Ford said to be preparing Explorer-based pursuit-rated SUV for police fleets
Filed under: Government/Legal, Crossover, Ford, Police/Emergency
When Ford introduced its Police Interceptor based on the Taurus, it said it had another vehicle in the works that “would share most parts with the Taurus and be available in a utility version.” Speculation was that it would be a Flex based on the component spec, but according to The Detroit News, it turns out the as-yet-unseen 2011 Ford Explorer has got the nod.
Ford won’t say much about it at the moment as it hasn’t been announced officially, but it is understood that the model will be pursuit-rated and pack all-wheel-drive. The latter distinction arguably puts it atop the category: there is a pursuit-rated Chevrolet Tahoe that many police forces already use, but it’s only two-wheel-drive. The four-wheel-drive Tahoe, also already employed by rural and urban forces, isn’t pursuit-rated.
Ford hasn’t given a timeframe for when the police-spec unibody Explorer will be here, but in addition to its arrival giving units like K9 and SWAT a better mobile command post, it ought to help Ford’s efforts to maintain its 70-percent share of the police market after the current Crown Victoria-based PI goes out to pasture. Hat tip to Matthew.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Ford said to be preparing Explorer-based pursuit-rated SUV for police fleets originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011 ford, a-timeframe-for, chevrolet-tahoe, detroit-news, entry, explorer, ford, fordexplorer, news, policesuv, pursuitrated, susandocherty
GeigerCars turns tuning efforts to… Chevy Tahoe Hybrid?
May 7, 2010 Object
Filed under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, SUV, Technology, Chevrolet, GM
Geiger Cars LPG Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
We’re used to seeing Geiger Cars tackle wild horsepower-riddled projects, but the tuner’s latest effort involves none other than the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. No, the company hasn’t managed to bleed 1,000 horsepower from the dual-mode hybrid. Instead, the crew at Geiger has managed to talk the big 6.0-liter V8 under the hood into swilling down liquid petroleum gas in a move to substantially cut the big SUV’s fuel costs.
Straight from General Motors, the Tahoe Hybrid is good for around 21 mpg, so we would expect to see some sort of improvement on that front with Geiger’s take on the truck. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t provide any solid LPG fuel-economy numbers.
Geiger did tell the world exactly how much the conversion will cost, though. If you’d rather turn your SUV green than look toward a more efficient way to get your family around town, the conversion will cost you a little over $5,000 at current conversion rates. Geiger will also allow you to buy the whole SUV from their shop for a paltry $78,000. Would we lay down our hard-earned cash for the swap? Given the fact that there isn’t exactly an LPG fueling station on every corner, we’d have to pass. Hit the jump for the press release.
[Source: Geiger]
Continue reading GeigerCars turns tuning efforts to… Chevy Tahoe Hybrid?
GeigerCars turns tuning efforts to… Chevy Tahoe Hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: chevrolet, chevrolet tahoe hybird, chevrolet-tahoe, conversion, ferrari world abu dhabi, four-car-trains, given-the-fact, tahoe-hybrid
Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK out in the wild
May 7, 2010 Object
Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury
A few eagle-eyed spies have laid their peepers on what appears to be the next iteration of the Mercedes-Benz SLK. The shooters managed to nab the car with significantly less camouflage than we’re used to seeing, allowing the interwebs a quick look at what the car’s new nose job should look like. From what we can tell, the Silver Arrow’s designers have decided to pull from the same gene pool as the SLS AMG when it comes to the car’s new fenders, fascia and hood.
Usually that would be a good thing, though we’re having a hard time swallowing that new upright grille. Yes, the language looks right at home on the new Gullwing, but on the baby SLK we’re getting whiffs of Dodge Caliber from the look. We’re hoping that’s something we stepped in.
Regardless of whether or not you can get behind the new face of the SLK, rumors of what will find its way behind those new headlights will likely set your heart a flutter. The whispers cruising around the web right now say the company is mulling a new twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 good for an insane 476 horsepower.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK out in the wild originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-hard-time, chevrolet-tahoe, dodge caliber, headlights-will, mercedes benz sls amg, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benzslk, silver, slk-class, sports
Report: Congressmen spending thousands of dollars a month to lease ordinary vehicles
Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Ford, GM, Mercury
Remember when Congress got all up in the grilles of Detroit automaker chief executives for traveling to Washington in luxury courtesy of the companies private jets? It appears our lawmakers are less than perfect when it comes to sourcing their own cost-effective transportation, as Politico is reporting that at least 10 members of the House of Representatives have monthly vehicle leases that exceed $1,000 per month in taxpayer money.
