In Bangkok, Thailand today, Chevrolet finally took the wraps off the production version of the new 2012 mid-size Colorado pickup. The result of a five-year vehicle program estimated at some $2 billion, the new truck promises to deliver more features, technology and value than any mid-size bowtie pickup before.

Considering that much of the R&D and development work was done in Thailand, that country is the new Colorado’s launch market, Thai customers being offered a choice of 26 different combinations, which include two new Duramax diesel engines, in 2.5 and 2.8-liter forms, a choice of regular, extended and crew cab configurations, narrow and wide bodies, plus two or four-wheel drive.

Chevy plans to offer the new Colorado in some 60 markets worldwide, including other parts of Asia, the Pacific Rim, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Note that there’s no mention of the US.

It seems, just like Ford, GM is content to offer mid-size pickups elsewhere, leaving buyers here stuck with full-size rigs, at least for the time being. It’s a shame, as the new Colorado appears to be a highly capable machine and if it were sold here, would prove a worthy alternative to the likes of the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, which essentially have that segment of the market all to themselves.

Some of the highlights of the new Colorado include all-new sheetmetal and interiors, standard five-speed manual gearbox, optional Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission and an electrically activated two-speed transfer case on 4 x 4 models.

The two new Duramax diesels also promise to be quite the performers, the 2.5-liter unit churns out 150 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the 2.8 (which incorporates a variable geometry turbocharger and balance shaft), makes 180 horsepower and  324 lb-ft of torque (346 lb-ft with the six-speed automatic).

Chevy says it plans to reveal more specs and features in the near future, though even at this stage, it appears the new Colorado will give the recently introduced ‘global’ Ford Ranger, a real run for its money.

Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Colorado

Despite getting long in the tooth, Nissan isn’t giving up on its stalwart F-Alpha pickups just yet. For 2012 the now almost seven-year-old trucks have been injected with a bit of new life, thanks to a pair of quite comprehensive appearance packages.

The full-size Titan, the so-called Sport Appearance Package adds body colored bumpers, Dark Hyper Silver grille, black step rails, a set of 20-inch alloy wheels and a lockable storage compartment inside the bed. Moving to the cabin, the SAP adds white faced gauges and seats with special ‘Titan’ embroidery.

On the mid-size Frontier, the Sport Appearance Package follows a similar theme. Offered on the SV King Cab and Crew Cab models, it adds the dark grille, the body colored bumpers, special Frontier graphics and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside white faced gauges can be found, along with special cloth sports seats and even a Bluetooth hands-free system.

In terms of pricing the Frontier Sport Appearance Package will set  you back an additional $1,190 over the cost of the truck, while the Titan SAP retails for $2,490 on top of one of these big rigs.

Given how hotly contested the full-size pickup truck market has become in recent years, those manufacturers participating are constantly looking for ways to one-up each other. Most recently, in the half-ton segment, Ram has attempted to do such a thing by going after the fleet crowd with its 2012 model year 1500 Tradesman Heavy Duty.

Although only offered as a no frills work truck, which means just two-wheel drive, a regular cab and eight foot box, the Heavy Duty Tradesman is essentially a half-ton, entry-level rig with 3/4 ton cargo and towing capacity, something the brand believes will appeal to value conscious commercial buyers during these hard, Dickensian times. Besting both Ford and GM’s current entry level work trucks in terms of loading and hauling capability doesn’t hurt either.

Ram has also been playing around with other 1500 options and features, in the Express line, for example, buyers can now opt for Quad and Crew Cab configurations, as well as a Ram box  bed in six foot, four-inch configuration.

Considering that the Express Quad starts at $28,050 and the Crew version at $30,010 (with standard 5.7-liter Hemi V8 no less) these new configurations and the HD Tradesman should be enough of an incentive for more folks to consider stopping by their local Ram showroom.

GALLERY: RAM 1500 Tradesman HD

Despite being the consistent number one seller of pickup trucks in the U.S. with its every popular F-150, the Ford Motor Company is wisely choosing not to rest on its laurels.

After the big splash of new powertrain options for 2011, the folks in Dearborn are attempting to stay ahead of the curve by donning their sales champ with a number of upgrades for 2012.

