#Wrangler Towing Stability

[noohyah]

2019 Wrangler Towing Capacity: Know the Limits!

If you are looking for a rugged and versatile vehicle that can handle any terrain, you might be interested in the 2019 Wrangler.  But before you hit the road with your trailer or boat, you need to know the limits of your Wrangler’s towing capacity.  In this article, we will explain what factors affect the 2019 Wrangler towing capacity, how to calculate it, and what accessories you can use to…

[explorer-motorhomes]

Exploring the World with a 4x4 Motor: Adventure Vehicle

When it comes to exploring the unbeaten paths, nothing beats the rugged allure of a 4x4 motor vehicle. These machines, often synonymous with off-road adventure and rugged terrain, offer more than just a mode of transport—they embody a lifestyle of freedom, exploration, and unbridled excitement. 

In this blog, let’s delve into the world of 4x4 motorhome, exploring what makes them indispensable for adventurers and off-road enthusiasts alike.

What is a 4x4 Motor?

A 4x4 motor vehicle, also known as a four-wheel drive (4WD), is designed to distribute power to all four wheels simultaneously. This configuration provides enhanced traction, stability, and control, making it ideal for navigating challenging terrains such as mud, sand, rocks, and snow. 

Unlike standard vehicles that typically power only two wheels, a 4x4 motor vehicle ensures that power is not lost even if one or more wheels lose grip, thus maintaining momentum and control.

Why Choose a 4x4 Motor?

Off-Road Capabilities: The most compelling reason to opt for a 4x4 motor is its unparalleled off-road capabilities. Whether you’re tackling steep hills, wading through deep water, or driving across sandy deserts, a 4x4 motor vehicle is built to handle it all. 

The combination of high ground clearance, robust suspension systems, and traction-enhancing features like locking differentials allows these vehicles to conquer almost any obstacle nature throws at them.

Enhanced Safety: Driving in adverse weather conditions can be daunting, but a 4x4 motor vehicle provides an added layer of safety. The improved traction and stability reduce the risk of skidding and losing control, making it safer to drive in snow, rain, or on slippery surfaces. This is particularly beneficial for those living in regions with unpredictable weather or rough terrain.

Towing and Hauling: For those who need to tow trailers, boats, or heavy loads, a 4x4 motor vehicle is an excellent choice. The additional power and stability provided by four-wheel drive make towing and hauling more efficient and secure. 

Whether you’re moving heavy equipment for work or hauling a trailer for a weekend getaway, a 4x4 motor can handle the task with ease.

Versatility: A 4x4 motor is not just for off-road adventures; it’s also versatile enough for everyday use. Modern 4x4 motorhome vehicles offer comfort, advanced technology, and fuel efficiency comparable to standard cars, making them suitable for daily commuting as well as weekend escapades. 

Many models allow you to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, giving you the flexibility to optimise fuel consumption when you’re not tackling tough terrain.

The Best 4x4 Motors for Adventure

Jeep Wrangler: The Jeep Wrangler is an iconic off-road vehicle known for its ruggedness and versatility. With features like solid axles, high ground clearance, and a range of off-road driving modes, the Wrangler is designed for serious adventurers. 

Whether you’re traversing rocky landscapes or cruising through a jungle trail, the Wrangler can take you there.

Land Rover Defender: The Land Rover Defender is synonymous with luxury and capability. Its sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, coupled with advanced off-road technologies like Terrain Response, makes it a top choice for explorers who want both comfort and performance. 

The Defender’s timeless design and robust construction ensure it can handle the most demanding environments.

Toyota Land Cruiser: The Toyota Land Cruiser is renowned for its durability and reliability. This vehicle is a favourite among off-road enthusiasts for its ability to withstand extreme conditions while providing a smooth and comfortable ride. 

Its powerful engine and advanced suspension system make it perfect for long-distance expeditions and challenging terrains.

Ford Bronco: The Ford Bronco has made a triumphant return as a modern off-road beast. With its innovative GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain) modes, high ground clearance, and powerful turbocharged engines, the Bronco is built to conquer diverse landscapes. 

Its modular design allows for customisation, making it an excellent choice for those who want to personalise their adventure vehicle.

Tips for Choosing the Right 4x4 Motor

When selecting a 4x4 motor, consider the following:

Purpose: Identify what you’ll primarily use the vehicle for—off-road adventures, daily commuting, or a mix of both.

Terrain: Consider the type of terrain you’ll be navigating most often. Some 4x4s are better suited for specific environments.

Budget: Determine your budget, including potential costs for maintenance and upgrades.

Features: Look for features that match your needs, such as advanced traction control, ample cargo space, and towing capacity.

Final Words

A 4x4 motor vehicle is more than just a means of transport; it’s a gateway to exploring the world beyond the beaten path. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a weekend warrior, the versatility, safety, and capability of a 4x4 motor make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to embrace the thrill of off-road exploration. So, gear up, choose your 4x4 motorhome, and set out on your next great adventure!

Source:https://explorer-motorhomes.blogspot.com/2024/06/exploring-world-with-4x4-motor.html

[orangecountyjeepdealers]

Exploring the Best Jeep Models for Different Adventures

Jeep has long been related to adventure, rugged capability, and off-road prowess. With a diverse lineup of models serving various needs and preferences, choosing the right Jeep for your next adventure can be an exciting journey in itself. From the iconic Wranglers to the versatile Cherokees, let's explore the best Jeep models suited for different types of adventures.

Jeep Wrangler: The Off-Road Icon

Discussing Jeep adventure vehicles would only be complete with mentioning the Wrangler. Known for its legendary off-road capabilities, the Jeep Wrangler is the go-to choice for enthusiasts seeking rugged exploration and outdoor thrills. A strong body-on-frame design, sturdy axles, and various four-wheel-drive systems enable the Wrangler to tackle even the most difficult terrain, including muddy tracks, sandy dunes, and rocky routes.

Whether tackling steep inclines, crossing streams, or navigating tight obstacles, the Wrangler's impressive ground clearance, articulation, and approach/departure angles ensure you can confidently tackle any challenge. Its removable doors and roof options allow you to experience the great outdoors like never before, making it the ultimate adventure companion for off-road enthusiasts. So, if you are searching online for a Jeep Wrangler used for sale near me, then Wranglers are for you.

Jeep Grand Cherokee: The All-Purpose Adventurer

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is an ideal choice for those seeking a blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability. Combining rugged performance with premium amenities, the Grand Cherokee offers versatility for various adventures, whether daily traveling, weekend getaways, or light off-roading.

With available four-wheel-drive systems, adjustable air suspension, and advanced grip management systems, the Grand Cherokee delivers impressive grip and stability on various surfaces, from snow-covered roads to unpaved trails. Its spacious interior, advanced technology features, and towing capabilities make it well-suited for family outings and outdoor adventures.

Jeep Cherokee: The Compact Trailblazer

Compact yet capable, the Jeep Cherokee is a versatile SUV that excels both on and off the beaten path. With its modern design, fuel-efficient engines, and available four-wheel-drive systems, the Cherokee offers a perfect balance of performance, comfort, and capability for urban adventures and weekend escapes.

Whether navigating city streets, tackling light trails, or embarking on camping trips, the Cherokee's flexible handling and compact dimensions make it easy to move in tight spaces while offering ample cargo space and passenger comfort. Plus, its list of available safety and convenience features, such as adaptive cruise control and parking assist, ensure a confident and enjoyable driving experience wherever your adventures take you.

Jeep Renegade: The Urban Explorer

Compact, agile, and full of personality, the Jeep Renegade is designed for urban adventurers who crave style and versatility. With its distinctive design signals, customizable exterior options, and available four-wheel-drive systems, the Renegade stands out from the crowd while delivering capable performance both on and off-road.

Whether you're navigating city streets, exploring hidden alleys, or venturing off the beaten path, the Renegade's compact size and responsive handling make it well-suited for urban adventures. Its available Selec-Terrain traction management system allows you to tailor performance to various road conditions, while its spacious interior and innovative storage solutions ensure comfort and convenience on every journey.

Some Common Accessories and Modifications that Jeep Enthusiasts Recommend for Enhancing the Performance and Versatility of their Vehicles for Different Types of Adventures

Lift Kits: Lift kits are popular among Jeep owners looking to increase ground clearance and accommodate larger tires for improved off-road capability. They come in various sizes, from mild lifts for a subtle change to extreme lifts for maximum clearance.

Off-Road Tires: Upgrading to off-road tires with aggressive tread patterns provides better traction on challenging terrain such as mud, rocks, and sand. High-quality tires with reinforced sidewalls offer increased durability and puncture resistance.

Winches: A winch is a valuable recovery tool for getting out of sticky situations on the trail. Mounted to the front bumper, winches can help pull your Jeep or other vehicles out of mud, snow, or obstacles.

Skid Plates: Skid plates protect vital components such as the engine, transmission, and fuel tank from damage when traversing rocky terrain. They are available in various materials, including steel and aluminum, and can be customized to fit specific Jeep models.

Contact Us Today

For more information about different adventurous jeeps or cars for sale near me visit our website https://www.jstarcdjrofanaheimhills.com/. We will happily answer your questions and help you buy a new or used jeep.

[jeepcarupdates]

Exploring Off-Road Trails with Your Jeep Compass

The Jeep Compass, with its distinctive blend of rugged capability and urban versatility, is not just a compact SUV; it's a ticket to adventure. While the Compass may not have the same reputation for off-roading as its larger siblings like the Wrangler, it's more capable than you might think. Visit PPS Jeep Near Me to explore all the details related to Jeep Compass.

In this article, we'll explore the exciting world of off-road exploration with your Jeep Compass.

Know Your Jeep Compass

Before you embark on any off-road adventure, it's crucial to understand your vehicle. The Jeep Compass comes with two available all-wheel drive (AWD) systems: Jeep Active Drive and Jeep Active Drive Low.

Both systems provide you with the traction and stability required for off-roading, but Jeep Active Drive Low offers a 20:1 crawl ratio for enhanced capability in extreme conditions.PPS Jeep Dealer Near Me gives you a detailed idea of Jeep Compass and its features.

Additionally, your Compass comes with the Jeep Compass Trailhawk trim. This is specifically designed for off-road adventures. It features increased ground clearance, skid plates, tow hooks, and specialized off-road tires, making it the ultimate choice for those seeking rugged terrain.

Tire Selection

Your tires are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the trail. Off-road tires with aggressive tread patterns providesuperior grip on rough terrain. If you own a Compass Trailhawk, you're already equipped with all-terrain tires designed for off-road use.

