Why 2015 is going to be a huge year for trucks

Four Reasons Pickups Are More Important Than Ever

Post courtesy of AutoBlog

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn took center stage to introduce the 2016 Titan at theDetroit Auto Show. He spoke of the truck's new features, impressive Cummins V8 diesel engine and the extensive amount of time and money required to build a modern, competitive pickup truck.

"We have done all of this because we see opportunity – an opportunity in the unmet needs of today's American truck customers," Ghosn said.

He was speaking about the Titan, but his thoughts echo the industry's mindset: When it comes to trucks, find an opportunity and attack.

Even with CAFE regulations looming and fickle consumer preferences, investing in trucks is a no-brainer for automakers. Some consumers will always need a truck for their job or lifestyle. And some people will always want one, whether they need it or not.

With that in mind, here are four reasons why the pickup-truck sector is more important than ever and poised for growth in 2015.

The Nissan Titan Is Back

Okay, it never left, but the Titan hadn't been redesigned since its launch in 2003, and Nissan sold more NV200s than Titans in 2014. It's an understatement to say the truck was languishing. That all changes with the 2016 model.

The Titan will come in two variants, a traditional fullsize competitor and the Titan XD. The XD will lead the market launch, and it arrives late this year. It's pitched as a "whitespace" offering, Nissan sales and marketing vice president Fred Diaz said. The idea is to offer something in the general size and price range of a fullsize truck, but also have some of the capability of a heavy-duty truck. The XD uses a fully boxed ladder frame, the chassis design from Nissan's commercial division, and the wheelbase is about 20 inches longer than other Titan models.



The XD, which Nissan is calling the flagship of the line, will be the only model with the 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8. It produces 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, while being able to tow 12,000 pounds. V6 and V8 gasoline models will also be offered on the Titan XD and the standard, non-XD model. When production ramps up, the Titan will be sold with several cabs, beds and trims. New features include trailer sway control, an integrated trailer brake controller, more storage options in the cabin and even laminated front and rear side glass to reduce outside noise. All of this has given Nissan fresh confidence in an area where it admittedly has been lacking.

"We can compete," Diaz told Autoblog. "It's been 12 years since we've updated this truck. It's a huge segment. Are we going to go dominate Ford, Chevy and Ram and just surpass them in sales? We are very reasonable about what our expectations are."

"But can we compete a helluva a lot better than we are right now? You darn betcha we can. Are we going to do well with this truck? In my opinion, my modest opinion, I think we will."

The Midsize Pickup Market Is Going To Explode

New products will fuel the resurgence of this overlooked segment. The Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon will be on sale for the full year, and the 2016 Toyota Tacoma launches this fall.

The timing has been perfect. Gas prices are low – for the moment – and consumers have shown a willingness to consider midsize trucks as an alternative to crossovers or fullsize trucks.

"It fits the needs for a lot of people," said Bob Carter, Toyota's senior vice president of automotive operations.

While midsize trucks have been overlooked in recent years, they never disappeared. Tacoma sales slipped 2.8 percent to 155,041 units in 2014, but it still outsold the fullsize Tundra by 36,548 units. Meanwhile, Nissan Frontier sales leapt 18.3 percent to 74,323, nearly six times the number of Titans sold last year.

More Options, More Choices

Naturally, new products mean consumers will have more options when they consider their next truck purchase. But they will also have more features. The Colorado and Canyon will get 2.8-liter Duramax diesel four-cylinder engine variants this year. Rated at 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, the diesel models offer a different dynamic for GM's midsizers.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Ram will offer a Rebel variant this spring, which is marketed at truck buyers who clearly want to stand out. The Rebel's suspension is lifted an inch, rolls on 33-inch tires and the front has a blacked-out grille punctuated by piercing LED lights. It's designed for sporting enthusiasts, like dirt bikers, whose adventures take them off-road. It's not a Ford F-150 Raptor-fighter, and the Rebel will run with a choice of the Ram's usual 3.6-liter V6 or Hemi 5.7-liter V8 engines. The diesel V6 won't be offered. Ram, however, is enhancing the EcoDiesel line with an HFE version that nudges fuel economy up one mile per gallon and allows the Ram to get up to 29 mpg on the highway.

Meanwhile, Toyota already has two TRD variants, a TRD Sport and a TRD off-roader, planned for the 2016 Tacoma. They'll be offered this fall. Similarly, Chevy is considering another sporty off-road variant of the Colorado, and previewed a possible direction with the ZR2 concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Ford F-150 Hits Full Stride

Last year was a time of transition for the Ford F-150, and the new generation of the truck launched in November. It switched to an aluminum body, but Ford had to close factories to convert them to use the new material. That constrained dealers' inventory, and sales dropped 1.3 percent in 2014, though the F-150 remained the best-selling vehicle in America for the 33rd straight year, tallying 753,851 units.

