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Ram Gets a Midsize Pickup Truck

September 17, 2018 by admin 4 Comments

A Dakota replacement is in the works.

Dodge Dakota — The Dodge Ram was the first midsize pickup truck.

Once considered a dying segment, the midsize pickup truck market is showing fresh signs of life. Much credit is due to GM for releasing a pair of new trucks in 2015 — the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Those trucks lifted sales among such competing models as the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, and rejuvenated the segment.

Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger Return

Early in 2019, the Ford Ranger returns after an 8-year hiatus. About the same time, the Jeep Scrambler joins the market, the first pickup truck from this SUV brand we’ve seen in decades. Honda has the Ridgeline, a crossover pickup truck based on the architecture underpinning the Honda Pilot.

The segment isn’t done yet. A new model from Nissan seems imminent and the Tacoma will likely see a significant overhaul in the next year or two as Toyota seeks to defend its top position in the segment. Next up is a Ram pickup truck, an expected all-new model recently confirmed for production as reported by Automotive News.

2019 Ford Ranger — The Ford Ranger returns in early 2019.

From Dodge To Ram

Not much is known about the Ram, which replaces the Dodge Dakota last produced in 2010 (it was sold as the Ram Dakota in 2011). What we do know is that the Ram will be built at the same Toledo, Ohio, manufacturing plant as the Jeep Scrambler. Both models are traditional body-on-frame and will likely have multiple powertrain, cabin and bed choices available.

But the Ram, like the Jeep, will not be a high volume model. The segment has supported about 500,000 units annually, which is a far cry from the 2.4 million full-size pickup trucks sold every year in the U.S. alone.

Manufacturers, however, may look at midsize pickup trucks as the key to improving overall fuel economy. Yes, full-size pickup trucks from GM, Ford and Ram earn up to 30 mpg highway when motivated by a turbo-diesel engine. But those engines represent only a small portion of the motors powering pickup trucks.

2019 Ram 1500. — 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel (l) and Limited editions (r).

Hybrid Pickup Trucks

Ram is the first manufacturer to introduce hybrids, utilizing mild hybrids in some models. They’re not full-blown hybrids, but they do bring vehicle electrification along with the enhanced power to the segment. We’ll soon see plug-in hybrid pickup trucks, which will only enhance fuel efficiency.

The smaller, lighter midsize trucks may prove the most efficient models as these come with standard four-cylinder engines. Just as Ram has the first hybrid trucks, we’ll see that technology spread to Jeep and to the Dakota replacement, as both brands are owned by Fiat Chrysler.

The Jeep Wrangler, for instance, will soon boast a plug-in hybrid model, arriving on the market about a year after an available turbo-diesel engine debuts next year. It seems likely that whatever the Wrangler gets will head to the Scrambler. And because the Scrambler and midsize Ram share the same architecture, ditto for the Dakota replacement.

2017 GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab 4×4 short bed.

Ram Pickup Truck Aspirations

Although there isn’t much known about the new Ram pickup, there are a few things we can deduce. For starters, extended cab and crew cab configurations along with two bed size choices are a given.

FCA’s venerable 3.6-liter V6 and a turbo-charged 2,0-liter four-cylinder engine should kick things off. One or both will be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or to an available 9-speed automatic transmission (standard with four-wheel drive). Segment-leading technologies, including infotainment and driver-assist features, will dominate the top-end trims.

In all, the upcoming Ram should only burnish the brand. Given that, the Ram is only possible because of the Jeep Scrambler, which is based on the popular Wrangler. Together, the three models should deliver the profits the automaker requires to justify such models.

New Pickup Truck Shopping Tips

April 3, 2018 by admin 2 Comments

Find the right truck at the right price.

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Centennial Edition. — 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 Centennial Edition.

If you are in the market for a new pickup truck, you may be considering a brand you are already familiar with. That’s a sensible approach as pickup truck buyers are typically brand loyal. In particular, they are more likely to stick with what they already know and like. For everyone else, shopping for a new truck requires research in an effort to make an informed decision. The following points are worth considering as you undertake your quest.

When Size Matters

When shopping or purchasing a new truck, there are essentially three size categories to consider: medium, full-size and heavy duty.

These days, your medium truck options include the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and the slightly larger Honda Ridgeline. Models from Ford (Ranger) and Ram (Dakota) left the market in recent years, although the Ranger is set for a return.

The smaller models offer extended and crew cab choices. You’ll also typically find standard and extended beds.

The main segment for pickup trucks are the full-size models. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan compete in this segment, with each supplying a variety of cabin configurations and truck bed sizes.

