First off, this photo is not the rumored "baby F-150." It's a Ford concept truck from 2000 called the 24.7. But we chose it to illustrate just how much the light-truck market may change as manufacturers react to the sharp increase in gas prices. Industry sources are buzzing about the junior F-truck, which could revive the F-100 nameplate and replace the Ranger. AutoWeek wrote a lengthy story about future Ford pickups, suggesting that they may ride on a unibody frame and be powered by a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V-6 under development for the '10 Ford Flex. Tuned for truck use, the turbo 3.5 could produce 340 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Another potential powerplant could come from a series of "Ecoboost" engines, small-displacement (2.0L and smaller) motors that are powerful, yet efficient, for their size.
Keep in mind that it's not just expensive gas driving these changes. Fuel economy standards will climb as the decade rolls on, and the OEs have to find a way to trim fuel use somehow. Unibody, car-based "trucks" just may be the answer, though it's to a question we certainly didn't ask.
Rod Hall landed in the Baja racing record books by earning his 18th career Baja 500 win in the 2008 SCORE International Baja 500. He and Mike Winkel wheeled their Hummer H3 race truck to victory in the Stock Mini class, finishing the 441-mile run in 14 hours and 42 minutes. Rod's son, Chad, also grabbed a victory for Hummer by piloting his H3 Alpha to the top of the Stock Full class. Chad's Hummer was the first production vehicle to cross the finish line.
The Blacktail/Wild Bill National Recreation Trail in northwest Montana was honored by BFGoodrich Tires, Tread Lightly!, and the United Four Wheel Drive Associations as one of its 2008 Outstanding Trails. More than 75 off-roaders and members of the Skyliners Four Wheel Drive Club attended the celebration as BFG presented a grant to the club's president to be used for trail preservation. Other trails chosen for recognition in 2008 include the Black Cat Trail near San Diego, California; the? Iron Range OHV Recreational Area in Gilbert, Minnesota; the? Quinn Trail that leads to Quinn Lake in Ottawa, Canada; ?Pritchett Canyon in Moab, Utah; and Beasley Knob OHV trail near Blairsville, Georgia.
Ever dreamed of speeding across Baja in a buggy? You could get the chance if you're one of the Grand Prize winners in Bilstein's Baja Challenge Sweepstakes. The two Grand Prizes are all-expenses-paid trips to Cabo San Lucas, where each winner and a guest get to drive Bilstein-shock-equipped Wide Open Baja race cars for three days on the Baja 1000 race course. The contest is open until September 30, and winners will be announced in October. Log on to www.bilsteinbaja14.com to enter.
I recently took a vacation to Key Largo, Florida, to do my second favorite hobby (next to wheelin' of course). While there I went on scuba charters to the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary aboard the HMS Minnow, captained by Jeff Jarvis. I wanted to catch up on the 4x4 world above while logging some "bottom time" on Molasses Reef.
Craig Lewis, Fuquay Varina, NC