2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor at the State Fair of Texas

Unfortunately we were not able to make it out to the State Fair of Texas Media event this year, but we still have lots of news to share!

Ford:

[SinglePic not found] Ford brought, what else, but the biggest, baddest truck to be revealed at the Texas State Fair. First from Ford at the State Fair this year was the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. If you remember we test-drove the 2011 Raptor a few months back and it’s one capable machine. For 2012, Ford expands on its off-roading abilities. New to the Raptor for 2012 is a Torsen front differential that is said to increase grip significantly on the front end of the truck and improve its capabilities in handling obstacles, steep grades, and altogether slippery conditions. Another great new feature is a front camera system. Ford claims this to be a “class-exclusive, patent-pending” technology, but it seems to be more like what Range Rover has been using for a few years now. Basically, it gives you better visibility when you need to carefully navigate around obstacles off-road. The new 2012 Raptor also adds a little in the styling side as well. New wheel design, upgraded interior packages with aluminum accents, and unique bodyside graphics round out the list. After driving the 2011 Raptor, it was hard to see what Ford could really do to make this more capable, but it doesn’t hurt to try. We can’t wait to get our hands on one of these and see how it measures up.

[SinglePic not found] Next up, Ford showed off the new 2012 F-150 FX appearance package. From what we read and what we can tell from the pictures, it looks really good. The 2012 FX will have stealthy flat-black accents, new 20-inch flat-black wheels, new stylized bodyside graphic, and black badge with read lettering. Inside, look for new black leather with red trim and some brushed-metal accents. They have also added a few new technologies to the 2012 FX including hill start assist, a new automatic 4×4 system, and expanded availability of the electronic locking rear axle.

The other big news from Ford was on their already great Eco-Boost F-150. New for the 2012 Eco-Boost 4×4 model is a 36-gallon fuel tank. This with the great gas mileage produced by the Eco-Boost V6 gives this truck a driving range up to 756 miles on one tank!

Scion:

[SinglePic not found] [SinglePic not found] Scion came to Texas and debuted for the first time the 2012 Scion xD Series 4.0 and xB Series 9.0 along with pricing for both. These are both limited production Scions that will be arriving at dealer showrooms in October this year. The 2012 Scion xD Series 4.0 comes exclusively in a premium Blizzard Pearl color. It’s been upgraded with 16-inch alloys that are finished in a smoked platinum color. The pricing for this “exclusive” xD is $16,250 with a manual and $17,050 with an automatic.

Chevrolet:

[SinglePic not found] Chevy announced the first Silverado HD to wear a Texas Edition badge. What’s included? The all-new 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD Texas Edition is available in 2500HD or 3500HD in both extended and crew cab setups. You get 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels, trailering package and automatic-locking differential, dual-zone automatic climate control, six-way power driver seat, Bluetooth with steering-wheel controls, power camper mirrors with integrated turn signals, fog lamps, and chrome door handles and body molding accents. There was no word on the price premium for these Texas Edition HD Silverado’s, but if you live in Texas, it’s the one to get for sure.

Toyota:

[SinglePic not found] [SinglePic not found] The Tacoma is one of the best compact pickups in America and soon it might be one of the only. With all the hype over the Raptor and other manufacturers thinking about contending with the Raptor, Toyota decided to do it their own way. For 2012, Toyota converted a limited number of Tacoma pickups into a special TRD T|X Baja Series, inspired by Toyota’s Baja racing heritage. This TRD T|X Baja Series will be powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. You will see features like Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), a locking rear differential, Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and Downhill Assist Control (DAC). The Baja also adds BF Goodrich T/A KO tires and bead-lock style off-road wheels with an exclusive Gun-Metal Gray finish. The interior should also get a new look with a black high-contrast center console, switch plate covers, dash and upper door trim, and a new seat fabric design for the SR5 grade. This TRD T|X Baja Series Tacoma is still undergoing testing, but we can’t wait to get our hands on one!

Ram:

[SinglePic not found] Ram has been it’s own brand now for about a year and has been focused on making great trucks. New for 2012, the Ram 1500 Tradesman Heavy Duty model is said to deliver best-in-class towing and payload with a 3/4-ton capability. With it’s 11,500-pound maximum trailer rating and 3,100-pound payload this Ram 1500 Tradesman HD tows and hauls more than any other 1/2-ton truck.