Perhaps most noticeable, is the debut of a new, rather sinister looking FX appearance package (shown), which sports flat black accents, special 20-inch flat black finished alloy wheels with stylized exterior graphics and ID lettering. Inside, the FX incorporates black upholstery surfaces, including the seats, which sport contrasting red piping and perforation inserts.

Red stitching on the steering wheel and brushed metal accents round things off. An FX luxury package is also available which adds both heated and cooled front bucket seats.

On the greasy bit front, Ford has added electronic locking rear differentials on trucks equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter V8 engines, as well as an updated 4×4 system with a fully automatic selection mode. In addition all 4 x 4 F-150s now have the ability to be flat towed, while a new Hill Start assist feature has been added to prevent the truck from rolling back on inclines. In addition, EcoBoost powered rigs get a boost (pun intended) when it comes to operating range, thanks to a new 36 gallon fuel tank which now permits some 756 miles worth of driving between fill ups.

GALLERY: 2012 Ford F-150 FX Appearance Package

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost Review

Ford is continuing to update its F-150 SVT Raptor model, announcing some new equipment for 2012 that is sure to please off-roading enthusiasts. While a series Baja buggy, with incredible suspension travel and tremendous jumping capability the Raptor was less ideally suited to low-speed rock-crawling. That, however, is no longer the case with a new Torsen front differential that can send power individually to each wheel, putting traction where it’s required.

Another fun add-on for 2012 is an optional front-facing camera. Designed to let the driver see what’s up front (again, ideal for rock crawling), it can be activated at speeds below 15 mph.

Other updated for 2012 include new Euroflange wheels, optional cooled seats, a matte anodized blue accent package and some new exterior graphics.

GALLERY: 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

The opening of the Texas State Fair is always sure to usher in a new group of pickup trucks, with every automaker looking to use the event as a staging point for their latest vehicle. The venue couldn’t be more perfect, with pickup trucks making up one quarter of all vehicles sold in the state.

While new and updated models are expected from the domestic truck makers, Toyota is also showing off its latest wares, including its most hard-core Tacoma yet. Based on the best-selling compact pickup, the TRD T/X Baja Series limited edition takes the Tacoma’s off-road capability to new levels with 60mm piston Bilstein race shocks and TRD coil springs, allowing for an extra inch in wheel travel up front with an extra 2-inch ride height. While out back the truck gets 50mm Bilstein shocks with a remote reservoir to better dissipate heat. Rear wheel travel has been increased 1.5-inches.

Other goodies include a TRD Off-Road package, custom wheels, BF Goodrich T/A KO tires (LT265/70R16), a TRD cat-back exhaust and, of course, some custom Baja Series graphics.

And let’s not forget the electronically-controlled locking rear differential, Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Assist Control (DAC). All Baja Series models come equipped with Toyota’s 4.0-liter V6 engine with either a six-speed manual of 5-speed automatic.

“The Tacoma has long been the sales leader by a wide margin in the compact pickup segment thanks to its well-earned reputation for stellar quality, durability, reliability and off-road capability,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division.   “The limited edition TRD T|X Baja Series adds another chapter to Toyota’s truck legacy by offering a new level of capability for off-road enthusiasts.”

For 2012 all Tacomas feature an updated exterior and interior. The special edition Tacoma is set to go on sale in late Spring of 2012.

GALLERY: 2012 Toyota Tacoma TRD T/X Baja Series

It’s almost ready to rumble, but unfortunately, it won’t be doing any rumbling here. In an official press release, General Motors has stated that the new Chevrolet Colorado will indeed be built for ‘rest of the world’ consumption, much like its new Ford Ranger competitor.

The ‘global’ Colorado (currently undergoing final testing – see above) will be offered in a choice of extended and crew cab configurations and feature 2.5 and 2.8 liter Duramax diesel engine options under the hood with a choice of manual and automatic transmissions. It will be assembled at GM’s facility in Rayong, Thailand, which has undergone a tooling upgrade of some $300 million to handle production of the new truck and Thailand, understandably will be the Colorado’s launch market.

Launches in other markets across Asia and the Pacific Rim, as well as Africa, the Middle East and South America will follow.

Having spent much time in Thailand during the vehicle’s development process, in order to gauge the kind of buyers found in the local pickup market as well as driving conditions many trucks are subjected to, Colorado chief engineer Roberto Rempel and his team believe that Chevy’s new mid-size pickup is more than up to the task.

