PickupTucks.com and AutoPacific have taken a look at all the new trucks sold in the past 10 years and made their picks for the most significant trucks of the decade. The trucks that made the list introduced cutting edge technologies and pushed the segment into new territory.

"Despite the economic challenges of the past two years, it's hard not to look back at the last ten years without calling it the decade of the pickup truck," said PickupTrucks.com editor Mike Levine. "Sales of full-size pickups hit 2.56 million units in 2004 and Ford's F-Series trucks remain the nation's best-selling vehicles, 33 years in a row."

Though there are many trucks that had a significant impact in the last decade, it's clear that the 2009 Ford F-150 earned the title of "Most Significant".

"On balance, we thought the 2009 Ford F-150 was the most significant pickup of the last decade," said Jim Hossack, vice president of consulting for AutoPacific. "It sells in high volume, owners like it and its body, chassis and powertrain are all first rate. Features abound, and there are more models, series and options than can be counted. It's a good looking truck and suitable for the widest possible range of tasks and uses."

After the jump are those trucks deemed most significant, in no particular order.

Continue reading "PickupTrucks.com and AutoPacific Announce the Most Significant Trucks of the Decade" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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More, Better
We recently drove the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, with brief jaunts in both a front-drive I4 model and an AWD V6 model. This generation has grown leaps and bounds over the SUV it replaces, in refinement, features, but not size. The Equinox now slots in at the top of its class.

Equinox is more comfortable inside, better-looking outside, and better screwed together. The exterior develops a smart and expressive family look. Among the achievements is a quieter and more pleasing interior environment. We began to see the fruits of GM's interior work with products from the latest Tahoe to the Malibu to the orphaned Saturn Aura. But GM continues to prove an internal shift in understanding. Seems repetitive to mention the point again, but perception still lags reality. So, again: GM is building vehicles with excellent interior and exterior styling and quality. Equinox continues the evolution and reinforces corporate commitment.

Our short drive revealed improved driving dynamics, with a far more stable on-road feel. The V6 and I4-equipped models use the same basic suspension, but with specific tuning. The I4 is tuned with a ride along the more traditional truck direction, stiffer and more rugged, while the V6 models tip toward the softer, luxury-oriented end of the spectrum. Each personality is appropriate for price point and target buyers.

Continue reading "2010 Chevrolet Equinox: First Drive" »

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"Chevrolet Corvette takes home both Motorist Choice Award and AutoPacific's Owner Recommendation Award for 2009. Owners in the Sports Car Segment kept the Corvette on top, following a 2008 win. These wins prove, yet again, Corvette is a performance icon. High scores in the performance categories drove Corvette in front to take the overall segment win." -- AutoPacific

"The Corvette has best-in-segment ownership costs and segment-leading retained value.." -- IntelliChoice

Owner Satisfaction Highlights
• Power and Acceleration
• Braking
• Handling
• Fun to Drive
• Image and Exterior Styling

Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
• Best-in-Segment Ownership Costs
• Best Retained Value

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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"The Chevrolet Avalanche is the Motorist Choice Award winner in the Full-Size Pickup segment. Standard features that earned the win include a powerful V8 engine, a four-door cab, and useful bed size. The Avalanche is reliable/dependable and provides a strong feeling of safety when driving." -- AutoPacific

"The Avalanche was best in fuel costs and second best in retained value." -- IntelliChoice

Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Ease of Ingress/Egress
* Overall Seating Capacity
* Reliable/Dependable
* Durable/Long Lasting
* Ride
* Safety Features and Feeling Safe While Driving

Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Strong Retained Value
* Lowest Fuel Costs

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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"Chevrolet's Tahoe takes the Motorist Choice Award in the Large SUV segment, after winning AutoPacific's 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Award. Owners appreciate its reputation for reliability/durability and its wide array of safety features provide a strong feeling of driving safety, all complemented by highly rated driver's seat comfort and driver?s forward visibility." -- AutoPacific

"The Tahoe has the lowest fuel, insurance, and maintenance in the segment as well as ranking first in the AutoPacific survey." -- IntelliChoice

Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Reliable/Dependable
* Overall Quality
* Safety Features/Feeling Safe While Driving
* Driver's Visibility
* Seat Comfort and Seating Capacity

Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Lowest Fuel Costs
* Lowest Insurance Costs
* Lowest Maintenance Costs

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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"The 2009 Motorist Choice winner in the Large Crossover SUV segment, Chevrolet Traverse, also took segment honors in AutoPacific's Ideal Vehicle awards. The attractively styled Traverse has much to recommend it, including high ratings for overall seating capacity, ease of loading and unloading cargo, and safety features." -- AutoPacific