Basic Off-Roading Techniques

Approach and Departure Angles: When you're tackling steep inclines or declines, understanding your vehicle's approach and departure angles is crucial. The Compass Trailhawk's unique front and rear fascias offer better clearance for navigating such obstacles.

4x4 System: Depending on the terrain, you might need to engage the 4x4 system forJeep compass off-road build. The Jeep Compass allows you to switch between modes, like Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock, to optimize traction based on the conditions.

Traction Control: Keep an eye on your vehicle's traction control system. Sometimes, it's beneficial to disengage it to allow your wheels to spin more freely, especially when you're stuck in deep mud or snow.

Low Range: If you have the Compass with Jeep Active Drive Low, engage the low range when you encounter extremely challenging terrain. This feature provides enhanced torque and control at low speeds.

Steer Smoothly: When navigating through rocky or uneven terrain, it's essential to steer smoothly to maintain control and prevent damage to your tires and suspension.

Safety First

Off-roading can be exhilarating, but safety should always be your top priority. The expert staff can help you run through the safety features in detail, as you visit PPS Jeep Showroom Near Me. Here are some safety tips for your off-road adventure:

Travel with a Buddy: It's safer to explore off-road trails with a friend or a group of fellow enthusiasts.

Communicate: Ensure you have a reliable means of communication, such as a satellite phone or a two-way radio, as cell phone reception can be unreliable in remote areas.

Pack Essentials: Carry essential supplies like water, food, a first-aid kit, recovery gear (such as tow straps and a winch), and navigation tools.

Know Your Limits: Don't push your Compass beyond its capabilities or your own. If you're unsure about a particular trail or obstacle, it's okay to turn back.

Respect the Environment: Stay on designated trails, avoid damaging vegetation, and dispose of waste properly. Leave no trace of your adventure.

Can you offroad with a Jeep Compass?

For lovers of off-roading, the Jeep Compass Model S 4X4 Diesel AT stands out as the ideal model.Jeep Compass ground clearanceis 178mm which is the best in its segment. Its 4WD drive type, strong engine, high ground clearance, and ample bootcapacity make it ideal for off-road conditions.

Is Jeep Compass good for long trips?

The Compass is, nonetheless, a really capable SUV all around. It feels strong and comfortable, is capable of travelling great distances, and can travel off-road. The higher Compass models are now fairly pricey, which is the one kink in the works. Before you plan for a long trip, get your vehicle ready with PPS Jeep Schedule Service Near Me for auninterrupted journey.

Is the Jeep Compass all terrain?

A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and 4x4 drivetrains are standard on all Compass models. The Trailhawk, equipped with all-terrain tyres, can perform reasonably well on desert dirt, while the crossover seems like it would be at home in ordinary suburbia driving.

Is Jeep Compass a good 4X4?

Yes, the Jeep Compass is designed for light off-roading, making it the ideal vehicle for short hikes and camping excursions. Even if it's not everyone's first choice for a serious off-road vehicle, the Jeep Compass has the capability and features to handle any conceivable challenges for novice off-roaders.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Jeep Compass, especially in its Trailhawk trim, is a capable off-road vehicle that can take you to places beyond the beaten path. Just remember to prepare adequately, understand your vehicle's capabilities, and prioritize safety. With the right mindset and some basic off-roading skills, you'll be ready to explore the great outdoors in your Jeep Compass. So, get out there and start your off-road adventure today! PPS Jeep Price Near Me can be the way you can find affordability-related details, by visiting the nearest PPS Jeep Showroom.

[fourwheelsweekly]

Lexus J201: The Off-Roader’s Fantasy

Lexus LX

At first glance, the Lexus LX570 impresses with its large proportions and showy looks. But what might not be immediately obvious to the passerby, is that hidden underneath all the luxury and glamour, is a highly capable off-road vehicle the likes of Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco and Mercedes G-Class.

2021 Lexus LX570

Lexus has been known for its off-road capable vehicles for decades now. The two key models include the LX and GX, both of which exist thanks to the Toyota Land Cruiser, which they are based on. With versatile performance on any terrain, the LX570 boasts excellent body stability on uneven surfaces, responsive steering, adaptive air suspension, crawl control, real-time four-wheel-drive with active traction control and 7000-lb towing capacity. It is a tough brick that likes to get its shoes dirty.

For those who desire to get more out of their LX, either new or old, there is a plethora of aftermarket parts and upgrades available that further enhance its off-road capabilities. Everything from lift kits, to body kits, light bars, snorkels, tires, wheels, brakes, suspension… and the list goes on. Upgrading your car with aftermarket performance parts is a great way to improve its functionality and to personalize it. With the vast amount of parts available for the LX570, there is everything one needs to make it their dream off-roader.

J201 Concept

The J201 Concept is an LX570 that has been fine-tuned with aftermarket performance parts. Its inspiration comes from the large community of Lexus SUV owners who love to venture off-road and explore the great outdoors. Lexus calls this group of people “Experimental Adventurers,” and has built the J201 Concept with them in mind. The name “J201” comes from the internal model code for the LX. J201 is the chassis code, which is well known among off-roading enthusiasts.

Exterior Upgrades

Front and rear off-road bumpers that add under-body reinforcement and improve ground clearance

Front bumper winch and light bar

Rear bumper lights

Trunk-mounted spare tire, ladder and water cans

Roof rack and roof light bar

Downsized wheels (from 20” to 17”) that make room for off-road tires with large sidewall and deep grooves

Drilled front and rear brake rotors with performance pads

Upgraded suspension control arms and spacers

Adjusted height sensors that allow for higher air suspension lift

Under-body protection in the form of rock sliders and skid plates.

J201 Closed Swing-Outs

Open Swing-Outs

J201 Drilled Brake Rotors

Engine/Drivetrain Upgrades

Supercharger that boosts power output to 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque (compared to the original 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque)

Performance differentials

Air snorkel

Air compressor for tire inflation

Interior Upgrades

Accessory interface for controlling lighting, differential, compressor, battery and angle meter

Aluminum storage cases

Drawers with dog bowls, tools and first aid kit

The J201 “Concept” isn’t a concept in the traditional sense, with one-off parts and a non production spec design. Rather, this is a standard LX570 with real world aftermarket parts from real brands, built to showcase the versatile capabilities of the LX platform. While the J201 Concept likely won’t make it to production, you can build one just like it using all the same parts. And if a new LX570 is pricey, older models of the LX, GX and Land Cruiser can be picked up for cheap. Even without all the fancy tech of a new LX570, they are nevertheless great platforms for driving off the beaten path and enjoying some outdoors.

The J201 is currently competing in the all-female Rebelle Rally, a week long event where participants are tasked with navigating across more than 1,200 miles of treacherous Nevada and California desert without a GPS or cell phone, moving from checkpoint to checkpoint using physical maps and a compass. With two expert drivers/navigators behind the wheel, I have no doubt the J201 will perform spectacularly.

The event can be watched live here: https://www.rebellerally.com/live/

[adrenalineguide]

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon:turning the pickup market on its ear

By Michael Hozjan

I can’t recall a time in recent memory when a new car or truck, created more of a buzz around the proverbial water cooler than the Jeep Gladiator. Not even the new mid-engine Corvette could best the Gladiator. “ What’s the engine, how long is that box, looks better in life, pictures don’t do it justice, what do you think, how’s the traction?” are just a small sampling of the slew of questions I got whenever I parked the Jeep during my week with the Rubicon. 

Regular readers know that the Wrangler is a vehicle that I hate to love, well all that has changed with the Gladiator. There’s no reason to hate it and lots of reasons to love it. Below is a picture of the Gladiator with a 1951 Willys pickup. In case you’re unaware, Willys manufactured of the original Jeep back in WWII.

When I surrendered the old Victorian duplex and confines of downtown Montreal for my own version of Green Acres, I came across the Willys pickup in a gas station north of Montreal. “The perfect vehicle for the farm, I could go out in the winter and clean up the old trees until I get a tractor, and hook up a blade in the front to clear the driveway.” was my selling point to the girlfriend.

I recall my dad falling in love with the wagon version when I was young. Must be genetic. Problem was the Willys needed work, lots of work. The four cylinder Hurricane engine would have to be rebuilt, or replaced with a modern V8, and there was no heater (heaters were optional until the mid ‘80s in Jeeps). If I wanted originality, I’d have to replicate or find an original bed as someone had grafted (butchered) a L’il Red Wagon bed on the back. To make matters worse it was a tight fit for my six-foot frame with my knees hitting the steering wheel with every depression of the clutch and brake pedal.  I would need to extend the cab if I wanted to fit, particularly with heavy winter work clothes. The price tag started to add up. Nonetheless, when finished it would be the coolest pickup in the county. On the way down to make an offer on my “farm truck” I spotted it in a friend’s lot not twenty kilometers from home. As I was going through my library of explicatives, I could here my girlfriend’s voice, “It wasn’t meant to be.”

Enter the Gladiator, the coolest pickup since….well since Dodge unleashed their 1994 Ram. But the Ram didn’t have removable doors, tops and a folding windshield. The Gladiator is Jeep’s latest foray into the pickup field in over three decades and nearly fifty years since the last Gladiator pickup drove off the assembly line.

Sprayed liner in the bed is optional.

Unlike the first generation Gladiator, which shared its body style with the Wagoneer, today’s iteration shares the Wrangler’s cabin and powertrain, but the frame is unique to the Gladiator. Rather than just adding a few inches to the existing Wrangler frame, Jeep engineered a high-strength steel ladder frame that is 787 mm (31 inches) longer than the four-door Wrangler’s and put an extra 493mm (19.4 inches) between the wheels. The new platform isn’t only meant to be taken off road but also to carry up to 1,600 pounds in the 5-foot box and tow up to 7,650 lbs. (depending on trim). Overall length of the truck is 5,539 mm (218 inches, 31 inches longer than the Wrangler).

From there the various Wrangler components are added to the frame. So nothing new, same old proven 285 horsepower 3.6L V6 pumping out 260 lb-ft of torque, mated to either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic.

The immediate added benefit of the longer truck is a greatly improved ride over the Wrangler, and that in itself should steer most people who’ve wanted to the open air, go anywhere feeling but weren’t sold on the Wrangler’s ride, into the showrooms.