The heavy-duty truck market is essentially controlled by the American truck manufacturers. The Ford Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD and the Ram 2500 and 3500 occupy this segment. Each heavy duty line has oversized gasoline or diesel engines.

Nissan also offers a model that straddles the standard full-size and heavy-duty lines, the Titan XD. This truck has a higher towing capacity than the standard Titan, although models such as the light-duty F-150 now match or beat those limits.

2WD vs. 4WD

What you use your truck for will go far in helping you determine what type of drivetrain layout that is right for you. Two-wheel drive trucks come with the rear wheels while four-wheel drive trucks can activate all four wheels as needed. Choose the latter and your truck can give you the traction and off-road prowess as you desire.

The Honda Ridgeline is the lone exception to the 2WD vs. 4WD debate. This model is all-wheel-drive or powered by its front wheels most of the time with its rear wheels activated as needed.

Payload and Towing

Of big concern to many pickup truck owners is how much weight a truck can carry (payload) and how much weight it can pull (towing). These numbers vary from truck to truck and even from model to model. It is advisable to find the manufacturer’s payload/towing capacity chart, usually supplied right on its sales page.

The payload includes the weight of the driver, his passengers, fluids and what’s stored inside the pickup and in the bed. Towing is the ability of any truck to pull something behind it when hitched — such as a boat, a trailer or a camper. Add towing and payload together and you get your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight.

Consider all three numbers when buying a new truck.

Convenience Features

Today’s pickup trucks come well equipped and outfitted with many of the luxury appointments you can find in a premium sedan, such as leather seats, a heated steering wheel and wood trim. Still, when buying any new vehicle, you should determine which amenities are important to you.

Most pickups offer standard equipment such as an automatic transmission, power accessories, cloth seating surfaces, climate control, an audio system, multiple storage compartments and important safety features such as airbags and antilock brakes.

Popular options include fog lamps, off-road tires, power side mirrors, a navigation system, a rear backup camera, folding rear seats, an overhead console, a rear DVD entertainment system and a lined cargo area.

Truck Fuel Economy

There was a time when buying an economical pickup meant choosing the smallest truck and opting for the manual transmission. These days, your choices have improved considerably, although few trucks get 30 mpg on the highway. These come with a turbo-diesel engine.

What you will usually find are trucks that get 25 mpg on the highway, something both the smaller Toyota Tacoma and larger Ram 1500 achieve. The smaller trucks come with inline-four or V-6 gas engines, while the larger trucks are usually equipped with a standard V-6 or optional V-8 gasoline engines. Again, only select models offer diesel engines.

As for transmissions, you’ll find very few manuals. Most pickups have six-, eight- or even 10-speed automatic transmissions. The few manual gearboxes available come with the median-sized trucks.

Other matters to consider when buying a new pickup is its price, with your cost ranging from just over $20,000 for a basic medium pickup to well over $65,000 for a fully optioned heavy-duty model. Each manufacturer offers a dizzying array of model variations, enabling you to customize your truck to suit your needs and budget.

See Also — How to Buy a Repo Vehicle

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline by the Numbers

May 11, 2016 by admin 4 Comments

Following a two-year hiatus, the Honda Ridgeline crossover pickup truck returns.

Beginning in 2006, Honda sought to turn pickup truck convention on its head, by building a car-based model. Early on, sales were quite strong as the Honda Ridgeline siphoned sales from competitors while also attracting a new breed of truck shoppers.

But those initial sales were not sustained. In fact, they began to fall drastically, then after nine years the Ridgeline was discontinued. However, the end was far from final as Honda had a new model in mind. Today, Honda offers the 2017 Ridgeline, an all-new second-generation midsize model in an effort to recapture customer interest. To that end, we’ll examine the important “numbers” defining this model.

4 — Four is the number of doors found on every Ridgeline pickup truck. Four also represents the number of feet between wheel arches in the pickup truck bed, allowing customers to flat haul drywall and plywood. No other midsize pickup truck can boast such a broad width.

19/26/22 — Fuel efficiency and pickup trucks are a tough combination. Few people buy them with maximizing fuel efficiency a top priority, but if your truck isn’t making at least 20 mpg, then you may be in for a world of hurt. For the first time, Honda is offering a front-wheel drive Ridgeline, EPA-rated at a respectable 19 mpg in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway, for a combined 22 mpg. Choose all-wheel drive and you’ll see those numbers drop by 1 mpg. The Ridgeline’s numbers are particularly impressive, given that the 2016 Nissan Frontier with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine delivers 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. By the way, a 19.5-gallon fuel tank is present in the 2017 Ridgeline.

