Welcome to Motoring Monday for October 13th, 2014.
This week we have a special report on the 2014 Texas Truck Rodeo event where Texas Auto Writers Association journalists including myself spent two days testing 75 of the latest 2015 trucks and SUVS.
With two days of grueling tests on and off-road, the event results in the highly coveted SUV of Texas and Truck of Texas awards.
The 2014 Truck Rodeo held at the Knibbe Ranch just out side San Antonio Texas saw 18 manufacturers with crossovers, SUV’s and pickups competing in over a dozen classes.
This event has become a highly contested one with automakers, and its auto journalist jury awards big-time bragging rights.
Off-road Utility Vehicle of Texas: 2015 Jeep Wrangler
For the Off-Road Utility Vehicle of Texas, Jeep took honors with their ever widening Wrangler lineup.
Competing with very few other vehicles, the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler and Rubicon Hard Rock Edition wowed us with their off-road prowess from both ends of the Wrangler price range.
The Rubicon Hard Rock Edition’s had the top-deck four-wheel drive system with locking front and rear 4:10 Dana 44 axles. With a crawl ratio as low as 73.1, it made child’s play of our off-road course as you would expect.
Offering up a higher level trim stature on top of Rubicon is what Hard Rock was all about. Black leather heated seats and the new premium Alpine stereo system were nice additions as were the many unique trim and appearance adds.
The “Power Dome” hood has functional heat extractors and really looks good behind the wheel. It has the expected red tow hooks at the front and rear as well as off-road rock rails for added protection out here.
On the more affordable end of the line the Wrangler Sport based Willys Wheeler Edition gives you up-graded off-road gear without having to go all the way up to the Rubicon trim level.
It gets a Trac-Lok Dana 44 rear axle with 3.73 gears and a larger wheel and tire package. Visuals include some historic themed touches like the “4 Wheel Drive” and “Willys” graphics.
I admit I love them both and wanted to take one home with me in the worst way. Like all of these vehicles you’ll see today we’ll have a complete drive review coming soon!
Mid-size Pickup of Texas: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
Really waking up the market with a swift kick, Chevrolet took Mid-size Pickup of Texas honors with their all new 2015 Colorado pickups.
Highly anticipated this year was GM’s return to the mid-size truck class with both the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado trucks. This anticipation was as much curiosity as anything, as for many of us this was the first chance behind the wheel to see if they were good.
And they didn’t disappoint. Both on-road and on the back trails of Texas the new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado proved itself against the class competitors Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, offering the freshest style and latest features.
It’s not all about the flashy new looks and having the newest toys though. The new Colorado showed a new level of chassis refinement, feeling of solid composure out in the rough, and drivability from its new powertrain offerings.
The top dawg Z-71 crew cab we tested on the off-road course was far more nimble and easily maneuvered than any of the full-size trucks. Its optional 3.6 liter V6 at 305 horsepower just quietly hums along with full-size truck power though.
It’s interior did admittedly feel much more contemporary than its peers Toyota and Nissan, not to mention packed with all the latest and frankly expected feature content today including backup camera, infotainment, and driver information systems.
I much appreciate the breath of fresh air the Colorado brings to the truck game. When the new diesel version comes next year, that I think will only stoke the competitive fires even more.
Luxury CUV of Texas: 2015 Lincoln MKC
Making their return to the Texas Truck Rodeo this year was Lincoln who likely isn’t regretting the move, taking home Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle of Texas honors with their all-new 2015 MKC.
Introduced earlier this year, Lincoln’s new entry point for their luxury crossover offerings competed against the also new 2015 Lexus NX and the slightly larger GMC Acadia Denali.
Similar to the Lexus NX in size and scope, the 2015 Lincoln MKC we tested had the up-level and exclusive to Lincoln 285 horsepower 2.3 liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
That power gets delivered rather smoothly and impressively to all four wheels which are kept planted by a continuous controlled damping suspension. Drivers can choose their drive modes from sport, comfort and normal in ride character.
While the drive experience was indeed impressive and refined, the interior is really where Lincoln makes a story with the new MKC.
The brand once cast into the grill and badge engineering genre really stepped up with a cabin lined with genuine woods that look and feel the part. Hand stitched soft touch trims are virtually everywhere you look and run your hand.
Technology abounds too with a full suite of infotainment and driver assistance systems that match dot for dot what the competition offers. Unique here also is Lincoln’s push-button gear selection in lieu of a lever.
This was a close call for the Texas Auto Writers in this class as Lexus really came to the show with their A-Game on in their new 2015 NX which also impressed well.
SUV of Texas: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Coming back again this year for a win in its category, the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee took top bragging rights for the SUV of Texas award.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is no stranger to this honor, having won it now for five consecutive years. Fueling its continuous king of the hill status are distinctions of this class like its optional 3.0 liter EcoDiesel engine.