Also from Ram, the new expanded Ram 1500 Express. You can now get your hands on a crew cab and quad cab 1500 Express. This lineup targets first-time buyers and delivers performance with its HEMI V-8 and Ram distinctive looks for a great price. The 1500 Express Quad Cab starts at $28,050 and the Crew Cab at $30,210 while the regular cab bases out at $23,080.

Ram also unveiled a new, longer RamBox. The RamBox is a new Ram trademark that utilizes the dead space in the rear fenders along the bed and makes them into useable toolboxes. The box now extends to accommodate 6-foot-4inch beds and is now available in all trim levels including Ram HD models.

[Gallery not found]
[source: photos and info by manufacture press release]

2011 Toyota Sienna Mini-Van

The mini-van is a vital part of American culture, and although we Texans love our SUVs, we also realize that the mini-van is just as roomy, if not more, and more fuel efficient. The Sienna was the only van we took the time to hop in at the Auto Roundup, although we really wanted to drive the new Grand Caravan R/T.

The impressive part about the Sienna wasn’t really the way it drove, although it was good. It wasn’t really the room offered by the mini-van, although it was good as well. The real impressive part was the comfort and luxury offered by the Sienna. The middle two seats reminded me of seats in a private jet. They had a full leg rest and tilted back for maximum comfort. The rear entertainment system had a huge and wide screen that could display a full widescreen or split the display into two separate screens.

It was all real cool, and I love technology stuffed into cars, but I can’t get over the looks of the Sienna. It’s just not a great looking van, in my opinion. Also, this model fully equipped pushed upwards of $40k and I’m not paying that for a mini-van.

Thanks to our friends at Non-Stock Photography for the photos.

Car was driven and reviewed by Adam Moore at the Texas Auto Roundup in conjunction with the Texas Auto Writers Association.

2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn

Not a big surprise here, but the TAWA has named their 2011 Truck and Truck Line of Texas. Brining in the top award is Ford, with the F-Series of trucks named the Truck Line of Texas. The TAWA pointed out the forever loved Raptor and the all new Eco-Boost V6 in the F-150 as reasons for the superb win by Ford.

The Truck of Texas, however, was awarded to the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn Edition. This is a bit of an upset to Ford as the F-150 is usually in this top spot as well. The new Ram Laramie Longhorn Edition wins on longest name-plate for sure, but it also packs great “Texan” looks and tons of power.

The Full-Size Pickup of Texas is the 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4×4. The Mid-Size Truck of Texas is the great, and one of the only lasting, 2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4×2 Texas Edition. The Luxury Pickup of Texas is the 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Edition, also robbed from the F-150 King Ranch. Lastly, they named the 2011 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4×4 as the Heavy Duty Truck of Texas. The Outstanding Truck Feature of Texas was named to Ford for the MyFord Touch.

Check out more TAWA awards right here on txGarage.

2011 Ford F-150

2011 Toyota Highlander

Last year, we brought you coverage of the first time reveal of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner at the State Fair of Texas. Then we brought you the review to show you how the new 4Runner handled the Texas off roads, with a bonus video. This year Toyota will be doing it again, only this time with the all new 2011 Toyota Highlander. This year, unfortunately, due to scheduling restraints we won’t be making it to the live reveal of the Toyota Highlander. We will bring you as much information and pictures as we can get though, and be looking for that “txGarage” style review later this year!

So what do we expect to see this year? Well the 2011 Highlander will also debut beside a Highlander Hybrid. You will see a restyled body, to fit more in line with the Toyota portfolio we see today, and distinct differences between the Hybrid and gas models. Also look for new features added to the interior of both models.

Toyota will also be showing off the all new Texas Edition Tundra and the all new TX Edition Tacoma at the State Fair of Texas. If you’re in the area, head out to the State Fair and check out the Toyota display and the rest of the great cars at the auto show!

