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In-Your-Face Pickups

Kool.ee-haridusportaal :: In-Your-Face Pickups Ei ole olemas kasutusjuhendit eluks. Õnneks on olemas www.kool.eeIn-Your-Face Pickups,Koolilaen, energialaen, matuselaen, matemaatika, ekool, e-kool, füüsika, ajalugu, seks, abort, laen

In-Your-Face Pickups

Tomorrow's pickups are big, bad and really cool.

DODGE M80

Forget anything you may have heard about the Trilateral Commission or any other secret controlling power. We're here to debunk the conspiracy. Despite the profusion of car- and minivan-based SUVs on the road today, trucks are not turning into cars. Sure, carlike crossover SUVs are red-hot right now. But trucks--real pickup trucks--are as tough and rugged as they've always been. And a peek into our crystal ball tells us they'll just get more macho in years to come with even more power, more room and more hauling grunt.

But future trucks will be much more than a V8 engine and a place to dump a couple of hundred pounds of gravel. They will have capacity for carrying people, too, because 4-door trucks--which are already hotter than Carmen Electra's tube top--will become more useful. More trucks will be designed with quick-change beds, like the Chevy Avalanche. Future trucks also will be technoheavy with innovative features. GM trucks already have 4-wheel steering standard on some models. And before mid-decade nearly every GM truck will have Displacement on Demand cylinder deactivation--4-cylinder economy and 8-cylinder power. Ford is working on air suspensions for heavy-duty pickups and advancing its fuel-efficient and torque-rich diesel engines. Nearly every manufacturer is working on some type of electric engine-assist system, too. All this future technology is just around the corner.

So here's a look at the latest tough concept trucks.

Dodge M80
Dodge has long been known for creating some of the most captivating pickup truck concepts. Most notable was the Dodge Power Wagon that adorned our cover a few years back. In fact, if you wanted, you could think of the new M80 concept as the "Power Wagon Light." Underneath the tightly drawn retro bodywork is the current Dodge Dakota's chassis, and the M80 shares that truck's dimensions. But under that pug-nosed hood is a modest 210-hp 3.7-liter V6. However, the performance secret of the M80 is that Dodge kept the mass down to a featherweight 2500 pounds. That's almost Mazda Miata territory. As a result, 0 to 60 mph is said to come in just 8 seconds. Remember, it's not power, it's power to weight, that counts. Loads of neat retro touches like the big flared fenders, minimalist round headlights and the dual spin-off fuel filler caps hearken back to the early years of pickups. Plus, the innovative back window can flip up to allow long items to pass through from the short bed into the cab. The M80 may never materialize at your local dealership, but you may see a few of its styling touches on the next-generation Dodge Dakota.

Ford Mighty F-350 Tonka
Think you've got the toughest truck on your block? Well, it's milquetoast compared to Ford's Mighty F-350 Tonka. This massive crew cab pickup is loaded with a new concept 6.0-liter Power Stroke Diesel that belts out 350 hp and an earth-spinning 600 ft.-lb. of torque. An innovative Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) system uses a hydraulic motor and pump to recover lost energy and improve fuel economy. Better still is the extra oomph that the HLA provides by giving the big diesel a boost for maximum acceleration--according to Ford, the system almost eliminates turbo lag. All that torque is harnessed to a 5-speed automatic and beefy solid axles. For a smooth ride, traditional leaf springs have been replaced with a kneeling air suspension. And the massive body, grille and 22-in. wheels make the pickup look just like a big rig. Tone the Tonka down a little and you're probably looking at the next-generation Super Duty Ford pickup.

Isuzu Axiom XST
Back in the dark ages, SUVs were developed from pickups. Now it's the other way around. Isuzu developed this XST concept from its Axiom sport utility. The XST, like the Chevy Avalanche, is designed to bridge the gap between pickup and SUV. And the Isuzu borrows heavily from Chevy to get the job done. The XST has a folding middle tailgate and a flip-up rear glass that can accommodate large objects through to the interior. But the most impressive technology lies underneath the hood. Instead of a gasoline V6, the Axiom XST has an advanced 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that uses common-rail injection and a ceramic particulate filter. The powerplant makes 181 hp and, more importantly, a most bodacious and unV6-like 310 ft.-lb. of torque at only 2000 rpm. This engine in some form may find its way into the Colorado, Chevy's S-10 replacement, a version of which Isuzu will also sell.

GMC Terra4
GMC is slowly homing in on the look of its next-generation full-size pickup truck that's due around 2006. The GMC Terra4, third in a series of concept trucks that began with 2000's Terradyne, is the closest yet. Like those before it, the Terra4 rides on the full-size GM truck platform. And in this case that includes a powertrain pirated from GM's concept Parallel Hybrid Truck. The 285-hp 5.3-liter V8 is augmented by a 4.8-kilowatt electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission. The electric assist eliminates the need for a starter and alternator. It also generates electricity during acceleration, making the truck a rolling dynamo of sorts. The Terra4 also employs GM's new Quadrasteer 4-wheel steering system that comes standard on the GMC Sierra Denali. The cab of the Terra4 is moved up and forward for visibility and, like many of today's more popular trucks, this one has four real doors and a small bed. Since GMC is Chevy's kissing cousin, Terra4's bed is like that on Chevrolet's Avalanche and can expand into the cab for almost unlimited versatility.

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viimati toimetatud: 21. 04. 2005. 10:18

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