“We know customers of this type of vehicle want a workhorse and a daily-use vehicle all in one, so our product has to deliver. We have benchmarked the toughest, most flexible vehicles around the world,” Rempel said. “When you combine that approach with our detailed consideration of global expectations, we are confident the new Colorado will be a winner.”

So why can’t we in North America have one?

With GM planning to introduce its next generation of full-size pickups around 2014, the existing generation of trucks are essentially marking time.

That said, for the 2012 model year the 1/2 ton Chevy Silverado 1500 has received a few updates. Most noticeable is a slight tweak to the nose, which sports a chrome mesh grille and surround on LT and LS trim level rigs; while on 2WD trucks (which come without front tow hooks) a below bumper spoiler has also been added, as a nod to slightly improved aerodynamics.

Other new features include a now standard trailer sway control and hill start assist on all Silverados bar the Hybrid, as well as a new hard drive based, optional navigation system (dispensing the need for clumsy discs).

There’s also an optional WiFi system, which should provide highly useful for those that need web access while on the go, ranging from work related info such as building and municipal sites, to online streaming and favorite restaurants, parks and other venues.

In an effort to inject further life into an ageing warhorse; GM is also offering a White Diamond Edition package on LT and LTZ trim level Silverados. It includes special White Diamond Tricoat exterior paint, chrome mirror caps,  door handles, exhaust tip and tow hooks, plus special Chrome clad 20-inch wheels and low profile touring tires. In addition, on the LTZ White Diamond Edition, the Z60 performance suspension package is fitted as standard.

Today’s story exemplifies that what you see in cartoons should not be attempted in real life. Case in point, the 24-year old motorist seen in the video below, who tried to stop his pick-up truck using his feet, Fred Flintstone style.

Other motorists reported the dangerous driver trying to use his feet to stop his pick-up truck, and while according to some witnesses he managed to succeed twice, his luck ran out at the intersection of 13-Mile and Groesbeck Hwy. in Michigan, and collided with two vehicles.

To think that would be enough, this brake-less and brainless driver continued on. A police officer pulled alongside him and suggested he put the truck into park, but that didn’t work either and he collided with two other vehicles.

Apparently the man in question works as a roofer and said he didn’t want to disappoint his customer and was going to his job.

Police haven’t released the name of this ingenious fella, but they arrested him for driving under a suspended license and reckless driving. He was later released on $500 interim bond and will appear before a judge in September.

Watch the video after the jump to see his actions in action.

Continue Reading…

Ford and Toyota shocked the automotive world with the announcement that the two companies will join forces to create a new hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs.

The companies signed a memorandum of understanding, and will do further research and studies regarding the project. The new system is said to be rear-drive based, and uses different technology than both Ford and Toyota’s current hybrid systems.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s head of global product development, stated that the two companies would not be sharing platforms, but rather sharing costs developing hybrid and telematics systems, which would be implemented into brand-specific vehicles. Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President of Toyota, also stressed the importance of developing new telematics technology, though Ford’s own SYNC system, developed with Microsoft, has been criticized for being too complex and unreliable.

Heavy-Duty pickups were designed for abuse. And in order to see just how much they can handle, website Pickup Trucks.com put together it’s Heavy-Duty Hurt Locker Comparison test.

The idea was to pit the latest H-D offerings from Ford, General Motors and Ram (in this case the F-350 Super Duty, Sierra HD 3500 and Ram HD 3500) in a series of extreme towing tests, covering a distance of some 2,200 miles across the American West . The tests included navigating some of steepest grades in the country in some of the most extreme climates, hauling fifth-wheel gooseneck trailers of some 19,400 lbs behind each truck.

And when the dust finally settled, the GMC Sierra HD 3500 was judged the overall winner. “The GMC Sierra led with best-in-class performance, with wins in almost every test we put the trucks through,” declared Pickup Trucks.com’s editor Mike Levine.

GM engineers have instigated some changes on the 2012 model Sierra and Silverado HD, in order to improve towing capability; these include reinforced pickup box sills, stronger rear springs and box mounts and revised suspension tuning.

The result is an increase of some 2000 lbs in tow rating capacity, which now stands at an impressive 23,000 lbs. To see how the Sierra performed against its chief rivals in the Heavy Duty Hurt Locker test, watch the video below.