2011 Scion tC

At txGarage, we get offered to attend car events and cover new car reveals all the time. We love the opportunity to go out when we have the free time. Unfortunately, because of time restraints and other issues, we don’t always get to attend these events. When it came to the Scion reveal though, I thought it was really worth making the time to check out a brand that devotes itself to younger enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Scion has been in the US since 2002, introduced as a sub-brand to Toyota aimed at younger buyers. Lots of companies try to target the youth with marketing schemes and clever advertising, and most of the time they fail. Younger Americans know a thing or two about marketing and advertising as they have been pursued since they were in dipers watching Big Bird. The younger generation knows when someone is being real and when it’s an older person pushing marketing onto them. Scion, though, has managed to really stick to their unconventional ways and keeping up with the young enthusiast drivers. In fact, Scion is the “youngest” brand in the industry selling most of it’s vehicles to 18-24 year old men. With over 800,000 vehicles sold in its 7 years in the U.S., Scion is making it’s mark.
The new tC then couldn’t just be an updated body or a lousy attempt at marketing with no real delivery. Scion knows that the tC really has to be a hit and really has to reach out to it’s audience. They have done just that. Focused on making the exterior more masculine, as men make up the largest number of buyers, the new tC has bolder lines. The front has a wider open mouth and a more sharp and pointed nose. The B-pillers are made to blend in with the windows to give you a more cockpit like feel. The C-piller is beefier and more masculine with flared arches over the rear wheel and a swooping hatchback. Don’t forget about that all glass roof, a signature of the tC. All of this is made to be more appealing to the young enthusiast, and putting it beside a Kia Forte or Honda Civic, the car really stands out.

2011 Scion tC

Inside the car, the emphasis is on the stereo. My favorite thing about this car can be found on the inside, but we’ll get to that in a bit. The base stereo, oddly enough, is not only the most powerful offered in the tC, but is one great sounding system! The base stereo includes a 300 watt Pioneer head unit out of a Lexus, but tuned specifically for the cabin of the tC. With 8 speakers, iPod connectivity, and a built in amplifier this car really knows how to rock. The next two steps up, or back depending on how you look at it, are 200 watt systems with navigation and more infotainment features. My suggestion, save your money and go with the base stereo then get yourself an aftermarket GPS. You’ll thank me later. Moving our eyes down from the stereo we see something we long to see in any sporty coupe. This 2011 Scion tC was equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission. Yes, you read that right, the new tC has both a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions. Scion predicts that more than 30% of customers will opt for the manual, which in these times of transmission madness warms my heart to hear. Back over to my favorite part of this car, the one thing you’ll have your hands on the most: the steering wheel. The tC’s new steering wheel is beefy and just about perfect in size. The bottom of the wheel is cut off to mimic those of racing gods like the Ferrari and Audi R8s. Gripping this wheel just begs you to find some twisties!

2011 Scion tC TRD

The car to get is one equipped with the 6-speed manual and then some TRD parts for good measure. We tore off in this great little coupe equipped with TRD big breaks behind great looking 19” wheels. Sway-bars stiffen it up in the bends, and the TRD exhaust makes for a good note. With 180 horsepower on tap from the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine, we just had to find some twisty hill country roads to throw it down. The front wheel drive handled the road well and could even take a little more power. The guys at Scion told us that the TRD car wasn’t equipped with the TRD springs and shocks and once those are sorted out, the sporty ride will get that much better. They also hinted at a supercharger that might be in the works.

2011 Scion tC

All-in-all, I think Scion hit its mark. The new tC looks better, drives better, and is still offered at a great price. The base car with a manual transmission starts off at $18,275 and the base car with the automatic transmission is $19,275. It has more competition today than it did when it was first introduced with cars to cross shop like the Honda Civic or the Kia Forte Coupe. The one car I’d really worry about though is the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0t. For a few thousand dollars more (base 2.0t starts at $22,000) you can get a sporty, great looking, coupe with rear wheel drive and almost endless possibilities. It’s going to be great to see how these all compare and what what Scion has in store for us in the future.
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Toyota Tundra Day

Rick Perry, in the midst of a heated election, declared August 6th to be “Tacoma Day” in recognition of Toyota’s commitment to Texas. The Toyota Tacoma’s coming of the assembly line in San Antonio are the first ever Texas built Tacomas.

The Tundra is already being built in the Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Texas (TMMTX) plant, and by adding the production of the Tacoma the TMMTX plant, it will be able to push out upwards of 200,000 trucks a year. Toyota’s bringing the Tacoma production to Texas has brought with it 1,000 additional jobs to the plant in San Antonio and $100 million invested into the San Antonio community.

This is good for Toyota, Texas, and the reputation of our Governor by creating a positive impact on the economy statewide. Perry continues to bring companies and products from other states into Texas, keeping our economy one of the strongest in the country.

Toyota’s impact on Texas includes:

· 5,500 jobs at TMMTX
· 11,700 jobs in Texas
· $1.3 billion on San Antonio plant
· $1.2 million direct investments in Texas for 2009

The Toyota Trucks Texas Facebook page will be joining the celebration by posting Toyota Tacoma trivia, technical specs, and exclusive event information, as well as photos and video from launch ceremonies leading up to and on August 6th. Don’t miss a single update; visit facebook and twitter today.