210 — The 2017 Ridgeline is longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model. It measures 210 inches from stem to stern or 3.1 inches longer than the previous model. The big gain is found between the wheels — this model has a 125.2-inch wheelbase, the first-generation Ridgeline was 122 inches long between the wheels. That’s more interior room, making this truck better suited for some owners. The Ridgeline is 78.6 inches wide (a 0.8 increase) and 70.8 inches tall (for a gain of 0.5 inch). Four inches were also added to the bed length, now measuring 64 inches or 5-feet, 4-inches.

280 — The previous Ridgeline made 250 horsepower and 247 foot-pounds of torque, respectable numbers both. The latest edition should be a crowd pleaser as it makes 280 horsepower and 262 foot-pounds of torque. Of big benefit are two things: a new 3.5-liter, direct-injected V-6 engine, variable torque management, and a 6-speed automatic transmission. This combination enables the current Ridgeline to achieve better acceleration and improved fuel economy over the previous model.

400 — The number of watts in the Ridgeline’s AC power inverter is 400. Not only that, but the inverter is part of the first in-bed audio system found in any pickup truck. The inverter is located behind an access panel found in the right bed wall and works with six exciters placed in the bed walls, replacing conventional speakers. The inverter has the capacity to recharge power tools or provide energy for a flat-screen television or a blender. Tailgate parties, anyone?

1,584 — Payload capacity is a big deal with truck buyers. After all, if you can hold ‘em and haul it, then you’re not in the game. The payload numbers come in at 1,584 pounds or 38 pounds more than the old Ridgeline. Comparatively, the GMC Canyon payload is 1,410 to 1,600 pounds; the Chevrolet Colorado offers 1,370 to 1,630 pounds; Toyota’s Tacoma ranges from 1,120 to 1,620 pounds; and the Nissan Frontier ranges from 919 to 1,475 pounds. Clearly, Honda’s engineers did their homework.

5,000 — The main area where the Ridgeline is clearly outclassed by competitors is in towing. Choose the RT AWD model and you’ll hit this truck’s 5,000-pound towing capacity. That’s still a robust number and it matches the earlier Ridgeline. Of course, for truck shoppers in this segment needing more pulling power, then the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon at 7,000 pounds, Nissan’s Frontier at 6,500 pounds, and the Toyota Tacoma at 6,400 pounds towing capacity may be too hard to pass up.

29,475 — The starting price for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline is $29,475. Yes, that’s right: nearly $30,000 for this midsize truck. Available in RT, RTS, Sport, RTL, RTL-T, RTL-E, and Black Edition trims, the top end model will reach just above $42,000. That’s a lot of moolah for a truck in this class. Shoppers looking for value in this segment will have to look elsewhere. A base Nissan Frontier king cab is the price leader here, starting at $18,290. The comparable-to-the-Ridgeline Frontier crew cab starts at $23,500 or nearly $6,000 less than the Honda. Price creep in recent years has made affording a smaller pickup truck more difficult for buyers. Although segment sales are strong, you have to wonder if Honda’s base price is simply too high.

(See Also — Ram Gets a Midsize Pickup Truck)

Honda Ridgeline: Beyond the Numbers

Numbers only tell you part of the story about any vehicle. There are a lot of features about this truck that simply cannot be numerically quantified.

One feature making a return is the nifty in-bed trunk that has always played an important part of the Ridgeline ownership experience. The new model comes with a fully flat floor and as before it is drainable and lockable. Speaking of the bed, it comes with eight 350-pound tie-down cleats.

As for the tailgate, it is a dual action layout as it is hinged both on the left side and on the bottom, making it easier to reach, load, and unload heavy items.

Photos courtesy of Honda Motors America.

Honda Ridgeline Strikes Back!

January 14, 2016 by admin 3 Comments

An all-new Honda Ridgeline is poised to hit the market. The latest iteration is conventionally styled while retaining its unibody construction.

The Honda Ridgeline returns this spring after a two-year hiatus. The second-generation midsize pickup truck model debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week, making a clean break from the previous edition. At least when it comes to styling.

Second-Generation Honda Ridgeline

What hasn’t changed is the Ridgeline’s unibody construction as it uses a car-like architecture it shares with the Honda Pilot SUV. This means front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is optional.

“We are bringing our unique technology and original thinking to the market in a new and challenging concept for a Honda pickup,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We think we’ve got a better idea, a truck that uses its unibody construction and Honda packaging magic to deliver more of the things that many of today’s truck customers want and need with none of the things they don’t.”

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for the Honda Ridgeline to provide 4×4 off-road thrills along the lines of the Toyota Tacoma or Chevrolet Colorado, you’ll be disappointed. Just the same, Honda designed the new pickup truck to handle all other truck duties, what should satisfy a significant number of consumers.

