Ford has been working hard to integrate its product lineup on a global scale, but it appears that some models available overseas may never make it to U.S. shores. Ford CEO Alan Mulally has apparently told Automotive News that the Thai-built global Ranger and the A-Segment Ka likely won’t be going on sale here in the States. Mulally had previously stated that both vehicles were under consideration for U.S. sale, but now the prognosis appears to be far more dire.

The global Ford Ranger is a far more modern entry-level pickup than its U.S. counterpart which is scheduled to cease production in 2011. While the future of the Ranger is looking pretty bleak here in the States, it appears there is some hope that the shelved F-100 project could once again be in Dearborn’s plans. Pickuptrucks.com is reporting that its sources indicate that the F-100, which is a lighter, shorter version of the popular F-150, is still being considered. The F-100 is said to be bigger in all dimensions than the global Ranger.

While there is still hope for a smaller truck in the Blue Oval’s arsenal of products, there doesn’t appear to be any pulse at all for an A-Segment hatch. Mulally reportedly told AN that the Ka is just too small to be successful in America, adding “Fiesta is about the smallest vehicle that we think will be a real success in the United States.” The tiny Ka, which shares hardware with the soon-to-be-sold in the U.S. Fiat 500, is a full 25 inches shorter than the Fiesta.

[Source:Autoblog]

We distinctly remember 3rd grade. Specifically, sitting in the library once a month during recess. Why would we give up dodgeball and four-square to sit inside and read? Because the new issues of Off Road and 4Wheeler had just dropped and they had stories about Bigfoot! Bearfoot too, and Carzilla – but mostly Bigfoot! Happy days, happy days. And here at this year’s SEMA Show, both the original 1975 Bigfoot #1 (the world’s first monster truck) and the new-for-2009 Bigfoot (#12 of fifteen Bigfoots) showed up to terrorize the Las Vegas Convention Center’s parking lot.

Well, not terrorize – because people love the Bigfoots (Bigfeets?) so very much. But lordy, are these some hella intimidating trucks, even all these years later. Perhaps most notable is that the new Bigfoot is actually a 2008 Ford F-250 body cut to look like a 1979 F-250. Also cool is the 35-year gulf in technology between the two beasts. We could have spent a couple hours standing underneath (no, really!) Bigfoot #12 just admiring the headers. And the gas bypass shocks. And the supercharger, etc. Sadly, the duo of Bigfoots won’t be crushing any cars this week. Let’s make that double sadly, as this year’s SEMA show features many deserving candidates. For more (and better) details, check out pickuptrucks.com’s Bigfoot post.

[Source:Autoblog]

It’s no secret that the Texas Auto Writer’s Association loves Ford trucks: The Blue Oval’s F-Series pickups have won the Truck of Texas award six straight times. Actually, you can make that seven straight times now, with the F-150 SVT Raptor taking the top honor this year in the Lone Star State.

We didn’t go through the precise reasoning of the F-150’s dominance in previous years, but the arrival of the Raptor probably made the choice just too easy this time around. After having driven the Raptor ourselves we knew that there is simply nothing like it, and nothing anywhere near as good as it is, to be found in the OEM pickup truck world. When you throw in the purchase price of $39K for the 5.4-liter, you’re going to look hard to find a similarly priced competitor in the OEM or aftermarket. The press is after the jump, and to Ford, congratulations are well deserved.

UPDATE: Turns out that the F-150 was actually named this year’s Truck of Texas, not the SVT Raptor model specifically. The Raptor was, however, named best “Full-size Pickup Truck”. You can check out the corrected press release that Ford just sent out after the jump.
[Source: Ford]

PRESS RELEASE

POWERED BY SVT RAPTOR, FORD F-150 NAMED 2009 ‘TRUCK OF TEXAS;’ FORD WORKS WINS ‘OUTSTANDING FEATURE’

* 2010 Ford F-150, powered by SVT Raptor, captures the “2009 Truck of Texas” title, named by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), the seventh consecutive award for Ford
* Ford Work Solutions productivity technology, developed for commercial fleet customers, named “Outstanding Feature”
* Ford truck lineup also wins “Truck Line of Texas,” recognizing its capability, durability

DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2009 – The 2010 Ford F-150, powered by the all-new SVT Raptor, was named 2009 “Truck of Texas” by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), the seventh consecutive time a Ford F-Series truck has won the award. Additionally, F-150 SVT Raptor was named best “Full-size Pickup Truck.”