"A strong retained value and lowest maintenance costs in the segment were the primary reasons for the Traverse win." -- IntelliChoice

Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Seating Capacity
* Ease of Loading/Unloading Cargo
* Safety Features
* Overall Quality
* Driver's Seat Comfort
* Reliable/Dependable

Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Strong Retained Value
* Lowest Maintenance Costs

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Awards Show Consumers Enjoy Luxury and Size
(August 11, 2009) -- Right brain, left brain; the practical versus the emotional -- an age-old dilemma often at the center of decision making when buying a new car or truck. The 2009 Motorist Choice Awards recognize new cars and trucks that give their owners both economic and emotional satisfaction, helping new-car buyers find vehicles that best satisfy all of their personal-transportation needs. The fourth annual Motorist Choice Awards survey, announced today, scores 196 cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs. With the top overall scores in both owner satisfaction and value, the Lexus LS placed highest of any 2009 model year vehicle.

Large and luxury vehicles dominated this year's results. The top 34 ranked cars, and 106 of the top 107, are large cars, luxury cars, sport utility vehicles, crossover SUVs or minivans. Only one small car, the BMW 1-Series, scored in the top 100, landing in the 35th slot. Toyota Prius is the next-highest-scoring small car, coming in 107th.

Awards are given for top-scoring vehicles scoring in each of twenty-three segments, as well as for the top-scoring brand. Nine manufacturers earned segment wins, led by Toyota with nine awards (including three for Lexus), followed by General Motors with six (Chevrolet 4, Cadillac 2), Honda with three, and Chrysler with two (Dodge 1, Jeep 1). Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen took top honors in one segment each.

(And check out our video on YouTube.)

Continue reading "Motorist Choice Awards Reveal Vehicles That Please Both Hearts And Minds" »

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"The all-new Chevrolet Traverse delivers what its owners want, evidenced by the Large Crossover SUV winning AutoPacific's 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award for its class," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, Inc. "Owners rate the Traverse best in class in five of fifteen rating categories and very competitively in the others. Clearly Chevrolet understands what the Crossover SUV buyer wants and has designed the Traverse to hit that target." Leading Traverse attributes include:
* Power and acceleration
* Interior storage
* Safety features and
* Appropriate level of technology

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Public Responds Positively to Ford's Actions, but Some Still Have Reservations
TUSTIN, Calif. (June 17, 2009) -- American consumers' opinions about Ford Motor Company have been positively influenced by the company's decision not to accept government bailout funds, and by the bankruptcy filings of rivals General Motors and Chrysler. Automotive research and analysis firm AutoPacfic conducted an online survey of more than 900 U.S. consumers regarding their purchase intent and opinions of individual car companies. Highlights include:

* Asian and European manufacturers scored highest when the survey asked "How concerned are you about buying/leasing a vehicle from" a particular maker, with an average of 61% "Not concerned at all." Ford scored 48%, far ahead of GM's 15% and Chrysler's 14%.

Continue reading "Survey Indicates Ford Benefits From Troubles Of Others And Not Taking Bailout" »

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The Chevrolet Tahoe is the Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner in the Large Sport Utility Vehicle segment. In addition to the Tahoe's traditional virtues, Tahoe owners rate their new vehicle highly in some unexpected areas, perhaps reflecting the availability of the high technology Two-Mode Hybrid model. The Tahoe rates tops in its segment with respect to:
• Value for the money
• Exterior and interior styling
• Ride and handling
• Durability
• Safety features and a feeling of safety while driving
• Instrument layout and audio system performance
• Innovative technology
• Environmental friendliness, and fuel economy

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Continue reading "Does Bailout Money End Up Killing GM?" »

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At the 2009 NAIAS, GM announced that in 2011, a production version of the global Beat minicar and the Orlando seven-seater will both join the U.S. lineup. The Beat, due for a Geneva show production introduction, will be called Spark for production. In the photos that follow, the white vehicle is the Orlando and the green the Beat (eventually to be renamed Spark.)

Profitable or not, GM is bringing an international minicar to the States. While the Spark will reward drivers with terrific fuel economy, will the efficiency gains be enough to adapt to the small size?

The Orlando brings an internationally sized seven-seater to the States. Orlando, introduced as a concept at the 2008 Paris auto show, will focus on moving people more than stuff. Its box shape will provide maximum cargo room for the footprint, but this will not be a vehicle measured by whether or not it can hold a sheet of drywall.
Follow the jump for more photos and Chevrolet's official release.

