There Is No Slowdown for Truck Manufacturers as Performance Improvements Accelerate Into the Fast LaneHigh Gear

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Another pickup option from Ford is the Sport Trac SUV hybrid, an Explorer body mated to a 40-inch-long cargo box. This midsize hauler got a redesign last year, giving it a wider track and 16.8-inch-longer wheelbase. Engine choices include a 4.0-liter V6 engine with 210 hp and 254 pound-feet of torque, or a 4.6-liter V8 with 292 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque. Maximum tow weight is 6,800 pounds, and maximum payload is 1,390 pounds.

Dodge
For 2008, Dodge builds on the solid foundation of its Ram 1500 pickups and engines to muscle into commercial-truck territory (Class 2–5). Now with a full lineup of Ram 2500 and new 3500 pickups, along with new 4500 and 5500 chassis cab models, Dodge already has scored some impressive gains in market share.

All the Dodge trucks share an array of gas and diesel engines, including a 3.7-liter V6 (215 hp, 235 pound-feet of torque), a 4.7-liter V8 (235 hp, 300 pound-feet of torque), and a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 (345 hp, 375 pound-feet of torque). The 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel (350 hp, 650 pound-feet of torque) introduced in 2007 is not available in the 1500 series.

Towing and payload capacities among the 1500s top out at 8,900 and 2,535 pounds, respectively. The Cummins-equipped Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups max out at 16,400 pounds for towing, with a 5,020-pound payload.

Dodge has pared down its Ram 1500 lineup for 2008, which now includes Regular, Quad, and Mega Cab and sport and off-road models. Dodge has discontinued the revived Power Wagon and hot SRT-10 pickup with Viper V10 engine.

The midsize Dodge Dakota remains much the same for '08. The high-output, small V8 has been dropped, leaving engine options to a standard 3.7-liter V6 or an optional 4.7-liter V8, with an Extended Cab with rear-access doors or four-door Crew Cab. The high-output, small V8 has been dropped, leaving engine options to a standard 3.7-liter V6 or an optional 4.7-liter V8.

General Motors
Listen to the news, and you'd think General Motors is in retreat. Then take a look at its truck lineup, and it becomes instantly obvious that GM is charging full speed ahead in its work-vehicle production. There isn't another manufacturer on the planet with a deeper bench.

GM's Chevrolet and GMC divisions produce an amazing variety of highly capable, work-qualified vehicles. These include the compact new HHR Panel, Avalanche, and Cadillac Escalade EXT crossover pickups; midsize Colorado and Canyon pickups; full-size and Heavy Duty Silverado and Sierra pickups; Chevy Express and GMC Savana work vans; W- and T-series cab-over utility trucks; and commercial-duty C4500 and C5500 Kodiak and Topkick trucks.

Included among GM's extensive variety of highly capable, work-qualified vehicles are the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 series full-size pickups, which got numerous power and equipment upgrades last year in a move to the new GMT-900 platform.

In addition to the 4.3-liter V6 (195 hp with 260 pound-feet of torque) and 4.8-liter V8 (295 hp with 305 pound-feet of torque), seven engine options are available in this category, including four versions of GM's durable 5.3-liter workhorse (all rated at 315 hp and 338 pound-feet of torque). The top engine choice in the GM 1500s this year is a 6.0-liter mill that puts out 367 hp and 375 pound-feet of torque.