First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

After spending a couple of days with the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor in California's Anza Borrego desert, we came to the conclusion that Ford's SVT wondertruck is at least 15 different kinds of awesome. After all, how many SVT-badged, factory fresh rides come equipped with three stage Fox shocks, 12-inches of clearance and 35-inch BF Goodrich rubber? We can only think of one, and we drove it in orange.

Motor Trend also spent time with the Raptor at Anza Borrego, and they had cameras rolling on the ground and in the air. The 6:27 video is chock full of information about the Raptor, but perhaps more importantly, it's also filled with rolling footage of Ford's off-road super truck doing what it does best: tackle tough terrain. MT hits speeds of 75-100 mph while behind the wheel, sliding effortlessly across some pretty inhospitable environs. In the video, the publication's Ed Loh also tests out the Raptor's hill descent mode, which crawls down steep grades without the need to touch the gas or brake pedal. Hit the jump to watch the Raptor tackle hill and sand at Anza Borrego, and if you're anything like us, you'll be looking for the nearest dune and any excuse to get behind the wheel of Ford's new desert rat rod.

Volkswagen Pickup Concept Revealed

After many speculations and rumors, VW finally lifted the wraps of its forthcoming 1-tonne pickup truck in the form of a pre-production model simply called ‘Pickup’ at the International Automobile Exhibition in Hanover (September 26 to October 02). The concept gives us a taste of the production model that we’ve become accustomed to knowing it as Robust. Production of the new Pickup will begin in fall 2009 at Volkswagen’s “Pacheco” plant in Argentina. According to VW, the production model will be initially introduced at the end of 2009 to South America, South Africa, Australia and Europe with other markets following shortly after.

$187k Big Rig Nickel Spill on Highway

"Save your pennies" is a common frase for anyone looking to purchase anything, but after this truck accident on Interstate 95 in Florida, it may be "swipe them nickels." Drivers may be parking on the shoulder and breaking out the metal detector after a couple of tractor trailers were involved in a crash that claimed one life and caused one of the rigs to spill all its cargo of nickels all over the the freeway. The coinage, looks like snow across the roadway, it is worth about $187,000, but I doubt too much of that total will be left lying in the grass.

Source: Autoblog

Gurt Geiger': Ford F-650

Not for sandal-wearing beardies, this Ford F-650 has received the GeigerCars treatment.

One of the less subtle tuning houses in Germany, GeigerCars modifies things that don't really need modifying. Like this.

To be honest, the F-650 hasn't received a huge amount of tweakage - at 21.3 feet long and 5.2 tons, the standard version is a bit of a bruiser.

However, for 9,800 Euros Geiger will fit chrome side tanks, and for another 2,800 Euros it will install chrome 'high pipes'.

Other mods available from the German nutjob include leather trip, entertainment and navigation systems and - get this - a gullwing door conversion.

Power comes from a 6.7-litre Cummins six-cylinder diesel producing 320bhp and a mighty 737.6 lb ft.

Chris Eubank, we presume, is already making arrangements to have one delivered...

Source: Top Gear

Pontiac G8 Sport Truck Name Just Pontiac G8 ST

Much to the misfortune of our Jalop friends and despite a huge online competition that saw more than 18,000 different names being entered, GM decided to stick with the totally bland “G8 ST” where ST stands for -you guessed it- Sport Truck. “Frankly, we were blown away by both the volume and quality of the names that were submitted,” said Craig Bierley, BPG product marketing director for cars and crossovers. “G8 ST was one of the most popular suggestions, plus we noticed a far broader trend toward simple, easy-to-remember names.”

And what about the “El Camino” nameplate given the G8 ST’s resemblance to the classic Chevy? “We actually thought very long about El Camino,” said Bierley. “In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honour the El Camino’s unique place as part of Chevy’s heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac.” What do you think about Pontiac’s decision to “keep it simple”?