Sneak peeks at future products are the best part of auto-show season, and the '08 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was full of on-the-way trucks. Some were concepts that may, in some form, see the light of day years from now. Others, like the '09 F-150 and Ram pickups, will be available a lot sooner than that. We can't wait.
Were it to come to market, Hummer's HX could be a worthy competitor to the Wrangler. It's slightly smaller than a Wrangler Unlimited, sits on a full independent suspension and 35-inch Bridgestone Dueler tires (which help give it its 13-inch ground clearance), and has removable doors and roof panels for open-air wheeling. Its full-time 4WD system includes locking differentials front and rear, and it even has an electronic-disconnect front stabilizer bar. Power comes from a 3.6L, E85-capable V-6 making an estimated 304 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, numbers that are better than the Jeep's 3.8L V-6 (though we'd like to see the torque number higher than the hp). The HX even carries a shovel, flashlight, fire extinguisher, and first-aid kit styled to match the vehicle.
Ford calls its new F-150 "redesigned inside and out," with a freshened exterior bolted to a lighter, stiffer, fully boxed chassis that gives the truck greater payload and towing capacities while also improving its fuel economy. Buyers will be able to choose from a wide range of models, from the workhorse XL to the high-end Platinum (seen here). Three engine options will be available: the familiar 5.4L V-8, which will be E85-capable; and two 4.6L V-8s. A three-valve 4.6, new to the truck lineup, will be the more powerful of the two (though Ford hasn't released output numbers yet); the two-valve will deliver "more horsepower" but with the fuel economy of last year's V-6. Available in three cab styles, four box options, and seven trim levels, the F-150 can be configured in 35 versions when it goes on sale in the fall.
Toyota claims its A-BAT concept pickup is a return to its compact-pickup-truck roots. What we see is awfully Honda Ridgeline-esque, a suspicion we confirmed later in Toyota's press release when it said the A-BAT "integrates truck features with car fundamentals," like unibody construction. A-BAT is slightly smaller overall than a two-door Tacoma and has a 4-foot bed that grows an additional 2 feet when the cab-back midgate is folded down. Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive gas/electric powertrain drives the A-BAT.
Land Rover is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2008, and the LRX Concept demonstrates "a bold evolution of Land Rover design that indicates the brand's progressive shift into new areas of the market, while remaining true to its core values," says the company. Translation: Further evolution from SUV to crossover. The LRX is smaller than the LR2/Freelander but is still positioned as a premium vehicle. Its turbo-diesel/electric hybrid powertrain includes a 2.0L, biodiesel-capable engine and an Electric Rear Axle Drive system that would allow the LRX to operate on electricity alone at low speeds.
The Renegade concept two-seater is colored green for a reason: "Green" technology is one of the Jeep's key themes. Much of its interior, for instance, is made from environmentally responsible materials, including soy-based foam seats. More important is the full independent suspension. An electric motor powers each axle, charged by a lithium-ion battery pack with a 40-mile range. There's also a 1.5L Bluetec diesel engine on board to charge the batteries and provide extra power when needed. Jeep figures when the electric/diesel hybrid propulsion system is working in tandem, the Renegade will have a 400-mile range and can achieve fuel economy of 110 mpg. The Renegade is about the same size overall as a two-door Wrangler, though its longer wheelbase gives it shorter front and rear overhangs.