[source: Toyota]

2010 Toyota Venza

Sometimes you just don’t have a good day. Something happens in the morning that puts you behind schedule, or someone makes a comment that bugs you all day. Sometimes your bad day can turn into a bad week and sometimes your bad week can turn into a bad month. You never really know what the future brings. All you do know is that you want all these bad things to just stop so your life can start over again. This is how Toyota must be feeling. Toyota is just not having a good year so far. As far as I can tell here, they have had to issue at least 4 recalls in the past few months and have had to terminate selling certain vehicles all together. When they are in the news, it’s most certainly bad news and now when you think of the brand you no longer think superior quality. We are keeping all of this out of consideration while testing our new Toyota vehicles in the garage this month. To us, Toyota is still synonymous with “beige excellence” and this 2010 Toyota Venza is no different.

The Toyota Venza is a crossover SUV, or maybe its more of a station wagon, or maybe its like a mini-vanish soccer mom thing – I’m not really sure and I don’t think the Venza knows what it wants to be either. What I do know, however, is that this is a comfortable long distance cruiser that eats up the highway miles. Our Venza was equipped with the 3.5 liter V6 with a 6 speed automatic transmission and all wheel drive. Horsepower comes in at 268 and 246 lb-ft of torque, and with a curb weight of just over 4,000 lbs the Venza actually felt quick when you wanted it to be. This doesn’t mean that it was good around the corners. Fling it into a corner with any speed, and despite the AWD system, you get understeer and loads of tire squeal. Who really wants to drive this thing “enthusiastically” anyway? Leave the auto transmission out of manual mode, lean back in your comfortable leather seats, set your climate to your desired setting, and cruise.

Little things that the Venza did right and unique included the integrated cord hider and phone/iPod holder built into the center console. The interior was efficiently laid out with accents of nice materials worked into it. It also came with all the convenience and comforts you’d want, including a backup camera, memory seating, storage for everything, push button start, easy folding rear seats, and a mirror with compass and homelink. The Venza also had ample leg room no matter where you sat, and was comfortable on any road surface you come across. On the other hand, some things did go wrong. Mainly with the power lift gate. It worked sporadically, so we spent most of our time putting it up and down manually. The button to open the life gate on the exterior handle was another issue, it’s not centered in the handle. When you reach down to push the button, all you feel is the light that illuminates your license plate. Just to the right of that is the button you’re actually trying to find, and you have to almost break your back to get low enough to see it, and that’s just confusing.

Our test Venza also had the optional panoramic glass roof with front power tilt and slide moon-roof. Also included was the voice activated DVD touchscreen infotainment system. These are always great if you don’t mind ponying up the extra $3,600. That’s just the start of it, though. The premium package with the leather covered everything – what wasn’t covered in leather was done up in satin mahogany wood-grain trim – comes in at a whopping $4,345. In total, our test car weighed in at $38,984 and although it was luxurious, comfortable, and great on the road, I’m not sure I’d pay that kind of money for a car-wagon-thingy with an identity crisis.

2010 Toyota Prius

This week on txGarage we are testing the all new 2010 Toyota Prius. In all honesty, I’ll have to say none of us were too thrilled about driving the Prius for the week, Hybrid cars just are not our style. Let’s start out with our preconceived notions about the Prius itself. Although I have never driven the 1st gen or 2nd gen Prius, I’ve always heard the same; they are slow, they are heavy and handle horribly, and they cost too much to make up the benefit of the gas savings. Not to mention that it’s not much of a looker. So, why buy a Prius then? Easy, either you are a rich person needing an image car or you are an eco-freak that image means more than actual impact on the environment. The thing is though, that the Prius is now in it’s 3rd generation and has sold 1.6 million units world wide. Most of the critics and industry gurus predicted that the Prius would be a flop, boy were they wrong. So there must be a bigger appeal to this car than just the eco population out there, we’re here to figure out what that might be.