Continue reading "2009 NAIAS: The Beat Sparks On, and Orlando Comes to Town" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Chevrolet looks to have improved the Equinox in all the needed areas. New powertrains are more modern, powerful, and efficient and styling is dialed up a notch and a nicely executed take on the family look introduced with Malibu. All in a package about the same size as the outgoing crossover, with space for five passengers and stuff.

More photos and Chevy's release after the jump

Continue reading "2009 NAIAS: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Are we nearing the end of Chrysler? Or the beginning of a new blended family? Or just another day at the rumor mill?
Late on Friday, the first stories began appearing about GM and Chrysler in possible merger talks. And at least in Detroit, dominated the weekend news cycle. GM's stock went up this morning, but given that the Dow was up 5.6% and GM went up only about 3%, the stock bump might have happened without merger talk. GM closed on Friday at $4.89, a number some say is actually less than the company would be worth in capital assets alone.

All of this merger talk, whether these deals are realistic or not, does nothing good for public perception. The economy is weak, last week's events on the stock market don't reassure anyone, and talking about GM and Chrysler perhaps needing to merge to survive only further erodes confidence in American business. While GM and Chrysler LLC, as well as any other maker in trouble right now, needs to consider even unthinkable options and test our common assumptions as they get out of this trouble, this merger does not inspire hope.

Continue reading "Exhaust Notes #32: More Detroit Merger Talk" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Oh, and Saab 9-7X, too
Last week was full of horrible sales results. The worst single month of sales since February 1993, in fact. In the midst of abysmal sales and the brouhaha to get the financial sector bailout passed, for better or worse, General Motors said production of the GMC Envoy and Chevrolet TrailBlazer will end in December 2008. This is two years earlier than once planned, though not much earlier than many guessed. Are you sad? Saying goodbye to a truly American vehicle?

We're not, really. The TrailBlazer and Envoy have come to their logical end, not for being badly drawn or executed products, but because the General's offerings today are better suited for real life. Envoy sales for 2008 are down 44.1% and TrailBlazer down 36.9%. In a tough economic situation where leasing and credit are more difficult to get and buyers seem perfectly happy to delay big-ticket purchases, why continue them for another year?

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #31: Goodbye, TrailBlazer and Envoy!" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Last week, GM loudly trumpeted the pending arrival of the Chevrolet Cruze compact car, to be officially unveiled at next month’s Mondial de l’Automobile (that’s Paris Motor Show to us ‘Murricans). First, they unveiled photos of the car and then revealed the real thing at the Lordstown, OH plant where the car will be built for American consumers.

As earlier spy photos had suggested, the Cruze, which in the US will effectively be the next generation Cobalt, is a very handsome compact sedan. It’s as appealing as the Cobalt is appliance-like. There’s some real design going on here with a sleek profile and great surface tension and great interaction between the exterior’s various design elements. GM also promises a very intriguing efficient powertrain choice in the form of a tiny 1.4L direct injection turbo engine. This engine is rumored to produce at least 140HP (on par with much larger engines) while achieving 45 miles per gallon. It will also be among the first compacts available with a 6-speed automatic.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #26: Don’t Just Cruze Along, GM; You’re Not Out of the Woods Yet" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 4:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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AutoPacific: Premium sports car owners rated the Audi TT as the category’s winner of the 2008 Motorist Choice Award®. The win was derived from top scores for safety features, feeling safe while driving, ride and ease of getting in and out. The interior of the Audi TT really pushed it to the head of the class, with high scores for instrument layout, controls having a quality feel, quietness inside, interior styling, feel of interior fabrics and materials and driver’s seat comfort. The TT’s traction in all weather conditions was also the best in the category.
IntelliChoice: The Audi TT tied with the Chevrolet Corvette within a very small class. The Audi TT has a strong retained value and was a 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner.