Hit the jump to see the video

Continue Reading…

When a single photo of an Audi Q7 pickup truck first hit the net, the almost immediate conclusion was that it was likely a photoshop. Claiming that it’s not, a tipster has sent AutoGuide three more images of the strange vehicle parked in a garage.

Refusing to provide any more information on the luxury pickup, or it’s location, it isn’t clear if this is project actually started life as a Q7, or if it is instead new bodywork on a VW Amarok pickup truck – a seemingly easier project to complete.

With the secrecy, we’re tempted to assume this is in fact an official Audi project, and perhaps it will make an appearance at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Don’t expect a production announcement, however, as this is most certainly a fun concept – at best.

GALLERY: Audi Q7 Pickup Truck

GMC‘s thing has always been trucks, though some would argue it’s 1971-87 El Camino derrivatives, the Sprint and Caballero broke the mold. Now, there’s no question that the brand is firmly stepping outside it’s traditional comfort zone; for 2013 it plans to chase after those in the market for cars like the Kia Soul and Scion XB.

The subcompact Granite is aimed firmly at young, urban buyers and will incorporate such features as Dutch Doors on the passenger side to facilitate easy loading and likely a choice of 2.0-liter turbo and 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines as well as manual or automatic transaxles (the concept , seen here, sported a 1.4 blown motor and six-speed manual gearbox).

GMC is also expected to debut a thoroughly updated Sierra 1500 and a revised Yukon SUV as 2014 models, at around the same time as the Grantie. Both will likely be available with a turbocharged engine and possibly an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Heavy Duty pickup trucks are likely to get a facelift for 2014-15, around the same time an updated Acadia SUV is due.

In the shorter term, buyers can expect a luxury Denali version of the popular Terrain and a sheetmetal revamp for the current Acadia. As for the mid-size Canyon, once production winds up at the Shreveport, Louisiana plant, it’s unlikely a successor will manifest itself in the coming years, though rumors continue to persist that a version of the new ‘world’ Chevy Colorado is destined for North American shores at some point.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Back when it was first introduced to the F-150, there were many who questioned Ford‘s logic for installing a twin-turbocharged V-6 in a pickup truck. However, it appears the Blue Oval has proved the naysayers wrong; in recent months, V-6 sales have been really gathering steam.

At the beginning of the calendar year, six-cylinders accounted for around 35 percent of all F-150 sales, now the total is around 56 percent, with 41 percent of those being EcoBoosts (the remainder are 3.7-liter base V-6s).

In terms of individual engines, the 5.0-liter V-8 still leads the way, being installed in 44 percent of all F-150s snapped up by the public. But if the V6 continues to gain acceptance and fuel prices rise, it’s very likely that by the end of the year, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost alone will equal if not surpass it in terms of overall volume.

[Source: Left Lane News]

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, certain models of Ford pickups and SUVs have a defective switch which can cause the brake, taillights and rear turn signals to fail, potentially resulting in accidents, specifically rear end collisions.

As a result, the automaker is recalling certain 2004-2011 Ford Ranger pickups, 2002-07 Super Duty pickups, including F-250 through F-550 models, as well as 2002-05 Excursion SUVs.

In total, some 20,450 trucks in the US are affected, in addition Ford is replacing some 6000 defective switches that were sent to dealers as replacement ‘in-service’ parts.

The company plans to notify owners of the recall, who will have the defective switches replaced, free of charge. It also says, that despite the number of trucks being recalled, so far no accidents resulting from brake or taillight failure on the affected vehicles have been recorded.

Chrysler has announced that it is recalling some 280,000 Ram pickups in the US, Canada and Mexico along with several other parts of the world.

The trucks, ranging from model years 2008 to 2011 are being recalled for defective outer tie rods on the left side, which can cause front-end miss alignment, excessive steering and tire wear and potential tie rod failure.

The automaker said, the problem most frequently occurs during low speed driving, such as in parking lots when drivers are making tight turns. The recall affects both light and heavy-duty trucks, including 4 x 4 Ram 1500 Mega Cab models, up to and including 2500 and 3500 pickup and 4 x2 chassis cabs, as well as older trucks (2003-08 model 2500 and 3500 rigs) that received these tie rods as replacement in-service items.