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The 3rd gen Prius is a complete rework of the old modle. The body has been reworked making it even more aerodynamic and having only a 0.25 coefficient of drag. You can be doing 50 to 80 mph and never feel wind resistance, it gives the impression that you are going slower than it feels. The looks are a little better with the 3rd gen too, although I still wouldn’t call it a pretty car. The shape does serve it’s purpose though. The next major thing changed with this Prius is the power-train itself. Obviously the Prius is still a hybrid car with gas and electric motors powering the wheels, but now that gas engine is a 1.8 liter not the old 1.5 liter. This give the engine 24 more horsepower over the previous generation as well as more lowdown torque. This low torque allows the car to feel more peppy and still retain high fuel economy. As a matter of fact the Prius is rated as the most fuel efficient cas sold in america. So it does that right. Next the interior has been reworked and made a little more high quality than its predecessor. You also have slew of available and standard features including touch screen navigation and infotainment system, 4 driving modes (we’ll get into later), hands free command inputs, lane keep assist (LKA), adaptive cruse control, solar pannel roof, and a energy monitoring system. All this technology packed into this car really gives it the edge up on the competition. The interior as a whole isn’t that bad, it’s comfortable and the touch points have been done right but it’s still cheaply made. This is very apparent in high winds or hard terrain. The plastics all sway and move making those annoying creeks and rattles that you just are not used to when spending over 30k on a car.

I want to say that the dive in this car was really impressive. Not because it was great, but because it wasn’t horrible. The package we got with this 2010 Prius included the 17″ wheels, this is important because I was told by a friend that when you get a Prius with 17″ wheels you also get some special equipment like quicker steering rack, firmer dampers and less efficiency oriented tires that you don’t get in the standard Prius. I’m told it makes a world of difference, so don’t bother buying one without this package. Whatever they have done here, though, has done the trick as it feels very poised and precise in the corners – you still don’t really get the power to pull you out of the corners but at least it’s not heavy and wobbly. You get 4 different driving options with this new Prius including EV mode, Eco mode, Power mode, and normal mode. Obviously the EV mode is an all electric mode that allows you to cruze up to 25 mph on battery power only. The Eco mode is all about fuel economy. If you enjoy living I wouldn’t use this mode much. What it does is take away throttle input and does everything possible to not allow you to use too much power. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s dangerous, with a deadened response you don’t have the power to get out of other peoples way. Ether that or someone is bound to shoot you for taking 15 minutes to go from a stop at a red light up to the speed limit. Power mode is the mode to keep the car in, although it almost negates the reasoning for buying the Prius in the first place. The car, with the upgraded steering and suspension, feels like a peppy Japanese or European hatch. Normal mode falls in between the power and Eco modes and is the mode you are in automatically when you start the car. Throughout the week driving both highway and city streets using the A/C – we are in Texas – we averaged 51 mpg, and that’s with the car almost never being in Eco mode.

All in all, I can’t say that this is a bad car. It debunked pretty much all of our preconceived notions we had about the Prius when this week began. There are some things we really liked about this car including the keyless entry system which has touch points on the door handle that locks and unlocks the doors, we liked all the gadgetry packed inside the car – although there was no USB hookup which seemed strange to us, and we liked the way the car drove and handled overall. So the question lingers, as with every review, would we spend our money on this car? No. This optioned out Prius, that wasn’t even top spec, weighed in at $32k. I understand that the technology is still new and limited and I understand that the technology in the car is good, but I can’t justify spending that kind of money on this car. If it was my money, I’d be getting something more along the lines of a Fiesta, Mazda 2, or a Golf that will get you an average in the 30′s and cost you almost half as much. This way you get a better looking, better driving, cheaper car that still gets good gas mileage. If you are still looking for that “image car” though, at least you know that driving this hybrid won’t drive you absolutely crazy.

2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

The Texas Auto Writers Association gathered together last weekend for their annual truck event known as the Texas Truck Rodeo. This year it was held in San Antonio where the trucks and SUV’s would be put through the test at the Knibbe Ranch.
Every year, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) names the Truck of Texas after this event and for the past six years that truck has been the Ford F-150. This year was no different with the new Ford F-150 taking the big prize yet again. For 2010, the F-150 didn’t just get a new look, it got an all around new package. The interior is a nice place to be whether you are roaring down a highway or driving through an open field. The powertrain has been tweaked giving the new F-150 a boost in fuel economy by as much as 12% over the prior year model. The title for Truck of the Year seems to be well deserved for Ford’s hard work on the F-150 year after year.

Ford also earned the number one spot for Luxury Truck of the year with the 2010 Ford F-150 King Ranch. With its upscale and quiet cabin with plush leather seats, it isn’t hard to see why. This truck combines everything you would want in an upscale luxury car – including heated and cooled seats, navigation, cruise control, leather wrapped everything, and wood grain trim – with everything you would want out of a truck – including 310 horsepower, 4×4 capabilities, 8,200 pounds of towing capacity, and easy maneuverability. So if you are looking for a great truck around the 46k plus range, the King Ranch is for you.