This year, there are no changeovers in the factories. Ford has a full year to market and sell the F-150, which it's done better than any other truck maker since the Reagan era. In addition to aluminum, the new truck offers a retooled lineup of engines that includes the addition of a 2.7-liter EcoBoost making 325 hp and 375 lb-ft, offering up to 26 mpg on the highway, plus new safety, technology and design features. All of this seems to be working, as the F-150 spent an average of five days on dealer lots in December. It also kicked off 2015 by capturing North American Truck/Utility of the Year honors. Supported by ramped-up factories and a marketing blitz, the F-150 is poised for a strong showing in 2015. And don't forget, in 2016 there's a new Raptor on tap.

Toyota Noah Minivan-Kenyas Best Family Car

Depending on who you ask, minivans are either the bane of all transportation alternatives or an absolute godsend. Some might even say “I would never drive a minivan,” while others insist “I could not live without it!” All this differ depending on career, gender, use of said car and state of roads within that local area. Assuming that your family, including your extended family and friends, has outgrown the sedan, even those people who think minivans aren’t “cool” enough to be seen in, maybe you’d think the only other option would be a full-size SUV. No, I’m not going to tell you not to buy a full-size SUV, but I’m going to give you a lot of reasons why you probably should buy a minivan. Could I change your opinion of minivans, particularly when it comes to the Toyota Noah? Lemme give it a shot.

The Toyota Noah is a minivan which, depending on configuration, seats between five and eight passengers. The Noah was originally designed and built only for release in Asia but, as the global pre-loved automobile market has grown, it has become one of the most popular minivans in Africa. Since Noah is sold in Africa second-hand, there is very little to go on in the way of statistics, but seeing them practically everywhere should give you a clue as to how popular they have become. In fact, you can find Toyota Noah in Kenya  being used as family-movers, public-transportation, work vans, and even ambulances, thanks to the versatility and flexibility of this Japanese minivan. In particular, how does the Toyota Noah connect with families?

Interior Space & legroom

The first thing you’ll notice getting into the Toyota Noah is the absolutely amazing amount of interior space, which some might even refer to as cavernous. Depending on seating configuration, up to eight passengers can disperse, though none will get out of earshot. Whether it’s picking up your own kids and your neighbor’s kids after school or heading to the local mall, there is plenty of space for scrambling kids, as well as enough space for all their gear .

The Noah’s seats, unlike a full-size SUV or van, are also flexible, meaning you can move them around or even remove them, depending on your needs for the day. This afternoon, you might be picking up half a football team, but tomorrow morning you might be picking up stock for your mutumba business or shop, which you’d be hard-pressed to accomplish in a sedan. Similarly, some full-size SUVs may offer some flexibility, but have you ever tried to load luggage when the floor height is at your waist, instead of at your knees, as it is in a minivan? If you have, then you know the hardships I am talking about."Navumilia kuwa mkenya".

Expediency

If there’s a single word that sums up what it’s like to own and drive a Toyota Noah, it would have to be “expediency-which basically means "Appropriateness to the purpose at hand.” for those who were asleep during English lessons. Some might balk and say that a minivan is difficult to maneuver through crowded streets and parking lots, and it’s true, even if only a little bit, the Noah tends to be larger than other family transportation options, but it also offers a lot more to make life easier for driver and passengers.

For example, two sliding doors means there is no wrong side to park close to the tree. Additionally, available power sliding doors and even power tailgate can make life even easier, so the driver doesn’t even have to get out of the car to open and close doors. Also, have you ever tried to carry a baby, or shopping, and try to open the sliding door with your free hand? Toyota Noah’s remote keyless power sliding door option eliminates that problem.

Perhaps another key point that Toyota Noah offers is the sheer number of cup-holders, cubby-holes, and storage spaces, from the glove box and center- and overhead-console areas, to the doors, and even under the floor. This helps to keep things from rolling around on the floor, aside from the stuff that was already packed into the cargo area behind the last row of seats.

Road Trip!

As our families and extended families get bigger, as well as more mobile, you might have to consider taking your Toyota Noah for a long ride, but how would it handle it? First, you have to get the thing loaded, which, as we discussed, is all manner of easy, with ample cargo space and a low loading deck, and you might be surprised that you didn’t have to use the roof. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it, because putting stuff on the roof wrecks your aerodynamics and fuel economy. Still, available roof racks can put even full-size SUV storage to shame.

Of course, now that everyone, and their stuff, is loaded, getting on the road is going to be a slow and painful experience, right? Thankfully, Toyota Noah’s engineers thought of all that, and there’s plenty of power to get through Nairobi traffic and onto the highway. Again, the question looms, with such a heavy load, surely you’ll have to find a gas station along the way? Again, no, because Noah’s engine options are surprisingly frugal at the pump. The 2.0 ℓ i4 engine under the hood of the Noah may be able to put out just shy of 160 hp, but also manages to consume just 7.1 ℓ/100km, which is comparable to a Toyota Corolla, which consumes just 7.6 ℓ/100km. On the other hand, the full-size Toyota 4Runner / HiLux Surf consumes almost double that, at 13.8 ℓ/100km.

