This Is The Beginning Of What's Sure To Be a decade of huge changes in the automotive landscape. Soaring oil prices and growing concerns about global warming are prompting the government to enact ever-stricter regulations in the areas of fuel economy and emissions. Those regulations are pushing automakers to find cleaner and more efficient ways to power our vehicles.

Back When the hammer H3 was introduced, we lamented the lack of power from the five-cylinder mill, and the need for additional drivetrain options and a front locking diff. The Hummer guys were listening though, and responded with the H3 Alpha (First Drive, Jan. '08), which sports a 5.3l V-8, but no front locker. But we still wanted bigger tires, regular cogs behind the V-8, a front locker, and maybe even an sUT or a diesel mill. it was only a matter of time before the highly capable H3 followed its genetic destiny. Enter the H3T, a four-door shortbox pickup, with lockers front and rear!

When the Hummer H2 was introduced to the market back in 2003, we noted that compared to the H1, the H2 was twice the 4x4 for half the money. In fact, in our 2003 4x4 of the Year contest we ranked it highly, but our major complaint was the lack of power that we felt was needed in this size 4x4. Likewise when the Hummer H3 was introduced in 2005, we applauded its off-road prowess but condemned it for the weak five-cylinder engine that made freeway merging a hazardous occupation. Improvements over the years to the Hummer line included an Alpha version of the H1 fitted with a Duramax diesel powerplant that dispelled the "0-60 in two days" myth, but the H2 and H3 performance features languished, until this year. Yes, a new day has dawned for the intrepid Hummers still in production (the H1 has since gone the way of the dodo bird) with the introduction or new and improved powerplants for the H2 and H3.

By now you've seen them on the street, and other than the number of lug nuts, the new 3/4- and 1-ton Chevy and GMC trucks look similar to their younger 1/2-ton siblings, for the most part. Of course the drivetrain is the important part of any 4x4, but good looks make for an important selling point. So much so that GM has made a big point of having different sheetmetal, trim, and bumpers not only to differentiate the big boys from the light-duty trucks, but even between the GMC and Chevy brands. Underneath, however, GM stuck with what works well, and that tips the scale.

Are you a Jeep loyalist? If so, the all-new '07 Jeep Patriot will likely not find a docking station in your garage...or backyard. Those of us that know that true wheeling without a low-range set ofgears is just wrong will call the expected horde of Patriot owners The Great Unwashed. Why? Because this new model has no low range and shares its platform with the recently introduced Jeep Compass and related Dodge Caliber, which are better classified as hatchback crossover vehicles appealing to fashion-conscious consumers.

We know, you are all wondering about the '07 Cayenne since you want to go snag one now. Well, either find an '06 model or wait for the new '08, as the folks at Porsche figured they didn't want toconfuse customers with a slightly different model. That makes us wonder about the target audience of these ultracapable speed and dirt machines. Will the new '08 cross the Rubicon with ease? If power, performance, and traction was all that was needed, then yes it could. But the Cayenne is built primarily as a road vehicle, since the clearance issues and tire selection don't cut it in the tough stuff.

Forget fuel prices and conspicuous consumption-big trucks aren't going away! In fact, Ford's 2008 Super Duty lineup has grown even more talented and tough, with extra towing, greater payload, additional features, and further refinement. Ford says there are more than 1,000,000 Super Duty configurations, but we say the most important news zeros in on the all-new F-450 Crew Cab that can tug more than 24,000 pounds and haul in excess of 6,000 pounds. It also features an industry-first integrated Tailgate Step (a step and grab bar handle for easy access to the rear) and a nifty, new stowable bed extender. Added to that is a new 6.4L Power Stroke Diesel; an upgraded TorqShift transmission; the industry's only tow command system that integrates a trailer brake controller; and power-fold, power-telescoping trailer-tow side mirrors, with heated glass, integrated turn signals, and a manually adjustable spotter mirror that is twice the size of the previous generation.

For 2007 the Toyota Tundra finally delivers the goods as a fullsize pickup. Toyota has had a toe in the fullsize truck water since it introduced the T100 in 1993 and the first-generation Tundra in 2000.

We recently borrowed an '07 Chevrolet Avalanche to be the workhorse for a week of suspension testing on other Chevys. We had originally asked for a new Chevy truck to haul all the equipment, tires, camera gear, and spare parts, but when GM told us they only had an '07 Avalanche available, we quickly pursed our lips and said thank you very much; beggars can't be choosers.

