RPM

BY JERED KORFHAGE

JERED.KORFHAGE@FOURWHEELER.COM

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS RPM

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

InThe News

1 GM has recalled 1,789 fullsize SUVs, including the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, for driveshaft-related issues.

2 The world is changing, and Nissan is working to keep up. The automaker is reportedly making dramatic moves behind the scenes to cut its ICE—that’s internal combustion engine—development outside of the U.S. pickup truck market and reallocate most of its $4 billion enginerelated research and development budget almost exclusively to electric vehicles.

3 The U.S. Postal Service’s estimated $6 billion deal with Oshkosh Defense for the new NGDV mail truck has been officially called into question by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. A letter complains about the poor fuel economy of the proposed mail truck replacement and urges the Postal Service to “not proceed to a decision. ” The EPA claims the new truck offers a “0.4-mile-per-gallon fuel economy improvement over the agency’s current fleet, ” which is 30 years old and lacks air conditioning.

4 Ford dealers are being warned against asking for additional deposits or any other presale payments for the new F-150 Lightning EV pickup. It also puts in a new “no-sale” provision upon purchase for the customers, to prevent folks from flipping their Lightnings for a quick buck.

5 Toyota auctioned two of the first i-FORCE MAX Tundras at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Toyota Tundra Capstone with VIN 001 sold for $700,000. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro with VIN 002 sold for $550,000. Proceeds benefitted the Toyota U.S. Paralympic Fund.

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Is It True?

Q Are faulty valves in some ’21 Ford Bronco 2.7L V-6s causing engine failures? Q Can we expect to see the V-8 Ford Raptor R by the end of 2022? Will it one-up the Ram 1500 TRX? Q Is Ram struggling to meet the demand of its current 2500 Power Wagon Model? Q Did the Ford Maverick outsell its competitor, the Hyundai Santa Cruz? At least in the first quarter of 2022? Q Will the Ram 1500 EV arrive in 2024 and will it have what it takes to compete with the Ford F-150 Lightning EV, the Rivian R1T, and the Chevy Silverado EV?

FROM CHEVY’S SILVERADO EV VEHICLE CHIEF ENGINEER, NICHOLE KRAATZ, WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE THE INNOVATIVE AVALANCHE HAD OVER THE SILVERADO EV’S DEVELOPMENT: “THERE ARE DESIGN CUES THAT ARE REMINISCENT [OF AVALANCHE]. WE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT HAVE AVALANCHE IN MIND WHEN WE WERE DESIGNING THE TRUCK. WHAT DROVE THE DESIGN OF THE TRUCK WAS REALLY THE GROUND-UP APPROACH TO THE ARCHITECTURE. WHAT WERE WE GOING FOR? WE WERE GOING FOR 400, OR MORE, MILES OF RANGE. WE WERE GOING FOR DESIGN STYLING THAT LOOKS MORE ATHLETIC, MORE SPORTY. ”

• The Ranger Splash Package has returned for the ’21 Ford Ranger and it introduces three unique and one-time-only color options. Avalanche (pictured), Forged Green, and Desert Sand are the new paintjobs, each available with additional package-specific graphics and options. • Warn Industries has partnered with the Jessi Combs Foundation for 2022 and the company has pledged to help educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of trailblazing and stereotype-breaking women. Since the foundation’s beginnings in 2019, it has awarded $70,000 in scholarships to 14 women.

Nissan’s latest trio of concept vehicles was released at the Chicago Auto Show featuring its redesigned Frontier.

Project 72X Frontier

1 With a base Frontier Crew Cab S 4x4 as a starting point, Nissan used the ’79 Datsun 720 as inspiration for this build. Project 72X uses an understated gray exterior with retro graphics, augmented by white-painted steel wheels. These are the actual wheels that come with the Frontier’s spare tire and Pro-4X tires have been fitted to them. The retro vibe has been enhanced with Nissan’s sport bar and a 2.5-inch suspension lift with adjustable upper control arms.

Project Adventure

2 This ’22 Frontier Crew Cab Pro-4X features a 5-inch Calmini lift with adjustable upper arms to clear 34-inch (285/75R17) BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires, and we think the stance is just right. With a wrap that features the entire U.S., Nissan is nudging you to take this truck somewhere, anywhere.

Project Hardbody

3 Anyone of a certain age will immediately connect with the Southern California-designed, D21 body style that many of us remember from our high school exploits. Notice the tri-spoke monoblock wheels, which were so unique and so different as to be iconic to the Hardbody itself. The wheels on the concept are not an exact reproduction but have been up-scaled

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into 17x8-inch rollers and are actually made from billet blanks and carved out on NDA’s CNC machine. Other retro touches include the amber lenses, a blacked-out front fascia, and tasteful shadow graphics that have a yesterday vibe but are fully modern. Nissan also includes its sport bar with 10-inch rectangular Rigid LED off-road lights and a bed-mounted spare tire carrier to remind everyone of Nissan’s off-roading roots. Project Hardbody started out as an SV-grade ’22 Frontier Crew Cab 4x4, but adds the Pro-4X fender flares, a 3-inch suspension lift with adjustable upper control arms, and a host of Nissan Accessories products. FW

Q Jeep and Razor have partnered to bring you the Jeep RX200 electric scooter. It’s Trail Rated and claims a 12 mph top speed, 40 minutes of ride time, and a 154-pound weight limit.