“Winning the Truck of Texas is a distinct honor,” said Mark Fields, president, The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “Texans know their trucks, and this award is further proof of why the F-Series remains America’s number-one selling pickup. We built F-150 SVT Raptor for truck enthusiasts. And we’re gratified it’s gaining recognition for both its unequaled off-road performance and confidence-inspiring on-road demeanor.”

Ford trucks also took the “Truck Line of Texas,” a distinguished honor recognizing the best-in-class capability and durability of Ford’s lineup.

Another top honor, “Outstanding Feature,” went to Ford Work Solutions, a suite of productivity technologies developed for the commercial truck owner. The system includes an in-dash computer that connects with the home office; Tool Link that keeps track of costly tools and equipment; Cable Lock, which locks up tools in the open truck box; and Crew Chief, a telematics system, giving the fleet manager more control of his/her fleet of vehicles.

Ford F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds – a combination no other competitor can match.

With the launch of the all-new 2009 model, the truck improved its fuel economy by an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup, thanks to a wide range of engineering enhancements. The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume three-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 engine. Plus, the F-150’s SFE package – which is available on highest-volume XL and XLT series – delivers unsurpassed fuel economy of 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.

This summer, Ford introduced the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor, designed as a purpose-built, high-speed off-road truck ready for adventure. Raptor also is versatile enough to handle the daily commute. To test the capability and durability of Raptor, Ford took a modified pre-production Raptor to the grueling 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 this past November. The early-build Raptor not only survived Baja, it earned a podium finish in its class.

Key enablers to the Raptor’s impressive performance are functional design cues and impressive suspension technology. The Raptor is seven inches wider than a base F-150 to make room for the additional suspension components that give Raptor its off-road abilities. The wider stance also gives the truck an aggressive appearance.

Internal triple-bypass shocks by FOX Racing Shox – the first on a production truck – provide position-sensitive damping and extra suspension travel for extreme off-roading and a smooth ride on the road. In addition to the shocks, Raptor has unique cast-aluminum front control arms and SVT-tuned 35-inch BFGoodrich® All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires. These components give Raptor 11.2 inches of front suspension travel and 12.1 inches of rear suspension travel.

The F-150 SVT Raptor comes standard with the proven 5.4-liter SOHC V-8 engine that produces up to 320 horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque. In early 2010 customers will have the option of an even more powerful new 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

Customer anticipation has been extremely high, with 3,000 orders already received for the 5.4-liter F-150 SVT Raptor. In fact, initial dealer orders have the Dearborn Truck Plant building Raptors at maximum capacity, reflecting the strong demand for the first-ever factory high-speed off-road truck.

Starting price for the F-150 SVT Raptor is $38,995 including destination and delivery charges.

In total, Ford won eight of 18 awards, including Lincoln MKX as “Mid-size CUV,” Ford Flex as “Full-size CUV,” and Ford F-150 King Ranch as “Luxury Pick-up Truck,” and Ford Expedition as “Full-size SUV.”

[Source:Autoblog]

There weren’t too many exciting sports cars built in the late Seventies thanks to increasingly stringent emissions requirements, but a few performance vehicles did manage to get produced despite the horsepower-strangling legislation. One of those vehicles was the L’il Red Express Truck built by Dodge from 1978-1979. Easily recognized by its signature exhaust stacks protruding prominently from each side of the bed, the Little Red Truck featured a 360ci V8 and could run the 1/4 mile in 14.7 seconds. That doesn’t seem particularly quick by today’s standards, but L’il Red was actually the fastest American-produced vehicle built in 1978.

As a tribute to the original performance truck, legendary Mopar hot rodder Norm Kraus, better known as “Mr. Norm,” has put together his own aftermarket package that will turn a 2009+ Dodge Ram into the L’il Red Express’ bigger, more powerful grandson. Granted, the new version doesn’t necessarily have the visual impact of the original, but some concessions were made to keep the the basic package relatively affordable. To convert the bed into a stepside and mount the exhaust on the outside, for instance, would have cost seriously big bucks.

So – how does the new one compare? Our friend Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com has the answer. Levine managed to wrangle a drive in Mr. Norm’s Red Xpress Truck, as well as an all-original ‘79 with just 16k on the odometer. As you can imagine, Levine found that trucks have come a long way in thirty years, but he still appreciated the unique details that went the original.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

The biggest bit of truck news from Ford today may have been the introduction of the latest Super Duty models, but the automaker didn’t leave its smaller full-size pickup out of the festivities entirely. Buried down at the bottom of the press release (after the break) is a paragraph on the long-expected EcoBoost engine for the F-150.