Wheeling in Africa? Well, why not? Sure, you might not know much about Africa, but Jeep cared so much about their new Jeep Wrangler, they sent us across the drink to the Dark Continent for three days of intense wheeling, just to show off their new baby. And while the baby fat has increased on the Wrangler (which is 5 inches wider) the off-roadability has become even better with numerous improvements to the chassis and drivetrain. True, the new 3.8L V-6 is no match for the venerable 4.0L inline-six for useable torque, but we did find the new mill more than adequate, even in the four-door version. While we won't be thinking of loading up to max GVWR and adding a trailer when crossing the Continental Divide, remember that the old six-popper wasn't a stormer either.

4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine has named the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon the winner of its coveted 4x4 of the Year award. This is the 25th year of the enthusiast magazine's in-depth competition of new vehicles, and the eleventh time that a Jeep product has taken home the award.

Our 2005 4x4 of the Year winner was the Jeep Grand Cherokee (Feb. '05), and after a year of abuse and 24,000 miles piled on it, it's time to say goodbye. Yes, we'll miss it for the most part, as it has been a fine vehicle in many respects. However, a few quirks have driven us crazy over the course of the year, but not enough to make us second-guess our choosing it as 4x4 of the Year.

While driving on gridlocked Los Angeles freeways, you get to look at a lot of rear axles, and it's sad to see new fullsize SUVs riding on wimpy independent rear ends. Luckily, the all-new '07 Chevy Tahoe will not be suffering from the affliction of IRS (Independent Rear Sissyfication) that infected the Ford Expedition. The General's new GMT900 platform includes a fully boxed, hydroformed frame and a new five-link suspension to keep the solid rear axle in place.

It's ironic how much engineering has to go into a product in order for it to work in the dirt. Off-road performance is a whole other world from street performance. And dirt utility and durability are a lot harder to achieve than top-of-the-line pavement pounding. Designing a vehicle that excels in both worlds is perhaps the toughest automotive job on the planet. But it's also the most fun.




Photo Gallery: 2004 Volkswagen Toureg V8 - 4Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

As Jeep expands its brand image and hold on American wheeling-dom, the new seven-seat Commander will carry on the tradition, as it still has the moxie underneath its skin to pull off a trick or two out in the dirt. Borrowing heavily from the '05 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Commander takes a boxier profile and industrial-looking trim to make a jeepophile reminisce about the days of the XJ and FSJ version of Jeeps. The somewhat retro design is just what signifies a Jeep, and the underpinnings are nearly identical to the Grand, which won our 4x4 of the Year award back in February. However, the Commander is its own vehicle with an important difference in today's marketplace: the third row of seats for that crucial seven-passenger market. But make no mistake: Despite Jeep's initial claims, the Commander is not the first Jeep with seating for seven. The Willys Jeep station wagon of the '50s offered such an option in a similarly sized vehicle, but without the three rows, creature comforts, and power of today's offerings.

Since its introduction in 1990, the Ford Explorer has been one of the most ubiquitous 4x4s in America. According to Ford, more than 511/42 million Explorers have been sold to date, and given its combination of utility and road manners at a competitive price,it's no surprise it's been the best-selling vehicle in its class for 15 years running. But given the quantum leaps in power, suspension tech, and traction control made in recent years by the competition-including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus GX 470, and Land Rover LR3-it was probably time for a refreshening of Ford's flagship sport-ute, which last saw a major redesign in 2002. But Ford decided to go one better for the 2006 model year, reengineering the Explorer from the frame up, and the new-for-'06 Explorer boasts an all-new chassis, suspension, transmission, interior trim, and exterior sheetmetal.

10,000 - Mile TestWe're way too lazy to rotate tires on a 3,000-mile schedule, so our '99 Dodge Ram 2500 gives us a great chance to test rubber since its coil-spring/solid-axle front end chews up the front tires about every 15,000 miles. For its fourth set of shoes in 60,000 miles we finally decided to upgrade the size a bit from the dinky 245/75R16 stockers. We didn't want to lift the truck, and we didn't want to compromise the on-road performance since, sadly enough, it sees more tow time than trail time. But we wanted to change that, too, and have been using the rig for more off-road adventure lately.

When the first HMMWV rolled off the assembly line back in 1983, most 4x4 enthusiasts surely didn't envision future generations of Hummers running around the civilian market. Yet that's exactly what has happened, and the new H3 is a welcome addition to the SUV market. We had our first experience with the H3 on the Rubicon trail while on an engineering study ("H3 First Drive," Jan. '05). At the time the rigs weren't in final form, nor were we allowed to report our on-road driving impressions. But now the wraps are off and you'll be able to snag a testdrive at your local Hummer dealership.