AutoPacific: The Chevrolet brings home the 2008 Motorist Choice Award® for premium sports car with distinction. Owners rate the Corvette’s power and acceleration as best in class. The Corvette also scored very well in exterior styling, wheel size and style -- not to mention high scores in being fun to drive.
IntelliChoice: The Corvette tied with the Audi TT. The Corvette was a 2008 BOVY winner and has best-in-class retained value, insurance, and maintenance.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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AutoPacific: Owners rated the Chevrolet Impala’s driver’s seat visibility as tops along the way to the vehicle’s 2008 Motorist Choice Award®. Audio system performance and controls that are easy to understand and use also impressed. Owners gave the Impala top marks for power, acceleration and ease of getting in and out.
IntelliChoice: The Impala combined an above-average performance in overall ownership costs with a second-place finish in the AutoPacific survey to take the 2008 Motorist Choice Award®.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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AutoPacific: Typically, large heavy-duty pickups work a lot harder than they play, and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 is no exception – it put in some overtime for its owners and won the 2008 Motorist Choice Award® for its class. With a reputation second to none, Silverado was ranked by owners as having superior reliability, dependability, durability and driver’s seat visibility.
IntelliChoice: The Silverado 2500/3500 was a 2008 BOVY winner. The Silverado has an above-average retained value and is among the best in maintenance and insurance costs.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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AutoPacific: With the highest overall satisfaction rating in the large light-duty pickup segment, the Chevrolet Avalanche wins that segment’s 2008 Motorist Choice Award®. Contributing to the win were owners’ ratings for the changeable interior and cargo space -- a finding that lends credence to Avalanche’s functionality-enhancing ‘midgate’ design. The Avalanche also scored higher than any other full-size truck in terms of vehicle ride and driver’s seat visibility.
IntelliChoice: The Avalanche was second best in fuel costs and best in insurance costs. Combine this with the Avalanche’s strong performance in the AutoPacific survey, and you can see why the Avalanche is the 2008 Motorist Choice Award® winner.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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On August 3, I finally returned to one of my favorite summer events, the annual Meadow Brook Concours d' Elegance. Held the first weekend of August every year since 1979, this Concours is one of the premier events of its type. Not quite as prestigious as the Pebble Beach Concours happening the weekend of August 16 (yes, the same weekend as Detroit's Woodward Dream Cruise), Meadow Brook has earned a strong reputation. For me, it's simply a chance to wander among cars from storied brands of today and yesterday. Delahaye, Packard, Auburn, Duesenburg, Pierce-Arrow, Studebaker, Peugeot, Ferrari, Cadillac, Lincoln, Chrysler, Rolls-Royce, the list goes on and on.

Meadow Brook is home to a mansion of the same name built by the widow of John Dodge, one of the two Dodge brothers that helped establish the automotive industry we know today. The home and its property now belongs to Oakland University. Aside from the sheer joy and pleasure of celebrating the automobile as an art from, the event's purpose is to raise funds for upkeep of the 88,000-square-foot mansion and its grounds. Seems a fitting choice of fundraising event.

Continue reading "2008 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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What a disappointing day today turned out to be. I was supposed to represent VehicleVoice at Chevrolet’s unveiling of the long-awaited new Camaro up in North Hollywood this afternoon. Unfortunately, a three-car pileup on the I-5 North brought my northward progress to a halt, effectively making it impossible for me to get to the press conference. Beaten, I turned around and drove back to the office.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #21: Is the New Camaro the Way Forward or a Wistful Diversion?" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Chevrolet Trailblazer wins a 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility segment. Owners reported the vehicle performs particularly well in cargo space, visibility and ingress/egress.

GMC’s Envoy wins in the Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility segment with owners’ strong ratings for seat firmness, level of technology and ride. Handling, power and acceleration also were all listed as strong points for the Envoy.

Even in its sixth model year, the Toyota 4Runner is an Ideal Vehicle Award winner. Few buyers would change interior storage space, exterior size or passenger room. Owners also noted the 4Runner’s level of safety.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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After a lovely 4th of July weekend, doing my best to focus energies on anything not related to work (something I hear is easy for most people to do, but I've never quite got the knack of), I started my usual workday morning routine at my local Bally Total Fitness. And, sure enough, as soon as I get near the gym TV, there's the news, dragging me right back to 5:15 am Monday morning reality.

The 5 am scoop in Detroit was the rumor GM is considering dumping more brands, one way or another, and firing more mid-management white-collar employees. (No, UAW, you do not have the corner on losing jobs. I swear.) Of course, by time I was in the office and caught up with e-mail, GM has flatly denied that any brand, other than Hummer, is up for review. We'll only know the truth of that if GM manages to hold onto the seven remaining brands, and assuming Hummer is sold. Here's the thing: If GM is not considering reducing their brand count, they should be.

Rumors actually surfaced on this subject last week. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was on my way home to enjoy said holiday weekend that I heard an automotive journalist being interviewed for his opinions on the rumors and what GM should do opine that Saab and Saturn are the likeliest brands to go. Monday morning and it's groundhog day again. Between that interview and Monday morning, it turned into "news" that GM is considering selling those two brands. Says a lot about how quickly (and recklessly) rumors and speculation fly in this industry, but that's a story for another day.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #19: Is GM Breaking Up?" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Ford F-150 takes home the 2008 Large Light-Duty Pickup 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award. The F-150 is available in almost every conceivable configuration, and owners were particularly pleased with its cargo space, level of technology and handling.

Chevrolet’s Silverado comes in a winner in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment in the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards. While it received high marks across the board, especially strong ratings for interior lighting and safety ensured a victory.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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