No real details are given on the new turbocharged, direct injection mill, but we’re expecting to see a 3.5-liter V6 engine similar to the one used in Ford’s front-wheel drive models, but modified to accommodate a rear-wheel drive layout. Ford says its EcoBoost technology has been optimized for truck applications, meaning there should be tons of torque with a peak that starts at the lower end of the rpm scale and continues on through the midrange.

Ford also announced that its EcoBoost engine will boast a 20-percent improvement in fuel economy with a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions as compared to a similarly powerful naturally aspirated engine.
PRESS RELEASE

FAR-RANGING FORD F-SERIES POWERTRAIN LEADERSHIP ENABLES POWER, CAPABILITY, FUEL ECONOMY

* Next-generation F-Series Super Duty features new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel and 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engines that deliver significantly improved torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy, enabling best-in-class towing and payload
* Diesel and gas engines have flexible fueling options – diesel engine can accommodate up to B20 and gas engine can run on E85
* The new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift® six-speed automatic transmission specifically is designed to handle the increased torque produced by the new diesel engine and the higher rpm of the new gasoline engine with full SelectShift™ capability; new transmission also is available with segment-exclusive Live Drive Power Take Off (PTO) for diesels
* An EcoBoost™ engine specially engineered and optimized for truck applications joins the lineup for the award-winning Ford F-150 in late 2010

DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2009 – Leadership demands continuous improvement. When it comes to Ford F-Series powertrains, continuous improvement has been a constant across several dimensions. Fuel economy. Torque. Horsepower. Durability. Reliability. Flexible fueling options.

All those attributes are available and apparent across all F-Series truck lines, ready for customers to do their jobs with the best combination of capability and fuel economy. The next-generation Super Duty, available in 2010, features all-new diesel and gasoline engines and a new TorqShift® six-speed automatic transmission, enabling best-in-class towing and payload.

“All of our customers, especially our truck customers, demand solutions – not compromises,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. “They’re unwilling to sacrifice fuel economy for capability or trade off durability for flexible fueling. Our lineup of truck powertrains will provide the power, fuel economy and flexibility they need.”

Built Ford Tough testing for durability
The new engines and transmission are proved out by Ford’s intensive development and testing protocol. First, extensive CAD (computer-aided design) and CAE (computer-aided engineering) work is completed to identify any potential challenges before hardware is created, which not only is time efficient, it also helps ensure quality at the outset.

In keeping with F-Series Built Ford Tough heritage, components are tested in the laboratory with a regimen designed to exceed what even the harshest user might dish out. Engines and transmissions literally run continuously for several hundred hours. Finally, a battery of in-vehicle, real-world tests validates the work done in laboratories.

The next-generation Super Duty arrives with two all-new technologically advanced engines: the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel and the 6.2-liter gasoline V-8. The Ford-engineered diesel engine utilizes inboard exhaust architecture, an automotive-industry first for a modern production diesel engine. The exhaust manifolds reside in the valley of the engine instead of outboard, while the intake is outboard of the engine. The cylinder heads essentially are flipped around in comparison with previous V-8 engine architecture.

This unique layout combines the best of proven technology with new, patented approaches backed by an extensive testing regimen to assure customer satisfaction. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine will deliver significant improvement in torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy, further strengthening Super Duty’s best-in-class towing and payload capabilities.

Key features of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine

* Compacted graphite iron engine block
* Aluminum cylinder heads
* Turbocharger with dual-sided compressor wheel that works in a single housing uniquely center-mounted on the engine block
* Unique inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture
* High-pressure fuel system – new Bosch 29,000-psi common-rail fuel-injection system
* Biodiesel compatible up to B20

Key features of the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine

* Increased torque, horsepower and fuel economy
* Cast-iron engine block and four-bolt main bearing caps, with cross bolts, for durability
* Aluminum cylinder heads, with two valves per cylinder, and two spark plugs per cylinder
* Cast-iron crankshaft, with dual-mode damper
* Forged steel connecting rods
* Cast-aluminum pistons, with cooling jets
* Single overhead camshaft with variable valve timing and roller-rocker shaft valvetrain
* Magnesium cam covers for lighter weight
* Stamped-steel oil pan
* Composite intake manifold
* Stainless steel fuel rail; port fuel injected; mechanical returnless fuel system
* 9.8:1 compression ratio
* E85/flex fuel capable

New transmission harnesses the increased power
Ford’s new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift™ six-speed transmission was developed specifically to manage the increased torque produced by the new Power Stroke diesel engine. Its components are largely shared with the gasoline engine as well, helping improve the overall efficiency of that powerplant. By design, the new 6R140 transmission seamlessly delivers the enormous low-rpm torque produced by the new diesel engine and efficiently manages the higher rpm of the new gasoline engine.

