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By
Robert Farago on October 20, 2003
Earlier this year, Ford was preparing to launch its revised F-150 pickup truck. The Boys from the Blue Oval knew all-too-well that their empires fortunes rested on their new truck's brawny shoulders. They also knew that Nissan's new Titan– the first Japanese product to crash America's full-size pick-up party– was set for release around the same time. So, pre-launch, Ford gave out phony towing numbers.
That's right; Ford deliberately leaked an incorrect maximum towing capacity of 9500lbs. The idea: trick Nissan's product engineers into competing against the fake number. Then, surprise! Reveal that the new F-150 can actually tow 9900lbs.! It worked. The F-150 out-pulls the Titan by 400lbs. Ford sandbagged Nissan.
By
Robert Farago on October 16, 2003
There are two sides to every driver: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is the courteous, law-abiding motorist beloved of governmental agencies. He drives slowly and sensibly, follows the Highway Code with religious zeal and simply shakes his head when someone cuts him up. Mr. Hyde is a hooligan and a speed freak. His only concern with the law is not getting caught. His only concern with fellow road users is blasting past them.
The Audi A4 Cabriolet is Dr. J's ride. One glance at its surgically sharp creases and fat-free curves and you know this top-down two door was designed for physicians. The shape is so clean you have to scrub-up just to look at it. In a world where Mercedes Benz has more classes than a pre-med program, BMW's are listed under "ubiquitous" in the dictionary and Jags are for geriatrics, the sexy but smart A4 Cab is the ideal, understated image projector for a status-conscious MD.
Recent Comments
newcarscostalot - It looks nice. I would like to see a head to head comparison against this vehicle and other trucks under contolled conditions to see how it stacks up.
Cammy Corrigan - May I remind people that the 240000 figure is a production figure. They use those units to sell GLOBALLY, not just in the US. Through...
reclusive_in_nature - I think the recent Impala SS is worthy of the moniker (of course I own one). Say what you want about it’s handling or how hard the plastics...
reclusive_in_nature - So the vehicle company that isn’t castrating itself to meet CAFE regs is the one domestic company that hasn’t gone tits up. What a shock.
confused1096 - Very briefly in the ’80s there was a Camaro with a 4-pot under the hood. It barely got out of it’s own...
confused1096 - My best friend has a very well preserved ‘85 or ‘86. Great little truck for what it was, very well...
guyincognito - @ Robert Schwartz, Have you not been in Michigan lately? Most everyone still applies the possessive to all businesses. I’m going to Miejer’s, I...
guyincognito - Seriously? I’m no truck guy, but I still think this vehicle is more in line with the F-150’s mission than a Lightning. Why diminish the advantages of a...
Kendahl - The Mini is so different from the various BMW coupe and sedan models that I have to remind myself that it is built by the same company. I...
guyincognito - “Anybody can slap a few shiny shocks on a truck and some fender flares. This truck is really nothing more than a “ZR2″ F-150.” As someone with...