Your Four-Door Pickup Truck

As before, the Honda Ridgeline is available only as a four door. That shouldn’t be much of an issue, as regular cab sales can be counted in the single digits. Its latest design aligns more closely to today’s crop of midsize models — you will be forgiven if you find yourself comparing its look to the GMC Canyon or the Nissan Frontier.

Like competing pickup trucks, the 2017 Ridgeline has been designed and developed in the United States. It will also be built stateside — at its manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Alabama. That’s the same approach Nissan and Toyota have taken to gain acceptance in this all-American passenger vehicle segment.

To effectively battle in a competitive segment, Honda has to approach potential customers with something different. It already knows that it will not and it can not reach off-road enthusiasts. On the other hand, Honda has designed the Ridgeline to provide excellent on-road utility as well as overall versatility.

Updated Engine and Transmission

What should help Honda is the Ridgeline’s 3.5-liter, V-6 engine, its only engine choice. This direct-injection motor is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, forming the only powertrain combination offered.

Honda hasn’t specified numbers yet, but the automaker claims that among midsize V-6 pickup truck models, it expects to lead the segment in a few key areas. Specifically, Honda says the new Ridgeline will offer best-in-class acceleration performance. Further, the automaker expects the Ridgeline to approach the 1,600-pound payload capacity of competing trucks. If this truck matches the previous edition’s 5,000-pound towing capacity, then it’ll provide one more reason for people to consider one.

Multiple and Innovative Features

And if those reasons aren’t enough, the newest Ridgeline returns with one popular feature left intact — its lockable in-bed trunk. The latest design features a fully flat floor and includes a drain plug for easier cleaning and water release. The trunk is flush with the truck bed and has no impact on utility.

Another nifty feature is the Ridgeline’s dual-action tailgate. Not only does it fold down like a traditional tailgate, but it is also hinged on the left side. The side hinge feature makes it easier to climb up and in to the truck bed. It also improves ground access to the bed, which now measures 5 feet wide by 5 feet, 4 inches long. That means you get a full four feet between the wheel arches, ideal for hauling plywood or drywall.

Yet another innovative feature is the Ridgeline’s audio system, designed especially with tailgate celebrants in mind. The new in-bed audio system makes use of six exciters located in the bed walls — replacing conventional speakers — with the sound pumping out from the truck’s audio head unit. That makes for up to 540 watts of musical performance at the ready.

Room for Five

Honda claims the Ridgeline boasts the largest cabin amongst its competitors. With room for five, the pickup has the requisite bucket seats up front and a 60-40 split-folding seat in the rear. That rear seat can house golf clubs underneath or if more interior room is needed, then one or both sections can be raised.

What Honda offers on many of its other vehicles will become a Ridgeline staple too. Such features as push button start, available leather trim, three zone climate control, a full-color center meter, an 8-inch display audio system, and smartphone Android Auto and Google Play compatibility are among its many features. Trim levels and prices will be announced closer to the truck’s release date.

On the safety front, Honda anticipates the new Ridgeline will receive the highest safety scores from the recognized safety testing organizations, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Lane departure warning, collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, road departure mitigation, and lane keep assist are part of the Honda Sensing technologies.

Honda Ridgeline Potential

As for the Ridgeline’s potential, the new model should be well received. Mike Rabkin, President, From Car to Finish, expects the Ridgeline to do well much in the same way that the latest generation Pilot — introduced in 2016 — has succeeded.

Rabkin noted that one of the problems with the previous model was its long time on the market without a change, “which made it very long in the tooth.” Providing a more acceptable design, along with advanced technologies, an updated powertrain, and robust payload are other factors he believes are in the truck’s favor.

As for its unibody construction, seen by some as a detriment for the Ridgeline, Rabkin doesn’t consider the design choice a problem, “If it’s being used as a work truck, it’s payload capacity will only be improved, and being a work truck doesn’t necessarily require serious off road capability.”

And that’s the market segment where Honda will have to do battle with the likes of Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, and Nissan this year. It is a segment, incidentally, enjoying a strong rebound since the Colorado and Canyon returned in late 2014.

All photos copyright American Honda.

King of the Pickup Trucks? Why, That Would be GM.

January 7, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

GM sells more pickup trucks in the US than any other manufacturer.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab.

For the 39th consecutive year, the Ford F-Series was the best selling pickup truck model. For 2015, Ford sold 780,354 units of its full-size truck in the US, once again besting all comers. Ford likes to champion its F-150 model, but the blue oval isn’t the king of all pickup trucks. Instead, that title belongs to GM.

