Pickup Truck Car reviews

More than two months after unveiling the Ford Mustang Heritage Edition, Hennessey is back at it with another special tuning program, this time for the Ford F-150 Raptor. Filed under the same “Heritage Edition” name, the F-150 Raptor gets a steady dose of upgrades, covering aesthetic, mechanical, and performance upgrades. Hennessey ties a bow on its mad creation with an engine upgrade that jacks up the V-8 engine’s output to 758 horsepower.

Isuzu D-Max is one of the toughest and most off-road-capable old-school pickups for any amount of money. It is definitely not the most luxurious feeling pickup, though, but that’s not what the D-Max is about.

More recent models have gained some premium features that older model years lacked, like leather seats, a reversing camera and smartphone pairing tech, but the main reason why you’d want to buy one is to really use it either doing serious off-roading or for towing as it does a great job at both.

Its noisy and not very refined 2.5-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel was replaced along with the truck’s recent refresh by a slightly less noisy 1.9-liter which makes the same power as the old unit, but slightly less torque.

There’s also plenty of flexibility in terms of body and drive alternatives - Isuzu offers the D-Max with either 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains, as well as several cab variants too. And there is quite a bit of visual differentiation between utilitarian examples just meant to work, and more luxurious trimmed ones used more as family cars - the basic, single-cab model comes with a non-painted front bumper, steel wheels with no hubcaps and a spartan interior completely devoid of toys.

Blade top trim level adds nice alloys, leather seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, a decent six-speed automatic transmission, and climate control. The most capable D-Max on sale now is the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35, a specialist-modified model with upgraded suspension, wheels complete with flared wheel arch extensions.

Days after Land Rover showcased a one-off Discovery Sport that was developed specifically for the Austrian Red Cross, Nissan is doing the same for the American Red Cross with the introduction of the Ultimate Service Titan. As its name implies, the Ultimate Service Titan isn’t your typical Nissan Titan pickup. It’s a mobile command center that’s developed to respond to disasters and emergencies without breaking stride. The Nissan Ultimate Service Titan is the latest manifestation of a partnership between Nissan and the American Red Cross, one that, in the last five years alone, has raised $2.5 million in donations for the Red Cross. You can add the Nissan Ultimate Service Titan to that list now. The one-off emergency response vehicle debuted at the Miami Auto Show.

Bollinger is a new manufacturer that showed off a very promising all-electric off-roader known as the B1, which it has yet to officially launch, but has now expanded its future lineup to include the Bollinger B2 - a long-wheelbase version of the B1.

Ford and Harley-Davidson have established a unique partnership in the auto industry. The latter has a long history of building custom and special edition H-D branded trucks, and the latest example of that is the 2019 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Concept Truck. Developed as a special edition version of the F-150 Super Crew trim, the new F-150 Harley-Davidson Concept was created with the help of Tuscany, a subsidiary of Fox Factory Inc. and a Ford Motor Company specialty vehicle manufacturer in the personal-use segment, to help celebrate the bikemaker’s 115th anniversary.

Isuzu sells the rugged D-Max pickup in a wide range of body styles and four different applications, but the version that sits at the top of the range is the most impressive, and it’s called Arctic Trucks AT35. It’s built in collaboration with renowned off-road specialist Arctic Trucks from Iceland.

The fourth-generation Chevrolet Silverado broke cover in late 2017 with a brand-new design on the outside, all-new tech on the inside, and a range of drivetrain upgrades. Come 2018 and Chevrolet offers optional, dealer-available upgrades through its Performance and Accessories division. The Silverado LTZ Concept was created specifically to showcase some of these items before they go on sale.

Unveiled at the State Fair of Texas, the same city where the new-generation truck was introduced, the LTZ Concept is based on the LTZ Z71 trim and features three upgrades from Chevrolet Performance and eight items from the Chevrolet Accessories catalog. It’s not a concept in the true sense, as it doesn’t showcase futuristic designs or technologies, but it’s a good preview for the many ways you can customize a Silverado nowadays. The LTZ Concept will go on display at the 2018 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas too.

Continue reading to learn more about the Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Concept.