That engine in fact is the big news still over a year after it became available. It’s magic combination of smooth torque and fuel economy that is far and beyond most gasoline engines in its class continues to get the eye of the journalists.
The EcoDiesel purrs along like a good friend particularly out here in the back woods where its 420 lb.-ft of torque just drags it through just about anything you can throw at it.
The Grand Cherokee also offers in its competitive set a level of luxury options and trim grades, myriad ways to go with off-road capabilities, and three other power-trains to choose aside that EcoDiesel.
Available features like an adjustable air suspension, leather lined interior trims, and just the ability to have the Grand Cherokee in any flavor you want from back-roads trail friend to ultimate luxury liner are that which seems to keep it on top.
Having just been freshened up for the 2014 model year, the 2015 Grand Cherokee still managed to pull out a win this year even though it wasn’t the newest shiny thing.
Truck of Texas: 2015 Ford F-150
What was without question the new shiny thing this year at the Texas Truck Rodeo was the all-new 2015 Ford F-150. In the hotly contested top honor of this event, the F-150 won Truck of Texas.
Before I get too much further after saying that, what made the 2015 Ford F-150 the winner for this year’s Truck Of Texas went well beyond the surface of first impressions and lust for what’s new.
This truck is a sea change, a vehicle which literally changes every aspect of what you expect from the full-size truck class. The headline ground breaker is its body constructed entirely of aluminum for up to 700 lbs weight loss on the high end and an average of 500 lbs in the mid levels.
That isn’t the whole story however as the new 2015 Ford F-150 brings with it all-new power-trains, a stronger high-strength steel frame, and segment first infotainment and driver assistance technology featues.
Because that new aluminum body itself is so dramatically lighter, Ford was able to increase the truck’s capabilities by almost the same amount of its weight savings. In the process, they also downsized the engine lineup, offering increased fuel economy but in a sick twist….still offering high power.
Those engines we tested included the all-new 2.7 liter EcoBoost V6, an engine you can option in addition to the already popular 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6. For only about $500 on the option sheet you get 325 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of towing torque .
Add new engines to a host of new driver serving technical features like a 360 degree view camera system which really does make life easier behind the wheel for the majority of full-size truck owners. There was a time when I scoffed these things, but you know what? They really do provide value.
How does it drive? Well as you can see the new F-150 is well capable of getting itself in and out of tight spots just the same as the one which came before it. The torque of its new EcoBoost engines or the venerable 5.0 liter V8 give you that go anywhere confidence you expect.
Its lighter weight isn’t something you notice in terms of a flimsier or less substantial feel, in fact with its stronger high-strength steel frame, the new F-150 feels tougher and tighter than ever. A dramatic distinction in feel of aluminum versus steel when behind the wheel just isn’t there, it just feels like a good ‘ol truck.
We’ll bring you a far more detailed drive review here soon so stayed tuned.
Reality Check: Ford F-150 Aluminum Body Decision
In our reality check segment this week, we take a closer look at the risky move Ford has taken with going to an all-aluminum body construction for their 2015 F-150 pickups.
During this event I had the chance to query a number of top for brass about the weight and gravity of their move to lighten the 2015 Ford F-150 by going to an all-aluminum body construction as the move has so many implications and potential pitfalls.
The obvious concerns are from the consumer angle with how they will accept it with their own questions of long term durability, cost of repairs or replacement parts, and even long term corrosion resistance.
But for Ford the impact of this new direction went well beyond just that. Changing from steel to aluminum changed every single aspect of the design and engineering for this new truck.
You cant just roll a different metal through the stamps. And entirely new stamping procedure and plant had to be created. A new supply chain needed to be built to keep that aluminum coming.
How the bodies are constructed is completely different. Spot welds give way to rivets and high-bond adhesives, something not common for mainstream mass-production.
Going into this, Ford had to buy a long term one-way ticket in every aspect of design, construction, and manufacturing.
Bottom line is there is no going back. In two or three years they can’t just say “oh wait, this sucks lets start making these out of steel again”. They are well too far into the woods for that.
While the decision has a risk Ford is doubling down having announced the next generation Super Duty will also be built of aluminum. And the rest of their truck based models are rumored to follow.
Money Shot: 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock
Now its time for our Money Shot where we grab the best photo from our week of news and show it to ya.
This week we break tradition from the press release sourced pictures and show you a still frame from our video out of the Texas Truck Rodeo. I admittedly fell in love with the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock Edition, so expect biased and gushing reportage on this one going forward. It just really pressed my buttons.
That’s it for Motoring Monday, click on the link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel were we will keep you updated on the drive reviews from this event as well as our automotive news and Motoring Monday episodes.
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