2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT View Photo

Driver Side Door Open

Engine

Front door handle

Front & Driver Side View

Front Wheel

Grill & Front View

Headlight

Side View Mirror

Power Window Operation

Rear View

Rear View Straight

Side View

Tail light

Trunk

Toyota Hilux

The 5VZ (or the 5VZ-FE to be exact) has been touted as Displacement increased from 3.0 to 3.4 litres and power jumped from 112 kW (150 hp) to 142 (190 hp). The Hilux made use of the 3VZ from 1988 to 1995 at which point it used the 5VZ. The VZ engine ran on petrol (gasoline) and all versions featured electronic fuel injection. Toyota VZ Engine The VZ was the first family of V6 engines ever used in the Toyota Hilux.

The 22R has a reputation as one of the best Toyota Hilux engine ever used for longevity and reliability of easily being able to clock 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles). In the beginning, the 2R was a 1.5 litre that grew and had various factory modifications through the 2.4 litre 22R-E used in 1995. The 2R, 3R, 8R, 8R-C, 8R-E, 12R, 18R, 18R-C, 18R-E, 20R, 22R, 22R-E, and 22R-TE were all the variations of the R family of engines to be used in the Hilux. The R engine was a 4-cylinder petrol (gasoline) that was used in various forms from 1968 to 1995.



Toyota R Engine The R engine was the first family of engines to grace the Toyota Hilux. This article will provide a brief timeline into the history of the Toyota Hilux engine. It has since evolved many times over with some models maintaining a 4-cylinder engine although now they're bigger, more powerful and even turbo or diesel powered (or both) while some models made a jump to larger displacement V6 engines. Back then, it was powered by a small, 1.5 litre 4-cylinder. The Toyota Hilux engine has changed many times since 1968 when the Hilux first debuted.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna

The third generation Sienna is an evolutionary vehicle that picks up on the strengths of the previous product and refines the overall look of the van. You can immediately tell that the van is a newer model, yet there are no outlandish styling features that would send relatively conservative minivan buyers running for the hills.

The front of the van has a Venza inspired grille and does slightly resemble the F3R Concept with a more pronounced chin. There is a nice shoulder line running down the side of the van that gives the Sienna some visual interest. When viewing the van from the rear, you will notice LED taillights, amber turn signal and hidden rear wiper tucked under the rear spoiler.

Climbing into the van, the instrument panel has been revised. The graining on the materials is quite nice, but if you touch them you will find that former soft touch surfaces, such as the top of the dash, now feature harder plastics. On the higher end models, the faux wood now has a much more realistic look to them, a la the Venza. In the top center of the dash there is an information display. For vans equipped with a DVD player, discs are loaded in the front of the dash in a slot loader (like the Honda Odyssey) as opposed to the current setup where you have to sit in the middle row in order to load the DVD.

Range Rover Pimped-up

This upscale Range Rover has been customised by the car's luxury refitters Overfinch, together with shotgun-makers Holland & Holland.

The 4x4 is crammed full of high-end kit, including a drinks cabinet featuring bottles of posh booze. Owners can even have the steering wheel spokes engraved to match their guns.

This luxury costs £139,650. Only 100 will be made and most will no doubt be bought by footballers who've never set foot on a country estate.

Ford scoops

Ford has been declared the overall winner of the annual What Van? awards for 2010 after walking away with seven of the prizes on offer.

The US manufacturer won five different awards for commercial vehicles from its Transit range, including best security for the standard Transit and Transit Connect.

Meanwhile, the Ford Fiesta Van was named the best small van of the year, with What Car? praising the commercial vehicle for its responsive driving, user-friendly gearchange system and enjoyable handling.

Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director for Ford of Britain, described the level of appreciation it received at the awards as a "magnificent endorsement".

He said: "This success is a testament to the investment we continue to make in developing the workhorse vehicles that British businesses need."

Last month, the Transit Connect also won the light van of the year prize at the Association of Car Fleet Operators' Fleet Car and Vans Awards.

Vauxhall Movano Van.

Vauxhall has released more details of its new Movano van, which goes on sale in May with a claimed 29 different body styles, which include includes panel van, doublecab and Combi versions, chassis cabs with standard or crew cab, platform cab, three wheelbases, four vehicle lengths and three roof heights.

Under the bonnet a new generation of 2.3 CDTi four-cylinder common-rail diesel engines is said to combine strong performance with low operating costs. Three power outputs are available: 100PS/285 Nm, 125 PS/310 Nm and 150PS/350 Nm.
All engines come with a six-speed gearbox as standard and are Euro 4 or Euro 5 (with DPF) compliant. The 125PS and 150PS versions can be coupled with the semi-auto Techshift transmission.

Ford vans

A poll conducted among leasing companies has revealed Ford to be the most reliable van manufacturer in Britain.

The Fleet News magazine survey, which questioned users of more than one million vehicles, revealed that Ford vans are the least likely to suffer breakdowns.

In addition to this, Ford's Transit van was named the single most reliable van make, the third year in a row it has taken this title.

Steve Kimber, Ford of Britain's commercial vehicle director, expressed delight at the manufacturer's victory and said it was indicative of the quality of its range.

He said: "Ford models have led the commercial vehicle market for 44 years.

"Their reliability record is of paramount importance."

This comes a month after the US carmaker was named as Van Manufacturer of the Year at the Fleet Van Awards - a title it also won in 2008 - in recognition of the affordability and efficiency of its vehicles

Find hundreds of Ford vans for sale at vansandtrucks.co.uk

Mercedes Electric Van

Mercedes-Benz showed a meeting of European ministers of economic affairs a prototype electric Vito earlier this week. The informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting in San Sebastian was told the experimental vehicle with its Lithium-ion battery and load capacity of 900 kg would enter limited production this year.

During 2010, more than 100 Mercedes-Benz Vito vans will be delivered to 20 customers, primarily fleet operators and public institutions wishing to transport items in environmentally sensitive zones with zero emissions, including no CO2 emissions, and low noise. Deployment scenarios therefore typically involve short distances and making many stops in urban areas. Production of a further 2000 vehicles is planned in the next phase.

The drive configuration is designed solely to run on battery power and thus dispenses with the powertrain intended for combustion engines.

A battery featuring powerful lithium-ion technology supplies energy to the Vito. With an operating voltage of 400 V, 16 A current and an available capacity of 32 kWh, the Vito’s range averages 130 km but can be considerably higher given an appropriate driving style. The electric motor delivers a peak output of 90 kW. Performance is oriented around customer requirements: an electronically limited top speed of 80 km/h is designed to meet our customers’ transportation needs in and around urban areas.

When it comes to safety features, every aspect is covered. All Vito vehicles come with ESP as standard which incorporates ABS and ASR. The number and type of airbags also corresponds with the current Vito specification. Vehicles are subjected to the usual crash tests with regard to passive safety. There is no loss in terms of payload or load volume compared to a conventionally powered Vito as a load capacity in excess of 900 kg is possible.

Assembly of the electric-powered Vito is being integrated directly into standard production. The Mercedes-Benz plant at Vitoria in the Basque region of Spain is already preparing for the challenges associated with manufacturing an additional variant. Logistics, staff training and production technology are receiving financial support from the regional government.

In Germany too the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is providing subsidies to support the efforts of Mercedes-Benz Vans in the areas of research and development, testing and customer deployment.

GMC trucks on way

"Immediate needs in Haiti include basic supplies and reliable transportation," GM Foundation Chairman John T. Montford said in a statement. "We believe the donation of 30 GMC trucks can have an immediate and beneficial impact on relief efforts in Haiti."

The General Motors Foundation announced Wednesday that it is donating 30 GMC Sierra pickups and other supplies to the Haitian earthquake relief effort to help address the need for trucks to transport supplies in the country.

Two of the trucks arrived Wednesday at a special event being held by the NFL in Miami as part of efforts to raise money for Haiti.

