King of comedy and legendary car collector Jay Leno gets up close and personal with this review of the new 2015 Corvette Z06 convertible. After watching this video it sure makes me want to head down to my local GM dealer and put my order in. The whole clip is worth watching but make sure you check out the 20:35 mark when the Popo makes an appearance…..
Having reviewed the 2014 version of the Dodge Ram 1500 we were very excited to get behind the wheel of this 2015 version of Ram’s award-winning truck. And, this time around we were going to see if all the media hype for the 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel is warranted. Ironically, over the last few months we have seen an incredible drop in fuel prices so as of our test week in December gas prices in Canada were at their lowest level in four to five years and diesel fuel was actually priced at a premium in comparison.
Upon getting the keys to the new tester I was pleasantly surprised to see how good the truck looked in its “Western Brown” exterior colour.
Dodge Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
Anyone familiar with the luxury standard of today’s full-sized crew cab trucks will not be surprised by the level of detail in the Ram’s cabin – it is comparable to that of a luxury car with its rich leather bucket seats and high-end interior materials. Some of our favourites include the back-up camera (crucial for parking in tight underground garages) and the nine speaker Alpine stereo system with SiriusXM Satelite radio. Other key features especially useful in the Canadian winter include heated second row seats, dual zone climate control and a heated steering wheel. However, one feature we did not have, but was in the 2014 tester, was the air suspension system which provides drivers with the ability to raise the frame of the truck enabling more travel for off-road use. This feature also lowers the truck for better fuel efficiency and makes it easier to get in and out. For our purposes in the city this is not a feature we would leverage on a regular basis, but it is cool nonetheless.
Our tester came equipped with Chrysler’s award winning UConnect multimedia and connectivity package. It’s the most user-friendly setup in any pickup truck we have tested to date, combining an 8.4-inch center touchscreen with a configurable gauge display. UConnect’s touchscreen and steering-wheel controls gives the driver instant access to all the communication and interior features available in the cabin.
UConnect console
As Dodge’s third highest trim level, the Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 model comes in at a starting price of $40,595 CDN MSRP. However, our tester model came with a base price of $53,695 but was equipped with a range of optional features pushing the actual “total price as tested” to $64,535. The biggest ticket item within all the options is the $4,600 for the EcoDiesel V6. That is a significant chunk of cash but this EcoDiesel engine is game changing and was named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines for 2014.
During our week-long test where we used the truck predominantly as a city errand chaser, with one trip to cottage country, the truck got an average of 10.4L per 100 KM which works out to 23 MPG. This is truly remarkable fuel efficiency for an almost 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) full size truck especially considering the majority of miles were in the city. In fact, the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 is the most efficient engine available today in its class. See official press release.
3.0L V6 EcoDiesel
The 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel is a very innovative engine built from a block of compacted graphite iron with aluminum twin-cam heads that put out (240 horsepower and 420 pounds of torque) giving the engine loads of torque for towing (9,200-pound towing capacity). Realistically, it does not have the same off-the-line speed as the HEMI V8 but who needs that? Since it provides a decent 0 to 60 time of about eight seconds (approx 1 second slower than the Hemi) which is very admirable for a full size pick-up that literally sips diesel compared to its gas-fired brethren.
The only feature our Ram was missing that would be useful is running boards since getting into the truck is a bit tough without them especially for shorter folks. The running boards also provide some added mud and snow coverage for the driver and passengers upon entry and exit.
Since the Dodge Ram 1500 with its EcoDiesel V6 is the only diesel half-ton pickup currently available in North America there are no direct competitors. However, the key gasoline competitors to the Ram 1500 are the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan and the Toyota Tundra.
I know Christmas has come and gone but if you are still in the need of a full size truck with superb fuel efficiency make sure you check out a Ram dealer near you!
We are a little late to get this on this year’s Christmas list but there is always next year. The Porsche 918 Spyder truly is the ultimate sports car available today. Yes, I know it’s not for everybody as it comes with a starting price of US$845,000 but that’s the point its aspirational. You know you’ve made it to the top when you roll out of the dealership in one of these….Check out Car and Driver’s new in-depth video which shows how this hybrid bad-boy supercar is hand assembled.
Going with last week’s Holden Ute theme we came across the following videos which are just too funny not to share. Ironically, a female colleague who is British shared her Aussie friend’s videos with me.
Got to love the INXS soundtrack in this as some stereotypes really are just too funny not to embrace…..And to be filmed around the sacred ground of Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a nice touch.
Australia El Camino meets US McDonald’s drive-thru…….