The goodies

Prices start at $47, 245 for the soft topped, 6-speed manual trannied Sport S trim, the middle of the road Overland starts out at $51,245 (watch for this one in a future installment) with the rock climbing king, and the trail burner of the bunch, the Rubicon, starting at $52, 495.  My firecracker red tester came with the 8-speed automatic, a $1,595 option. The rough and ready Rubicon gets Fox shocks on the four corners and utilizes Jeep’s the Rock–Trac 4x4 system with locking front and rear differentials with 4:1 gears.  You can also disconnect/connect the front stabilizer bar from the comfort of the cabin with a console-mounted switch. Other options found in the cabin were leather seats with the Rubicon logo stitched into the backrest, cold weather package which included remote start. Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of FCA’s infotainment systems an their ease of use, the upgraded audio system with navigation included the 8.4 inch screen, led lights, front camera for negotiating tight spots when off-roading, steel front bumper, 3-piece removable hard top, heavy-duty battery and alternator. In short everything one would need to venture off the beaten path with a load of building materials for the cabin deep in the woods and come back safe and sound.

Is it perfect?

The Gladiator has made four wheeling that much more enjoyable but I do wish that Jeep would give us a dead pedal.

The tires worked flawlessly during my excursions off road, including my farm chores, and they got me up an icy hill and down a left handed icy slope without so much as missing a mm of grip. However, at highway speeds down the 401 the 285/70R17 Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain w/Kevlar tires were bear and took a lot of getting used to to keep them heading true.

The locking front axle also produces a lot of crow footing.

Roll bar mounted speakers mounted behind your head are fab!

Would I buy one?

In a word, yes. The Gladiator is more about making a lifestyle statement than anything else. It’s turning your nose up at the establishment and telling everyone that you beat your own path. There’s a lot of pickups out there with 5-foot beds but this one is shallower than most, but it looks so cool and give the truck a military look from the back.

Yes it’s pricey as medium-sized pickups go like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand a buddy just picked up a Ram 1500 and paid about the same amount and he seldom uses the 6-foot box. So what price do you put on fun. Is this my new farm truck? Compared to the Willys, it has all the interior room I need no matter how many layers I have on for my winter chores, it’s also warmer with an excellent heater and my tester came with heated seats and steering wheel. The V6 has more power than I need and has the ability to light up the rear tires when in two-wheel-drive. I can also drop the windshield in under four minutes on those balmy summer days. Oh and yes I’d have the coolest pickup in the county.

I’m buying a few more lottery tickets lately but I’m also awaiting Jeep to come out with a two-door version with a longer bed.

One last parting shot before surrendering the beast

Price as tested: $69,040*

*Includes freight and a/c excise tax

[ramyautomotive]

FOR SALE: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 13 Manual More info: +971 55 503 0780 (@hamoodmazaji) Price: W/ ‏Trailer 150k AED or W/O 130k AED Mods: 1-Avenger Style ABS Hood 2-Shocks Fox 2.5 Adj. 3-Arms Iron Spyder Adj. 4-Trackbar Adj. 5-4-inch Lift Kit Rock Krawler 6-Artec Front Bumper 7-Artec Rear Bumper 8-Artec Fenders 9-Armor Steel Body 10-Rocker Guard 11-ENG. the GATEKEEPER ROTO Pax Mount w/ 2 ROTOPAX Storage Pack and Hi-Lift 12-KMC Wheels XD Beadlock 17"x9.5 13-Cooper STT pro 37 tire 14-1.75" Wheel Spacers 15-Pair System Light Pro6 Single Wide-40 16-Pro6 7-light Radius Uni. Combo LED Light Bar 17-LED backlight 18-JWS LED Headlight 19-JWS LED Taillight 20-Towing Hook Aluminum 21-Front Pump Stop Hidrolik 22-Fox ATS Steering Stabilizer Adj. 23-Front and rear inner fenders aluminium 24-Screen Radio 25-Sound system W/ 2 Amplifier 26-4 marine speakers 27-Sup buffer 28-Diablo Sport Trinity T-1000 29-Switch control panel with a digital voltmeter 30-2 blackout window aluminium repl. with 2 jerry cans 31-Magna Flow black Series back Gzsz 32-Ring and pinion 4,56 Alloy 33-AEV Diff cover 34-AOR front axle armour 35-Roof Rack 36-Power Side Steps 37-4 Racing Seats Adjustable 38-overhead console 39-CB antenna mount 40-hardtop Quick release kit Warrior 41-Receiver 42-extreme sport grab handle 43-HD Roll Cage W/ Rear Overhead Center Bar With Rear Bench Harness Bar 44-Power Tank 45-Lug Bullet Style 46-Doors Mirror Kit W/ Turn Signal 47-4 Half Doors Front/Rear 48-2 Elite Fire Extinguishers Holder 49-2 Fire Extinguishers 50-Hood Catches 51-Window Visors 52-Stage 2+ Clutch Kit 53-Sprintex SPS Supercharger 54-Air Intake System GT Momentum 55-Elite Fog Light Guard 56-Elite Headlight Guard 57-Rear Driveshaft 58-Front Driveshaft 59-2 Phones Holders Carbon Fiber 60-2 Screen Back Seats 61- Phone Holders W/ Cups holder Sliding and with Phones Charger for both side back seats 62-Warn Winch Zeon 8-S 63-Wireless Remote Control for Winch 64-Matte Aluminum Hawse Fairlead 65-Lighting Illuminated Wheel Ring 67-3 Chase Tail Light 5 Modes 68-4 sides-Up Light Kit 69-4 Atlas Door Steps 70-Defender Grill 71-LED Fog Lights 72-Door Handles... #RAMYautomotive #RAMYproject #jeepjk #superchargedbyRAMY (at RAMY Automotive) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8arRmZJt4D/?igshid=4j2br966j0wr

[orbemnews]

Auto tendencies of 2020: On-line shopping for, electrical vans and SUVs go off-road once more And sure main tendencies emerged, like a long-awaited embrace of electrical vans and a return to the extra-rugged SUV. One other massive development: looking for a automobile from the Covid-free security of your house. Here is a take a look at a few of the largest tendencies that formed the trade in 2020. Vehicles go electrical Over the course of this 12 months, one factor was clear: America’s obsession with pickup vans is way from over. However there was additionally one other attention-grabbing twist. New advances in battery expertise have made it doable to create electrical variations of those vans with out sacrificing energy and including an excessive amount of to the value, that means the as soon as gas-guzzling behemoths have turn into far more eco-friendly. Ford unveiled a new hybrid F-150, the primary full-hybrid pickup within the US market. It is a precursor to the upcoming totally electrical F-150. We did not simply see electrical variations of already-existing pickup vans, nevertheless. In January, Normal Motors was teasing Hummer followers with an advert through the Tremendous Bowl about its upcoming GMC Hummer EV, a hyper-aggressive electrical pickup truck. And then there have been a slew of different notable entrants to the electrical truck market: Lordstown Motors revealed its strictly-for-business electrical pickup that will probably be constructed at a former GM manufacturing facility in Ohio. Fisker, finest recognized for its deliberate Ocean electrical SUV, dropped hints late this 12 months that it is trying to make a pickup, too. Founder Henrik Fisker even tweeted a picture of a pickup mattress with identify Alaska written on it. Rivian, which had first unveiled its truck, the R1T, again in 2016, lastly revealed the truck’s pricing and particulars about its capabilities. All these vans will ultimately compete in opposition to Tesla’s radical-looking Cybertruck, which was revealed late in 2019. One motive electrical vans have gotten so common is that customers are beginning to belief the expertise, stated Kelley Blue Ebook affiliate editor Allyson Haywood. “If you’re speaking about an electrical truck, there are particular expectations {that a} truck purchaser has, whether or not it is payload capability, towing capability, off-road functionality or some mixture of these,” she stated. “If they’ve considerations that these battery packs usually are not going to outlive, you are not going to have that vary to do what you want that truck to do, they don’t seem to be going to be assured shopping for an electrical truck.” It additionally helps that loads of truck consumers are enterprise homeowners, she stated, who will take a look at the gasoline and upkeep value financial savings of an electrical truck. (Electrical automobiles value much less to keep up as a result of they’ve fewer shifting elements, do not require oil modifications and do not put on out their brakes as rapidly as gasoline or diesel automobiles. Electrical energy additionally tends to value lower than gasoline on a per-mile foundation.) SUVs return to being robust Crossover SUVs, typically simply giant hatchback automobiles with raised suspension, have been wildly common for years. Auto showrooms are overrun with them. However in 2020, the auto trade appeared to rediscover SUVs and vans that have been constructed extra for rocky trails than paved parking tons. Ford reintroduced its famed Bronco, responding to years of demand for the long-out-of-production traditional mannequin. A direct competitor to the Jeep Wrangler, the Bronco has a detachable prime and is meant for rugged off-road use. The Bronco Sport is a barely smaller SUV that is supposed for lighter — however nonetheless fairly critical — off-road use. Normal Motors’ first totally electrical truck, the GMC Hummer EV, can also be a part of this development. It is a 1,000-horsepower all-wheel-drive truck with four-wheel steering that may even drive diagonally if wanted. Not all the brand new SUVs are actually that robust, although. Many SUV consumers actually do not want critical off-road functionality — even when they do enterprise out to a campsite or a trailhead each occasionally. That is the place SUVs like the brand new Chevrolet Trailblazer are available. It is received barely rugged — extra cute, actually — seems to be and it is accessible in all-wheel-drive. Nonetheless, even Trailblazer Activ, probably the most succesful model, is meant extra for grime roads than no roads. That woodsy vibe can also be why Honda redesigned its Ridgeline pickup to look extra rugged, too. And Honda plans to offer the identical remedy for its Pilot and Passport SUVs as a part of an effort to let prospects know that, sure, Honda’s SUVs and vans can get soiled, too. This development comes, coincidentally, simply as coronavirus-rattled automobile consumers who’re itching to get outdoor and away from individuals, stated Haywood. Actually, she stated, it is principally a response to the near-ubiquity of crossovers that appear to be tall automobiles. “I do assume that when individuals purchase a automobile, they wish to have some sense of individuality,” she stated. Automobile procuring strikes on-line One factor that may be attributed to the pandemic was a surge in on-line automobile procuring. This was the 12 months that purchasing automobiles, identical to shopping for all the things else, went on-line in a giant means. Used automobile procuring web site Carvana bought 39% extra automobiles within the third quarter of 2020 than in 2019. Vroom, one other on-line used automobile vendor, bought 59% extra automobiles in that very same interval. These firms’ gross sales have been already rising earlier than, however “the pandemic has simply accelerated all of that, perhaps to the tune of a number of years,” stated Carvana CEO Ernest Garcia. Firstly of 2020, JD Energy started surveying new automobile consumers about their on-line experiences. Between January and April, when lockdowns have been in place in a lot of the USA, the variety of automobile consumers who chosen a automobile on-line elevated by 63%, whereas the proportion of consumers getting credit score approval on-line greater than doubled. On-line automobile procuring has removed from taken over the brand new automobile procuring enterprise, although. Even with these massive shifts on-line, paperwork-intensive elements of the method are, particularly, nonetheless being achieved principally in particular person. As an example, regardless of that massive enhance, solely 20% of latest automobile consumers received credit score approval on-line in April, in response to JD Energy’s knowledge. And solely 15% of automobile consumers received an appraised worth for his or her trade-in automobile on-line. Improved digital processes for these types of issues will assist, stated Christopher Sutton, JD Energy’s vp for automotive retail, as will extra advertising of on-line programs by sellers and automakers. “One factor that we did see that, I believe was very encouraging, is that the purchasers too went by means of the digital expertise did report a greater expertise on stability,” he stated. Supply hyperlink #Auto #Autotrendsof2020:Onlinebuying #buying #Electric #electrictrucksandSUVsgooff-roadagain-CNN #offroad #Online #success #SUVs #trends #trucks

