brute
Ford Racing: 2015 Mustang "Body in White" with Ford 9" Coming
I was there when Ford debuted its new-for 1999 Mustang Cobra with its "revolutionary" new independent rear suspension. The IRS was a first for the Ford Mustang, and it was a move that Ford's brass believed would allow the "new edge" Cobra to compete with cars like the BMW M3 for supremacy in the budget super car market. I also remember the very first question that was asked: … [Read more...] about Ford Racing: 2015 Mustang "Body in White" with Ford 9" Coming
14 Best Fuel Efficient Cars You Can Buy in 2014
2014 is right around the corner, and before you say it: yes, I know that's a 2015 Mustang up there that won't be on sale until the end of 2014 ... but I don't care. You'll be able to buy it in 2014, it's gorgeous, and if you don't want one then you're dead inside. That said, this list of is sort of informally divided up into categories, so there's no "winner" here- they're all … [Read more...] about 14 Best Fuel Efficient Cars You Can Buy in 2014
Driving the Highest MPG Car in America (That’s Not a Hybrid)
A few weeks ago, Ford announced that its new 2014 Ford Fiesta with a 1.0 liter Ecoboost 3 cylinder engine was the highest MPG car you could buy that wasn't a hybrid with its 32/45 (37 combined) mpg rating. Almost immediately, the Mitsubishi fan base started grumbling. "Not so fast, Ford!" they said. "Mitsubishi has the highest MPG car you can buy that's not a hybrid, the Mirage … [Read more...] about Driving the Highest MPG Car in America (That’s Not a Hybrid)
GM Gets it Backwards, Kills the New ElCamino / Holden Ute
We've been clamoring for the big automakers, Ford and GM, to bring the small, more fuel-efficient pickup trucks they've been offering overseas for years now. We've lusted after Ford's Euro-market diesel Ranger, and we've dreamed about tooling around in GM's new-age ElCamino, currently based on Chevy's SS platform marketed in Australia as the Holden Ute. Instead of pleasing the … [Read more...] about GM Gets it Backwards, Kills the New ElCamino / Holden Ute
Honda S660 Is The Small, Sporty Honda We Deserve
The automotive world is downsizing in every conceivable way, and automakers are trying to find new ways to delivering a sporty ride while steadily increasing fuel economy. The Honda S660 is a new concept car that is small-car personified, with a tiny engine, low weight, and rear-wheel drive. This is the car Honda needs to make. Tipping the scales at around 1,900 pounds, the … [Read more...] about Honda S660 Is The Small, Sporty Honda We Deserve
This New 2014 Westfalia Camper isn’t a Volkswagen
Westfalia has just released some pictures of its new-for-2014 Westfalia camper van, and it isn’t a Volkswagen. It’s a diesel-powered Ford Transit van, and you can consider my mind thoroughly exploded. For those of you not "in the know", Westfalias are a thing. When you talk about Westfalia, though, most people immediately think of Volkswagen's classic air-cooled Bus, fit … [Read more...] about This New 2014 Westfalia Camper isn’t a Volkswagen