The 6R140 six-speed automatic transmission balances customer desire for convenience during routine operation while also allowing for complete manual control. Ford’s SelectShift Automatic™ transmission functionality features two benefits of particular use to Super Duty customers.

One is Progressive Range Select. With this feature, a toggle on the shift lever allows the customer to reduce the range of available gears while in Drive. When the customer “taps” down into Range Select mode, the display shows the available gears and highlights the current gear state. This feature will allow the customer to limit use of upper gears when heavily loaded or while towing on grades.

For full manual function, customers also can pull the shift lever into “M” for manual mode and use the same toggle switch to select the gear desired. The display will show the selected gear and the control system will lock the torque converter and hold that gear for a full manual transmission feel.

Finally, segment-exclusive Live Drive Power Take Off (PTO) is enabled by the new transmission. On 2011 Super Duty diesels with the PTO prep option, the PTO output gear is linked through the torque converter to the engine crankshaft and is available any time the engine is running. This allows the transmission to power auxiliary equipment to run devices such as snowplows, aerial lifts, tow truck lifts, cement mixers or dump trucks with maximum flexibility. Pioneered on agricultural applications, the Live Drive feature is particularly useful when mobile PTO function is required during start-stop operations, such as salt spreading, snow plowing or cement pouring.

EcoBoost for truck applications joins F-150 lineup
Joining the lineup for the F-150 in 2010 is a version of Ford’s EcoBoost engine, specially engineered and optimized for truck applications.

This new engine builds off the strengths of the EcoBoost system, which include:

* Peak torque that begins at a low engine speed and continues across a wide rpm band, making it ideally suited for trailer towing and other truck applications.
* Direct fuel injection, which uses high-pressure fuel injectors to spray a fine mist of fuel directly into each cylinder. This precisely controlled fuel delivery improves the engine’s transient response, contributes to improved fuel economy and enables improved emissions, particularly at cold start.
* Turbocharging for increased boost and power; precise controls mean instant spool up.
* 20 percent better fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions compared to a larger naturally aspirated engine.

Expecting more and delivering more
Leadership is expected of F-Series, which has been the best-selling truck in the U.S. for 32 straight years. Historically, best-in-class towing and payload capability and legendary Built Ford Tough durability have driven F-Series customer loyalty. The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel and 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engines with significantly improved torque and horsepower as well as enhanced productivity with class-leading fuel economy give Ford customers even more reasons to stay loyal in the years ahead.

“Customer loyalty and leadership are earned only by delivering a superior product,” Samardzich said. “Our customers want – and deserve – continuous improvement in: torque, horsepower, fuel economy, capability, reliability and all the comforts, conveniences and technologies available.”

[source:Autoblog]

For European and South American markets, Fiat rolled out several versions of its Strada pickup last year. Now, the Italian company introduces a “dual cab” version with two extra back seats – but without two extra doors. Called the Cabine Dupla or Doble Cabina, it’s almost as if our long-departed Subaru Brat lives on with a secret Italian identity… and without its four-wheel-drive. The Cabine Dupla has an electronic diff that ought to be passable when things get a little dirty. Our question is: Could this be a future Dodge?

[Source:Autoblog]

China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, the company that recently surfaced as the top bidder for Hummer, is about to start talks with Chinese regulators to secure the deal. While General Motors has a tentative agreement with Tengzhong, the two companies have yet to receive the state’s blessing, which is necessary for the sale to go through.

Tengzhong, GM and Hummer have been working on a proposal to present to the National Development and Reform Commission, despite speculation that the deal will be blocked by those Chinese officials. Tengzhong reportedly remains optimistic, saying they haven’t heard anything from the authorities and don’t expect to until their proposal is actually submitted.