[dipulb3]

2021 Ram 1500 TRX first drive review: Yep, we got it to fly

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-ram-1500-trx-first-drive-review-yep-we-got-it-to-fly/

2021 Ram 1500 TRX first drive review: Yep, we got it to fly

“Now, as you come around to the ramps, you’ll want to be doing about 55, 60 miles per hour,” my co-driver shouts over the roar of the engine while rocks and dirt blast the pickup’s undercarriage. “That’ll get you the best height and distance for the jumps and set you up to start braking for the next turn.”

Uh huh. Jumps. I’m behind the wheel of the 702-horsepower 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, one of the most extreme and overbuilt performance trucks Ram has ever produced. And as the wheels leave the ground and the cacophony is replaced with an eerie silence, I’m starting to understand just how insane this apex predator really is.

Heart of a Hellcat

Ram’s engineers followed a familiar formula: Take a popular Fiat-Chrysler product and dump the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 from the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats into the engine bay. Pat yourself on the back; you’ve earned a beer.

Of course, there’s so much more to it than that. In the Ram TRX, that engine breathes through a new dual-path induction system that mixes air drawn through its functional hood scoop and with intake from the grille at the underside of a massive 29-liter airbox. Ram tells me that this design helps to tumble the air inside the box, shaking out sand and water before it passes through twin 8×12-inch air filters. With a total of 198.4 square inches of filter surface area, Ram claims this is the “largest air filter in the segment.” The TRX also features a unique, high-flow exhaust with 5-inch resonators and exhaust tips.

The changes to the Hemi’s breathing mean the TRX makes just 702 horsepower (as opposed to the Hellcats’ 717-plus) with 650 pound-feet of torque, which it sends though an eight-speed automatic transmission to a four-wheel-drive system. That’s more than enough power to launch the 6,350-pound TRX from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and onward to 100 mph in 10.5 seconds. The truck will even run the quarter-mile in just 12.9 ticks. The TRX launches quickly and powerfully, immediately finding traction, even on a dirt runway.

This wide boi is 8 inches wider than a standard Ram 1500.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Suspension upgrades

In many ways, the suspension and chassis upgrades to the Ram 1500 TRX are even more impressive than the powertrain because they’re so much more extensive. The TRX’s frame is based on that of a Ram 1500 Crew Cab, but is modified with over 70% new parts to improve strength and rigidity, and to completely change the truck’s suspension geometry. The pickup’s flared body is 8 inches wider than a standard Ram 1500, accommodating a 6-inch increase in both the front and rear tracks.

The TRX sits 2 inches taller than the standard 1500, boosting its ground clearance to 11.8 inches and its water fording depth to 32 inches. The front wheels are moved forward by 0.6 inch, increasing the wheelbase slightly and freeing up room for beefier suspension components and 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires, mounted on 18×9-inch wheels (or optional beadlock-capable wheels of similar spec that allow ultra-low tire pressure for crawling).

The TRX’s suspension and chassis upgrades are perhaps more exciting than the 700-horsepower engine.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

You’ll find an independent suspension up front and a solid rear axle with coil springs and forged aluminum components all around. At all four corners, you’ll also find 2.5-inch Bilstein Black Hawk E2 adaptive dampers with remote reservoirs controlling the movement of the suspension. Up front, the TRX has 13 inches of wheel travel, with 14 inches of travel at the rear axle. (You can check our spec comparison to read — and watch — how the Ram 1500 TRX stacks up against the Ford F-150 Raptor.)

On the road

On paved roads, the TRX feels confident with, of course, great acceleration off the line and surprisingly smooth shifts from its eight-speed automatic transmission. The rumble of the V8 exhaust is ever present, but never annoying. The ride is still body-on-frame truck-like, but it’s no more floaty than the standard 1500, which already has pretty controlled ride.

The TRX features a total of eight drive modes, plus a valet setting. Highway miles are best spent toggling between the default and nicely balanced Auto setting and Sport, which sharpens the steering, suspension, transmission and stability control. Ultimately, I found it best to create a Custom setting that blends the two. There are also modes for Snow, Mud/Sand, Towing, Rocks and Baja.

From the 12-inch touch display, drivers can customize their TRX’s performance for a wide range of conditions.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

You interact with the drive modes using a combination of physical controls and the standard 12-inch Uconnect 4C infotainment system. Ram says that this is the first implementation of its Performance Pages software with the big 12-incher, which also features menus for monitoring off-road metrics like wheel articulation, steering angle and axle locker status. 

Of course, the infotainment software still boasts all of the tech features that I like in the standard 1500, including SiriusXM 360L integration, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, Uconnect Apps and more. You’ll also find a ton of physical charging options for phones and tech, including a total of five USB-A ports and five USB-C ports split between the front and rear rows, as well as a wireless charging pad at the base of the dashboard.

The pickup can also be had with a modern suite of driver-assistance technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward pre-collision warning with brake assist and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist. Keep checking boxes to add a full-color head-up display and a rear camera mirror.

Drive modes and 4WD settings can be quickly toggled with these controls. Notice that there are no 2WD modes.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Off-road performance

Playing around at Wild West Motorsports Park in Sparks, Nevada, I’m able to first test the Ram TRX’s crawling ability over a fairly steep rock hill climb overlooking the race course. Setting the drive mode to Rock, the transfer case to its 2.64:1 4WD Low range and locking the Dana 60 rear axle sets the truck up for high-torque, slow-speed climbing. With the aid of Ram’s spotters and the TRX’s generous approach (30.2), departure (23.5) and breakover (21.9) angles, the TRX makes short and relatively easy work of the climb.

While waiting for my turn on the track, I’m able to explore the rocky grounds surrounding the course, testing the Selec-Speed Control — a sort of off-road cruise control inherited from the Jeep Wrangler — on another low-speed climb up a loose grade. The TRX’s dampers do a fantastic job of soaking up some huge bumps at speed, jostling me around in the deeply bolstered driver’s seat quite a bit, but still feeling nigh unstoppable over a two-track trail. 

In the air

Setting the TRX’s drive mode to Baja lets the 4WD, gearbox, steering, and stability control systems know that it’s time for business. Meanwhile, Baja sets the suspension for maximum travel and control needed for high-speed dirt driving. 

I enter the course at the top of a huge hill. Then it’s a stomach-churning drop down to the front straight and immediately over a small hop. Then it’s into the whoops, a washboard series of bumps that test the Bilstein suspension and Ram’s Active Terrain Dynamics software, which can react every 20 milliseconds to keep the truck balanced and controlled.

I was encouraged to really test the limits of the TRX’s advanced suspension.

Ram Trucks

After a sweeping left-hander (that I was encouraged to drift), it’s time for the big jump. Lining up for another downhill approach, I point the pickup at the dirt ramp and mat the accelerator, reaching the recommended 55-mph speed before taking to the air.

The TRX absolutely flies, and lands with such grace that I wonder if Ram should have instead called this tyrannosaurus a pteranodon. Looking back at my photos, I estimate the big jump was a little over 60 feet (about three and a half truck lengths) from takeoff to landing, reaching a height of about 24 inches. All 13 inches of suspension travel are used when landing, the dampers allowing for full compression while progressively firming near the end of travel with up to one ton of damping force at each corner to prevent bottoming out.

Wheels back on the ground, I let out a whoop of my own before getting hard on the 15-inch, four-wheel disc brakes for a sharp left-hander. Kicking up a big rooster tail, I snake my way back up the hill to do it all again… five more times.

Ram’s Truckasaurus is not a practical choice, but it’s definitely a ton of fun.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Availability and pricing

Starting at $71,690 (including a $1,695 destination charge), the Ram 1500 TRX is significantly more expensive than the $58,135 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew’s. Fully loaded, you’re looking at around $95K for the TR2 trim level with all the optional fixings. Plus, the T. rex’s 10 miles per gallon city and 14 mpg highway ratings are worse than the Raptor’s 15 city and 18 highway estimates, meaning you’ll also pay more at the pump.

That said, the TRX is a bigger, more powerful predator than the Raptor with just over 250 more ponies at its beck and call. It’s also got a more advanced suspension, particularly at the rear axle where the Raptor’s still rocking leaf springs. (Rumor has it that Ford could strike back with V8 power and a coil spring setup of its own for the next-generation Raptor.)

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is not a practical truck, but it is quite possibly the most fun and most insane pickup you can buy today.

[vividracing]

New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/top-5-best-modifications-for-jeep-wrangler/

Top 5 Best Modifications for Jeep Wrangler

If you are the owner of a Jeep Wrangler, chances are you did not buy it to merely be a grocery getter. While there are certainly people who purchased the Wrangler simply because of its rugged good looks, most people tend to choose it because of its off-road prowess. After all, the Jeep Wrangler is a legendary vehicle and a top choice for those who love adventure. It boasts some of the best off-road capabilities ever seen in a production vehicle and offers an impressive towing capacity.

The Jeep Wrangler can virtually get you anywhere and with the peace of mind to boot. Available in a number of different body styles and trims, the Wrangler is a force to be reckoned with. What’s more, there are a plethora of customization options, including several tech and safety features that will add to your Jeep experience right from the factory.

