No new Honda Ridgeline coming on 2011

March 1st, 2010

pic-30570The Honda Ridgeline is a great unibody pickup that people either love or hate. Unlike other pickups that people can use as a “work” truck, the Honda Ridgeline is a mid-sized utility truck that will let you haul stuff, but will not compromise comfort that you would usually get in an SUV.

Unfortunately, the Honda Ridgeline hasn’t been selling very well recently. Sales have plummeted 51.4% from 33,875 units in 2008 to 16,464 in 2009. Add to that the fact that the Honda Ridgeline is an ageing truck. It was introduced way back in 2005 and a redesign is way overdue. One thing people are really hoping for is improved fuel economy.

Despite all its problems, the Honda Ridgeline has retained a good following because of its reliability, smooth ride, great handling and excellent build quality so a lot of people were surely delighted to read that an all-new Honda Ridgeline will be coming in 2011.

PickupTrucks.com earlier reported that Vicki Poponi, the Assistant Vice President for Product Planning of Honda broke the news about the 2011 Honda Ridgeline at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, but Honda was quick to respond saying otherwise.

"American Honda apologizes if there was inaccurate information shared at the Chicago Auto Show about the Honda Ridgeline pickup," Ra told PickupTrucks.com. " I can confirm that there will be no significant change to the Ridgeline through the 2011 model year," said Christina Ra, Public Relations Manager of Honda. "[Honda's PR staff in the U.S.] usually receives word about 18 months before the launch of a new vehicle. As of now, we don't know when a new Ridgeline is coming. It's not going to be before the summer of 2011."

This is really sad news for the Ridgeline’s loyal followers. Let’s hope that the Honda Ridgeline is given a second lease on life and kept on the Japanese automaker’s lineup a little longer until such time they can offer it with an improved fuel mileage.

Read the full article here.

Roofs of small pickups tested by IIHS, only Frontier/Equator gets good rating

February 7th, 2010

pickups_chart_020410Among all the 2010 model vehicles in the Small Pickup Truck class tested, only the Nissan Frontier, also sold as the Suzuki Equator earned the highest possible rating of “good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS http://www.iihs.org. Other pickups tested were the Ford Ranger, which got an “acceptable” rating, as well as the Toyota Tacoma, the Chevy Colorado, a rebadged GMC Canyon and the Dodge Dakota, which all got “marginal”, the second lowest possible rating.

To get a “good” rating from the IIHS, a vehicle must have a roof that’s twice as strong as the current federal safety standard. This requirement is based on the Institute’s research that says passengers of a vehicle with a strong roof have the highest protection against rollover crashes, which is one of the most serious types of vehicular accidents.

According to statistics, rollover crashes are a lot more common in SUVs and pickup trucks than in cars, with almost half of all pickup truck occupant deaths in 2008 attributed to rollover crashes. Having a strong roof does not just reduce the risk of injury from contact with the roof during rollovers, it also prevents people from being ejected out of the vehicle through the windshield, windows and doors opened up after the roof gets deformed.

Even with a “good” rating in roof strength-to-weight ratio, the Nissan Frontier/Suzuki Equator still failed to be a “Top Safety Pick”, because it only earned an “acceptable” rating in protection against neck injury in rear crashes. To be a “Top Safety Pick”, a vehicle must earn a “good” rating in front, side, rear and rollover crashes and have Electronic Stability Control, which reduces the chances of fatal rollovers significantly.

"As a group, small pickups aren't performing as well as small cars or small SUVs in all of the Institute's safety tests. None of the ones we tested is a top-notch performer across the board. In fact, no small pickup earns our Top Safety Pick award," said IIHS Senior Vice President David Zuby.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA made a ruling raising the federal roof strength requirement in April of 2009. According to this new ruling, vehicles with a weight rating of 6,000 to 10,000 pounds should be able to withstand a force corresponding 1.5 times of their unloaded weight. The former ruling only required vehicles with a weight rating of up to 6,000 pounds to have a strength-to-weight ratio of 1.5 to 3. Also, the vehicles’ roofs are required to maintain a certain headroom measurement during testing and both sides of a roof will be tested sequentially and each side will be required to meet the said standard. This will be phased-in starting September 2012 and all vehicles will be required to comply with it by September 2016.