Indeed, GM also had a banner year selling its full-size pickup trucks, but its sales are split between two models: the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Chevrolet registered 600,544 units sold for the Silverado, while GMC sold 224,139 copies of its Sierra. That’s a total of 824,683 full-size trucks, giving GM an edge of 44,329 units over Ford.

GM also sells a pair of midsize trucks in the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon. Last year, Chevrolet dealers moved 84,430 copies of the Colorado, while GMC dealers sold 30,077 Canyons. That’s 114,507 midsize pickup trucks Ford doesn’t match as its Ranger was discontinued in 2011.

2015 Ford F-150 SuperCab

GM: King of the Pickup Trucks

Add the 44,329 full-size truck edge for GM to its 114,507 midsize truck sales and GM’s lead widens to 158,836. So, in 2015 GM sold 939,190 pickup trucks to Ford’s 780,354 total and although both are excellent numbers, GM is the indisputable king of pickup trucks.

Ram, like Ford, is another brand that does without a midsize pickup truck. The Ram (formerly Dodge) Dakota was also discontinued in 2011 and there is no replacement pending. Nevertheless, in 2015 Ram sold 451,116 units of its full-size truck, putting it in third-place among pickup truck retailers.

Fourth place belongs to Toyota whose midsize Tacoma pickup truck outsells its full-size Tundra model. In 2015, Toyota sold 179,562 copies of its Tacoma, good for first place in that segment. It also sold 118,880 Tundras, the fifth best selling full-size truck model. Together, the two models accounted for 298,442 Toyota pickup trucks sold last year.

2015 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 4WD Crew Cab

Bringing up the Rear: Nissan Titan

Nissan is another manufacturer where its best selling pickup truck is a midsize model. In 2015, Nissan sold 62,817 copies of its Frontier, finishing behind the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado, but ahead of the GMC Canyon. Its nearly invisible full-size Titan model registered only 12,140 units for the entire year, representing less than a week’s worth of sales for Ford.

Titan took the sixth and final place among the large trucks; Nissan’s truck sales totaled 74,957 units for 2015. The good news for Nissan is that an all-new Titan XD and Titan are rolling out this year. A new Frontier model is expected to follow in 2017.

2016 Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab

Upcoming Honda and Hyundai Offerings

One more manufacturer registered truck sales in 2015 and that was Honda. Last year, Honda sold 520 units of its discontinued Ridgeline, a midsize unibody model dropped in 2014. An all-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline debuts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week.

In the short term, both Toyota and Nissan look to benefit from sales as each brand fields new models. Depending when the Ridgeline appears in Honda showrooms, it will once again register its share of sales, although its overall impact on the market may be minimal.

Hyundai also plans to jump in to the pickup truck market, by offering the Santa Cruz, a model that will compete directly with the Honda Ridgeline. Hyundai is expected to debut a production ready model at a major auto show this year, but we probably won’t see it until 2017. The Santa Cruz is more of a crossover than it is pickup truck, so it won’t be ideal for towing.

2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD.

See Also — US Auto Sales Set New Record in 2015

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Ford Ranger and Bronco Now Expected to Return

November 11, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

Ford Ranger fans may get the vehicle they want after all. As a bonus, a Bronco SUV may be included.

Ford truck fans have been growing restless over the past year, particularly as GM reintroduced both the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado, a pair of midsize pickup trucks. Both models have reignited a segment some had given up for the dead or at least had ceded to Toyota and Nissan.

Although the Ford F-150 certainly has retained its large following as it transitioned to an aluminum-based body, Ford Ranger fans are still looking for something smaller. Talk that the Ranger might make its return have surfaced in recent months especially as Ford contract talks with the UAW suggest that the Ranger and a Bronco SUV variant are in the works.

Michigan Assembly Plant

Ford Ranger The contract talks have been tentatively approved and certain details have been announced. For example, the union has already won higher wages for the rank and file, but they’re still looking to secure production for at least one of its manufacturing plants, particularly the Michigan Assembly Plant. That plant current produces the subcompact Focus and the hybrid C-MAX, models that will now be produced in Mexico.

The two-model exit means that other models will step in. And as Crain’s Detroit Business and the Detroit Free Press have reported, they’ll be the Ranger and Bronco, appearing in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

What isn’t clear is just what sort of Ranger and therefore what type of Bronco models we shall see. When Ford discontinued its compact Ranger in 2011, it replaced it with a larger, midsize model. The global Ranger as it is known is sold in most markets, but not in the US and Canada. Until recently, Ford had long insisted that the Ranger was gone for good and that the F-150 was its sole truck of choice. Unhappy Ranger fans have been voicing their displeasure with that decision.

Global or North American Ford Ranger

The global Ranger might also be an odd duck for the US market as it is of unibody construction, much like the Honda Ridgeline. Traditional pickup trucks have long maintained body-on-frame architecture (also known as ladder frame) as this has lower replacement costs and is better suited for towing.

Notably, the Ridgeline has never been a strong seller. Discontinued in 2014, a new Honda model is in the works, but it won’t do much to steal Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma owners — or Ford Ranger owners for that matter — looking for a replacement truck.

An all-new model based on body-on-frame architecture exclusive to North America is still possible, despite the enormous cost for producing such a vehicle. Typically, launching a new platform costs at least $1 billion and unless Ford sees the certainty of strong sales, that cost would normally be considered prohibitive.

But by including a Bronco SUV in the mix, Ford gains a second model line. It would also go up against the lone remaining body-on-frame midsize SUV — the Toyota 4Runner, itself based on the Toyota Tacoma.

Cutting Costs, Transferring Models

The $1 billion plus cost of the Ford Ranger and Bronco will be partially offset by transferring much of the make’s car production to low-labor-cost Mexico. Besides the previously mentioned models, the Fusion will also be built exclusively in Mexico. The full-size Taurus may simply be canceled or Ford might do what was once unthinkable — build the Taurus in China and ship those vehicles here.

When will the Ranger and Bronco news become official? Likely once the rank and file has ratified the contract. A vote is scheduled this week and with increased pay and bonuses along with job retention guaranteed, overwhelming approval is likely.

Photo copyright the Ford Motor Company.

Meticulous Product Changes Propel Honda

June 18, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

Help me Honda.

For much of the first two decades of Honda’s US marketing thrust, the brand relied on just three models and variants of the same for its business: Civic, Accord and Prelude. But by the late 1990s, Honda’s product line had doubled. Today, there are 10 lines of vehicles and more changes are in the offing. We’ll take a look at the most recent changes as well as what’s in store for the months and year ahead.

Honda HR-V

The all-new Honda HR-V is already a segment leader.

From Strength to Strength

No automaker is strong in every category, but if there is a weakness Honda finds a way to make the necessary improvements.

This year, Honda is releasing two all-new crossover utility vehicles. The Honda Pilot is its midsize SUV and has been completely redesigned for 2016. With room for up to eight, the Pilot now offers an available 9-speed automatic transmission paired with a direct-injected 3.5-liter, V-6 engine.

A new top-of-the-line Elite edition brings in LED headlights with automatic high beams and a blind spot indicator. All models provide a rearview camera, keyless entry and push-button start.

Honda’s strongest SUV is its CR-V, a compact model that is also the best seller in its class. Despite stiff competition from the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox and the Nissan Rogue, this model continues to outpace its competitors.

The CR-V theme has now been applied to an even smaller model known as the HR-V. Based on the subcompact Fit platform, the HR-V retails for under $20,000 and offers LED brake lights, heated side mirrors, roof rails and keyless entry is standard equipment. Bluetooth audio streaming and a USB audio interface are standard. The interior is roomy, seats five and fuel economy comes in at 35 mpg on the highway.

With the HR-V, CR-V and an all-new Pilot in the mix, Honda’s SUV offerings are solid. Indeed, in its first month of sales alone, Honda sold 6,381 HR-Vs, more than double the sales of the Nissan Juke.

Honda Civic

The Civic was Honda’s first automobile model sold in the US.

Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck

Clearly, the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck has not been a strong seller for this Japanese brand. It is sold in a market dominated by traditional, body-on-frame models such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, and the GMC Canyon. That being said, Honda believes that there is a market for this truck .

The original Ridgeline was sold for nine model years from 2006 to 2014. That’s a long time to keep a model without presenting a new one. Instead of maintaining the old model, Honda canceled it while developing plans for a new Ridgeline, a vehicle expected to debut in Fall 2016 for the 2017 model year.

We don’t know a lot about the upcoming model other than that it will maintain its unibody construction. Spy photos shown here and teaser photos shown here demonstrate that the new truck will assume a more traditional look. It will retail for about $30,000, a starting price higher than its competitors, but in line with the more upmarket trim levels Chevrolet, Toyota and the others offer.

Honda CR-V

Along with Civic and Accord, the CR-V is a top seller for Honda.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Honda has long operated in Toyota’s shadow, especially where sales numbers and alternative fuel vehicles are concerned. The dominant Prius has put the squeeze on certain Honda products, including the Insight, a hybrid model canceled last year.

But the entire electric vehicle market is weak in the face of lower gas prices that are far below the historic highs we have seen in recent years. That means demand for some models remains too low to sustain them, thus Honda has canceled its Civic Hybrid and Civic compressed natural gas (CNG) models after the current model year.