Ford also took home awards for the 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost (Full-Size Crossover Utility Vehicle of the Year), the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Supercab (Full-Size Pickup Truck of the Year), the 2010 Ford Expedition King Ranch (Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle), and the 2010 Lincoln MKX (Mid-Size Crossover Utility). They also claimed the Truck Line of Texas award and claimed the award for Outstanding Feature with its Ford Work Solutions.

So was there anything left to give out after Ford grabbed up its eight awards? Well yes, GM racked up two awards with one vehicle. The 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8 Liter Turbo beat out the competition for Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle of the year and took an overall victory with Crossover Utility Vehicle of the year. The 2010 SRX 2.8L Turbo is a great 2.8L V6 turbocharged to 300 horsepower with a 6-speed transmission. The powertrain hooks up to an All-Wheel Drive system and 4-channel electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation. It also has luxuries like front and rear ultrasonic parking assist, power liftgate with memory height, adaptive remote start, 10 speaker Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound system, navigation, rearview camera, and a laundry list of more. This CUV with its Cadillac sleek looks and premium luxury most definitely deserved these awards.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC also brought home two awards winning the Sports Utility Vehicle of Texas and Full-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year. This premium 7 passenger SUV is all Mercedes, the pinnacle of luxury. Coming in at a price just under $60,000 the only complaint I’ve heard about this luxury SUV is that its Navigation system and radio don’t split screen. The BlueTEC has a 3.0 liter V6 producing 210 horsepower with a 7-speed automatic transmission affording you 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

Lexus won out for the Mid-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle with its 2010 Lexus R450h. The “h” of course is for the hybrid drivetrain that now produces 295 hp (27% better than last year). Everything has been re-looked at on the RX, including the sheetmetal used. The sheetmetal used on the 2010 RX is slipperier than before with a 0.32 coefficient of drag. They also updated the interior including an “iDrive” like information center called “Remote Touch”. This is something Lexus has needed to really compete in the luxury market.

The 2010 Subaru Outback claimed the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle title. The Outback has grown over the years but always remains true to its nature, a 4×4 off-road machine. Probably the first to be able to claim the rights of being a Crossover Utility Vehicle the Outback has always been a great ride. The 2010 is larger, more fuel efficient, and higher up than its predecessors. You have the choice between a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder boxer engine with a 6 speed manual transmission pushing 170 hp or a 3.6 liter 6 cylinder boxer engine with a 5 speed automatic transmission pushing 256 hp. Both come with Subaru’s great all-wheel drive system as standard.

Now we have Chrysler getting into the mix with an award for the 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited 4×4. The Jeep won in the Compact Sport Utility Vehicle class. Although no one knows the future of the Jeep brand or what the Patriot might look like with some Fiat infusion, we can say that the 2010 is worth a look. The 2.4 liter inline 4 makes 172 hp and gets 23mpg city and 28 mpg highway; not bad at all. We also get to see the two trucks picking up awards for Chrysler. The 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 took home the Mid-Size Pickup Truck award and the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 took the Heavy Duty Pickup Truck award.

Last but not least, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition picked up an award for Mid-Size Sports Utility Vehicle of the Year. We first saw the 2010 4Runner at the debut at the State Fair of Texas media day. I knew from that day this was going to be a great new SUV, especially for the younger audience. Features like “party mode” allowing the 4Runner’s sound system to be concentrated toward the rear of the vehicle for tailgating parties is just one of the many details Toyota has looked at while making the new 4Runner. The reason the Trail Edition made it to the top of the list for Texas is for the cleaver off-roading capabilities of the 4Runner.

For more information on the Texas Truck Rodeo check out the TAWA site:

Toyota FT-86 Concept

Today, in anticipation of the Tokyo Auto Show next month, Toyota has released the first images of the new FT-86 concept. This would be the Toyota/Subaru machine meant to bring a rear wheel drive setup back to Toyota and using a boxer-four power plant from Subaru in both cars, at around $20K sticker price. This has been a hot issue for a long time and has been rumored to have been killed, then back on, then killed again, but with the new pictures being released from Toyota we have no doubt that we’ll be seeing this tie-up on the streets soon.
The styling of this concept is said to be inspired by the Corolla-based AE86 sports coupe of the 80’s but it really looks like a modern and sleek sports car, almost resembling the lines of the Lexus IS-F. It defiantly looks aggressive and fast, if they pull this off with a low starting price they will finally be giving Mazda and Hyundai a run for their money.