Environmental & Political Watch
* For the second year in a row, the 4x4 club known as "This Dysfunctional Organization" (TDO), or the Dysfunctional Rockcrawlers, hit another home run with its "Cantina for the 'Con" fundraiser. The taco feed and raffle raised more than $8,500 for the Rubicon Trail over the Labor Day weekend. Hundreds of folks donated, bought tickets, and stopped by to support TDO and the Rubicon efforts. All proceeds went to the Rubicon Trail Foundation, which means all the money will go towards trail upkeep. This is going to be an annual event, and TDO is already making plans for next September, so mark your calendars to join them at the Loon Lake Spillway over the Labor Day weekend (www.friendsoftherubicon.com).
* SEMA's Washington, D.C., watchdogs have alerted us to the fact that President Bush signed into law a measure that designated 76,000 acres of wilderness in New England. Based on recommendations from the U.S. Forest Service, approximately 34,500 acres of New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest were designated as wilderness, and the bill also provided for three wilderness areas totaling 41,600 acres in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest. In case you've forgotten, "wilderness" areas are typically closed to motorized recreation.
This Just In
* In the face of all this "green" news comes word from J.D. Power and Associates that sales of fullsize pickup trucks and SUVs rose in late 2006 after a drop-off in the fall. Power linked the increase in big truck sales to a corresponding dip in fuel prices.
* You may know this already, but does Toyota? Another J.D. Power report says "vehicle-brand origin" continues to be one of the main reasons vehicle buyers avoid certain large truck models. Power's "Avoider Study" says nearly half (48 percent) of buyers of domestic large pickup trucks avoid import models because they specifically do not want an import-branded truck.
* Automotive News reports Hummer will unveil an H4 concept, scaled to compete with the Jeep Wrangler, at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The trade journal says production is "likely" by 2010. We'll bring you photos of the show truck as soon as we get 'em. Also look for a pickup version of the H3 in '09, says AN.
* Also reported in AN: Honda is considering putting a V-6 "clean diesel" engine in its Ridgeline pickup. That particular engine hasn't been developed yet, but the maker has already announced that a four-banger clean diesel will go on sale in '09 cars. A V-6 model will use similar clean technology to meet emissions standards.
* PPG Industries reports that silver is still the most popular color among new vehicles in the U.S., followed by white in second place and black and red tied for third. If you want to be ahead of the color trend, paint your truck blue, says PPG. It's only in fourth place now, but by the '09-'10 model years, blue "will increase in popularity, with updated rich classic blues featuring sparkle effects for a unique iridescence and some shades featuring green and red casts," says the paint maker.