Unveiled back in October at the 2014 Paris Auto Show, the new Land Rover Discovery Sport is aimed at delivering legendary off-road ability at a price point that won’t break the bank. Available in both a five and seven seat configuration the 2015 Discovery Sport offers an updated sleek design with enhanced technology compared to the LR2 model it replaces.
The Sport’s standard powertrain is a 2.0L, 240-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the Range Rover Evoque. This is mated to a full-time all-wheel drive system with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
True to its roots, the Discovery Sport provides rugged capability with ground clearance of 212 mm, towing capacity of 2500kg and the ability to wade through water up to two feet deep. With a full size spare fitted to the five seater and a space saver in the seven seater it provides the confidence to take it off-road.
Starting at $37,995 USD the new Land Rover Discovery Sport is priced well in the crowded luxury compact SUV market. The final sticker price can climb dramatically with additional features so buyer beware but let’s be honest it’s a Land Rover after all. If you are crazy budget conscious this is likely not the vehicle for you.
We are glad to see Land Rover is updating its line-up and are looking forward to getting some seat time behind the wheel in 2015 when these models hit our streets.
In today’s world of Wikipedia not much is left to the imagination and certainly finding hidden treasure has become a rarity. So this story is just so darn cool we had to cover it since as auto enthusiasts the barn find is the Holy Grail.
After calling in auctioneer’s to the family farm, the grandchildren of French transport magnate Roger Baillon discovered that the 100 dirt-covered cars that had decayed away undisturbed for decades could now be worth £12 million or more at auction.
Of course these are not your average vintage cars as they range from 1930s-1950s models from all the great European brands, such as Bugatti, Porsche, Maserati and Ferrari. Although most of the vehicles were only covered by a shed roof exposing them to the elements, two very special sports cars were hidden away in a garage. The two cars are a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider with covered headlights which is one of only 37 ever made. The second one is a 1956 Maserati A6G Gran Sport Frua.
The Collectors’ Car Department at Artcurial, a French auction house, recently discovered the incredible collection. They will be putting up the entire collection for auction in Paris on February 6th, 2015.
‘We found ourselves overcome with emotion. Probably much like Lord Carrington and Howard Carter, on being the first person for centuries to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb,” stated Matthieu Lamoure, Managing Director of Artcurial Motorcars. “This really is a treasure. No doubt a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”
Roger Baillon’s collection, beginning around 1950, was nearly twice as big as the number recently discovered. One Talbot-Lago in the collection had previously been owned by Egyptian King Farouk and a Ferrari had been used in the filming of a movie with Jane Fonda. Along with the rare Maserati in this collection, Baillon had intended to build a museum with his collection. However, when things didn’t go as expected, he was forced to sell 50 of his beloved cars, and the rest of the collection was just parked and literally forgotten about until now. Hopefully these world-class beauties will be restored to their original greatness and shared in museums around the world.
Check out more images at Bored Panda’s coverage.
Being a child of the late 1970s I could not resist doing something on the new Star Wars film. Yes, I realize it is not car news per say, but the vehicles in the Star Wars franchise are très worthy in my eyes. From speed bikes to X-Wing fighters to the unstoppable Millennium Falcon, futuristic hyperspeed machines should appeal to any car enthusiast. In a world where fast means warp speed it is only fitting that the latest episode of the epic Star Wars series looks ever as memorable as the earlier ones. Check out the new teaser trailer for The Force Awakens….
The folks over at 4-Wheel & Off-Road turned a well-used airplane tug truck into a killer off-road machine while keeping it street legal. This project was done over nine Herculean days before the so-called Ultimate Adventure 2014, and the team over at Drive Dirt Everyday has kindly documented the whole build process on video.
The vehicle started life as a 1990 Dodge tug truck that hauled around airplanes for a living. The team kept the Cummins six-cylinder diesel, but tossed out almost everything else replacing the stock parts for either custom one-off fabricated parts or custom heavy-duty parts. The build process certainly looks like a ton of work, but the end result created one fantastic crawler. Check out the video above.
Earlier today, Hoonigan, Ford and Need For Speed posted Ken Block’s Gymkhana SEVEN – Wild in the Streets: Los Angeles. Having covered the epic “Gymkhana video series” for the past few years there is nothing in the world like it and Ken Block has certainly upped the ante with this new installment.
With some help from the Hollywood Hills and post apocalyptic Los Angeles, Ken and his corporate A-team of sponsors sure know how to make the ultimate drifting video.
This new video captures all the sounds and sheer genius skill of Ken Block as he tears through LA in his custom 1965, 845 horsepower fire-breathing Mustang. Honestly, enough of our words, just go ahead and enjoy this 12 minute video and be glad you don’t have to pay for Kenny’s tire bill.
RedlineNorth 