What’s Happening In The Industry
BFGoodrich, Tread Lightly!, and United Four Wheel Drive Associations have named some Outstanding Trails for 2012, with a nod to Blanca Peak in Blanca, Colorado; Mirror Lake in Sierra National Forest in California; and Bents and Dents in Mount Olive, Alabama. Nabbing the title means Outstanding bragging rights, but also a $4,000 grant to the associated off-road clubs for conservation efforts and trail preservation.
Currie Enterprises is moving from Anaheim, California, to Corona, California. The reason? In life, people move on. Also, it’s a new state-of-the-art joint.
Hurry! The DynoMax Power Surge can score you a $75 mail-in rebate (aka prepaid debit card) for the purchase of a qualifying exhaust system; the promo runs until June 30. Go to www.dynomax.com.
Bosch has produced its 75 millionth common-rail diesel system. Wait—we bet it’s now up to 75 million and one. Two. Three.
Mopar has available an in-vehicle wireless charging kit. It’s for the new Dodge Dart first and runs $199.99. Start saving your pennies.
Goodyear is working with NASA on the Spring Tire, a concept for exploring hardcore terrain, like, you know, the moon, but also places on Earth that no one can get to without ending up with a flat along the way.
Cummins now offers a smartphone app at the Apple App Store. They say that it allows “job-seeking candidates the ability to interact with 3D versions of the latest engine technologies and search for a new career with the company.” We dig the idea of 3D engine technologies, but kinda don’t need a job.
Miller Owners Club—it’s from Miller Electric Mfg. and has videos, tips, how-tos, and more. If you’re into welding, go to there: www.owners.millerwelds.com.
SVU: Special Vehicles Unit
There are some special packages/trims/models now available from which to personalize/tacky-fy/upgrade. They are:
GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, and Sierra Heritage Edition: Badges with the original GMC logo from 1912 (get it, heritage?), and a new Heritage Blue shade (as well as other pigments).
Ram Lone Star: The ’12 1500 model can be had in 10th Anniversary Lone Star skin. The 10th anniversary refers to original Ram Lone Star, birthed for Texas only. Most notable (or do we mean noticeable?) are the Texas/Lone Star logos inside.
Jeep Altitude: The limited-edition Grand Cherokee, Patriot, and Compass models have a blacked-out look.
Ford Explorer Sport: Performance version of the SUV. Twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5L V-6, making about 350 horses.
Your Government At Work
There’s a bill moving through the government by Los Angeles assemblyman, Mike Gatto, that’s trying to bring back the black/yellow and blue/yellow California license plates, making them an option for enthusiasts. Yes, please.
More electronics coming—brake override systems might become mandated equipment. You know, to prevent the bouts of unintended acceleration that seemingly stopped happening.
E15—gasoline with 15 percent ethanol. The EPA has approved the first applications for registration of ethanol for making this.
In 2010, production, sales, service, and use of vehicles equaled $91.5 billion for state government tax revenues and somewhere north of $43 billion to the fed government tax revenues. Those stats are from the Center for Automotive Research. Put into English, that means the auto industry represents 13 percent of all state government tax revenues.
As we went to press, legislation aimed at exempting motor vehicles prior to the 1981 model year from the emissions inspection requirement was granted reconsideration after failing to be approved by a Senate Transportation and Housing Committee vote. Visit the SEMA Action Network at www.semasan.com to see what action you can take.
Special Service Dodge Durango—it’s built for law enforcement and the fire department, and includes a beefy brake package, a high-output 220-amp alternator, and a heavy-duty battery, water pump, and oil cooler. There’s also a customizable rear cargo area (and third-row-seating delete).