 | 4x4 Interview: Simon Buck "I started driving off road at an early age, as I spent most of my youth on a neighbors farm and from there I went on to grass track racing and stock cars. It wasn't until the early nineties that I started off roading competitively as there was very little 4x4 competitions. I suppose you would have to say that events like the Camel Trophy inspired me." |
 | Mercedes Benz Sprinter On 44 Inch Tires Taking brand new stock Mercedes Benz Sprinter and adding four wheel drive with all the modifications needed for 44 inch tires - well - here is the first! Pall Halldorsson is an ex rally driver and off-roading enthusiast. Working for the Icelandic Mercedes shop he got the crazy idea to see if this was possible. |
 | An Overlander's Dream Without doubt, everybody who has an off road car, or at least had the occasion to participate in an off road gathering knows there's something more to the bunch than just the cars and the mud. It's an attitude that brings everyone together, whether it's a Toyota owner, a Suzuki lover or a Land Rover racer. |
 | One of a kind driveway build! I started my driveway build with a stock 1993 Chevy K1500 plow truck. The only working space I had was a single wide driveway as I don't have a garage to work in. My intensions were to build a 4X4 that would turn heads as well as perform. |
 | Willys in Pakistan In Pakistan Willys are really popular specially in Rawalpindi, a city of Pakistan. In Rawalpindi there's an area where all the Jeeps specially 1942 Willys and 1952 M3bs are restored. Here it's easy because we can find their original bodies and parts from auction. |
 | Turbo Charged Down Range When most soldiers are deployed over seas, also known as being down range, they try and find anything to help occupy their time. The guys from the 7th Engineer Dive Team take a completely wrecked vehicle and turn it into a turbo charged work truck, or more importantly, a stress reliever. |
 | The Iguana Off Road Vehicle Custom built for the local trails and tough enough for the tourism trade The IGUANA runs ahead of the field. “They’re designed to do things other trucks can not do.” Not only to travel off road but to rumble through the jungle, climb over fallen trees and scurry through up to three feet of water. Steve Long Senior News Anchor, KPTH Fox 44 News. |
 | 6.4L HEMI on Jeep JK Wrangler Jeep aftermarket supplier American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), in conjunction with the Chrysler Corporation, will debut a monster 6.4L 392 HEMI engine in a Jeep Four Door show vehicle for the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. Does this mean a similar HEMI conversion is coming for the new Wrangler JK model? |
 | This is a tale of three 1973 Scouts Recently I was skittering through the Internet looking for some off-road activities when I blundererd into: 4x4OffRoads.com. - This is the start of an article that I just received from a friend in Canada. It was published in Old Autos - a Canadian newspaper. |
 | BIG Suburban -49 Inch Tires & Atlas Gears Go Big - Go Suburban - Go Suburban AND fit 49 inch tires! - That's BIG! Kristjan Kristjansson - Stjani - has done just that. After spending countless hours and days in his garage his 49 inch modified Chevrolet Suburban is now street legal. |
 | Team Mud in Mac4x4 Team Mud consists of two brothers from Northern Ireland - Graeme and Chris Elliott - taking part in the Mac4x4 Challenge in March 2007. |
 | Land Rover TomCat Auction Marc Ward, a Land Rover enthusiast from Barbados is having an auction this month destined to make eBay history - again. This is the second auction featuring one of the most unusual high-value items ever offered on the world's most popular auction site. |
 | Toyota 4Runner on 44 Inch Tires |
 | 4x4 Vehicles in High Altitude A SUV seems the most popular vehicle. Some are more a car like than others, others are more tougher, more brutish with glamorous advertising and claims of various makers of these trucks. |
 | 4x4 Pics Interesting and fun 4x4 pics shot by 4 wheeling enthusiast from all over the world. |
 | Mahindra Scorpio SUV From India Kishan Lohiya from India sent me some interesting pictures from his buildup of an Indian SUV named Mahindra Scorpia. |
 | Pinzgauer VS Suburban Clay started off last Summer season just busting buttons, after close to twenty years of giving 4X4 tours in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, he was finally getting a chance to drive a vehicle that was truly different. |
 | Nissan Patrol 1993 - 44 Inch Modification Óskar Erlingsson in Iceland has made all the necessary changes to fit 44 inch Fun Country tires under his monster. Serious work has been done on the drive train and engine with more to come. |
 | 49 Inch Modified Patrol/Chevy Time has come to take away manufacturing faults of this otherwise fine automobile. Common 44 inch modification was not quite up to par. Engine and driveline (mostly front wheel bearings) proved to small and to weak. |
 | Dodge W200 1977 Project Back in 1995, I bought this M880 truck from a merchant. The trucks this man sold, were all former U.S. army material. “M880” is the military designation of a 1977 Dodge W200. |
 | Rick's CJ-3B Jeep Home made 100% Fiberglass body 5'' longer 4'' wider the a stock 3B, 2''x4'' box frame, 302ci, C-6, NP-205, ford 9'' front and back with locker's and disc brakes, 5.43's, 35 spline axles, 4 link with coil's up front, 3 link with coil's in the rear, 2'' six point roll bar, 9000i winch, 35'' BFG's. |
Saturday, March 14, 2009
4x4 Truck Articles
HUMMER HX Concept - H4
HUMMER has a dilemma - what will the next generation Hummer H1/2/3 look like? It would be insanity to change the iconic look of the Hummer range, but at the same time, something needs to be updated to signify a new model.