As automotive journalists we get many offers to take trips for truck launches, product previews, and other weird and wonderful reasons. As a rule, the inviters pay for the trip and we promise not to let that influence our editorial integrity, which of course it doesn't. In other words, we feel we can write bad things about the presented 4x4 or product even though the manufacturer dropped a ton of money to show us its stuff. As such, we also pick our trips accordingly, and only cover the things that you, our readers, may find interesting. So when we first were informed that Volvo wanted to take us to Alaska and Mexico, we wondered what in the world we could write about that would make sense in a hard-core 4x4 mag. It was not only the adventure aspect, but also we couldn't figure out why Volvo would want us to experience its new XC70 instead of the new V-8-powered XC90.

At A GlancePrice as Tested: $35,155Engine: 3.5L SOHC V-6 with 24-valve VTEC technologyHorsepower: 255 @ 5,750 rpmTorque (lb-ft): 250 @ 4,500 rpmTransmission: Five-speed automaticAxle Ratios: 4.53 front, 3.38 rearSuspension: Fully independent with McPherson struts front, multilink rearBrakes: Four-wheel disc, ABSTires: P245/65R17 Michelin LTX all-terrainsGround Clearance (in): 8.2Payload (lbs): 1,554Tow Capacity (lbs): 5,000Fuel Economy (EPA, as tested): 16 city/21 highway, 18.5

Anyone in the 4x4 world knows of the H1 Hummer and its fine reputation for being extremely capable off-road, but slow. And though it is big and beefy, it's also slow. That's why many owners and 4x4 shops have yanked the slug of a 6.5 GM diesel out and slipped in everything from big-block brutes to massive diesel mills in the quest for speed and power. But what if the Hummer factory did the same thing, and decreased the 0-60 time from two days to just under 13.5 seconds, and at the same time provided a 46 percent increase in horsepower and an 18 percent increase in torque? Enter the new Hummer H1 Alpha series, which is factory-equipped not only with the famed Duramax diesel engine and Allison 1000 transmission, but also a host of other upgrades and features that will make this new version of the Hummer one that is sure to please even the most ardent opponents.

Cooper Tire builds tires for the replacement market, and they are now entering the off-road arena. The company's research shows that truck owners want larger tires, especially those planning on backcountry exploring while hunting, camping, or wheeling. Cooper revealed its new 37x12.5R17LT Discoverer STT radial, and we quickly tracked down a set for testing.

Previous 4x4 of the year winners2004 Volkswagen Touareg V-82003 Lexus GX 4702002 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.7 HO V-8)2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee (five-speed auto transmission)2000 Toyota Tundra1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.7 V-8 Limited)1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.9 V-8 Limited)1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (with center diff lock)1995 Dodge Ram (2500 V-10 longbed Club Cab)1994 Dodge Ram (1500 V-8 shortbed regular cab)1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee1992 Chevrolet Blazer (fullsize)1991 Dodge Dakota1990 Nissan Pathfinder (four-door)1989 Toyota pickup1988 Jeep Cherokee (4.0 engine)1987 Nissan Pathfinder (two-door)1986 Ford Ranger1985 Isuzu Trooper II1984 Jeep Cherokee (2.8 engine)1983 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer

The X-Terrain has been around for some time now. It has been tested in every element, from rocks to sand to highway to snow. And many people have had success with it. Look around you. A lot of people are running them nowadays, even on their daily drivers. Why? Because they work well everywhere, including the street. But now, at the small price of advanced tread wear, Pro Comp has taken off-road traction one step further with its competition-derived 37-inch X-Terrain featuring the XTC compound. The 37-inch tire features a softer compound and different carcass construction, making it a more abuser-friendly off-road tire.

Larger and more refined than the previous Durango, the '04 model trumps the competition in the performance numbers with styling that sets it apart from the rest of the pack. The family resemblance to the Dodge Ram lineup is strong but also hints at a new midsize Power Wagon-esque look that we expect to see on the upcoming Dakota replacement. The redesigned Durango interior pulls cues from the Ram truck but feels more upscale with cleaner lines and surfaces. People and cargo hauling are the top priority for this SUV and it shows in details like 84-degree opening rear doors that'll let you load almost anything into the back seat. Our initial driving impressions on the winding country roads of Tennessee are that this truck feels and drives smaller than it is with a very quiet ride and great maneuverability for a large family 4x4.