10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

4-WHEELER DREAMS
BY ROVING REPORTER SUZANNE STEMPINSKI

It’s that time again. Spring is in the air and many of our thoughts turn to... the latest cars, trucks and SUVs! Once again, at the Chicago Auto Show, held on February 10-19, 2006 – the world’s largest auto show – a dazzling array of new, soon-to-be-available and concept vehicles were on display for all to marvel and dream about.

The choices seemed endless. Looking for that perfect new pickup? There were tons to choose from. Trying to find the perfect entry-level vehicle for your son, daughter or even yourself? Bunches of ‘em. Dreaming of the hottest, zoomiest sports car? Reality could exceed fantasy. How about a van for the family with enough gadgets and gizmos to satisfy restless toddlers and harried moms. Yep – you had plenty of choices there too. Concept cars today which will become your ideal vehicle tomorrow? Oh, the visions were a wonder to behold.

Fuel sources and eco-sensitivity are among the biggest challenges facing auto makers today. Just like the truck engine manufacturers, the auto industry is busy looking at alternative fuels and finding ways to make them practical and affordable. Have you driven by a gas station lately and seen 85% Ethanol (E85) offered? Priced significantly lower than regular gasoline, this fuel is not available everywhere but is gaining in popularity. E85 is an option that is building momentum – and being offered in many new vehicles.

Green and yellow aren’t just the colors of a John Deere tractor any more (or the Green Bay Packers). According to the Go Yellow Live Green website (www.goyellowlivegreen.com), E85 is an alcohol fuel mixture of 85% ethanol (ethyl alcohol, i.e. grain alcohol) and 15% gasoline (proportioned by volume rather than mass) that can be used in flexible-fuel vehicles. It is a clean-burning, domestically-produced, renewable fuel that contributes to decreased dependence on imported oil. Ethanol is often produced from corn. Automobiles called Flexible Fuel Vehicles are designed to run on E85.

What is a Flexible Fuel Vehicle? Flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) are specially designed to run on regular unleaded or any ethanol blend up to 85 percent ethanol. Special onboard diagnostics “read” the fuel blend, enabling drivers to fuel with E85 or gasoline in any combination from a single tank. There are no switches to flip, no mixing or blending. The computer adjusts the FFV’s fuel injection and ignition timing to compensate for the different fuel mixtures.

Several auto manufacturers now produce vehicles that can be operated on E85 fuels including Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Isuzu, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mercury and Nissan. General Motors Corporation (GM) recently announced plans that they will easily distinguish their E85 compatible vehicles from their regular gasoline powered vehicles by replacing the original gas cap with one that is yellow. The new brightly-colored fuel caps will help consumers identify FFVs more easily.

At present, fuel economy from the higher ethanol content fuels is slightly lower than with regular gasoline, but the cost savings should more than offset the modest drop in mpg. If you have an older car that is not designed to run on E85, you can use it – but you won’t get very good results in your vehicle. It’s kind of like having a car designed to run on Premium gasoline and to save a few bucks you decide to fill the tank with Regular. Not a good idea. What’s the impact on engine life and drive train components? Don’t know – the testing is not yet completed.

For big trucks, biodiesel seems to be one of the practical possibilities. Biodiesel refers to any diesel-equivalent fuel made from renewable materials such as vegetable oils or animal fats. Several different kinds of fuels are called biodiesel: usually biodiesel refers to an ester, or an oxygenate, made from the oil and methanol, but alkane (non-oxygenate) biodiesel, that is, biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuel is also available. Sometimes even unrefined vegetable oil is called “biodiesel”. Unrefined vegetable oil requires a special engine, and the quality of petrochemical diesel is higher. In contrast, alkane biodiesel is of a higher quality than petrochemical diesel, and is actually added to petro-diesel to improve its quality.

Thanks to high profile fans like Willie Nelson, biodiesel is gaining momentum – and increasing availability. In fact, as of February 8, BioWillie B20 biodiesel fuel, which can power virtually any diesel engine, will now be available (among other places) at the Pearson Ford Fuel Depot, which is known for offering alternative fuels such as ethanol, natural gas, and biodiesel to the public. The station is located just north of downtown San Diego, CA along Interstate 15.

Back to the vehicles! All the manufacturers proudly presented their new offerings to the public. Ford introduced their 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, billed as the most fuel efficient hybrid ever. If most of your at-home driving is around town, the Escape Hybrid can offer you 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Hybrids run on a combination of gasoline and battery power – and they’re popping up everywhere!

Pickups are showing up in small, medium, large and holy-cow-if-it-were-any-bigger-I’d-hook-my-reefer-to-it! International leads the pack in the giant pickup niche. With the RXT (8’ bed and 310 hp engine), CXT (designed to haul up to 20 tons – or one movie star), and the new MXT (7’ bed and 300 hp engine, loaded with amenities and coming to a dealer near you this summer), you may want to take a look at one or more of their new rides. International will be formally introducing their new Class 8 truck, the ProStar, at the Mid-America Trucking Show. This will be one truck you definitely do not want to miss! It’s gonna be big, beautiful and was designed with major input from truck drivers.
If you want one of the coolest muscle cars ever, you’ll want to check out the concept-but-heading-for-reality Dodge Challenger. Based on the 1970 version, but totally updated, it features a full-width front grille, a pair of round headlights (LEDs), raised rear fenders, wall-to-wall taillight (a red neon tube) and rectangular exhaust tips. It’s got the “wow” factor in spades! Dodge hasn’t announced an official release date, but if audience approval counts, it will be scheduled for production before too long!

Another concept car you’re sure to like is the Chevy Camaro. An icon whose time comes and goes, the latest incarnation of this prototype is hot, it’s distinctive, and it won’t be a surprise to see it return to the road. Once again, everything old is new and “cool” again.

Updates to existing full-size pickups include the 2007 Toyota Tundra and the 2007 Chevy Avalanche – big and bold with improved fuel economy and good looks to spare. If a crossover vehicle is more to your liking, you may want to check out the new 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac – a combination of the Explorer SUV and F150 pickup. If a multi-purpose truck is what you’re looking for the Honda Ridgeline, introduced last year and the winner of Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year Award, is one you’ll want to see. With a dual action tail gate (opens either up and down or from side to side), and unique in-bed (underneath) storage, this pickup is designed for action.

Want that small car with fuel economy to spare that’s priced in a place that won’t put a big hurt on your wallet? They’re popping up all over the place. The Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Saturn Vue Green Line, Chevy Aveo and the Hyundai Accent are all worth checking out. And don’t forget the Mini Cooper. It’s little, it’s loaded, it looks like it will fit in your pocket – or the smallest parking space you can find!

Whatever you’re looking for – large or small, one purpose or multi-function vehicles, there’s something special out there just for you. If you want to see them gathered in one easy-to-navigate place, head to the show’s website at www.chicagoautoshow.com today. You won’t be sorry.