Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged pickup
2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Nov 23rd
Even though it’s a tremendous gas hog, there’s a certain appeal to piloting the 2011 Ford F-250 around the suburbs, far outside of its towing and hauling comfort zone. The F-250 feels like a locomotive, some kind of sheetmetal giant among the scurrying crossover SUVs and minivans, and it rumbles with a certain regal majesty that’s lacking in many cars. The F-250 is a tall, powerful and noble steed, and because of that there are people willing to pay the extra price at the pump.
The fact that this truck is also a fantastic tool for doing a wide variety of very hard jobs makes the deal that much sweeter. The F-250 and the rest of Ford’s Super Duty lineup benefit from a round of major upgrades for 2011, including all-new powertrains and a new range of work-friendly features. More >
2005 Chevrolet SSR
Nov 13th
Yes, it’s real. The Chevrolet SSR started life as a dream truck that combined 1930s styling cues, 1990s hot-rod modifications, and a modern drivetrain. Thanks to overwhelming public approval, the SSR made the leap from show car to showroom, and now it’s one of Chevy’s halo cars. Is it really a truck? Sort of. Think of it as the coolest El Camino ever, and you’ll be on the right track. In its second year on the market, Chevrolet’s big-boy toy gets a new powertrain to give it some serious go power.
No one is going to mistake an SSR for anything else. As if the retro bodywork wasn’t enough, this is also the only retractable hardtop pickup truck on the market. The extravagant curves of the front fenders and grille sweep into a compact, arch-topped cab. Chevy says the design was inspired by the Advanced Design pickups of 1947-54. The bed has a rigid tonneau cover, and the rounded-off tail has circular taillights in the fenders, just like the old trucks that inspired it. Chevrolet’s signature horizontal chrome bar bisects the line of the headlights up front. The SSR’s fender lines are echoed on other Chevrolet products as well, but nothing else has curves like this. The massive wheels, measuring 19″ in the front and 20″ in the rear, are the most overtly modern aspect of the SSR. More >
2005 Toyota X-Runner
Oct 31st
Get this; when folks ask the Toyota people about the possibility of a resurrected Supra now that Nissan’s Z and Mazda’s RX are back, they smile and point to the new Toyota X-Runner. Excuse me? Yes, that’s right, a compact pickup truck inherits the brand’s performance mantle.
Is it up to the task?
The numbers certainly suggest that it is. Toyota has run 0-60 in the six-second range with this lowered and ground-effect’ed pick’em-up. The X-Runner hits the streets as a limited edition–only 3500 will be built. More >