In the Toyota Noah, even a long trip can be manageable. The seats are comfortable, most of them reclining, and some of them available with leather upholstery. The high suspension is soft enough to soak up most of the road, but not so soft that passengers get sea-sick. Audio and navigation systems are available to round out the driver’s experience "though not many Kenyans find much use for this", and an available rear-seat entertainment system can keep the kids busy in the back seats without interrupting the driver. Keep the windows closed and use the climate control system, and the cabin is just as comfortable as your living room.

Truly, the Toyota Noah is a minivan that’s hard to knock, even by those who swear, at least for “coolness” sake, they’d never get into one. Portrayed as one of the best do-everything vehicles on the road, the Toyota Noah really delivers.

Toyota Harrier Review

Big & Spacious

Possibly Kenyas' favorite SUV, the Harrier needs no introduction. There are two models available in the market in the form of a Toyota model as well as a Lexus which is known as the RX300 or RX350. The difference between the Toyota and Lexus models is minuscule and can be disregarded if you want something tall, spacious, big and reliable, not to mention luxurious. As all other Toyota models, there are thousands in the market, and maintenance will be a breeze.

Before the crossover SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), there was really nothing in between the full-size SUV and the sedan. People liked the flexibility of the SUV, but not necessarily the hugeness and the clunkiness associated with full-size SUVs that were on the market at the time. After all, SUVs were built to tackle forests and streams, and they would certainly be overkill for the average urban pothole. Something in between would certainly be a great model, with the convenience of a sedan and the sure-footed stance of an SUV, the crossover SUV was born. Of course, just as there are different levels of the sedan, like the difference between a Toyota Camry and a Mercedes Benz C-Class, there are different levels of a crossover SUV, like the Toyota RAV4 and the Lexus RX, also known as theToyota Harrier (in Japan).

Like their larger cousins, crossover SUVs were a little bit noisy and clunky, which wouldn't do for someone looking to get out of a BMW 3-Series sedan into something bigger. In the beginning, only Land Rover had SUVs that were small enough to qualify as a crossover SUV, while at the same time, offering the refinements that you'd find in a luxury sedan. In 1997, came the crossover SUV class for the luxury car buyer, the Toyota Harrier. One year later, the Lexus RX300 (known outside of Japan) became an instant success in North America.

Toyota Harrier Early Years

Unlike many other vehicles, which are designed from the ground up, the Toyota Harrier made use of a lot of technologies that were already tried and true. At least in the beginning, the i4 and V6 engine and transmission options were the same as found in the Toyota Camry and RAV4, meaning Toyota engineers could focus on the other facets of Toyota Harrier's winning design.

One big thing that sets the Toyota Harrier apart from other luxury crossover SUVs in its class is the attention to NVH, that is, Noise, Vibration, and Harshness. On driving the Toyota Harrier, most come to the conclusion that NVH means “No Vibration or Harshness,” Toyota engineers must have done a pretty good job. The design of the Toyota Harrier makes more use of insulation and vibration dampers than the typical SUV, or even the typical crossover SUV, which makes them some of the quietest vehicles on the road.

Toyota engineers went on to fine-tune the Toyota Harrier's engine, transmission, and drivetrain to eliminate vibrations and noises coming from these sources. Interestingly, instead of following other SUV body-on-frame designs, the Toyota Harrier actually has a more car-like body design, which makes for a stable off-road ride, at a more car-like comfort level.

SUV Capability with Luxury Sedan Class

Inside the Toyota Harrier are all the things you've come to expect in a luxury automobile, such as comfortable leather seats, power-adjustable seats, power windows, locks, and sunroof. Safety and convenience features abound, including multiple airbags, anti-lock brakes, vehicle skid control, multi-information display, GPS navigation, rear seat entertainment system, rear view camera.

Today's Toyota Harrier comes with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, paired with, depending on model year, a five- or six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid Harrier comes with a V6 engine paired with a CVT (constant velocity transmission). The drivetrain comes in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The four-cylinder engine options, of course, don't provide the power of the six-cylinder options, but are also more economical.

Interestingly, the AWD versions of the Toyota Harrier, later renamed Lexus RX, even in Japan, was never touted as an off-road performer. Instead, Toyota marketed the Harrier's AWD system as a safety feature. Drivers of the Toyota Harrier AWD could expect to lose a little on fuel economy, but the sure-footed AWD system would keep them safe on rough roads and loose road surfaces, such as mud or gravel.

Best New, Best Used

If you're considering a used crossover SUV, especially a classy one, you would do well to look at a used Toyota Harrier. The best-rated new vehicles typically make the best-used vehicles, and this crossover SUV by Toyota is no different. The Toyota Harrier, even a used one, is sure to deliver years of reliable service. With proper maintenance, Toyota vehicles are some of the longest-lived vehicles on the planet.

Be sure to check for a complete maintenance history and low mileage, if possible. When considering AWD versions, be sure the AWD system has been maintained, including center and rear differentials. Oil changes in the 3.0ℓ V6 and some of the later 3.3ℓ were especially critical. Burning oil is a sure sign of abuse, and an oil burner should be avoided at all costs. Still, even if you have to replace an abused engine, the rest of the powertrain and drivetrain is top-notch, so a new engine is a good investment.