Furthermore, the IIHS also conducted side impact crash tests and the Frontier/Equator, as well as the Ranger and the Tacoma all had “good” ratings. The Chevrolet Colorado rated “poor” because of the lack of additional airbags to protect the driver’s chest and pelvis, as well as its poor structure. IIHS also reported that the dummy’s head almost moved around the standard curtain side airbag upon impact during testing. The Dakota had a different problem altogether. Its optional curtain side airbags failed to deploy upon impact.

In addition, the 2010 Dakota does not have standard side airbags unlike all the vehicles in its class when an agreement among 15 manufacturers was made way back in 2003 to make safety improvements that would reduce the risk for people in front and side crashes involving larger and heavier SUVs and pickup trucks. While the agreement was made specifying performance criteria instead of features, side airbags is an important feature to make this happen.

"Chrysler is the only manufacturer we know of that isn't living up to the spirit of the 2003 agreement," said Zuby.

Chrysler engineers identified a problem with the computer program algorithm which determines when the airbags should be fired and are currently working on a fix. The IIHS will be conducting another test on the Dakota and will publish the results soon after.

Read the full IIHS report here.

The Tata Xenon XT: Tata Motors’ answer to the Mahindra Scorpio

January 19th, 2010

Xenon XTThe 2010 Tata Xenon XT (Cross Terrain) is Tata Motors’ lifestyle 4-door, 5-seater pickup and is the automaker’s bestselling vehicle in Europe. The Tata Xenon XT is available in both single cab and double cab configurations and features a chrome-plated grille and silver roof rails. The interiors of Tata Motors’ lifestyle pickup now have a beige color scheme with matching upholstery, a faux wood center and a floor console. The Tata Xenon XT will also have a CD/MP3 music system as an additional feature.

The new Tata Xenon XT can be powered by a DiCOR 2.2-liter Variable Turbine Technology (VTT) engine equipped with 16 valves (4 valves per cylinder) and operated by double overhead camshafts (DOHC) as a 4x4 option, which reviewers say is surprisingly powerful and matches up to the performance of the larger engines in other pickup trucks.

For 2010, the Tata Xenon XT has been made BS IV compliant. It will also have an electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism and limited slip differential. Also, the Tata Xenon XT will be having ABS and sporting wider 235/R16 tires wrapped around stylish alloy wheels to add to its off-road capability. Accessories such as fog lamps, bed liners, side steps, boot lids, rollover bars, etc. will be available so that owners can fully-customize their own Tata Xenon XT to best suit their preferences.

The Tata Xenon is Tata Motors’ answer to the Mahindra Scorpio. No word on whether the Tata Xenon XT will be available in America.

New Nissan Titan expected in 2014

January 18th, 2010

08_Nissan_Titan_06It looks like Nissan Titan fans will have to wait a few more years before the next generation Titan comes out. When the Nissan-Chrysler deal fell through, the Japanese automaker announced their commitment to stay in the full size pickup truck market and they are already working on the Titan replacement by themselves.

Although they didn’t have a display at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show that’s about to end this weekend, Nissan managed to make announcements about their trucks at the event.

The Nissan Titan experienced a few setbacks apart from the deal that didn’t happen including dwindling sales numbers. 2009 sales of the Nissan Titan dropped 44.1% from the previous year. But Nissan remains hopeful about the Titan.

“We had a pretty good December,” said Larry Dominique, Nissan North America’s VP for Product Planning. “From a market share standpoint, in October, November and December we were up 28 percent from the year before, on a month-by-month basis. On a [market] share basis, we were up 41% for those three months.”

According to Dominique, the increased sales were due to the cumulative effort of Titan dealers to seek out loyal customers whose old Nissan Titans need replacement. Nissan also improved the Nissan Titan’s traffic in showrooms and offered “value packaging”, which bundles popular option packages at a lower price.

The Titan is already the oldest half-ton pickup out there and since it debuted way back in 2003, this truck’s life span will reach up to 11 years. Nissan will likely be keeping the Titan’s 5.6-liter V8, but will be adding short term enhancements using hardware from their existing trucks such as the Nissan Armada and the Infiniti QX56 until its full redesign in 2014.