Honda’s retreat in this segment is not a surrender. Instead, the automaker will concentrate its resources on maintaining its Accord Hybrid, although the plug-in version will not return for 2016. Its CR-Z hybrid will also stay around.

Upcoming New Models

The cancellation of two Civic models comes as the 10th generation Civic rolls out this fall. That new model will include its first ever turbo engine. Further, Honda says that it will achieve “…EPA highway fuel economy a few ticks above 40 miles per gallon.” That fact may not be significant right now, but it does put Honda in a strong place once fuel prices begin to rise.

Yet another Honda model is slated for a major overhaul. About the same time that a new Ridgeline makes is debut, the next generation Honda Odyssey will also roll out. Not much is known about this model, although rumors that it will share its platform with the Honda Pilot have been mentioned.

Honda Odyssey

A new Honda Odyssey is on its way.

Honda: Looking Ahead

Honda has long stood on its quality credentials to attract and retain customers. The automaker may not have the most exciting products on the market, but the company is well represented wherever it operates. Only Toyota matches Honda in most quality and reliability surveys, critical considerations for consumers who trust these brands to deliver the industry’s most dependable products.

See Also — Tiny Crossover Segment Set to Explode

Photos courtesy of American Honda Motor Company, Ltd.

Volkswagen Amarok: The Key to Unboring?

June 23, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

Volkswagen has a crisis on its hands. No, that crisis does not involve recalling millions of its vehicles as Toyota and now GM are doing. Rather, it is a lack of interest in its cars, particularly here in the United States.

Sales Auto Trends

Through May 2014, year-to-date Volkswagen sales are down by 11.5 percent in a market that is up by more than 7 percent. That trend does not bode well for an automaker that should have a much larger slice of the market particularly given its global influence. Instead, Volkswagen is trailing its major competitors and is even behind Subaru, a comparatively bit player globally.

The problem with Volkswagen is that…wait for it…many of its models are boring. A prime example of that is its Passat sedan, a midsize model that will struggle to sell 100,000 units this year. Volkswagen should sell at least 150,000 Passats annually, but it is being outclassed by more stylish models including the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and the soon-to-be-updated Toyota Camry.

Unboring…Wow Factor

Even Volkswagen’s bread and butter compact Jetta, what typically accounts for 40 percent of its US sales, is struggling. To date, Jetta sales are down by more than 3 percent. Subcompact Golf sales are down by nearly 50 percent, what can be attributed in part to an all-new model arriving this year.

Top to bottom, there is not a single Volkswagen model that evokes the “wow” factor. Yes, that’s my opinion and you are welcome to disagree. I’m basing my findings on styling and even with its most evocative model, the CC, sales are down by 30 percent. Clearly, Volkswagen needs to find something “unboring” to improve its weak product line.

Volkswagen Amarok: Pickup Truck Bliss

And unboring should also mean taking on a segment not currently covered. One such model, the Volkswagen Amarok, already exists — a small pickup truck that is sold in many global markets, but is not available in the United States. Indeed, despite sentiment by some that the Amarok should arrive here, Volkswagen has no plans to do so. At least none that have been confirmed.

Auto Trends believes that the Volkswagen Amarok would be a great addition to the VW line and could stir interest in the brand that goes far beyond this model. Besides Amarok means “wolf” in the Inuit language and the last I checked the Inuit people inhabit the arctic region, living in a belt that extends from Alaska across Canada and ends in Greenland. VW might as well bring the people group’s namesake here too!

One problem with the VW Amarok is that it is expensive. The base model retails for A$ 27,490 (Australia) which comes in at $25,724 in the US. That’s the price for a 42 model with a turbo diesel engine. Even with a gas model the price would likely top competing models from Toyota, Nissan and GM. Other models cost more than $40,000, even $50,000 or what fully loaded Ram, Ford and Chevrolet crew cabs retail for. Clearly, a more competitive pricing strategy would be needed stateside.

Tools of the Trade

What won’t interest some small pickup truck buyers is the Amarok’s unibody construction. That car-like design is what Honda chose for its Ridgeline, what certainly is not a chart-busting model. Yet, Volkswagen has some tools that should interest prospective buyers, people that do not need 44 utility.

For starters, the same 2.0-liter TDI engine sold in various Volkswagen and Audi products is available with the Volkswagen Amarok. This engine is powerful, efficient and meets today’s strict emissions requirements. Moreover, a twin turbo diesel version of the engine is also available, what should erase any performance concerns that buyers might have.