Purists never got behind the idea of the Ford F-150 V-6 EcoBoost. They wanted a new Ford F-150 Raptor V-8. Now, thanks to PaxPower, they have it. Yet, if the world only acted on the wishes of purists and classic truck lovers the F-150 would have never become an aluminum built truck, the three-speed auto would have never become a 10-speed tranny, and we would still be hauling our asses in trucks powered by V-8s with sad specific outputs. Now we don’t. Now, we can enjoy a modified Ford F-150 V-8 Raptor with a supercharged engine churning out the insane power of 758 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. That is what PaxPower did to what once was a 2018 Ford F-150 Platinum V-8 truck.

Proving that auto shows have become less appealing these days, the 2018 Texas State Fair has become Chevrolet’s venue-of-choice in revealing the Silverado RST Off-Road Concept. The unique trail-inspired Silverado is one of four concepts that Chevrolet unveiled in the event. The RST Off-Road Concept is arguably the most rugged version of the Silverado among the four concepts it’s bringing to the Texas State Fair. It’s packed with off-road equipment and accessories to showcase the pickup’s might and adaptability when it ventures into beaten paths.

The fourth-generation Chevy Silverado broke cover in 2017 with a ton of new features, including state-of-the-art technology, and upgraded engines. But it’s also a highly customizable truck now, with plenty of features available from Chevrolet Performance and Accessories. Chevy just launched a handful of concept vehicles to showcase these features and the RST Street proves that trucks can look like hot rods too.

Based on one of the Silverado’s less expensive trims, the RST Street looks a bit more aggressive than the standard truck and it also rides lower than usual. Yes, while concept trucks usually ride higher for enhanced off-road capability, the RST Street was conceived for drivers who want a sportier truck. It also previews a new set of fender decals and carbon-fiber-look parts, so it won’t be long until you will be able to customize one just like the concept in the photos.

Continue reading to learn more about the Chevrolet Silverado RST Street Concept.

Hennessey has once again thrust itself into the spotlight with another mind-bending creation, called the Goliath. As the name suggests, Goliath isn’t a pee-wee muscle car with turbochargers stacked one on top of the other. It’s not even a demented supercar that can hit 300 mph. Goliath is what its name says it is. Goliath is a Chevrolet Silverado-based 6x6 monstrosity that can probably withstand the apocalypse if it arrived today.

Gone are the days when trucks were designed for one of two things– off-roading or being put to work, both of which meant there were next to no creature comforts whatsoever. Ram has announced the 2019 Ram Rebel 1500 12 edition, and it feels like nothing short of a luxurious truck. Ram has a lot of new technology offerings along with its natural rough-and-tough characteristics. Has Ram hit the bullseye with the new Rebel 12?

Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles have teamed up to create a new no-frills, punch-you-in-your-mouth special-edition model based on the Colorado ZR2. Fittingly, the model goes by the name “Bison.” The upgrades to the burly Colorado are mechanical by nature, though it does have a sprinkling of vanity additions as well. The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison goes on sale in January 2019.

Roush Performance is pulling out all the stops with its new tuning package for the Ford F-150. The program comes with upgrades and modifications to the F-150’s exterior, interior, engine, and suspension. It’s as extensive a kit as you can find for the Blue Oval’s popular hauler. It doesn’t come cheap, though. The price of turning the Ford F-150 into the Roush F-150 SC adds up to $22,999, and that doesn’t include the price of the base F-150 unit.

Based on the familiar Nissan Navara pickup truck, the Dark Sky concept is a mobile astronomy lab equipped with a state-of-the-art telescope mounted in a bespoke off-road trailer. Unveiled at the Hannover Motor Show in Germany, the Dark Sky concept was developed in the U.K. in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The concept car showcases how a truck like the Navara could support the ESA’s intense efforts to map the stars by helping astronomers conduct follow-up observations from hard-to-reach locations. Of course, the Dark Sky concept won’t become a production model, but Nissan will donate the telescope "to pass on the spirit of exploration and adventure, and to inspire and educate future generations." In addition to the bespoke trailer, the Navara also boasts unique features and technology that’s not available on the production truck. Find out more in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept.