The pickups will arrive in Haiti later this month, GM said in a statement.

The William J. Clinton Foundation is providing transit of vehicles to Haiti. The trucks will be loaded with supplies, such as tarps and tents, donated by Florida GMC dealers.

The foundation has already donated $100,000 in cash to the American Red Cross for Haitian relief efforts and raised $250,000 last month by auctioning off a limited-edition Corvette at the annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.

"Everyone in America has been affected in some way by this tragedy," Susan Docherty, GM vice president of sales and member of the GM Foundation, said in a statement.

Nissan NV200 scoops

Nissan's all-new NV200 van range has scooped the International Van of the Year 2010 award.

The new van, launched earlier this year, fought off a strong challenge from Iveco's new Ecodaily and the revised Volkswagen Transporter to take the top van crown. It amassed a total of 107 votes from a maximum possible 161.

The jury, made up of leading commercial vehicle journalists from Europe, was particularly impressed by the fact Nissan has created a compact light commercial vehicle that sets new standards in a number of important areas - for instance, internal load space, driver comfort and, especially, its low interior noise levels at high speed. Build quality, attention to detail, and all-round driver visibility were other reasons cited by the jury for the NV200's elevation.

When it comes to earning potential and productivity, the NV200's cargo space, at 4.2m³, is between 20%-25% larger than many of its direct competitors, and, in some cases, larger rivals. In addition, initial fuel economy results look promising.

"The NV200 is a very well-designed, compact, 'quality' van with good economy," says UK jury member Andy Salter. "It more than fulfils the most important criterion of the 2010 International Van of the Year award - a significant contribution to the safe and efficient transport of goods by road."

Truck Repairs Advice

When you’re putting a truck through its paces from one day to another, it’s not surprising that after a short time it can begin to look a little worse for wear. If buying a new truck is not an option, you will need to focus on carrying out regular repairs to ensure the vehicle stays safe and looks good when you’re out on the road. Read some of our advice guide below to learn more about truck repairs.

Truck Repairs: Tricks of the Trade

• When you’re using a truck daily, it’s sometimes easy to become complacent about the state of the vehicle. If business is brisk, making regular checks on a van or truck can seem a waste of valuable time and resources.
  

Toyota recall of rusty Tundra pickups

Toyota is going to expand its recall of the 2000 to 2003 Tundra pickup to include the entire country -- not just 20 cold-weather states.

Owners of Tundras originally sold or currently registered in the remaining 30 states will be notified by Toyota in the coming weeks. In the original recall, corrosion could lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle's underside, as well as excessive corrosion affecting brake lines and fuel tank straps.

The original recall covered 110,000 Tundras. Not sure how many more the expanded recall will pick up.

Ford Super Duty

As promised, General Motors is raising the stakes in its big-truck he-man macho showdown with Ford's Super Duty.

GMC, GM's serious-truck division, just announced the new 2011 Sierra Denali HD will offer a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine with a stunning 397 horsepower and 765 foot-pounds of torque. That's seven more horsepower and about 30 more foot-pounds of torque than the Super Duty, according to PickupTrucks.com. While that's not a lot of difference in the real world, the bragging rights will clearly go to GMC and its ad campaign.

The new Denali can tow up to 20,000 pounds -- 10 tons. The bed payload is rated at more than three tons.

"The new Sierra Denali HD is the latest expression of GMC's Denali philosophy of blending capability with premium features and styling," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director.

The new giant diesel engine will get 11% greater highway fuel economy, up to 63% lower emissions and is capable of burning bio-diesel fuel, GMC says. With a larger fuel tank, it can go 680 miles between fill-ups.