I would even suggest that Volkswagen bring the Amarok to the US with TDI engines only. Even so, the payload for this truck already tops 2,500 pounds, a respectable amount for people that need a measure of utility even if towing is not a factor. Volkswagen mates this truck with an 8-speed automatic transmission (standard 6-speed manual) and also includes start/stop technology, regenerative braking and low-rolling-resistance tires.

4Motion for Off-Roading

And for those customers that want off-road utility, the Volkswagen Amarok does offer 4Motion, its selectable or permanent all-wheel drive system. To help customers leave the beaten path, the Volkswagen Amarok has been designed with a 23-degree ramp angle and it can also take a 45-degree incline with ease. Volkswagen also boasts about this truck’s approach and departure angle, its two types of spring elements and its side slope angle. So, there you have it: the Volkswagen Amarok does have off-road capabilities after all.

If not the Amarok, Volkswagen should come out with a next-generation Passat that is a knockout. It should also forget bringing the Phaeton to our shores. Let Audi handle the luxury end of the Volkswagen Group line up, something it has been doing quite well. A larger performance model might help out too, a vehicle to take on the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Nissan 370Z, among others.

Will Volkswagen bring the Amarok stateside? I am sure that they can think of many reasons not to do so. If that is management’s approach, then we have an even worse problem on our hands, one that will keep Volkswagen as an also-ran in one of the most competitive consumer markets in the world. That, my friends, should bring a howl from Volkswagen devotees.

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Volkswagen Amarok photo courtesy of the Volkswagen Group.

Next Generation Honda Ridgeline Silhouette Teased

December 12, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

The Honda Ridgeline will live on.

2016 Honda Ridgeline. — Tease us please: 2016 Honda Ridgeline outline.

All six of the largest car manufacturers in the US have at least one pickup truck model to offer. Pickups are profitable and if you want to maintain a strong overall presence in the market, you need to be in the game.

The Weakest Link

Arguably, Honda has the weakest pickup truck offering of the lot in its Ridgeline model, what made its debut in 2006 and has remained largely unchanged since. That “truck” is built on a car chassis and simply cannot compete seriously with offerings from GM, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, and Chrysler.

After 2014, the Ridgeline will go away temporarily, as Honda readies a replacement model that it says will come out in less than two years from this month. Yes, that means we’ll see a 2016 Honda Ridgeline, but we are not likely to see a 2015 MY edition as its Lincoln, Ala., plant will cease production in mid-2014.

And to prove that it is serious about its intentions, Honda released a sketch of the truck’s silhouette this week. For real — as shown here.

Chevrolet Colorado. — The Chevrolet Colorado returns in 2015 as Honda takes a break.

Replacing the Honda Ridgeline

That Honda has even hinted at a Ridgeline replacement shows that it is eager to keep its truck following around. Ridgeline sales are up 29 percent for the year through Nov. 2013, with 16,160 units sold. That’s far below this model’s peak sales of 50,193 units reached in 2006, but Honda apparently sees a more promising future for its crossover pickup truck.

“The next generation Ridgeline will build on Honda’s role in creating new value with a new take on advancing form and function in the truck segment,” said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “With a clear path forward, Ridgeline will play an even more important role in our future product portfolio and strengthen an already class-leading lineup of light trucks.”

That would be “class-leading” as in the only crossover pickup truck offered.

Toyota Tacoma X-Runner. — The Toyota Tacoma remains the best-selling
small pickup truck.

Research and Development

Honda is tapping its research and design facilities in California and Ohio to design and develop a new Ridgeline. Likely, they’ll find a way to keep two very popular Ridgeline features in place including its unusual in-bed storage compartment and its dual-action tailgate.

The current truck, retailing from $29,575, has a 1,546-pound payload capacity and can pull up to 5,000 pounds. It is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, same as what is found in the Odyssey passenger van. All-wheel drive is standard; this truck has four doors and seats five.

Global Ford Ranger. — With the Honda Ridgeline returning,
might Ford rethink its Ranger?

Will Ford Reconsider?

That Honda will continue to invest in a pickup truck might cause Ford itself to reconsider the small-to-midsize truck market. That possibility makes even more sense as Chevrolet returns with the truck-based Colorado for 2015, leaving Ford exposed in this segment. But, so is Ram and we’re not likely to see a smaller pickup truck from Chrysler unless it wears a Jeep badge. Hmmm….

Ford does have a new Ranger for global markets, but like the Honda Ridgeline, the current iteration is also a crossover pickup truck. Smaller pickup truck owners, however, want the off-road utility that traditional body-on-frame trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier deliver, and a price point that begins at least $10,000 under the Honda Ridgeline.

Honda Ridgeline sketch courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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