This marks the second time in less than year that Chrysler has had to recall trucks for tie rod ends, a previous one was issued back in December, that affected heavy-duty 4500 and 5500 chassis cab trucks.

The automaker hasn’t yet said when the recalls will actually begin, though expect something to materialize in the next few weeks.

[Source: Detroit News]

The mighty Ford Raptor is indestructible, right? Sadly, it only looks that way: owners are reporting a drastic frame bending problem that threatens to destroy their trucks—and in one case, Ford refuses to honor its warranty.

One owner on the Ford Raptor forums is reporting that a Ford engineer is citing his truck as voiding its warranty, because of scratches underneath and around the truck that suggest ample off-road hoonage. Problem is, the owner claims that these scratches—on the skid plate, underneath the bumper, and around the worn shocks—occurred during a low-speed 4×4 safety course, something sanctioned by Ford.

The Raptor’s frame is weak around where the cab meets the bed, where it must make room for bump stops. Taking the sort of off-road bump at speed, as the Raptor is advertised to handle, has forced the frame to bend sharply on at least 4 other trucks.

Ford could do right and accept these problems as a limitation of their engineering, thankful that these consumers have essentially done the research on the Raptor’s faults, integrate them into the next model, and fix the handful of Raptors that have become unhinged. But of course, any semblance of abuse on a high-performance vehicle is tantamount to warranty revoking—no matter how much the company brags about its capabilities. And Ford did brag, with the following quote coming directly from a company press release: “Even if the typical Ford customer will not be putting their truck through the punishing paces of the Baja 1000, the point is, they could.”

Look like the less on here is; don’t try this at home, consumers.

[Source: Ford Raptor Forums]

Although originally postponed due to the automaker’s bankruptcy and subsequent re-structuring, GM‘s next generation full-size truck program is now reportedly back on track. Sources within the corporation say that the new trucks, internally coded K-2 will begin rolling off assembly lines in 2013 as ’14 model year vehicles.

As to what we can expect, it’s likely that 1/2 ton crew cab models will be introduced first, during the spring, since they’ve become the volume sellers. Extended and regular cab rigs will follow, with SUV derivatives such as the Tahoe, Escalade and Yukon arriving in the fall.

In terms of engineering and styling, it’s rumored the new trucks will be powered by updated pushrod V-8s, including a new 5.3 that will sport both active fuel management and direct injection, along with a development of the 6.2.

GM Powertrain is also reportedly working on an eight-speed automatic transmission designed for these trucks and other rear-wheel drive applications.

In terms of design, the new trucks are also slated to make a radical departure from the current slab sided look, which has been a trademark of GM pickups since the T400 rigs were introduced way back in the 1988 model year. Mike Simcoe, Chevrolet’s design director says we should expect to see more of the look embodied by such vehicles as the Chevy Cruze, Sonic and even the Camaro (some clues can be found in the 2008 Denali XT Concept, shown above).

No word on interiors, but it’s likely the 2014 GM trucks will boast significant improvements over the current models, which lag considerably behind their competitors, especially Ford and Ram.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Although Chrysler is maintaining that it’s current priorities still lie elsewhere, the concept of a Jeep pickup remains near and dear for the brand’s CEO John Manley.

Although he said there are  currently no resources available to work on a Jeep pickup at this time, Manley reiterated that “the idea continues to progress because of interest in the vehicle.”

However, in order to eventually get the green light, such a project might need to be tailored to markets outside North America, particularly parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia, where small, crew cab, four-cylinder pickups have been popular for decades.

What form the Jeep truck will take remains to be seen. A production version of the Wrangler based ‘Gladiator’ concept might be one, which would surely make it one of the most unique trucks sold anywhere in the world.

In order to compete in international markets, said truck would likely boast a 1 metric ton payload capacity (2,205 lbs), though a business case for it would also hinge on the ability to produce and sell it in various markets, taking into consideration manufacturing locations available as well as import/export laws and tariffs.

If a Jeep pickup does ultimately get the go ahead it probably won’t be for the next few years, as Chrysler continues to focus on more immediate product introductions in the wake of its corporate re-structuring. Nevertheless, Manley remains quietly optimistic about the truck’s prospects. “It’s something of huge interest to me,” he says.