Daihatsu Deca Deca Concept

It rattles the senses to see a van like that flung open with no smoke billowing out. Alas, the reason for that is she’s just a concept–the Daihatsu Deca Deca. Fun to say and fun to gawk at, the Deca Deca is more than just the next great toke-mobile, it’s designed with a primary goal of utility. Like the big, beat-up van with a broken window that the local contractor drives to the jobsite each day, people are a second thought for this van. The van features a flat floor, adjustable seating and pillarless doors for simplifying shoving the tools of work inside. It’s powered by a 3-cylinder turbo with CVT transmission

Light Commercial Vehicles values

November recorded the highest average LCV values for two years as buyers competed strongly in the auction halls and online. Average van prices increased to £3,902 from the £3,858 recorded in October, and even outpaced the January 2008 high point of £3,868.

The rise of £44 - equivalent to a 1.2% increase - may be modest but will be welcomed by vendors as there were indications that values may have already peaked earlier this year. However, another strong month in the auction halls at BCA saw values climb yet again.

Model mix was broadly the same, although reduced numbers of higher value nearly-new vans were sold in November, which makes the increased average value seem relatively even stronger. Volumes were slightly down on last month.

BCA's Duncan Ward commented "Year-on-year values are now ahead by an astounding £1,089 - the biggest year-on-year margin on record and reflecting both the strong performance in November 2009 and just how weak the LCV sector was in November 2008."

Despite the average price increase, performance against CAP continued to fall and settled at 98.36%, with a further 3 points lost against last months average. CAP performance has fallen by over six points in the last two months alone.

Fleet & lease van values were the main beneficiary of the increase as prices increased by £146 to £4,344 (up 3.5%) - the highest average value on record. Average age and mileage remain little changed over the past 24 months at around 41 months and 62,000 miles, although both price and CAP performance have been on a rollercoaster ride.

Ward commented "End users have remained very active in the marketplace and delivery firms expanding capacity in advance of Christmas have no doubt buoyed the average price. Year-on-year, fleet & lease van values in November 2009 are £1,256 - a staggering 40.6% - ahead of the same period last year."

Masterplan for New Vans Renault

RENAULT has been the undisputed leader of western Europe's commercial vehicle market for the past 12 years, and a market share of 14.81 per cent in 2009 put the company in a good position to resist the downturn in the van markaet

To try and maintain its dominance, the French company is launching three new models – the New Master, Trafic Phase 3 and a new Kangoo Van Maxi.

The flagship of Renault's commercial vehicle range is the latest Master which had undergone a complete makeover and goes on sale in the UK on May 7.

Outwardly the Master has a sleeker, modern style and it has an entirely redesigned interior with added comfort features for drivers and new storage capacity.

The new Master's front-end styling features a broad grille and large, headlamps. The large wheel arches and blunt bonnet give it a purposeful look.

Commercial electric vehicle

It may be the latest electric sports cars and sedans that dominate the headlines, but over the next five years it is the humble delivery van that is likely to determine the success of the burgeoning electric vehicle market.
That is the conclusion of new research from analyst firm Frost & Sullivan to be released later this week, which predicts that electric buses, vans and trucks will account for 70 per cent of the electric vehicle market in the EU and North America by 2015.

"On an optimistic note, Frost & Sullivan analysis shows that close to four per cent of the total commercial vehicle sold by 2015 will be electric," said Vishnu Muralidharan, senior research analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Automotive Practice. "Vans and light trucks offer the maximum electrification potential in both US and Europe."

The company said depot-based delivery vehicles were likely to prove a particularly fertile market for electric vehicle manufacturers as they tend to operate on a limited range and undertake predictable journeys.
It also predicted that while most electric commercial vehicles available today are light weight vans, expected improvements in battery technologies mean that medium and even large sized trucks are likely to be available on the market in the next few years.

The sector has also been further bolstered by generous government incentives, such as the British government's recent pledge to provide tax breaks for electric vans.

Fiat Doblo Van

It looks like the present might be the dawn of a new street takeover by funky vans. While it’s a little more curvy and less hemptastic than the Deca Deca concept of Tokyo fame, the Fiat Doblo is equally big and bold. The van comes in a number of configurations including 5- and 7-person MPV varieties complete with dual rear sliding doors. The van also comes in classic Cargo with a single rear sliding door.

The Doblo MPV will boast the longest wheelbase in its class, according to Fiat, and will sport four different petrol and diesel engine options when it comes to Europe early next year.

Ordinarily a clunky, new, Euro-release van isn’t that interesting to us, but according to Chrysler’s five-year plan, a Fiat-based small commercial van will be coming stateside by 2012. And this might just be it. I, for one, look forward to seeing Dodge-branded Doblos taking it to I-95 on the daily commute.

Nissan new commercial vans

Another longtime profit bastion for domestic automakers is about to see a serious run from a foreign automaker. Nissan just unveiled its first production commercial vehicle for the U.S., which will go on sale later this year.

The van comes with a tall roof or a short one. Either way, it could spell trouble for Ford E Series.

CAPTION

By Nissan

It will be called the Nissan NV -- for "Nissan Van." And the thing is about as sexy as its name -- a plain-Jane, framed truck that only plumbers will love. It comes in high-top and low-top versions.

For a generation, Ford has dominated the commercial van market with its E Series, formerly called the Econoline. General Motors has its Chevrolet Express van. Now Nissan is serious about getting in on the action.

"As the first non-domestic nameplate to design, manufacture and sell (commercial vans) in the United States, we bring a more than seven-decade tradition of durability, quality and reliability to our products," said Joe Castelli, vice president for commercial vehicles for Nissan North America

He goes on to say:

"We've taken a fresh look at every aspect of the ... business – including styling, powertrain, interiors, cost of operation and ownership, dealership sales and service operations and, most importantly, real world customer needs."

The new vans will comes with 4-liter V-6 and 5.6-liter V-8 engines and in two body styles, standard roof like the E Series or high roof, like Daimler's Sprinter van. The high roof offers the ability to walk in without banging your head.

"It's been too many years since any manufacturer in this segment has taken a 'clean sheet' look at the needs of owners and operators in the (van) segment," said Castelli.

new Dodge Ram truck campaign

Chrysler Group LLC’s is launching the first comprehensive marketing and advertising campaign for the new Ram Truck brand.

In the past, Chrysler’s trucks have always been sold under the Dodge brand.

The Dodge name is not going away, Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ram Brand.

“It’s still going to be there on the trucks,” he said. If our loyal customers want to refer to their truck as a Dodge that’s fine.”

Diaz, however, said from now Chrysler’s truck advertising and marketing will emphasize the Ram name only. One of every eight vehicles sold in the U.S. is a truck, he said.

"The Ram Truck brand customer has been clearly identified and this campaign marks the beginning of how we will begin to build a deeper relationship with that consumer," Diaz said.

"We know truck customers; we understand their passion and what drives and motivates them. We plan to connect with them on an emotional and rational level," he said.

Olivier Francois, the president of Chrysler brand, who is in overall charge of marketing and advertising for the Chrysler Group, said a key reason for selling trucks under the Ram name was to create more space for the Dodge brand and its line of cars, minivans and crossover vehicles.

The success of the Ram is in the truck market, he said.

Francois also he believes the new television campaign focuses on the American spirit and delivers a realistic view of how Ram Heavy Duty pickups are used.

“We know who drives the truck and we have built our advertising to talk with them one on one,” said Francois, who was brought in from Fiat last year to assemble a new marketing strategy for the Chrysler Group.

Marissa Hunter, Ram marketing director, also said the new campaign also will emphasize events that draw a large number of truck buyers.

The new marketing and advertising campaign for the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty was filmed in variety of locations. It highlights “the nobility of work,” Francois said.

Hunter also said the Ram brand's all-new web site, RamTrucks.com, engages consumers in the full brand experience — whether it's building and pricing a vehicle or finding merchandising and accessories to meet their lifestyle.

Diaz also offered an assessment of Chrysler’s sales so far this month saying they were solidly ahead of the pace during February. But overall sales could still wind up 10 percent below the total number of units sold in March, 2008, when Chrysler pushed up incentives to an unsustainable level to clear out inventory.