If you are the outdoorsy type and enjoy rock crawling, exploring the trails, or merely need a vehicle to get you to a camping site, the Jeep Wrangler can get it done. To help you get the most out of your Jeep Wrangler, we have compiled a list below of the top 5 best modifications for it. To learn more about any of the products below, give our team a call at (480) 966-3040.

#1 Bumpers

A heavy-duty front and rear bumper are among the first modifications that you should look into for your Jeep Wrangler; they will improve your Jeep Wrangler’s style and durability. Whether you are looking to protect your assets, expand your Jeep’s capabilities, or prepare for the ultimate trail adventure, an aftermarket bumper is a great investment. That’s because the plastic factory bumpers on your Jeep won’t hold up very well during off-roading or a collision. Luckily, there is a wide range of front and rear bumpers available that are high quality, attractive, and designed to align with your budget while delivering the function you need. The icing on the cake? Several bumpers don’t require any drilling during installation.

Upgrading your Wrangler’s front and rear bumper is not only ideal for off-road use, but will prove to be an added benefit for everyday protection as well. When looking at bumper designs, there are a number of different styles like stubby, tubular, and modular bumpers. If you are looking to add some beefier tires at some point, which we will cover below, there are many aftermarket rear bumpers that accommodate tire carrier components. You will also find that that aftermarket bumpers feature a two-stage powder-coating that provides even greater defense against rust and corrosion. After all, the last thing you should be worried about while enjoying your Jeep is damaging it.

Shop Jeep Wrangler Front Bumpers Here. 

Shop Jeep Wrangler Rear Bumpers Here. 

#2 Lift Kits

  Take your Jeep Wrangler to new heights, literally, with a lift kit. Upgrading your Jeep’s suspension will give you more comfort and control, and is an important mod to have before embarking on your next rock-crawling adventure. In order to cross ravines and conquer cliffs, your Jeep will need a sufficient amount of clearance. And that’s where the lift kit comes in. With a lift kit, your Wrangler can drive over bigger things without getting stuck and can even trek through water with no issue. It also proves to be especially useful in avoiding underbody scrapes and damage on extreme trails and rough terrain.

Adding a lift kit to your Jeep will increase its ground clearance, approach angle, breakover angle, and departure angle. It also provides you with the stability, flexibility, and confidence to go virtually anywhere. Investing in your Wrangler’s suspension is extremely important and will elevate your overall Jeep experience. When choosing a lift kit, keep in the mind the nature of off-roading you plan to do. It also helps to know the size and type of wheel and tire package you plan to run, since lift kits allow for much larger tires. Knowing these factors ahead of time will help you choose the kind of lift kit you should go for and how high. While your Jeep Wrangler is extremely off-road capable right from the factory, a lift kit can dramatically improve its performance and give it a more rugged appearance to boot.

Shop Jeep Wrangler Lift Kits Here. 

#3 Tires

Speaking of tires, that is our next mod on this list. Once you upgraded the suspension on your Jeep Wrangler, your options for tires grows exponentially. When choosing the type of tires for your Jeep, it’s important to figure out what kind of driving you will be doing. If you are planning to use your truck for more than just trekking through mud bogging and rock crawling, then you may want to consider a very well-rounded tire like the all-terrain type. All-terrain tires have their tread blocks closer together, providing for more contact with the road. These tires are also quieter and provide better fuel mileage when compared to mud tires.

Mud-terrain tires have more space between the blocks, allowing your Jeep to go where all-terrain tires cannot. They also self-clean due to the unique tread pattern, making them great for mud as the name suggests. Apart from these two types, there are also winter tires, rock-terrain tires, sand-terrain tires, and all-around tires. Each one boasts its own benefits and has areas where it will perform better than the others, so a little research and thought will help you make the best decision for your Wrangler.

Shop Jeep Wrangler Tires Here. 

#4 Lighting

LED headlights and fog lights can dramatically improve your visibility, which will prove especially helpful when taking on new roads and trails. The stock Wrangler lights are notoriously subpar and have a weak output. Jeep has tried to address this issue with the introduction of LED lighting back in 2017. Even so, there’s still much room for improvement and a plethora of attractive lighting options out there for you to choose from. Whether you decide to just replace the bulbs or install an entirely new component, switching to LEDs brings with it many benefits. LED lights are brighter, more efficient, and last longer than their halogen counterparts.

In addition to headlight and fog light assemblies, the aftermarket also offers a wide range of off-road lighting solutions. Whether you frequent the trails at night, want some additional visibility, or just like the look they offer, light bars are a great way to enhance the appearance of your Jeep while also increasing its functionality. Consequently, adding a light bar (or two) can give you that extra boost of confidence to explore some new terrain without worrying about sundown. Besides, upgrading the lighting system on your Jeep Wrangler is one of the easiest DIY mods you can do. It’s a win-win for all involved––especially the wildlife that may be crossing in front of those new lights.

Shop Jeep Wrangler Headlights Here.

Shop Jeep Wrangler Fog Lights Here. 

Shop Jeep Wrangler Light Bars Here. 

#5 Rock Sliders

We started off with front and rear protection for your Jeep Wrangler, so it’s only fair we end with some added defense for the sides. Whether your Wrangler came equipped with side steps or you purchased them from the aftermarket, chances are they are crafted from plastic and aluminum. While they offer a good platform to get in and out of your Jeep, they do very little when it comes to offering real protection against rocks and other debris. That is where rock sliders come in.

While the main advantage of rock sliders is their off-road protection, they can also withstand a larger weight capacity making them double as a solid step. Rock sliders are typically made from heavy-gauge steel tubing that is finished in a corrosion-resistant black powder-coating. This combination makes them incredibly durable and capable of deflecting hard surfaces and objects. What’s more, rock sliders are usually attached to the Jeep Wrangler’s body mounts that run along the frame. Such delivers immense support that can sustain the weight of the vehicle should it come in contact with a large boulder. 

Rock sliders are relatively easy to install and normally don’t require any irreversible modifications to your Jeep. They are a great replacement for the OEM plastic side steps or a nice addition to your Jeep if it did not come with any. If you plan on taking your Wrangler off-roading through rocky lands and wooded areas, rock sliders will prove to be especially beneficial for you.

Shop Jeep Wrangler Rock Sliders Here. 

[ramyautomotive]

FOR SALE: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 13 Manual More info: +971 55 503 0780 (@hamoodmazaji) Price: W/ ‏Trailer 150k AED or W/O 130k AED Mods: 1-Avenger Style ABS Hood 2-Shocks Fox 2.5 Adj. 3-Arms Iron Spyder Adj. 4-Trackbar Adj. 5-4-inch Lift Kit Rock Krawler 6-Artec Front Bumper 7-Artec Rear Bumper 8-Artec Fenders 9-Armor Steel Body 10-Rocker Guard 11-ENG. the GATEKEEPER ROTO Pax Mount w/ 2 ROTOPAX Storage Pack and Hi-Lift 12-KMC Wheels XD Beadlock 17"x9.5 13-Cooper STT pro 37 tire 14-1.75" Wheel Spacers 15-Pair System Light Pro6 Single Wide-40 16-Pro6 7-light Radius Uni. Combo LED Light Bar 17-LED backlight 18-JWS LED Headlight 19-JWS LED Taillight 20-Towing Hook Aluminum 21-Front Pump Stop Hidrolik 22-Fox ATS Steering Stabilizer Adj. 23-Front and rear inner fenders aluminium 24-Screen Radio 25-Sound system W/ 2 Amplifier 26-4 marine speakers 27-Sup buffer 28-Diablo Sport Trinity T-1000 29-Switch control panel with a digital voltmeter 30-2 blackout window aluminium repl. with 2 jerry cans 31-Magna Flow black Series back Gzsz 32-Ring and pinion 4,56 Alloy 33-AEV Diff cover 34-AOR front axle armour 35-Roof Rack 36-Power Side Steps 37-4 Racing Seats Adjustable 38-overhead console 39-CB antenna mount 40-hardtop Quick release kit Warrior 41-Receiver 42-extreme sport grab handle 43-HD Roll Cage W/ Rear Overhead Center Bar With Rear Bench Harness Bar 44-Power Tank 45-Lug Bullet Style 46-Doors Mirror Kit W/ Turn Signal 47-4 Half Doors Front/Rear 48-2 Elite Fire Extinguishers Holder 49-2 Fire Extinguishers 50-Hood Catches 51-Window Visors 52-Stage 2+ Clutch Kit 53-Sprintex SPS Supercharger 54-Air Intake System GT Momentum 55-Elite Fog Light Guard 56-Elite Headlight Guard 57-Rear Driveshaft 58-Front Driveshaft 59-2 Phones Holders Carbon Fiber 60-2 Screen Back Seats 61- Phone Holders W/ Cups holder Sliding and with Phones Charger for both side back seats 62-Warn Winch Zeon 8-S 63-Wireless Remote Control for Winch 64-Matte Aluminum Hawse Fairlead 65-Lighting Illuminated Wheel Ring 67-3 Chase Tail Light 5 Modes 68-4 sides-Up Light Kit 69-4 Atlas Door Steps 70-Defender Grill 71-LED Fog Lights 72-Door Handles... #RAMYautomotive #RAMYproject #jeepjk #superchargedbyRAMY (at RAMY Automotive) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8gWXIEJok-/?igshid=1bmca544w37jy

[adrenalineguide]

Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

Text and Photos by Michael Hozjan

Volkswagen Atlas: Getting it right

I wasn’t supposed to like the Atlas. It’s big, square and the furthest departure from what we’re used to from Volkswagen in the company’s history. They call it a seven-passenger. Hell, in the sixties my buddy’s parents stuffed more people into a Beetle. I’d hate to see how many kids and adults they’d fit into the Atlas! 

Like I said I wasn’t supposed to like the Atlas and I don’t. I love it. Volkswagen has gone out and broken all the rules and given us a behemoth (it’s nearly 200 inches long) that’s as easy to drive as a compact sedan, is as smooth as a limo and then turns around and is as agile as a sporty sedan. 

The Atlas doesn’t replace any outgoing model as we were led to believe. It’s an all-new model geared for the big gulp, super-size me, generation.  Unlike other mid-size SUVs like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot whose greenhouses feel claustrophobic despite their seven and eight passenger cargo ability, the Atlas feels airy. No matter which of the three rows of seats you choose, foot, leg and elbowroom is abundant. Slide the second row all the way back and your passengers can actually cross their legs (shades of 1950 Cadillacs)! Likewise getting into the third row seat, usually a backbreaking chore left for the rug rats, is a cinch even for adults thanks to the folding and sliding second row seat, which can be articulated with one hand. Incidentally the third row is an option and VW also has second row captain’s chairs on the options list (standard on the Execline).

While we await the arrival of Volkswagen’s new minivan, the Atlas can serve as both a people and cargo mover thanks to a whopping 97 cubic feet of space with the second and third row seats folded. Even with all the seats up there’s still an impressive 21 cubic feet behind the third row.  Both rear row seats split to offer a slew of seating/cargo carrying capabilities. Need more space; the Atlas has a 5,000 lb towing capacity (V6 model).

Oh and did I say the Atlas’ interior is quiet. Very quiet. That is until you turn up the sound on the sat radio through the intuitive touch screen of the infotainment system and light up the Fender speakers peppered throughout the truck. Honda, Fiat, Alfa and a slew of other manufacturers should take note of the VW’s user-friendly (read uncomplicated), instinctively placed infotainement controls. 

The Atlas is available in front-wheel-drive and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive. You get a choice of two engine options; a 2.0L turbo charged four that develops 235 horses and 258 lb.ft. of torque or the 276 horsepower 3.6L V-6 that produces that delivers 266 lb.ft. of torque. Both connect to an 8-speed automatic tranny with Tiptronic.

Ever been frustrated where to stow your blind? VW has the answer.

Duh!

Oh come on!

A friend of mine who worked at a local VW dealer once told me how a fellow mechanic would use the term Mickey Mouse to describe a non-useful item on a car or an item with no design sense what so ever. The term stuck. The fake twin exhaust tips (above) are the first time I’ve used it on a VW product. Yes that’s the real exhaust pipe under the fake one!

Prices start at $35,690 for the 2.0L powered Trendline, which is almost in par with the lid trim line price of the smaller Tiguan. Next up the ladder is the Comfortline at $39,690 with such amenities as adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and washer nozzles, pedestrian detection and sat radio added. My Highline starts at $48,990 and nets you the V6 plus a power tailgate, heated tushies for the rear seat passengers, panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats.  The good news is it’s still priced under the entry level Toureg! Then there’s the top of the line Execline which starts at $52,540 which adds 20” wheels, 12 fender speakers, a digital cockpit, park and lane assist…

Our Kurkuma Yellow Metallic Atlas drew a lot of attention and one or two even liked the color!

Price as tested: $51,524

Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro: Old school cool

“I can’t believe they’re still making this dinosaur!” exclaimed Eric Descarries, my co scribe, here at Adrenaline Auto Guides.

“Yup, and I’m glad they do.” Came my response.

Obviously we have different visions of what an SUV should be. Eric is of the new school, unibody construction. I on the other hand, still lean more towards the old body-on-frame construction. Maybe it’s the hot rodder or the off-roader in me.

Oh I know I’ll have lots of letters about how unibodied cars have crumple zones to keep their occupants safer than their body-on-frame counterparts and how unibodied cars have withstood the test of time when it comes to rust.

It all depends on what your definition of a SPORT-UTILITY vehicle is, and over the years the term seems to have lost it’s meaning. Today most SUVs are little more than overgrown station wagons with all wheel drive. That’s precisely why we have nonsensical terms like crossover. To me a sport-utility meant you could haul all your gear deep into the woods or across the desert in relative comfort protected from the elements, unlike a 4x4 pickup where your gear would be exposed. The sport portion was more towards hunting, fishing, crossing deep ruts and deeper mud holes, making it to the lot where you hoped to one day build your cabin. And utility meant the truck would be able to haul your construction materials/gear up with you. It didn’t mean how many rug rats you can haul to the baseball diamond – which is what it seems like today’s so called SUVs are all about, even our beloved VW Atlas falls into that category.

The early Jeep Wagoneers, Ford Broncos and Chevrolet Jimmys are a prime example of what I’m talking about. Oh and off-roading doesn’t mean going through the 8 inch trench the construction crew dug up on your street. I’ve taken sports cars through deeper holes.

What makes the Toyota 4Runner the last true sport-utility? To begin with I’ll echo my previous statement, it’s a rugged, utilitarian that will just about go anywhere.  While most SUVs, crossovers and the like are built on car-based chassis, the 4Runner still gets its DNA from a pickup.

From a performance aspect, all 4Runners, regardless of which of the five trim packages you opt for are powered by a 4.0 liter, 270 hp, V6 that pumps out 278 lb-ft of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.  My Toyota Racing Development Pro (there’s also a TRD Off Road) came with 4-wheel crawl control, TRD Bilstein high-performance shocks with remote reservoirs, TRD-tuned front springs, 17” black aluminum wheels with 31.5" Nitto Terra Grappler all-terrain tires.  A locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select system and Downhill Assist Control all work in conjunction to get you in and out of the toughest trails. The four-wheel-drive system is of the part-time variety and can be engaged with a manually operated transfer case. Hey these systems, like the 5-speed automatic are bulletproof and have proven themselves over the years. Adding some macho visual appeal while protecting your ride from rocks and logs is a heavy-duty aluminum skid plate mounted up front.

Oh and yes the TRD did get plenty of admiring stares and thumbs up.

As capable as the 4Runner is in the rough, on the road the Toyota doles out a smooth, comfortable ride despite the noisy off-road tires. If there’s a downside to the 4Runner it’s the truck’s off-road traits translate into more sway than usual when doing quick lane changes. The five-speed automatic may be great for tackling the Rubicon but on the highway the truck could also use an extra gear. Let’s not forget the 4Runner hasn’t had a major upgrade in years.

My sunroof-equipped tester’s interior was more truck-like than car-like with large buttons that can easily be manipulated even with gloves. Fit and finish is Toyota quality. Red stitching on the black leatherette seating is a nice touch and rear seat passengers get a provision to tilt their seat backs for added comfort. There is a third row option on the other trim lines. The tester offered an impressive 47 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the second row seats – that’s one of the largest trunks in the midsize SUV category. But what truly sold me on the 4Runner is the opening rear window, a feature that has disappeared off the SUV/crossover/station wagon landscape and something that all of my friends with SUVs have wished for.

The tall off-road tires and ride height make ingress and egress a challenge, but isn’t as bad as the first generation. Showing the truck’s age is the lack of techno gadgetry such as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning. You’ll have to old school it and pay attention to the road! However, Vehicle Stability Control, Active Traction Control and trailer sway control are all part of the base vehicle, which starts at $44,800. The TRD Pro package adds another $7395 to the tag. The Toyota can tow 5,000 lbs, only the Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango can tow more, 7,400 lbs. 

If your looking for a large station wagon with all-wheel drive and car like ride, look elsewhere, this Toyota is not for you, But if you want a rugged, tough workhorse that will carry you, your buds and your gear over any kind of terrain, your choices are very limited and none has the opening rear window on the hatch. Add Toyota’s high resale value and the choice gets narrower.

At the end of my tenure with the 4Runner I must admit it was hard to surrender it. Like the Jeep Wrangler, it may not be the greenest vehicle, I managed to squeeze out 12.5L/100kms of the good stuff, but the feel of the truck is so unique and yes it’s smoother than the Wrangler.  

Price as tested: $54, 083.47

[80221]

This monster Has been in the Past two SEMA shows in Las Vegas 2018-2019 This jeep is built for heavy off road use and every day daily driver. We have spent countless hours on the exterior. Over 200 hours in hand painted airbrush work. The exterior is Fully line-x in a one off custom Orange pearl. Featured in many magazines and tv shows. Asking $80.000 obo willing to trade with $$$ Please only serious inquiry only. 720-621-4237 303-909-0762 Over $110k in upgrades V6 3.8L has less 73k original miles Flowmaster cold air intake Custom Made Front fenders with cooling vents Waterproof Leather like Interior... by Alea Leather Painted body color accents on interior 4.5 inch Premium Max Trax Suspension Lift Max Trax Steering Stabilizer Max trax Shocks Drilled and slotted rotors Flush mount gas cap Custom Cadillac tail lights Steel DV8 rock slider step bars Mean face front grille Billet hook latches and locks 3000 watt dual zone Round LED Light Bar by Delta tech Steel TSC one off Front End Bumper Steel TSC one off frame cover Custom Dv8 hood with heat vents Royal hooks Tail gate hinges Royal hooks Billet door handles all around Royal hooks billet tow hooks Westin Steel bumper with Over sized tire carrier Westin under body covers Exhaust, trans, gas tank, transfer case Built-in 9500 Pound Winch by mile marker LED Headlights and Color Changing Halo Lights xk glow LED wheel ring lights Custom Paint Orange 200+ hours in hand Airbrushing Line-x paint undercarriage and Full exterior Plastic Bushwacker Flat Fenders. Custom Led rock lights under the vehicle by xk glow Custom 2000 watt Rockford audio system with sub and reverse cam Full touch screen head unit Kenwood Custom fender liners by DV8 24” Grid off road GF10 wheels Gold in color set of 5 Custom made shot gun shell Lug nuts by true spike 40" tires nitto Trail Grapplers set of 5 Full 4k front and rear dash camera’s Full Flowmaster rock climbing exhaust and headers 5.13:1 Gears for them big ol tires JMS power Chip gas pedal kit Superchips F5 controller tuner Front and rear B&M diff covers B&M transmission and oil coolers C&R Radiator (best there is) Rhino rack wrangler roof rack with back bone system. (at Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLnNd04AC4V/?igshid=ea6jnsfntb1s

[perksofwifi]

2021 Bollinger B1/B2 Electric Truck and SUV First Look Review

Talk about “white space.” If you’re looking for a pure electric off-road-optimized Class 3 four-door pickup or SUV with a 5,000-pound payload and 7,500-pound towing capacity, you’ll have to wait until early 2021 for the Bollinger B1 SUV or B2 pickup. (Oh, and there’s no relation to the snooty Champagne, so pronounce it BOWL-in-jer.)

What possessed Robert Bollinger, who studied industrial design at Carnegie Melon University but ended up running and selling a profitable organic hair-care products business, to start an electric Class 3 truck company? He owned a farm in the Catskills region of upstate New York and was unhappy with the truck options available to him. Off-road capability was of high importance, as was heavy-duty capability and silent green operation. Such a truck was unavailable, so he looked into building one.

While most folks might struggle to fit 5,000 pounds of anything normal in a 6-foot pickup bed (72 sheets of ¾-inch plywood would do it), clearing the 10,000-pound gross-vehicle-weight rating hurdle for Class 3 greatly simplifies the task of designing and developing a truck, as airbags and many other safety systems are not required. Anti-lock brakes are required, and although stability control is not, Bollinger is developing an ESC system. The company is also conducting rigorous simulation testing of side-impact pole crash tests, roof-crush tests, and others to ensure the trucks provide expected levels of occupant safety.

Of course, energy and budget saved on the airbag front might have been more than consumed designing a suspension to handle Bollinger’s off-road and load requirements. A cross-linked hydropneumatic suspension shoulders the load and provides ground clearance that can vary from 10 to 20 inches, thanks in part to a portal-axle design similar to those used on the Hummer H1 and G-Class 4×4-Squared, where the shafts delivering power are located above each wheel’s centerline, and they drive the wheels through a gear reduction. Here, as in the Hummers, braking is via inboard discs at all four corners.

This suspension offers some unique benefits. By cross-linking the corners, there is no need for an anti-roll bar, and with the flick of a switch this hydraulic link can be disabled, providing the effect of a disconnected anti-roll bar for maximum articulation of each wheel. Another great feature: The self-leveling suspension also effectively alters the spring and damping rates as the load increases, so Bollinger claims that the ride frequency (and hence comfort) changes very little from empty to fully loaded.

Power resides in a very large battery pack (74 x 59 x 8 inches and 120 kW-hr) that resides in a structural carbon-fiber box under the floor. It then flows to front and rear motors that are wound to Bollinger’s unique specifications, allowing them to operate at up to 12,000 rpm (about 2,000 more than most similar motors). A two-speed gearbox is used to permit both precise torque delivery at low (off-road) speeds and reasonable highway performance. Motor-control electronics provide a virtual center differential lock. The motors each produce 307 hp and 334 lb-ft of torque and are said to be capable of accelerating the trucks to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Company simulations suggest the big battery will last for 200 miles (on the EPA’s test cycle), or for about 10 hours of off-roading.

That’s pretty impressive range given the friction involved in those six gearboxes, the big knobby tires, and the truck’s, ahem, “aerodynamics.” (The drag coefficient reportedly matched a Wrangler’s when tested in the same FCA wind tunnel, but the frontal area is considerably larger.)

Like the Hummer H1, the B1 and B2 offer just four bucket seats, but here they’re separated by a load floor that’s even with the rear cargo floor. In the case of the B2 pickup, there is a Chevy Avalanche–esque “midgate” that folds flat into the rear load floor, and the back glass can either flip up or be removed. Removing the rear buckets is a simple matter of unlatching and lifting them out to provide a 9.5-foot bed. Another party trick both models offer: The frunk is accessible by a front “tailgate,” which also folds down flush with the continuous load floor that runs from tailgate to tailgate. You could transport telephone poles horizontally in a B2 if the terrain and road conditions permitted.

Other cool features include four roof panels that pop up to vent or come out for open-air motoring. These are available in glass or aluminum. The side windows open by sliding sideways, but they also come out for a fully open-air feeling. And the doors can be removed. Removable “consoles” can be snapped into holes in the floor between the front and rear seats, but these are primarily tablelike armrests that preserve the aforementioned telephone-pole pass-thru. There will be no fifth or sixth optional seats clipping into those console mounts, as there’s not enough headroom. Air conditioning flows up into a cross-car vent system located just under the windshield. The three individual vents can be rotated toward the windshield for defrost, toward the occupants’ faces, or rolled to a closed position.

The interior is designed to be hosed out, and the exterior is (industrially) designed first and foremost for ease of manufacture. All the exterior sheetmetal can be cut and bent without stamping dies, and most are bonded and riveted using exposed rivets to enhance the industrial look. A few underbody panels might require stamping. The front corners will be cast. The structure and the body are made of aluminum, but the independent suspension members are mostly steel.

Bollinger has brought the design to the “beta” prototype stage as shown using its own money. Between now and the proposed start of production in late 2020 (with deliveries in early 2021), the company must secure additional funding and a third-party manufacturing partner. Production estimates are pegged at 1,000 for the first year, with a mix tilted toward the SUV. Commercial and (non-tactical) military sales are expected. So far, all lips are sealed as to pricing—our $100K to $120K estimate is entirely a guess, and the value proposition that represents will be entirely up to the buyer. You get a lot of power, a lot of battery, a 15-kW inverter to run 110-volt accessories from the eight available plugs, and the rugged no-nonsense look of a press-break-built DIY Land Rover Defender. If you’re in the market for an electric Class 3 truck, it might be quite a wait for your next option.

2020 Bollinger B1 & B2 BASE PRICE $100,000-$120,000 (MT est) VEHICLE LAYOUT Front/rear-motor, 4WD, 4-pass, 4-door truck & SUV MOTORS 2 x 307-hp/334-lb-ft AC electric TRANSMISSIONS 2 x 2-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT 4,800-5,000 lb (mfr) WHEELBASE 118.8 in LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT 171.5-207.5 x 77.2 x 72.7 in 0-60 MPH 4.5 sec (mfr est) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON Not yet rated (est 200-mile range) ON SALE IN U.S. Early 2021

 The post 2021 Bollinger B1/B2 Electric Truck and SUV First Look Review appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-bollinger-b1-b2-electric-truck-suv-first-look-review/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

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2021 Ram 1500 TRX first drive review: Yep, we got it airborne

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-ram-1500-trx-first-drive-review-yep-we-got-it-airborne/

2021 Ram 1500 TRX first drive review: Yep, we got it airborne

“Now as you come around to the ramps, you’ll want to be doing about 55, 60 miles per hour,” my co-driver shouts over the roar of the engine while rocks and dirt blast the pickup’s undercarriage. “That’ll get you the best height and distance for the jumps and set you up to start braking for the next turn.”

Yes, jumps. I’m behind the wheel of the 702-horsepower 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, one of the most extreme and overbuilt performance trucks Ram has ever produced. And as the wheels leave the ground and the cacophony is replaced with an eerie silence, I’m starting to understand just how insane this apex predator really is.

Heart of a Hellcat

Ram’s engineers followed a familiar formula: Take a popular Fiat-Chrysler product and dump the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 from the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats into the engine bay. Pat yourself on the back; you’ve earned a beer.

Of course, there’s so much more to it than that. In the Ram TRX, that engine breathes through a new dual-path induction system that mixes air drawn through its functional hood scoop and with intake from the grille at the underside of a massive 29-liter airbox. Ram tells me that this design helps to tumble the air inside the box, shaking out sand and water before it passes through twin 8×12-inch air filters. With a total of 198.4 square inches of filter surface area, Ram claims this is the “largest air filter in the segment.” The TRX also features a unique, high-flow exhaust with 5-inch resonators and exhaust tips.

The changes to the Hemi’s breathing mean the TRX makes just 702 horsepower (as opposed to the Hellcats’ 717-plus) with 650 pound-feet of torque, which it sends though an eight-speed automatic transmission to a four-wheel-drive system. That’s more than enough power to launch the 6,350-pound TRX from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and onward to 100 mph in 10.5 seconds. The truck will even run the quarter-mile in just 12.9 ticks. The TRX launches quickly and powerfully, immediately finding traction, even on a dirt runway.

This wide boi is 8 inches wider than a standard Ram 1500.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Suspension upgrades

In many ways, the suspension and chassis upgrades to the Ram 1500 TRX are even more impressive than the powertrain because they’re so much more extensive. The TRX’s frame is based on that of a Ram 1500 Crew Cab, but is modified with over 70% new parts to improve strength and rigidity, and to completely change the truck’s suspension geometry. The pickup’s flared body is 8 inches wider than a standard Ram 1500, accommodating a 6-inch increase in both the front and rear tracks.

The TRX sits 2 inches taller than the standard 1500, boosting its ground clearance to 11.8 inches and its water fording depth to 32 inches. The front wheels are moved forward by 0.6 inch, increasing the wheelbase slightly and freeing up room for beefier suspension components and 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires, mounted on 18×9-inch wheels (or optional beadlock-capable wheels of similar spec that allow ultra-low tire pressure for crawling).

The TRX’s suspension and chassis upgrades are perhaps more exciting than the 700-horsepower engine.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

You’ll find an independent suspension up front and a solid rear axle with coil springs and forged aluminum components all around. At all four corners, you’ll also find 2.5-inch Bilstein Black Hawk E2 adaptive dampers with remote reservoirs controlling the movement of the suspension. Up front, the TRX has 13 inches of wheel travel, with 14 inches of travel at the rear axle. (You can check our spec comparison to read — and watch — how the Ram 1500 TRX stacks up against the Ford F-150 Raptor.)

On the road

On paved roads, the TRX feels confident with, of course, great acceleration off the line and surprisingly smooth shifts from its eight-speed automatic transmission. The rumble of the V8 exhaust is ever present, but never annoying. The ride is still body-on-frame truck-like, but it’s no more floaty than the standard 1500, which already has pretty controlled ride.

The TRX features a total of eight drive modes, plus a valet setting. Highway miles are best spent toggling between the default and nicely balanced Auto setting and Sport, which sharpens the steering, suspension, transmission and stability control. Ultimately, I found it best to create a Custom setting that blends the two. There are also modes for Snow, Mud/Sand, Towing, Rocks and Baja.

From the 12-inch touch display, drivers can customize their TRX’s performance for a wide range of conditions.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

You interact with the drive modes using a combination of physical controls and the standard 12-inch Uconnect 4C infotainment system. Ram says that this is the first implementation of its Performance Pages software with the big 12-incher, which also features menus for monitoring off-road metrics like wheel articulation, steering angle and axle locker status. 

Of course, the infotainment software still boasts all of the tech features that I like in the standard 1500, including SiriusXM 360L integration, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, Uconnect Apps and more. You’ll also find a ton of physical charging options for phones and tech, including a total of five USB-A ports and five USB-C ports split between the front and rear rows, as well as a wireless charging pad at the base of the dashboard.

The pickup can also be had with a modern suite of driver-assistance technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward pre-collision warning with brake assist and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist. Keep checking boxes to add a full-color head-up display and a rear camera mirror.

Drive modes and 4WD settings can be quickly toggled with these controls. Notice that there are no 2WD modes.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Off-road performance

Playing around at Wild West Motorsports Park in Sparks, Nevada, I’m able to first test the Ram TRX’s crawling ability over a fairly steep rock hill climb overlooking the race course. Setting the drive mode to Rock, the transfer case to its 2.64:1 4WD Low range and locking the Dana 60 rear axle sets the truck up for high-torque, slow-speed climbing. With the aid of Ram’s spotters and the TRX’s generous approach (30.2), departure (23.5) and breakover (21.9) angles, the TRX makes short and relatively easy work of the climb.

While waiting for my turn on the track, I’m able to explore the rocky grounds surrounding the course, testing the Selec-Speed Control — a sort of off-road cruise control inherited from the Jeep Wrangler — on another low-speed climb up a loose grade. The TRX’s dampers do a fantastic job of soaking up some huge bumps at speed, jostling me around in the deeply bolstered driver’s seat quite a bit, but still feeling nigh unstoppable over a two-track trail. 

In the air

Setting the TRX’s drive mode to Baja lets the 4WD, gearbox, steering, and stability control systems know that it’s time for business. Meanwhile, Baja sets the suspension for maximum travel and control needed for high-speed dirt driving. 

I enter the course at the top of a huge hill. Then it’s a stomach-churning drop down to the front straight and immediately over a small hop. Then it’s into the whoops, a washboard series of bumps that test the Bilstein suspension and Ram’s Active Terrain Dynamics software, which can react every 20 milliseconds to keep the truck balanced and controlled.

I was encouraged to really test the limits of the TRX’s advanced suspension.

Ram Trucks

After a sweeping left-hander (that I was encouraged to drift), it’s time for the big jump. Lining up for another downhill approach, I point the pickup at the dirt ramp and mat the accelerator, reaching the recommended 55-mph speed before taking to the air.

The TRX absolutely flies, and lands with such grace that I wonder if Ram should have instead called this tyrannosaurus a pteranodon. Looking back at my photos, I estimate the big jump was a little over 60 feet (about three and a half truck lengths) from takeoff to landing, reaching a height of about 24 inches. All 13 inches of suspension travel are used when landing, the dampers allowing for full compression while progressively firming near the end of travel with up to one ton of damping force at each corner to prevent bottoming out.

Wheels back on the ground, I let out a whoop of my own before getting hard on the 15-inch, four-wheel disc brakes for a sharp left-hander. Kicking up a big rooster tail, I snake my way back up the hill to do it all again… five more times.

Ram’s Truckasaurus is not a practical choice, but it’s definitely a ton of fun.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Availability and pricing

Starting at $71,690 (including a $1,695 destination charge), the Ram 1500 TRX is significantly more expensive than the $58,135 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew’s. Fully loaded, you’re looking at around $95K for the TR2 trim level with all the optional fixings. Plus, the T. rex’s 10 miles per gallon city and 14 mpg highway ratings are worse than the Raptor’s 15 city and 18 highway estimates, meaning you’ll also pay more at the pump.

That said, the TRX is a bigger, more powerful predator than the Raptor with just over 250 more ponies at its beck and call. It’s also got a more advanced suspension, particularly at the rear axle where the Raptor’s still rocking leaf springs. (Rumor has it that Ford could strike back with V8 power and a coil spring setup of its own for the next-generation Raptor.)

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is not a practical truck, but it is quite possibly the most fun and most insane pickup you can buy today.

[privateplates4u]

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk First Drive: Fastest SUV Carries a Jeep Badge

A 707-horsepower Jeep answers a question no one asked about SUV performance, and time will tell if it meets a demand no one knew was there. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is about to start building a batch of 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawks with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. There are already orders and handraisers for the limited-run SUV rocket that goes on sale in the fourth quarter. The Hellcat engine generates 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, distributed through the upgraded TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. It is billed as the fastest SUV in the world. Jeep claims it will do 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. I did it in 3.4 seconds on my first try. Don’t give me the credit. On this Jeep it is that easy, and the launch is that good. Put your left foot on the brake, and hold it down tightly. Press the launch button in the center console below the leather-wrapped shifter. Watch the brake pressure build as you watch it rev from 700 rpm to an ideal 1,800-2,200 rpm. The new torque reserve system makes it possible to hold the engine at 2,200 rpm and develop 6.4 psi of boost standing at the line. The system prepositions the supercharger while cutting fuel to individual cylinders and manages the spark timing to generate a reserve of torque.  Essentially, it gets the air moving while you are standing still so it is primed and ready for launch. Use your right foot to push the accelerator to the floor. Hold both feet steady, and then quickly dump the brake. The front wheels will lift, your helmeted head will snap back, and the 5,300-pound SUV will shoot forward. You will hold on and giggle. You will never feel out of control with the traction that a four-wheel-drive vehicle provides. Engineers say this is why a Jeep can actually launch faster than a Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Jeep officials just don’t do much bragging about it. Scott Tallon, director of the Jeep brand, reminds us that Jeep has a history of high performance vehicles dating back to the 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited that did 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and was considered an animal. The first-gen SRT for 2006 did the sprint in 4.8 seconds. Trackhawk is good for Jeep, Tallon says, as if one of the best-known brand names in the world needed further attributes. But the way he sees it, Jeep has the Wrangler as the poster child for Jeep off-road capability, and the Trackhawk underscores its on-road prowess by exhibiting insane track capability. While Trailhawk denotes best-in-class off-road capability, Trackhawk denotes best-in-class speed. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the undisputed fasted SUV. For comparison, the third-generation Porsche Cayenne S, unveiled recently, increased its horsepower to 440, though the automaker has yet to debut Turbo and Turbo S variants. “This is not just an engine swap of a Hellcat into a Grand Cherokee,” Tallon says. The Trackhawk is instrumental in driving the growth of the global brand and rounds out the top end of the lineup. With so much power, I was expecting the Trackhawk to be a bit raw and brutal in regular driving. That was not the case. The supercharger drive system’s one-way clutch de-coupler improves refinement while allowing the beast under the hood to be heard in guttural growls at low speeds and unleash a series of snorts and pops when you mash the pedal. Those who worked on refinement succeeded. You don’t hear much of the supercharger at tip-in, but the sound increases as you throttle up. Sure the suspension is stiff, but even on a long stretch of rough pavement in Maine and New Hampshire, the Bilstein adaptive damping suspension made the drive quite livable. The reminder that this has a Hellcat engine comes when you step on the gas to cross a highway, and it lurches forward. Or when you go to pass and grab gobs of power and exceed the speed limit faster than you can check the speedometer. This is one vehicle where current speed should be displayed digitally in giant letters in front of you. The speedometer, located in the lower right of the instrument panel with a traditional needle flitting between speeds listed in 10-mph increments, can make it hard to keep speed in check without setting the cruise control. FCA claims the Trackhawk will do the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds with a top speed of 180 mph, necessitating a speedometer that goes to 200 alongside the tachometer in the 7.0-inch instrument cluster. The 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen is where you find the Trackhawk Performance Pages that confirm your track prowess. The SUV has new six-piston front Brembo brakes (largest standard front brakes on a Jeep) and four-piston rear Brembos with yellow calipers, which bring the SUV from 60 mph to a stop in 114 feet. We have not had the chance to test these claims ourselves, but we were able to take the Trackhawk to the newly paved Club Motorsports track in Tamworth, New Hampshire. The 2.5-mile track carved out of the forest has 700 feet of elevation changes to spice up the turns. The Trackhawk devoured it all and never felt overly heavy or lumbering. Back on real roads, the lane assist system was spotty—sometimes it brought the car in line, but other times it would hold a line that was outside the lane marker. The Trackhawk starts at $86,995, but you can easily option it up to a $100,000 vehicle. The one I drove in Portland stickered at $99,965, about $20,000 more than an SRT. The options included a $5,000 leather-wrapped interior package, upgraded audio and entertainment system, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and a trailer-tow package. Other upgrades go from the standard 20-by-10-inch Titanium finish wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Verdes all-season tires to the lighter forged aluminum wheels with three-season Pirelli P-Zero tires. From behind the wheel you look down at the bulging sculpted hood with dual heat extractors. The Trackhawk also has unique quad exhaust tips, a redesigned fascia, unique headlamps, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters. Like the SRT, the Trackhawk is an inch lower than a regular Grand Cherokee. It has body-colored wheel flares, side sill cladding, supercharged badging on the doors and sills, and Trackhawk badging on the steering wheel and seatbacks. Inside, in addition to miles of leather, are nice carbon-fiber and industrial-looking trim pieces. The supercharged engine has a cast iron block and a forged steel crankshaft with a damper that has been tested to 13,000 rpm to ensure it won’t burst. Everything from pistons to connecting rods, cylinder heads, and exhaust valves are upgraded to handle the extraordinary demand being placed on them by this engine. Many driveline components were engineered to handle the additional torque output. Even a new oil plan was developed to prevent the liquid from sloshing when the SUV launches. Similarly, the 2,380cc-per-revolution supercharger was designed to regulate boost pressure to 11.6 psi. The foglamps had to be swapped out for a cold-air scoop in the lower front fascia to get more air to the supercharger. Many of the modifications are to keep things cooled, especially on the track. There is also a new fuel delivery system with two new pumps to feed the demands of the engine. Track is one of five modes, and it reduces transmission shift times by 68 percent compared with the Auto mode and tightens the suspension to firm; stability control, four-wheel drive, and steering are set for track performance with a 30 percent front and 70 percent rear torque split. The other modes are auto, sport, snow and tow. Off-road capability is not overly compromised just because the SUV goes like a bat out of hell. It has Jeep’s Quadra-Trac, on-demand four-wheel-drive system with an electronic limited-slip differential and a single-speed active transfer case with a wider chain. There is also a stronger new rear axle, and the SUV can tow 7,200 pounds. The Trackhawk is a global vehicle built at Detroit’s Jefferson North plant on the same line as the rest of the Grand Cherokees. There will be a limited run, but officials are not saying how many that is or if it will be less than the roughly 2,500 Grand Cherokee SRTs Jeep sells a year with virtually no marketing, promotion, or incentives. The Trackhawk Jeep already has thousands of handraisers, Tallon says. The plan is to be able to build enough in the fourth quarter to meet the initial global demand. He would not say how large the U.S. allotment is. And buyers will not have to sign a letter acknowledging the risks of driving the vehicle, which is the case for buyers of the even more powerful Dodge Challenger SRT Demon muscle car. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk might answer a question that no one asked. But the correct answer for enthusiasts is “yes please.” The post 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk First Drive: Fastest SUV Carries a Jeep Badge appeared first on Motor Trend.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/jeep/grand-cherokee/2018/2018-jeep-grand-cherokee-trackhawk-first-drive-review/