Thankfully GM is well aware of this problem and plans to show off a Hummer concept at next year’s North American International Auto Show. Dubbed the HUMMER HX concept, it reflects the future design of off-road vehicles according to GM.
Expected to run on E85 Biofuel, the Hummer HX offers a similar deal to the Jeep Wrangler with its open-air driving experience. The HX has a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger and a modular, removable rear roof assembly enabling a quick conversion from closed vehicle to open vehicle SUT.
In the past 12 months rumours have indicated GM is considering an even smaller Hummer - a H4 - to take on the likes of Jeep’s Wrangler. The HX concept seems to be the perfect candidate.
The question still remains though, what is the ultimate aim of the Hummer brand? How can a brand that has created a timeless shape be updated? More importantly, will Hummer ever expand into other types of cars?
Would you buy a Hummer sedan?
Ford Festiva
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Ford Festiva
Manufacturer Kia Motors (All LHD models including North America)
Mazda Motor Corporation (all Japanese and RHD models)
Parent company Ford Motor Company
Also called Ford Aspire
Mazda Festiva
Mazda Aspire
Production 1986–1997
Assembly Sohari, South Korea
Class Subcompact
Body style(s) 3-door hatchback
Layout FF layout
Related Mazda 121
Kia Pride
First Generation
Production 1986–1993
Engine(s) 1138 cc SOHC, 56 hp (42 kW), 65 ft·lbf (88 N·m)
1324 cc SOHC, 71×83.6 mm, 65 hp (48.5 kW), 77 ft·lbf (105 N·m)
1290 cc DOHC, 88 hp (66 kW), 72 ft·lbf (98 N·m)
Transmission(s) 3-speed automatic
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2295 mm (90.20 in.)
Length 3475 mm (140.50 in.)
Width 1605 mm (63.20 in.)
Height 55.30 in (1405 mm).
Curb weight 725 kg (1598 lb)
Fuel capacity 10 US gal
Related nasim , saipa 141 , New P.K
Second Generation
Also called Ford Aspire
Production 1994-1997
Platform DA platform
The Ford Festiva was a subcompact car sold by the Ford Motor Company in North America, Asia and Australasia, introduced in 1986 in Japan. The car was manufactured by Kia in South Korea, which at the time was part-owned by Ford, and was derived from the Kia Pride, while Japanese, European, New Zealand and Australian models were manufactured by Mazda in Japan.
It was based on the Mazda DA platform, using Mazda’s B Series engines.
The Festiva was sold in North America from the 1988 to the 1993 model years. It was also sold in Europe and other markets (probably to avoid competition with the Ford Fiesta sold in these markets) as the Mazda 121 from February 1988 until 1991, when it was replaced by a rebadged Autozam Revue. It was sold as the Kia Pride in some regions. It replaced the Ford Fiesta in North America. Nasim and newer Saipa 141 in Iran and Syria.
Contents [hide]
1 First generation (1986-1993)
1.1 The SHOgun
2 Second generation (1994-2001)
3 Safety
4 References
5 External links
[edit] First generation (1986-1993)
In 1986, the subcompact Festiva was introduced to the world market, and it was introduced to North America in 1988. This Festiva sold well, and it fit into Ford’s new marketing agenda of selling better built cars. Early in its life, it faced tough competition from the Yugo, which was slightly larger, and only cost $3,990 USD, but the Yugo quickly fell due to alleged reliability problems. Initial sales were good, but by the 1990s, Festiva sales started to fall.
[edit] The SHOgun
In 1990, Chuck Beck of Special Editions and Rick Titus took seven Festivas, gutted the interiors, and mounted Ford SHO 3.0 L V6’s behind the front seats in mid-engine rear wheel drive configuration. There were substantial cosmetic and mechanical changes, including relocating the gas tank to the front of the car, structural bracing and improvements to the chassis, adding wider wheel arches to accommodate a wider stance and larger tires, and a complete redesign of the suspension. These changes resulted in a car that could travel the ¼ mile (0.4 km) in 12.9 seconds at 100.9 mph (162 km/h), and could achieve a lateral acceleration figure ranging from .95 to 1.04 g [1]. Of the seven, Jay Leno owns the silver one, which is number 003 [2].
[edit] Second generation (1994-2001)
Main article: Ford Aspire
For 1994, the Kia Pride was redesigned, meaning Ford got a new Festiva. While it was sold in certain markets as a second generation Festiva, Ford renamed it the “Aspire” in North American markets. The Ford Aspire was the first car in its class (in North America) to have standard dual air bags and optional 4-wheel ABS. This new Festiva was slightly longer, wider, and more aerodynamic.
For 1997, the Festiva/Aspire got a new front bumper with an oval grille, to keep up with the new Ford styling trend set by the Ford Contour and the redesigned Ford Taurus. The Aspire was dropped from the Ford range in the United States after 1997.
The second generation Festiva continued to be sold in Australia until at least 2001, but is no longer in the Ford Australia range. It is interesting to note that Australian second-generation Festivas have US side marker light cut-outs on each side of the vehicle (driver-side and passenger-side) at the front and rear. Instead of containing orange reflectors/lights at the front sides and red reflectors/lights at the rear sides, there are non-lit orange reflectors at all four locations. These redundant reflectors, coupled with the orange side indicator repeater (which is not required in the US, and was not included on the Aspire) make for a unique side profile appearance.
[edit] Safety
In Australia, the 1987-93 and 1994-1997 Ford Festivas were assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing “significantly worse than average” protection for their occupants in the event of a crash.[3]
[edit] References
Consumer Guide Ford Festiva Review
Consumer Guide Ford Aspire review
[edit] External links
Ford Festiva.Com
Ford Aspire.com - Aspire/Festiva online forum
Archive of a writeup on the SHOgun from the Wayback machine
Used Car Safety Ratings - Ford Festiva
Ford Festiva Mailing List at Yahoo! Groups
[hide]v • d • eFord Motor Company
Platforms • Engines • Vehicles • Category
Current and future models
Cars Activa • Crown Victoria/Police Interceptor • Fairlane • Falcon / Futura / FPV models • Fiesta / Ikon / Ford Fusion / EcoSport • Focus / C-MAX • Fusion • Galaxy • Ka / Sportka / Streetka • Laser / Lynx / Tierra • Mondeo / Metrostar • Mustang • S-MAX • Taurus
Trucks/SUVs Cargo • Courier (Brazilian)/Bantam • E-Series/Chateau Wagon • Econovan • Edge • Escape/Hybrid/Maverick • Expedition • Explorer • Everest/Endeavour • F-Series (includes Super Duty) • Flex • Pronto • Ranger/Courier • Territory • Tourneo • Tourneo Connect • Transit • Transit Connect
Historic models
1900s Model A/AC • Model B • Model C • Model F • Model K • Model N • Model R • Model S • Model T
1910s-1920s Model TT • Model A • Model AA
1930s-1940s Ford Model B • Ford Model Y • Ford Model C • Ford Model CX • Ford Junior Popular • Ford Junior De Luxe • Ford Köln • Rheinland • Ford Eifel • Ford Model 7Y • Ford Model 7W • Ford Anglia • Ford Prefect • Country Squire • Ford Meteor • Ford Pilot • Ford Vedette
1950s C-Series Trucks • Consul • Country Sedan • Del Rio • Edsel (Brand) • Fairlane • Galaxie • Mainline • Parklane • Popular • Ranchero • Squire • Taunus • Thunderbird • Versailles • Zephyr
1960s Bronco • Capri • Corcel • Corsair • Cortina • Escort • Falcon • GT40 • H-Series Trucks • LTD • N-Series Trucks • Torino
1970s Elite • Fairmont • Granada • L-Series Trucks • Maverick • Pinto
1980s Aerostar • Bantam • Bronco II • Del Rey • Escort • EXP • Festiva • Laser • LTD Crown Victoria • Orion • Probe • Scorpio • Sierra • Telstar • Tempo • Verona
1990s Aspire • Contour • Cougar • Maverick • Puma • Windstar • ZX2
2000s Excursion • Freestar • GT • Five Hundred • Freestyle
Hummer HX Concept
This bold looking Hummer Concept is the best looking Hummer I’ve ever seen. I hope it goes into production. Beautiful shot of this SUV in the desert landscape.
Fiat Hummer Concept Oltre
Fiat Hummer Concept that Fiat names "Oltre Fiat" was premiered in Bologna Motor Show this winter. I find it hard to believe that it weighs as much as they claim. Fully loaded it can weigh up to 7 tons - that just sounds too much. Apart from that the Fiat Hummer is an interesting concept. It is based on a military vehicle so it has little luxury.
I like the look of rugged power and the impressive driveline with lockable differentials front, back and center as well as the high ground clearance. However I think that the engine hp and the torque numbers are too small for such a heavy vehicle.
The show truck setup is slightly weird. Notice the off road auxiliary lights way back where they can't possibly light up the trail ahead. Those low profile rims and tires are obviously not going to make it in any real situation.
Would like to see it on at least 38 inch tires or even better 49s...
Fiat Press Release
The "Oltre Fiat" show car was presented today at the Bologna Motor Show in a spectacular display; this unique model confirms the Fiat Group's technological excellence even in the large four-wheel drive and off-road segment.
It is derived from the Iveco LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle), the new military off-road vehicle that embodies cutting edge technical features and has won the FCLV (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle) contract for the British Army, also being chosen by the Italian Army.
The show car has very generous external dimensions: it is 4,870 mm long, 2,050 mm tall, 2,200 mm wide and has a wheelbase of 3,230 mm. It has "exuberant" styling, developed around a silhouette with straight wheel arches that cut across the uncluttered sides. The door handles have been recessed deliberately, so that they do not constitute an obstacle when driving off-road. In other words, the design concept underlines the car's practical personality, which is taken to an extreme by the vehicle's real performance.
The Crew-Cab version (long cab with an open platform) achieves a perfect balance between the feeling of dominating the terrain from inside the comfortable cab, and the Spartan personality of a pure expedition Pick-up. The tubular structure above the cab enhances the solidity of the whole vehicle, focusing attention on the presence of a complete rollover bar inside the cab. And finally, the adjustable sunshade at the top of the windscreen increases the dynamism of the roof, and recreates the typical structure of vehicles used for desert crossings. The Oltre-Fiat clearly embodies power and solidity, having inherited all the features peculiar to the military model, starting from the permanent 4x4 transmission that allows it to tackle any situation or route. The merit also goes to the generous 50 cm ground clearance, and the highly efficient independent suspension system with coil springs and coaxial dampers.
The vehicle's extraordinary capacity as an "explorer" is also enhanced by the fact that all-wheel drive is engaged automatically when it is needed. All three differentials lock, a system that guarantees optimal wheel grip in all conditions. Thanks to these solutions, the Oltre Fiat can negotiate a lateral gradient of up to 40%, and longitudinal gradients of 80%; it can also tackle fords of up to 85 cm, and this can be increased to 1.5 meters by mounting special inlet and exhaust pipe extensions. And finally, the show car is fitted with high performance, ultra sporty (V speed code), low profile Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 315/40R26 XL (Extra load) tyres.
The vehicle on show in Bologna can therefore perform a wide range of functions; it is equipped with an Iveco F1C Common rail diesel engine, with a variable geometry turbo and intercooler. The 3-litre engine has 4 cylinders in line and delivers a maximum power output of 136 kW (185 bhp) at 3700 rpm, and peak torque of 456 Nm at 1800 rpm. Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the engine gives this extraordinary vehicle a top speed of over 130 km/h.
And finally, the Oltre-Fiat show car weighs about seven tons, ready for the road and exploiting all its load capacity. It can seat four or five people, depending on the interior outfit, with an overall payload of about three tons.
Fiat thanks the following organizations for their collaboration in the development of the Oltre Fiat show car: RRS (vehicle outfit), Pirelli (tyres), Sabelt (seats) and Alpine (audiovisual systems).
Fiat Hummer specifications:
Price | -- | Production | -- | ||
Engine | 3 liter inline-4 diesel | Weight | -- | ||
Aspiration | turbocharger & intercooler | Torque | 336 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm | ||
HP | 185 @ 3700 rpm | HP/Weight | -- | ||
HP/Liter | 61.7 hp per liter | 1/4 mile | -- | ||
0-62 mph | -- | Top Speed | 81 mph |
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