Tiger Trucks: From China With Love

With the emergence of the Chinese auto industry, it’s no surprise that there are a few American companies beginning to import Chinese vehicles. While some companies are importing completed vehicles fully assembled and ready for sale, others are licensing Chinese vehicle designs and producing them in the USA. One of these companies producing Chinese designed vehicles in the USA is Tiger Trucks.

While they might not look heavy duty, the Tiger Truck Star (left) and Champ 4500 (right) are efficient and powerful. The Star (left) is comparable to most small pickups in terms of payload, while the Champ 4500 (right) can haul more than most 1/2 ton trucks currently on the road – including the Tundra.

Based in Oklahoma, Tiger Trucks is taking advantage of Chinese technology and innovation to create jobs in the United States. Read more…

Dropping Diesel Dumb Decision

Update: Read the complete story of the diesel Tundra

Toyota’s recent announcement that they’re “shelving” the diesel Tundra is a dumb decision. Here’s why:

• Ford, GM, and Chrylser will all offer diesel half ton trucks in the next 2 years (or less). Toyota will be the only major manufacturer without a light-duty diesel truck.
• Diesel engines offer the best potential for high fuel economy. Early estimates are that a diesel equipped Sierra or Silverado could get around 26mpg without a drop in performance* when compared to the current 5.3L gas engine.
• Light duty diesels are the best substitute for Ford, Dodge, and GM HD truck owners looking to step-down without sacrificing capabilities.
• Toyota already has an excellent light-duty diesel – the Aussie 4.5L twin turbo – ready to go. Economies of scale would likely make this engine cost-competitive with domestic offerings.

With the positives associated with integrating the 4.5L diesel into the Tundra being so plain, one has to wonder why Toyota would shelve such a promising powertrain? Lots of explanations are floating around, but here’s what we believe.

Have Toyota’s fears of a cultural conflict led them to cancel the diesel Tundra? Read more…

Ford MyKey System Discourages Responsibility

How many of us exceeded the speed limit, cranked up our stereo a little too loudly, or neglected to wear our seatbelt when we first began driving? How many of us had a teenage fender-bender? How many of us learned the hard way that one or all of these behaviors were foolish and are now wiser for it?

Ford has come up with a safety system that will allow parents to keep their children from acting stupidly while driving a 2010 Focus with the “MyKey” system. Parents will issue their young driver a specially programmed key that limits top speed and stereo volume, as well as a feature that locks out the stereo so long as seatbelts are un-fastened. The MyKey system also features an earlier-than-normal low fuel reminder and some very innovative radar-based “potential collision” warning sensors. In short, the MyKey system will help parents keep their kids from acting like, well, kids.

Will Ford’s new MyKey system make teens safer at the expense of responsibility? Read more…

One Hot Tundra Girl

Not to sound like a typical automotive mysoginist, but there’s just something special about a woman with a truck. Maybe it’s the fact that she’s willing to own a big, burly, and difficult to manuever vehicle without a high level of sophistication or refinement. After all, men are known for a lot of the same characteristics. Or maybe it’s the fact that this truck is a great example of how to make your Tundra look great on a budget, and the fact that a beautiful woman owns it.

Either way, check it out:

This 2008 Tundra doesn’t have a ton of extras, but the leveling/lift kit combined with the chrome wheels makes for a very sharp look.

Nice chrome wheels. Read more…

Automaker’s Strategies For Improving Truck Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is a hot topic in every American household, and automakers are doing their best to re-tool their production lines to shift the focus of their newer vehicles onto more efficient designs and technologies. While it is not so difficult to create smaller vehicles which are lighter, powered by smaller engines and use less fuel, it is definitely a challenge to take more purpose-built vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUV