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DAF Trucks Press Release / October 18, 2018 Do you know our engines were often used in ships as well? Watch the video closely and let us know how many times you can spot the DAF logo. #DAF90years .

Optifuel Lab 3 aims to reduce fuel consumption by 13% Renault Trucks Press Release / September 21, 2018 Renault Trucks is continuing its research into improving the energy efficiency of diesel trucks. With Optifuel Lab 3, the laboratory vehicle developed as part of the FALCON collaborative project, the manufacturer aims to reduce fuel consumption by 13% on a complete tractor-trailer combination. Optifuel Lab 3 combines technologies relating to aerodynamics, rolling resistance, driver assistance, energy management and the powertrain. The aim of Optifuel Lab 3 is to demonstrate a 13% reduction in fuel consumption compared with a standard Renault Trucks T and trailer. It brings together innovative technologies developed by a consortium of partners comprising Renault Trucks, Faurecia, Michelin, Total, FRUEHAUF, Wezzoo, Benomad, Styl'Monde, Polyrim, Enogia, the IFP Énergies nouvelles, the École centrale de Lyon (LMFA) and the IFSTTAR (LTE; LESCOT). Optifuel Lab 3 is part of the FALCON (Flexible & Aerodynamic Truck for Low CONsumption) project which receives public funding after selection by the French Public Investment Bank BPI France on the 23rd F.U.I. call for projects. Optifuel Lab 3's technological developments will focus on optimised tractor semi-trailer combination aerodynamics, connected low-rolling-resistance tyres, predictive energy-saving driving assistance and energy management functions, as well as an improved powertrain. Optimised complete tractor-trailer combination aerodynamics The aim is to significantly improve the aerodynamics of the combination to considerably reduce fuel consumption, particularly by introducing a variable-geometry trailer. Developed by FRUEHAUF in collaboration with Styl’Monde for the fairings, this “adaptive” trailer is intended to automatically take on an optimised shape by using empty loading space thanks to a built-in control and command system and sensors. The tractor's aerodynamics will also be improved by replacing wing mirrors with cameras, and a newly designed cab A-pillar based on a PhD thesis from the Fluid and Acoustic Mechanics Laboratory at the École Centrale de Lyon. Airflow will also be optimised by extending the front end and door and streamlining wheel arches. Side fairings will also be bigger and made from flexible material by Polyrim, like the side deflector extensions to provide continuity between the truck and trailer. Connected, low-rolling-resistance tyres On long-haul trips, tyre rolling resistance accounts for around 25% of fuel consumption. Michelin will develop tyres with low rolling resistance for the laboratory vehicle by integrating innovative technologies derived from research projects. Renault Trucks and Michelin will also use data obtained by sensors installed in the connected tyres. Predictive energy-saving driver assistance and energy management features Navigation and traffic (Benomad), meteorological (Wezzoo), and tyre (Michelin) data from Optifuel Lab 3 will be used by optimised predictive speed and cooling system controllers. This latest system will be equipped with new actuators to maximise energy savings. These developments will be accompanied by a new Human-Machine Interface specially developed in partnership with the IFSTTAR to provide the driver with an energy-saving, efficient and user-friendly driver assistance system. Alternator control will be made even more intelligent in order to optimise the balance between electrical energy production and internal-combustion engine fuel consumption. For Optifuel Lab 3, extensive work will also be carried out on the dual battery device with expected significant weight reduction and improved cold-start performance for the start battery and increased capacity and life time for the living battery. Powertrain: low-viscosity lubricants and Rankine waste heat recovery system The whole powertrain will benefit from new-generation low-viscosity lubricants developed by Total for reduced friction. In addition, performance studies will be carried out on test benches and integration studies will be conducted for two types of waste heat recovery system architecture based on Rankine’s thermodynamic cycle. The research is being carried out jointly by Renault Trucks, Faurecia, IFPEN and Enogia. Renault Trucks and its partners are aiming for a 13% reduction in fuel consumption on a typical long-haul trip. Optifuel Lab 3 will conduct its first on-road tests in 2019 and determine consumption savings assessments in 2020.

Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / October 18, 2018 Nearly 50,000 Kenworth and Peterbilt tractors and more than 3,000 Volvo tractors are now included in a recall affecting trucks equipped with Cummins ISX15 or X15 engines, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall stems from fuel lines potentially bursting if the fuel pump cooling circuit screen becoming restricted in certain driving conditions, such as on a long downhill grade. If the fuel line bursts, fuel could leak onto the road, and the engine could stall without warning. Daimler and Navistar have also announced recalls in recent weeks for the same issue. Cummins will be notifying owners of affected trucks, and dealers will replace the suspect fuel pump cooling circuit screen for free. Affected Kenworth and Peterbilt owners can contact Paccar customer service at 1-940-591-4220 with recall number 18E081. NHTSA’s Paccar recall number is 18V-657. Affected Volvo owners can contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX1802. NHTSA’s Volvo recall number is 18V-668. The Volvo recall includes 3,138 model year 2016-2019 VNL tractors. The 48,896 Paccar trucks included in the recall are: 2017-2019 Kenworth C500 2017-2019 Kenworth T600 2017-2019 Kenworth T660 2017-2019 Kenworth T680 2017-2019 Kenworth T800 2017-2019 Kenworth T880 2017-2019 Kenworth W900 2017-2019 Peterbilt 367 2017-2019 Peterbilt 386 2017-2019 Peterbilt 389 2017-2019 Peterbilt 567 2017-2019 Peterbilt 579 2017-2019 Peterbilt 587

54,400 Ford F-series pickups probed by U.S. after tailgate complaints David Shepardson, Reuters / October 18, 2018 WASHINGTON -- NHTSA said Thursday it had opened a preliminary investigation into 54,400 Ford Motor Co. pickups after receiving five complaints that tailgates had unexpectedly opened while the vehicles were in motion. The agency said the investigation was looking into the issue in 2017 model-year F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickups. NHTSA will investigate to determine if the issue poses an unreasonable risk to safety and whether the agency should seek a recall. In October 2017, Ford issued a technical service bulletin addressing the issue, and found water intrusion in the wire harness as the root cause of tailgate problems, NHTSA said.

Ford to build additional 350 GT supercars, extends output by 2 years Michael Martinez, Automotive News / October 18, 2018 Ford Motor Co. is extending production of the GT supercar by two years and will build 350 more vehicles than it originally planned. Ford previously planned to build 1,000 GTs through the 2020 model year. It now says it will build 1,350 vehicles through 2022. "The response to our Ford GT has been unprecedented, with initial demand outstripping supply by more than six-to-one," Hermann Salenbauch, Ford Performance director, said in a statement Thursday. "By extending the Ford GT production run for a limited period, we're able to maintain the exclusivity of the ultra-desirable supercar while offering the ownership experience to a greater number of customers." Ford said it will reopen order banks for the GT on Nov. 8. Owners for the first two model years have been selected, and production of 2019 vehicles has been designated for applicants who were on the waitlist for the first two batches of supercars. The automaker received more than 6,500 applicants when it first opened order banks. The vehicles are built by Canadian supplier Multimatic Inc. in Markham, Ontario. The supplier ran into trouble early on, hitting just 55 percent of its product target for the 2017 model year.

With that bulbous grille, it looks like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. And suddenly the GM-Isuzu 6.6L Duramax is an International brand engine? To differentiate the NAV version from the GM unit, and take advantage of the VW relationship, I might have offered the 4.6L 4-cylinder MAN 0834 (150-220hp) or 4-cylinder Cummins ISB4.5 (150-210hp) as standard, with the 6.9L 6-cylinder MAN 0836 (250-350hp) as an option.

U.S. environmental agency says in talks with Volvo over emissions issue Reuters / October 17, 2018 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday it has been in [secret] talks with Volvo over the last few weeks about an issue with catalytic converters causing some of its vehicles to exceed nitrogen oxide emission limits. Volvo warned a day earlier that some of its truck and bus engines could be exceeding limits for nitrogen oxide emissions due to an emissions control component it uses degrading more quickly than expected. The Swedish truckmaker said it could face material costs to deal with the issue largely affecting trucks and buses sold in North America and Europe, its two largest markets, and that it was working with authorities to find a solution. The EPA, in an emailed statement, told Reuters on Wednesday that the agency was aware of the situation, which it said involved Volvo heavy duty trucks. "Over the last few weeks, EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have been communicating with Volvo about the problem and are now continuing to meet with the company to develop plans to quickly address this situation," the EPA statement said. A U.S. government official briefed on the matter said on Wednesday that regulators do not believe excess emissions are the result of a "defeat device" or intentional misconduct as in the case of Volkswagen AG's excess diesel emissions, but rather is believed to be the result of a faulty component and a recall is expected. Asked why Volvo had waited a couple of weeks before informing the market, a Volvo spokesman said the company needed to determine whether this would be a large issue and it was standard protocol to inform authorities first. "Authorities and legal bodies are normally informed prior to the markets because we inform them even if the problem is very, very small," he said. Volvo did not say when the affected trucks were sold or how many are impacted. It said that all products equipped with the component met emissions limits at delivery. The company sold 51,693 trucks in North America last year and another 115,863 in Europe. EPA and CARB refused to comment about how many trucks were involved, while a spokesman for Volvo said it was too early to know. "We... are working with the company to more fully understand what's going on," a spokesman for CARB said in a brief separate comment, without giving more details.

Thor Trucks, AxleTech announce e-powertrain partnership Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / April 16, 2018 Specialty powertrain manufacturer AxleTech and California-based electric truck upstart Thor Trucks announced Tuesday a partnership to develop a heavy-duty e-powertrain system. The two companies will integrate AxleTech’s e-axle technology with Thor’s proprietary battery technology to create a fully electric commercial vehicle powertrain. “Due to the acute market need for these solutions, we are proud to work alongside Thor Trucks to build the most advanced integrated powertrain components for driveline electrification,” says AxleTech CEO Bill Gryzenia, CEO. Giordano Sordoni, co-founder and COO of Thor Trucks, called the partnership “a significant stride forward in our pursuit to transform the commercial transportation industry.” In July 2018, Thor Trucks announced it would partner with UPS to build and test two fully-electric delivery trucks in the greater Los Angeles area.

Volvo doesn’t know how many North American trucks are affected Transport Topics / October 16, 2018 Volvo Group said it could not yet determine the impact of a faulty component on its North American trucks as it was still evaluating the scope of the problem. “We cannot provide [the number of affected vehicles in North America] because any number is potentially misleading,” Volvo spokesman Claes Eliasson said in an e-mail. “It’s not clear at this point what percentage of the population might experience the issue, and over what time period.”

You do recall that the Ford D3 and D4 platforms were derived from the Volvo P2 platform while under Ford ownership. Ford was like a dry sponge around the Volvo tech it purchased.

It would have been more beneficial if Ford had kept Volvo car.

Volvo's supplier is Eberspacher, who is an extremely reputable supplier. However, I can imagine that they dictated a Volvo-design based on low price. Of course Mack brand trucks have the same Volvo Group components. Scania purchases their after-treatment system from Forest Lake, Illinois-based Tenneco and has no issues.

Volvo warns its engines may exceed emission limits Reuters / October 16, 2018 Sweden’s Volvo said on Tuesday an emissions control component used in its vehicles was degrading more quickly than expected, which could cause engines to exceed emission limits for nitrogen oxides, sending its stock down sharply. The problem is the catalyst converter, Volvo investor relations director Anders Christensson said, refusing to name the supplier or say whether Volvo would terminate the relationship. "In certain applications when the engine is not running hot enough you get condensation water in there and that causes this problem. You get a warning signal in the dashboard saying you're running above nitrogen oxide levels," he explained. Volvo Group, which makes trucks, construction equipment and buses, said the largest volume of potentially affected engines had been sold in North America and Europe, its two largest markets, and that costs to fix the problem “could be material”. The issue could become an added headache for Volvo, which has been working hard to protect profitability after a surge in demand in Europe and North America caused supply chain bottlenecks, inflating costs for raw materials and labour. Volvo’s shares were down 6 percent at 133.60 Swedish crowns at 0722 GMT, making it easily the biggest faller on Stockholm’s blue chip index. Volvo, which sold 143,373 trucks in Europe and North America last year, said it was in the process of informing authorities. A spokesman said Volvo had spoken to authorities in North America and Europe, where emission regulations are strictest, but there were no plans yet to recall any vehicles.

Daimler recalls nearly 20,000 Freightliner, Western Star trucks over steering shaft issue Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / October 15, 2018 Two separate recalls by Daimler Trucks North America include nearly 20,000 trucks, most of which are severe service, while a recall by Navistar involves around 600 severe service International trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The largest of the two Daimler recalls is for improperly installed steering shaft assemblies in approximately 19,754 trucks. Affected trucks include model year 2018-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 2018-2019 Freightliner 114SD and 2018-2019 Freightliner Business Class M2. Daimler says an improperly installed steering shaft assembly can cause a loss of connection between the steering wheel and front wheels. Daimler will notify affected truck owners and repair the assembly if necessary. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-791. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-646. .

Jack Roberts, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 15, 2018 The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has issued a recall alert for nearly 20,000 2018-2019 model year Freightliner 108SD, 114SD and Business Class M2 vocational trucks. According to NHTSA, the trucks may have an incorrectly installed steering shaft assembly. The issue can cause a loss of connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels, which can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash. Daimler Trucks North America will notify owners and dealers of this recall notice. Dealers will inspect and repair the steering shaft as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin Nov. 16. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. The DTNA record number for this recall is FL-791.

Navistar: Securities Repayment Heightens Truck Maker’s Financial Profile Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 15, 2018 Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) has repaid in full the 4.5% senior subordinated convertible notes that it issued in October 2013. The manufacturer of International-brand trucks and engines stated that the repayment of the outstanding principal of $200 million at maturity on Oct.15, 2018 was funded with cash on hand. A convertible note is a form of short-term debt that converts into equity, typically in conjunction with a future financing round, according to one definition. "This repayment is another important step for Navistar, as it reflects our stronger liquidity position, building on the company's return to profitability in 2017 and its expected generation of positive free cash flow in 2018," said Walter Borst, Navistar CFO. "Our improved financial profile provides Navistar with additional flexibility as we work to improve our balance sheet and credit ratings." Three weeks ago, at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany, Navistar CEO Troy Clarke noted the benefits of the company’s two-year-old “strategic alliance” with Germany-based Traton Group, formerly known as Volkswagen Truck and Bus. Traton purchased a 17% equity stake in Navistar in 2016 and agreed to share technological developments and pursue global sourcing opportunities as partners. Navistar has already made a deal to use a new powertrain developed by Traton in future trucks, starting in 2021. The partnership agreement has been credited with helping Navistar turn around its financial outlook in recent years, with both companies expecting to save hundreds of millions of dollars in the next five years.

PR Newswire / October 15, 2018 Navistar International Corporation announced that the truckmaker has repaid in full its 4.5% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes issued in October 2013. The repayment of the outstanding principal of $200 million at maturity on October 15, 2018, was funded with cash on hand. "This repayment is another important step for Navistar, as it reflects our stronger liquidity position, building on the Company's return to profitability in 2017 and its expected generation of positive free cash flow in 2018," said Walter Borst, chief financial officer. "Our improved financial profile provides Navistar with additional flexibility as we work to improve our balance sheet and credit ratings."

Bill Ford cancels visit to Saudi investor conference Reuters / October 14, 2018 Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford canceled a multi-stop trip to the Middle East, including a planned appearance at a Saudi investment conference this month, the company said on Sunday, the latest such cancellation after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, The company did not elaborate on the reasons for Ford’s decision not to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, and did not comment on whether concerns about the disappearance of Khashoggi were a factor.

The tension rises at Ford Michael Martinez, Automotive News / October 15, 2018 Dealers wonder: Where's the company headed? DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. says it has a plan under CEO Jim Hackett to improve the automaker's profitability and competitiveness. But Ford has had a tough time getting others to understand and gain confidence in the early stages of Hackett's companywide restructuring. Investors pushed shares of the company below $9 last week to their lowest closing price since 2009, when most of the company's assets were in hock and the industry was only starting to recover from the recession. Dealers hope to finally hear more concrete details at a meeting this week that will be Hackett's first time addressing the company's broad retail network in person. "There's been a lot less exposure to senior management," said Jack Madden, owner of Jack Madden Ford in Norwood, Mass. "There's just not enough information flowing down to dealers about where the company's headed." Meanwhile, more turmoil is creeping into the company's ranks after Hackett told Ford's 70,000 salaried workers around the world that the $11 billion restructuring will include job cuts, while giving no specifics on numbers and only a vague idea of how or when. Ford is calling changes to its employment structure an "organizational redesign" and says it could take months to complete. Hackett is no stranger to layoffs — he axed thousands of employees at his former company, Steelcase, including the best man from his wedding — but stretching out the process, instead of announcing the cuts all at once, threatens to sink morale and create an uneasy, disillusioned work force, experts say. "The approach they've taken can create a lot of anxiety and stress for their employees, particularly heading into the holiday season," Chris Zatzick, an associate professor of management and organization studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, told Automotive News. "To have that uncertainty and not know what's going to happen in the new year can be quite impactful and can potentially lead to employees looking for other jobs or withholding effort." Ford argues the approach gives managers throughout the company more power to shape their departments, flatten command chains and cut out bureaucracy. They wanted to get ahead of potential rumors that would arise when workers would see their team leaders pulled into meetings — which they call "design sessions" — with higher-ups. "It's really about redesigning the business," Ford spokeswoman Karen Hampton told Automotive News this month. "An outcome of that is that there's likely to be reductions. The real purpose is to change the way we work." Paring back its salaried ranks is the latest shake-up under Hackett, who replaced Mark Fields in May 2017. Hackett seeks to drastically change the way the 115-year-old automaker is run, developing new vehicle architectures, redesigning its product lineups and shortening its order-to-delivery process. Its North American product team, for example, has taken over the 11th floor of Ford headquarters for weekly, daylong meetings examining the profitability of each nameplate one by one. And last week, Ford announced a seismic shift to its advertising strategy, saying that BBDO would replace WPP as its lead creative agency. WPP, which has worked with the automaker since Henry Ford was president 75 years ago, will retain some work as part of a new multiagency model. None of the moves have impressed Wall Street. Investors have raised concern over Ford's financial outlook since the automaker in July cut its full-year profit forecast and canceled an annual investor day because it didn't have enough details to share. Looking for direction Ford communicated the impending cuts to salaried employees through a video message that was met with confusion by some who struggled to understand its meaning. Ford insists the message was not about job cuts and said employees have appreciated the way it is handling the news. "In Ford's history, we have streamlined organizations but we rarely removed work, causing each team member to have to do more with less," Hackett said in the video, according to a transcript Ford provided. He told employees the upcoming changes would be made using "a cascading process that will involve many of you" and that they will work to eliminate "low-value" tasks. "While redesigning the organization is important and it's necessary work, it's not going to be easy," he said. "But it is fundamental to us becoming the business we need to be." Denise Giraudo, a partner in law firm Sheppard Mullin's labor and employment practice group, said more employers are starting to communicate impending job cuts earlier in the process. "We tend to tell our clients more notice is better," Giraudo said. "It does put the employees in limbo, but it also allows them to prepare for a possible layoff, look for different positions and prepare themselves monetarily." The announcement is a departure from how Ford and Hackett have handled similar actions. While CEO of Steelcase, Hackett eliminated around 12,000 jobs as the company transformed from a traditional furniture maker to embracing new open-office designs. He was known for personally meeting with affected employees and helping them get back on their feet. During Fields' last week as CEO in 2017, Ford said it would ax 1,400 salaried employees in North America and Asia through voluntary early retirement and special separation packages. It provided details into what departments would receive the buyouts and said decisions would be made within four months. Although the latest changes are likely necessary, the manner in which Ford notified employees could damage morale, according to Carol Olsby, a human-resources consultant and author. "In an absence of any information, it's stressful," she said, noting the news could have a significant ripple effect on Ford's supply chain and the communities where its workers live. "People are going to be looking for more direction from the company." ‘The right medicine' Ford's dealer network also is eager for more direction from Hackett. He and his team will answer their questions this week at Ford's national dealer meeting in Las Vegas. The company expects 4,000 to 5,000 dealers and dealership employees to attend. Over 28 hours, they'll hear from executives; see new products, including the next-generation Escape and Explorer; preview accessories for upcoming off-road utilities; and get to drive or ride in vehicles such as the upcoming Ranger midsize pickup and the GT supercar at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Retailers will hear about Ford's sales strategy for its newest products. And they'll get the first glimpse of an advertising campaign debuting in the fourth quarter that's expected to use the slogan "Ford Proud." "It's the right medicine at the right time," Rhett Ricart, CEO of Ricart Automotive Group in Groveport, Ohio, and a Ford dealer council member, said. "I think it will be a huge jolt for dealers' attitudes." .

GAZ Press Release / September 19, 2018 .

GM's 2.7-liter turbo engine is in the wrong truck Richard Truett, Automotive News / October 10, 2018 We all knew General Motors was taking a big chance slotting a four-cylinder engine in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. There would have to be a very compelling reason for truck buyers to give up either two or four cylinders and step down from a V-6 or a V-8. But now that we know the fuel economy ratings for the Silverado's new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine are 20 mpg city, 23 highway and 21 combined, it is hard to see what marketing types call the "why buy." When Ford introduced the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 in the F-150 in 2011, the compelling reason was tire-smoking performance combined with the ability to haul an enormous load. And if the driver kept his foot from pressing too hard on the accelerator -- which limited the use of the turbochargers -- good fuel economy could also be had. Despite endless chest-beating from Ford's hyperactive public relations department at the time, drivers weren't going to get Eco and Boost at the same time, but they could get both if they learned how to drive the truck properly. No other truck offered that kind of flexibility. Ford successfully convinced legions of buyers to pay a premium for a smaller engine, but I am telling you flat out right here and now that GM will fail to do the same with the new 2.7-liter, which costs more -- a lot more -- than the 4.3-liter V-6 that remains available in the 2019 model. Here are the numbers: The basic 2019 Silverado Work Truck starts at $29,795 and comes equipped with the ancient but trusty 4.3-liter V-6. The four-cylinder engine is standard in the 2019 Silverado LT, which starts at $38,395 -- $8,600 more than the Work Truck. (Neither price includes shipping.) Now, not all of that price difference is related to the engine. The equipment levels vary in the two trims. The 2.7-liter has a new eight-speed automatic transmission, while the 4.3-liter V-6 soldiers on with an old six-speed automatic gearbox. The fuel economy on the 2019 4.3-liter version of the Silverado has not been EPA rated, but the 2018 Silverado with the same powertrain -- and lot more curb weight -- got better highway fuel economy than the lighter 2019 model with the 2.7-liter. The 2018 V-6 Silverado delivered 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 combined. It only stands to reason that the 4.3-liter powertrain in the 2019 Silverado will get better fuel economy than last year's truck since the new model sheds up to 450 pounds. Now here's the clincher: A small engine in a large vehicle can be -- and often is -- just as thirsty as a larger engine in the same vehicle if it has to work hard all the time. The advantage here usually goes to the larger engine. And there is precedent for this. Ford learned a painful lesson in what is called "powertrain matching" early in the EcoBoost rollout, when late in 2011, it offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Explorer crossover. It was a dog that didn't sell because the 240-hp, 2.0-liter engine had to work so hard to move the 4,500-pound light truck that it neither provided good performance nor good fuel economy. Ford engineers learned they had to do a better job matching an engine's torque and horsepower output to the vehicle's weight, aerodynamics and duty cycle. The Explorer's 2.0-liter engine was replaced by a 2.3-liter at the end of 2015 rated at 280 hp. Highway fuel economy remained the same, at 27 mpg, with the bigger engine. Automakers don't release fuel economy results for vehicles as they are towing heavy loads. Indeed, there is no EPA test for that. But I can see the fuel economy figures for the Silverado's 2.7-liter engine careening down Davis Dam like a semitruck with overheated brakes when a customer hooks the Silverado up with a heavy trailer. GM says the 2.7-liter turbo, four-cylinder engine develops more torque and horsepower than the 4.3-liter V-6, which is true. But that makes me wonder why GM just didn't offer a new, lighter, more modern V-6 to replace the 4.3. The company's 3.6-liter V-6 would have been an excellent choice for the Silverado. All this is not to say GM won't have a strong chance to outright own the fuel economy crown for full-size trucks. Next summer, the Silverado will get a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel engine that is widely expected to deliver over 30 mpg on the highway. So here's the bottom line: The new 2.7-liter engine, loaded with all sorts of technology to boost fuel efficiency and performance, is in the wrong truck. The midsize Chevrolet Colorado is where the 2.7-liter engine will shine, delivering fuel economy and performance along with the ability to haul heavy loads. I'll give the four-cylinder exactly one year in the Silverado before it fades into the Colorado and becomes a big success.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/spygate-the-true-story-of-collusion_2684629.html https://services.epoch.cloud/public-labs/files/spygate.jpg

The Loadstar was a backbone in America's commercial trucking history.

I would take pleasure in having my company represented on the roads of America with a fleet of Argosies.