Mitsubishi has been a silent spectator all this while. It’s almost like the Japanese automaker is happy in its own shell, least bothered about what’s going on around it. However, it decided to make a little sound now. Mitsubishi has released the first teaser image of the facelifted Triton, while at the same time commemorating its 40th anniversary in truck manufacturing.

Vanity has never been one of Ram’s strong suits, but the hulking pickup brand is making an exception with the launch of the Ram 2500 Power Wagon Mojave Sand Edition. Essentially an aesthetics package, the 2500 Power Wagon Mojave Sand Edition takes advantage of the Mojave Sand beige color, which has become the fastest-selling shade on the Ram Rebel. Now, the color is appearing for the first time on a Ram Heavy Duty model. Only 1,500 units will be built, with each model priced at $54,830.

German Motors & Engineering has released a tuning package for the Ram 1500, called the “Off-Road Edition.” The package gives the American pickup truck a comprehensive overhaul, covering the exterior, engine, and suspension. GME’s objective is to give the RAM 1500 the kind of off-road versatility you normally don’t see in a car in Germany. To that extent, the tuner did as good a job as you’d expect from a company that knows what it’s doing.

Just like its predecessor, the Sierra Denali sits at the top of the GMC Sierra lineup, itself a more upscale version of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The fourth-generation pickup truck broke cover in March 2018, a few months after Chevrolet debuted the new-generation Silverado it is based on.

At the forefront of the premium pickup market since 1999, the GMC Sierra Denali steps into a new generation with redesigned everything. Larger and bolder, the truck benefits from new state-of-the-art technology, and a new transmission. It also boasts many industry-first features, including a carbon-fiber box, a multi-function tailgate, and a rear-view camera. Power continues to come from the familiar 5.3- and 6.2-liter V-8s, despite the fact that GMC just introduced a diesel V-6 option for the regular Sierra.

While I am not convinced that fuel efficiency is the decisive factor when choosing between trucks, RAM did make the biggest step in the fuel efficiency direction with the new 2019 Ram 1500 eTorque. We saw it some time ago, but the EPA wasn’t ready to publish fuel-economy values for the trucks equipped with the new technology. In truth, I can only describe as a mild hybrid.

Now, the EPA has revealed the numbers for the V-6 eTorque and V-8 eTorque Ram 1500 and the numbers are good. With two-wheel drive, a 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and the eTorque system, the 2019 Ram 1500 can return 20 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. The V-8 powered model, on the other hand, is a bit more thirsty, but still, it will return 17/23/19, respectively. Bear in mind; it uses a big 5.7-liter, V-8.

One thing is for certain. The new Ford Ranger Raptor is cool, capable, and off-road ready right from the production line, and it’s definitely an interesting proposition even for big-truck-loving Americans.

Sizewise, it is a truck similar to the Colorado ZR. “Characterwise,” it is a dune-fighting fun machine designed for the most intense off-roading tasks. While we in the U.S. are still waiting for Ford to confirm that the Ranger Raptor will come, the rest of the world is basking in the greatness of the potent truck. The thing is that the Ranger Raptor for the rest of the world is actually powered by a small diesel engine - not something that’s very popular here, is it?

While I am among those who believe the Ranger Raptor in the U.S. will get a 2.3-liter EcoBoost, I have to tell you a number of reasons why you should not be disappointed even if we end up with the diesel Ranger Raptor.

You think that the Ranger Raptor is cool? Look at this! It is a Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI tuned up a notch by the fantastic Polish tuner Carlex Design. While the Poles are best known for their work on the interior of cars - something we have witnessed with their incredible Mercedes-Benz X-Class transformation - their latest works revolve around exterior mods as well. This is not surprising considering that specialists there have become well-known all over the world. They have to widen their business scope, don’t they?

I think we are lucky they did because the latest work by Carlex Design on Volkswagen’s mid-size pickup squeezes out the best of what the German pickup can offer. While we in the U.S. can’t actually get the Amarok, adventurous Europeans can go mad with it. All with a 3.0-liter TDI, V-6 that develops 268 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. That is so much more than 210 horsepower from the Range Raptor’s 2.0-liter diesel mill.