[Source: Pickup Trucks.com]

Jeep hasn’t offered a true pickup since the late and still lamented, Cherokee based 1986-92 Comanche (shown above). However, if brand CEO John Manley gets his way, it’s likely a Jeep with a bed will return to the lineup sometime in the future.

However, despite showing a concept during a dealer conference last year in Orlando, Florida, where a number of retailers expressed enthusiasm, the idea hasn’t yet been given the green light by Chrysler, though Manley remains optimistic.

If such a truck does come to market however, it will likely be a premium priced offering, rather than an entry-level truck. “A lot of the pickup market is commoditized. I would not want to do a commodity Jeep,” Manley said.  It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

[Source: Automotive News]

General Motors has announced that it will be idling it’s Flint, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana assembly plants in an effort to clear out  it’s current high inventory of full-size pickups.

Both facilities will be idled beginning July 4, for a two week period, as quoted by GM spokesman Tom Wickham, speaking with news source Bloomberg.

At present GM has an inventory of approximately 282,000 trucks, which translates to a 110 day supply, almost double the industry average. In addition to using the idle time to whittle down the current inventory, the General will also use it  to prepare both facilities for 2012 model-year pickup production.

Although in recent, years, one approach to moving trucks off dealer lots and reducing supply is via incentives, GM’s North America President, Mark Reuss, said the company will stick to production rather than price cuts to drawn down inventory.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Chevy’s next generation global Colorado pickup was first revealed at the Bangkok Motor Show back in March; now a, striking double cab ‘Rally Concept’ version has made an appearance on the other side of the world, this time at the Buenos Aires International Motor Show in Argentina.

Although still a show truck, the Rally Concept’s styling likely predicts the future DNA of Chevrolet trucks, both large and small. The 4WD rig is finished in silver with aggressive Charcoal lower body cladding and is fitted with a raft of off-road equipment, including front and rear winches, monstrous 305/60R18 tires mounted on striking 18 inch wheels, adjustable height suspension, sturdy Rally car style acrylic quarter windows designed to resist damage and cool the interior, plus LED exterior lighting.

Inside, the concept boasts a rally inspired interior with LED instruments, Air Boost ventilation system, rally computer and multi adjustable sport bucket seats covered in Neoprene. Under the hood is a torquey 2.8-liter diesel engine.

Production of the new Colorado is slated to begin later this year and although at present there are no ‘officia’l plans to bring the vehicle stateside, rumors of such a move continue to persist.

It might be hard to imagine, considering that it sold just 40,727 of them last year, but when you add up the totals over the last 14 years Nissan has actually built one million Frontier pickups at it’s Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant, spanning two generations.

Nevetheless, the compact truck market is not the popular segment it once was. The only true compact truck left, the Ford Ranger, bows out after this year, leaving so-called ‘mid-size,’ rigs, the Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon and Dodge Dakota to pickup up the pieces, even though, the remaining domestic brand trucks are not long for this world either.

It’s a far cry from the late 1970s and 1980s, when compact trucks were one of the hottest things going and individual models, like Nissan’s own Hardbody regularly sold in excess of 100,000 units.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if Nissan sells another million small trucks over the next 14 years. Given that many manufacturers who peddle vehicles stateside have either abandoned the concept of smaller pickups, or at the very least not chosen to really update existing models, as it stands, that might be a hard goal to achieve.

Time and again it’s been revealed that there still is a substantial market for small pickups, especially with higher fuel prices currently a reality, only there’s very little choice. Perhaps it’s about time the automakers changed that.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

It was perhaps inevitable. With the Ram 1500 introducing the lockable Ram Box feature as an option for its 2009 update, it was probably only a matter of time before the feature became available on the division’s larger trucks.

According to sources, Ram is seriously considering the feature, though on the larger trucks the Ram Box would be part of a longer 6 foot 4-inch bed (it’s 5 feet 7 inches on the 1500 trucks). This would mean that storage capacity could reach almost 10 cubic feet each side, making the feature notably more useful, for everything from hunting and fishing gear to heavier tools for the jobsite.

If the HD Ram Box feature does make the cut, expect it to become an option during the 2012 model year. There are also rumors that the 1500 Ram Box might also receive larger capacity storage bins, as well as the possibility of a version for 1-ton dualie trucks.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]