But those leases, they’re for specialized, bulletproof SUVs to keep our elected officials safe, right? Well, not so much. A little digging from Politico shows that members of Congress just don’t know how to shop around. Of the top five lease prices listed, the most exorbitant monthly outlay at least appears to come with the best excuse. Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver pays a reported $2,900 a month for a mobile office equipped with wifi and a wheelchair lift. Representative Cleaver justifies the hefty price tag by arguing that he uses the vehicle as his mobile office, foregoing the off-site office many other representatives have. Oh, and the mobile office runs on used cooking oil.
Other congressmen have less credible excuses, but it apparently isn’t stopping them from giving it the old college try. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) $1,628 to lease a GMC Yukon. Reyes blames short lease terms and fuel efficiency regulations on the high lease prices. Meanwhile, we suspect that every other American with decent credit can choose from dozens of CUVs or SUVs with 24-month leases for less than $600 per month.
Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) rolls in a $1,230 per month Chevrolet Tahoe. A spokesperson for Cheeks Kilpatrick claims the 13th District rep. leases the vehicle because General Motors headquarters resides within her district. Ironically, Cheeks Kilpatrick’s son, Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Detroit mayor who left office in disgrace after being found guilty of perjury, caught plenty of flack a few years back for spending $1,000 per month for a taxpayer-funded Lincoln Navigator.
Rep. Harry Teague (D-N.M.), reportedly worth more than $36 million dollars, pays $1,266 per month for a Chevrolet Malibu. That’s right, folks, a Malibu. Not a bad vehicle by any stretch, but $1,266 per month? Really? Other high lease offenders include Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who rides in a $1,259 per month hybrid Toyota Highlander, Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who trolls the St. Louis streets in $1,059 a month Ford Escape hybrid and Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) with his $1,026 per month Mercury Mariner hybrid. Not to be left out, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) apparently also spends $1,143 every month for an unspecified leased vehicle, and multimillionaire Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) leases a Lexus RX400h for $843 taxpayer-funded dollars a month, reportedly arguing that he needs the vehicle’s bigger accomodations because he’s over six-feet tall and has to make an hourlong commute twice a week.
Head over to Politico to read more about congress and the expensive vehicles they lease on your dime. We’re thinking there are thousands of Autoblog readers who can help their congressmen procure a more cost effective lease vehicle than some of the ridiculous prices you just read about. Any volunteers?
[Source: Politico]
Report: Congressmen spending thousands of dollars a month to lease ordinary vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: car leasing, chevrolet-tahoe, chevy tahoe, chevytahoe, democrat, entry, high, house, intelligence, mariner, representatives, vehicle
AOL Autos debuts official iPhone app for new car shoppers
Filed under: Car Buying
AOL Autos iPhone app - Click above to learn more and download
Our brethren over at AOL Autos are having a big day today. They’ve just launched the official AOL Autos iPhone app, which you can download for your iPhone or iPod Touch by clicking here. The cost of the app is zero pesos, so there’s nothing to lose by trying it out.
You’ll want this app if shopping for a new car is in your future. Why? It basically takes all of that research you did at home on your computer and crams it into a mobile app that goes with you. That way you can visit a dealership armed with all of that information about pricing and options at your finger tips.
The app allows you to narrow down your new vehicle search by price, type and style, or you can directly hit the vehicle you want by make and model. Once you’ve found a model, you can pick a trim level and select options, and the app will keep a running tally of what the vehicle costs as you go.
There are also photo galleries for each vehicle, expert opinions, user reviews and the ability to save models that you’ve built and send them to your friends and family. We’ve talked with the AOL Autos folk and are encouraged to hear that this won’t be an app that gets forgotten in the App Store. Their team is already working on updates to improve functionality and add new futures, which will debut in the coming months.
We know what you’re thinking: Where’s an Autoblog app for the iPhone? Good question. First, do us a favor and go download the AOL Autos app. The more popular their app is, the more incentive our bosses have to unleash the Autoblog news flow in an iPhone app for your portable pleasure.
[Source: AOL Autos]
AOL Autos debuts official iPhone app for new car shoppers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-favor-and, a-friend-via, a-mobile-app, a-running-tally, a-trim-level, aol autos iphone app, chevrolet-tahoe, entry, iphone, iphone app
