*The land speed record for pickup trucks was recently broken by Gale Banks Engineering, whose "Sidewinder" Dakota set a new FIA record of 217.314 mph at Bonneville. That was a two-way average; the truck peaked at over 221 mph. Oh, and did we tell you Banks did this with a diesel? There's a 5.9 Cummins with a variable-boost turbo stuffed under the Dodge's hood that put out about 1,300 lb-ft of torque in LSR trim. One more bit of trivia: In setting the mark, Banks' team broke its own record, set in 1990 with a GMC Syclone.
*Those of you in really cold (or hot) climates take note: GM will introduce a remote start feature this year, which allows the engine to be started via buttons on the key fob. With the engine running, the vehicle's climate control systems will work too, so you can "provide a more comfortable interior," before getting in, says GM. The remote start sequence also locks the vehicle's doors, and you can only drive away after inserting the vehicle's key in the ignition switch.
*Dodge has announced that the Hemi engine option will now be available in Ram 1500 pickups.
*Look for a bigger Toyota Tundra in 2004, says trade journal Automotive News. It recently ran an "unauthorized" photo of a Tundra mule where four fullsize doors and a longbed were clearly visible despite the truck's heavy camouflage. The paper also said extended-cab versions of the new pickup will have a hatch between the passenger compartment and the bed, much like GM's Midgate.
*Exide Technologies has signed a deal to supply 4 Wheel Parts with starting and deep-cycle batteries to be sold under the Pro Comp brand. The Exide Select Orbital technology used in the Pro Comp Starting HDX, Pro Comp Deep Cycle/Marine HDX, and Pro Comp Off Road/Deep Cycle HDX batteries will provide leak-proof, highly vibration-resistant charging performance with twice the life of a conventional battery, according to Exide.
*Remember the Dodge Ram COMBATT pickup, built for Army testing, that we wrote about a few months back? Well, those wacky TACOM guys are at it again, testing a bunch of new vehicles with futuristic propulsion systems. Along with a modified Chevy Silverado COMBATT pickup, various agencies have developed hybrid drive systems for 13-ton, 8x8 medium-class trucks and for the HEMTT platform, which stands for Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. The HEMTT's ProPulse electric hybrid system, developed by the Army and the Oshkosh Truck Corporation, provides "high rates of acceleration and highway speeds for heavy vehicles," says the Army. The vehicle is also capable of generating up to 400 kW of on-board power.
A Ranger You Can't OwnWhile trolling through Ford's archives recently, we came across photos of what we at first thought was a new-for-2004 Ranger variant that had been leaked by mistake. Turns out this is a South American Ford Ranger Double Cab, with new front-end sheetmetal, that was being shown at the Birmingham Motor Show.
Actually, the biggest news for the British was the across-the-pond debut of the Ranger's "new pillarless four-door Super Cab." Apparently the Brits had yet to experience the Super Cab Ranger's "class-leading ease of access to and from the rear of the cab," thanks to its "innovative...reverse-hinged, counter-opening rear doors."
So they think the Super Cab's clamshell doors are easier to use than a fullsize back door? No wonder we won the Revolutionary War....
2003 JeepSpeed ScheduleThe JeepSpeed Challenge, a desert race series for modified Cherokees, has announced its 2003 competition schedule, and some rule changes as well. This year, JeepSpeed competitors are being separated into two classes-Pro and Sportsman-to give entry-level racers their own venue to compete in.