Dominique also said they will be seeking the approval of the Japan team and Nissan Senior VP for Light Commercial Vehicle business unit Andy Palmer and CEO Carlos Ghosn about building a heavy duty Titan and a light commercial vehicle truck. The heavy duty Titan will have a different powertrain and frame, but the same exterior and interior designs. On the other hand, the 2500 or a 3500 truck will allow their LCV team to grow and give them more truck volume. Reports say that while the light duty truck once approved will begin production after at least 2 years, the heavy duty truck may come out even before the release of the all-new Titan in 2014.

Nissan building Titan replacement alone

January 5th, 2010

2009_nissan_titanAmericans love their large trucks and Nissan is committed to stay in the full size pickup truck market even though Titan sales have been dwindling down. To be able to compete against the Big Three, as well as Toyota, Nissan has to work on a Titan redesign and quick.

According to an article at Chrysler backed out from their agreement to trade platforms early on.

"We're pretty much going it alone," says Nissan spokesperson Scott Vazin.

Meanwhile, their factory in Canton, Mississippi will continue producing the Titan until its replacement is ready to be released.

Visit NissanTitanForum.com to interact with fellow owners and enthusiasts and discuss anything and everything about the Nissan Titan.

PickupTrucks’ Top 10 Significant Trucks of the Decade

January 4th, 2010

f150

The economic downturn has indeed hit the pickup truck market hard especially in the past 2 years, but despite the difficulties it has caused, it’s undeniable how much the pickup truck industry has advanced in the past decade. In an article, Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com named the Top 10 Significant Trucks of the Decade.

Crew cabs have been popular overseas way before it was introduced in America. The 2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab was the first compact pickup with four full-size doors sold in the US market. After it was released, buyers welcomed the addition of another option besides regular and extended cab because it allowed them to accommodate more passengers in their pickup trucks unlike before. Other manufacturers picked up on this and later, crew cabs became a major player in the pickup truck industry, taking almost half of the entire market share.

The 2004 Nissan Titan was the first real contender of a Japanese manufacturer to rival the full-size half-ton pickup trucks made popular by the Big Three. The 300-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 with an advanced 5-speed automatic transmission in extended or crew cab made waves back then, taking 80% of the half-ton pickup truck sales until it slowed down because early releases were deemed unreliable. There are still loyal  fans and enthusiasts up to now that believe the Nissan Titan is one of the best.

Another truck from a Japanese manufacturer also made the list. The 2006 Honda Ridgeline was honored for its innovation after being the first pickup truck to have an in-bed lockable trunk, as well as a dual-action tailgate that didn’t only fold down, but also off to the side for easy and convenient access to the bed. In addition, 2006 Honda Ridgeline also made some noise because it favored an independent rear suspension over conventional leaf springs giving passengers a more comfortable ride.

Finally, the author named the 2009 Ford F-150 the most significant pickup truck of the decade because it “remains the gold standard against which other half-ton pickup trucks are compared”. In 2009, Ford updated the reliable and much loved 2004 F-150 and gave buyers 7 different models, not including engine and cab type choices. With a great 6-speed transmission and groundbreaking features that others try to copy, the Ford F-150 is the bestselling truck because it caters to everyone.

Other trucks who made the Top 10 are the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Heavy Duty with 6.6-liter Duramax Diesel, the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, the 2007 Toyota Tundra, the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac and the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Two Mode Hybrids are also honorably mentioned. Read the full article here.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

December 24th, 2009

christmas_tree

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the readers of TruckProfile. May the Holiday Season bring happiness and joy to you and your loved ones and may the good Lord shower you with fruitful blessings in the coming year.

New tow rating standards take effect on 2013

December 22nd, 2009

tow testUp until 2013, there is still no legitimate standard to compare the trailer tow ratings advertised by various truck manufacturers. Because of this, a manufacturer can perform tests in conditions that would help them achieve the highest possible rating. But through the efforts of the Society of Automated Engineers (SAE), this will now change.

The tow vehicle trailer rating committee of the SAE, in cooperation with both local and international auto manufacturers, presented the SAE's Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice J2807 to determine the maximum permissible gross combination weight (GCWR) of the tow vehicle and the trailer, as well as the maximum permissible trailer weight rating (TWR). This new standard was approved in April of 2008 and will be mandatory for the tow ratings of all tow vehicles starting 2013.

The Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice J2807 stipulates all the conditions that have to be met before a manufacturer can claim the maximum tow rating for a particular vehicle. The conditions that need to be met include acceleration performance requirements, grade launch requirements, highway gradeability, handling requirements and braking requirements.

Find out more about it at the Automobile Mag website.

Green Vehicles and Technology at the forefront of upcoming Detroit Auto Show

December 19th, 2009

logolinknaias_logo_vertA_neg1C_pms180One of the most prestigious auto shows is just a few weeks away and everyone’s anticipating it will be a huge success once again. The North American International Auto Show will be happening on January 11-24, 2010 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan and for the first time, they will be dedicating a 37,000 square-foot area on the main floor to showcase the latest in green vehicles and technology. This dedicated area is called Electric Avenue and will be presented by The Dow Chemical Company.

"NAIAS is proud of the history we have in bringing innovative ideas to a world-wide audience, and the all-new Electric Avenue is going to show visitors from around the globe where the future of automotive technology is headed," said Doug Fox, chairman, 2010 NAIAS. "This effort allows for more than doing what is trendy by addressing a necessary think-tank of discussion that will dictate where the global auto industry will go in 2010 and beyond. The NAIAS is proud to have a sponsor such as The Dow Chemical Company that understands the value of these efforts. Its endorsements of this activity allow the show to continue to be a thought-provoking leader to an industry with significant worldwide and economic impact."

According to a newsflash posted at the NAIAS website in December 18, 2009, the following vehicles are currently scheduled to appear in Electric Avenue:

BYD Auto e6
BYD Auto F3DM-hybrid
Commuter Cars - Tango 600
CT&T United eZone
CT&T United cZone
Edison2 (X Prize)
EV Innovations - Wave 2 (X Prize)
Green Vehicles Triac
Harvey Coachworks BugE
Li Shi Guang Ming LI'S
Mitsubishi I MiEV
Nissan LEAF
Saba Motors - SABA "Carbon Zero" Roadster (X Prize)
SSI Racing - 2SSIC-65 (X Prize)
Michelin - Venturi Volage
Michelin - Nissan Mixim
ZAP - Alias (X Prize)

For more information about the upcoming 2010 Detroit Auto Show, please visit http://www.naias.com.

What’s new for the Nissan trucks in 2010?

December 19th, 2009

2010 Nissan Frontier

nissan-frontierThe 2009 Nissan Frontier introduced a new grille and wheels, as well as a few other styling modifications. For 2010, the addition of the exterior paint color Night Armor is the only styling change.

Its safety changes include side and head curtain airbags, as well as stability control for the V6 models. For SE and LE trims sporting a V6, Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) is standard. This feature allows the driver to use the brakes to keep the rear wheels from spinning too much on low-grip surfaces.

Hill start assist and descent control are also made standard for 2010 Nissan Frontier with 4-wheel drive SE and LE models too.

2010 Nissan Titan

2010-nissan-titanThere aren’t any new styling modifications for the 2010 Nissan Titan except for the addition of Blue Steel and Navy Blue as new exterior paint colors. Like the 2010 Nissan Frontier, Nissan also made the necessary safety changes such as side curtain airbags and stability control standard on all trims, as well as ABLS.

Nissan also made some changes to the Titan’s option packages. First, they added a Value Truck Package to its SE trim, which includes captain chairs with individual armrests for the driver and front passenger, an 8-way power-adjustable seat for the driver, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, fog lights, rear sonar sensors for easy parking, rear AC vents and a lot more.

The PRO-4X trim, built for off-road usage, will also get a chrome badge at the tailgate, as well as a standard receiver hitch, 7-pin wiring harness and trailer brake pre-wiring for towing if you avail of the SE Value Truck Package. This package costs $2,450 when the options are purchased individually but the SE Value Truck Package will only set you back $1,350.

Customers who plan to use it as a work truck will also like the new vinyl floors for the 2010 Nissan Titan XE King Cab, which is the entry-level model because it’s supposedly much easier to clean than the previous flooring.

Visit Nissan Titan Forum and Nissan Frontier Forum to interact with other Nissan truck owners and enthusiasts.