Speculation that the deal was in jeopardy began when a China National Radio station reported that government regulators would block the deal based on environmental concerns about Hummer vehicles and the fact that Tengzhong doesn’t have much experience as an automaker. Tengzhong is better known as a manufacturer of special-use vehicles, structural components for highways and bridges, construction machinery and energy equipment, so some have suggested this is little more than a publicity stunt for the company, but it certainly sounds like they are serious about the deal now.

[Sources: Reuters, Wall Street Journal]

We can now officially put a fork in the short-lived Mitsubishi Raider pickup. It’s done. Mitsubishi and Chrysler, the company that actually assembles the Raider pickup that’s little more than a restyled Dodge Dakota, have jointly admitted that the midsize truck’s contract will not be renewed. Mitsubishi is not currently planning on offering a new vehicle to fill the departed truck’s spot in the lineup.

This revelation goes right along with remarks made by CEO Osamu Masuko, who suggested that his company would refocus all its efforts on small, fuel efficient cars, hybrids and electric vehicles. In any case, neither Mitsubishi nor Dodge is going to miss the vehicle all that much since sales for all of last year totaled under 3,000 units. Rest in peace, Raider.
[Source:Autoblog]

Flush from the news that its F-150 pickup performed markedly better than many of its primary competitors in a new series of IIHS side-impact crash tests, Ford has rolled out its latest larger-than-life Harley-Davidson model.

Outside of the appearance items, the HD is essentially a Platinum Edition F-Series in motorcycle leathers, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Available in either Lava (dark maroon) or Tuxedo Black, the Harley looks very aggressive in the metal – and the effect is not just a function of scale. The bold six-bar grille and 22-inch Harley-branded polished/painted alloys clearly set it apart as a distinct model from other F-Series pickups, and Ford has also slathered the pickup in oversized emblems and strange red “swoosh” marks on the rocker panels. While we could do without the latter flourishes, the truck still strikes us as particularly good-looking in Lava.

Ford’s 14th Harley-branded product also has a seriously dolled-up interior that is likewise not for introverts. The prevailing theme behind the cabin’s styling is that of a Harley biker jacket, and the materials, color choices, and the gigantic badges on the seats and center console (including a serialized plate) are unsubtle but appropriate.

Clearly not a truck for wallflowers, Ford continues to carve out niche after niche for its new 2010 F-150. Click on the gallery below for in-person shots of the new HD F-150, and then click here for more details.

[Source:Autoblog]

At last year’s Chicago Auto Show, Suzuki showed off three versions of the Nissan Frontier Equator. Those three concepts were the RMZ-4, Quad and Quay, each designed to haul a superbike, a quad and a boat, respectively. Since then, we’ve driven an Equator and heard that the production truck will sell for $17,995, but we still haven’t seen any on the road (Suzuki America’s Chris Brown noted that the Equator just started arriving in dealerships). Flash forward to the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and we’re looking at three more Equator “concept” trucks, as Suzuki tries to prove that this is the most tuner-friendly truck on the planet.

To be fair, these are less concept and more custom, having undergone some restyling and tweaking by the likes of 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Off-Road and Truckin’ magazines. The three “Hill/Street Hues” customs are apparently a play on the Hill Street Blues. We don’t get it either.

Although the U.S. might not even realize that Suzuki is still in the car and truck business, Brown wanted us to know that they are committed to this market. After all, Suzuki is the 11th largest vehicle maker worldwide, and America does love trucks. Hit the jump for the press release.

Press Release:

SUZUKI GOES TRUCKIN’ WITH HILL/STREET HUES

* Suzuki debuts three eye-catching, fully accessorized Equator pickup trucks.
* 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Off-Road and Truckin’ magazines communicate vibrant brand identity.

CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2009) – One year after introducing its all-new Equator at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, American Suzuki Motor Corp. returns to the Windy City to unveil three attention-grabbing customized trucks in collaboration with popular enthusiast publications 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Off-Road and Truckin’. To further highlight the Equator’s exceptional capability and flexibility, Suzuki supplied each publication with, in essence, a ‘blank canvas’ for its specific mechanical and cosmetic pursuits. While the off-road magazines took a predictably dirt-laden path, Truckin’ looked to the pavement and track-day access with a massaged four-cylinder under the hood and 750ccs of GSX-R sportbike in the bed. Suzuki will unveil the three variations of its all-new production Equator during its 2009 Chicago Auto Show press conference.

“With the arrival of the all-new Equator, we were presented with a tremendous opportunity to extend the awareness of our adventurous brand spirit to a new group of vehicle enthusiasts,” said Gene Brown, vice president of marketing, PR and product planning, American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “The three custom trucks Suzuki unveils in Chicago allow us a similar opportunity to creatively extend our relationship with the editorial teams that help us communicate that very messag

4-Wheel & Off-Road Builds Its Own 4X4 of the Year
Not long after 4-Wheel & Off-Road’s Editor-in-Chief Rick Pewe announced the Equator as the magazine’s “4X4 of the Year,” plans were afoot to build an ultimate off-road variant of the production-based winner.

In a 4-Wheel & Off-Road article previewing the project, executive editor Kevin McNulty noted the Equator’s capability in box-stock form, having successfully negotiated “a good amount of rocky trails, sand dunes, steep inclines and a few river crossings.” The editors’ need for ‘extreme capability’ leads to an off-road mixture whose ingredients come from a host of top-tier suppliers. The main areas of vehicle and editorial focus include suspension lift, aggressive tires and the addition of appropriate body armor, better to match the gnarly off-road targets.

Allied Wheel has supplied a set of custom aluminum beadlock wheels, fitted with new Hankook Dynapro MT Tires. Shrockworks is building a custom front bumper, supplying a notable improvement in the Equator’s already-respectable approach angle, and reducing the need for the bumper-mounted Warn winch. Holding driver and front seat passenger in place is a pair of Master Craft RS Camelback seats, while the rear bench is reupholstered to match.

The end result takes a proven “4X4 of the Year” package and enhances it in a bare-to-the-bones, albeit recreational, manner.

Off-Road Supplies Urban/Suburban Adventure
The Equator’s right-sized packaging suits the diverse needs of many pickup truck customers. Though smaller than the full-sizers, the Equator is nevertheless built with big-truck toughness. The strong, fully boxed ladder frame provides full-size strength – and 6,500 lbs of towing capacity – in a more maneuverable, midsize platform.

Using the Equator’s overbuilt structure as a starting point, the editors at Off-Road built an Equator displaying the full range of the midsizer’s capability. Dubbed Project Two Face, the build project conveys – in the words of editor Jordan May – two distinct capabilities with the vehicle. “We wanted to show our readers that you can create the best of both worlds – adventure 4WD and high-speed 2WD – in one machine.”

Off-road pursuits – and in-town parallel parking – are made easier with the addition of a custom front bumper from Randy Ellis Design. KC HiLites provides a day-and-night difference with its all-new Carbon Fiber HID lights, while stock RMZ-4 wheels are matched to BFGoodrich’s ATKO tires.

Truckin’ Goes Trackin’
As the “world’s leading truck publication,” Truckin’ delivers an editorial breadth as broad as its billing. To that end, its staff might have gone in any direction with the donor vehicle, an extended cab Equator with 2WD. The opportunity to build a lighter, lower Equator was deemed too good to pass up, and with an assist from a handful of well-regarded vendors, Truckin’ embarked on an Equator as tied to the pavement as a center stripe. Its in-house moniker – Street Shark – speaks to both its agility and bite.

With an emphasis on ‘hauling’ rather than towing, the Equator’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder offers – in stock form – an optimal combination of responsiveness and efficiency. However, it doesn’t provide the aural satisfaction appropriate for a car or bike enthusiast. That gratification is achieved with the addition of a MagnaFlow performance exhaust. Improved intake and exhaust means more aggressive performance and that suggests the need for better braking. Bringing that improved performance to a stop are Stillen performance rotors spinning within powder-coated calipers.

Bringing observers to a halt is paint – supplied by Summit Racing and applied by L&G Enterprises – fully capturing the mojo that is Suzuki’s championship-winning GSX-R sportbike. A custom one-piece grille serves as a centerpiece outside, while Classic Soft Trim applies a liberal dose of leather to the inside. Polk Audio provides a ’shout out’ with three 12-inch subwoofers, three amps and 1,800 watts of audio upgrade. The completed package is set closer to terra firma with AIM Industries’ custom lowering kit, and its stance widened with Nitto tires (265/35R22) surrounding Giovanna (22X9-inch) wheels.

While all three vehicles exhibit an out-of-the-box approach, none conceal the essential goodness supplied by a box-stock Equator. In the tradition of Suzuki vehicles since the company’s inception, the seemingly ordinary quickly can quickly become the unseemly and extraordinary.

About Suzuki
The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 500 automotive dealerships in 49 states. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than two million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 187 countries.

[Source:Autoblog]