By AARON COLE

Managing Editor, MediaOne of Utah

Few vehicles are asked to do as much as pickup trucks, but consumers are asking truck makers for one more trick to their repertoires.

Fuel economy has leapfrogged into the top spots in many car buyers’ minds thanks to $3-something gas these days. And truck makers are responding.

But it might not be in the way that you’re thinking.

“If you go back to the mid-2000s, when we were doing our research on capability vs. fuel economy, you’ll find that buyers weren’t willing to trade capability for fuel economy at all,” said Bob Hegbloom, director for the Ram truck brand. “Now, we ask, ‘Would you sacrifice those the capabilities?’ And the answer is still no. People are more aware of it now … that’s really all.”

Hegbloom’s sentiment is echoed almost universally among truck makers: People would like better fuel economy, but when it comes to pickups, it can’t be at the cost of performance.

Bame said that pickups are different from passenger cars when it comes to fuel economy. Typically, he said, it’s easier to get better economy from a passenger car by compromising performance or price to add fuel-saving technology, but he said, those luxuries don’t exist with pickups.

“People are buying these trucks because they need them for one reason or another. You can’t sacrifice performance at all, because that’s why they’re buying them.”

That doesn’t mean automakers aren’t responding to growing concern over the cost of gasoline.

Perhaps the biggest shakeup in recent years has been the addition of the EcoBoost engine to Ford’s F-Series. EcoBoost, first introduced into passenger cars two years ago, is a twin turbocharging system that engineers introduced into the F-Series for 2011.

Critics have said that the system is only marginally more economical, and may prove to be more finicky than normally aspirated engines. Ford has said that the engines undergo rigorous testing and that EcoBoost engines are just as reliable as their non-turbocharged counterparts.

Criticism aside, EcoBoost has been a big seller for Ford, namely because the engine matches up favorably with even the 5.0-liter V8. The 3.5-liter, twin turbocharged 3.5-liter churns out 365 horsepower, 420 lb. feet of torque and can tow over 11,000 lbs. while delivering over 20 mpg.

“To be honest when we saw gas prices rise in ‘08, after the time we began development in EcoBoost, (fuel economy) wasn’t making top 10 list in buyer concerns,” said Marc Lapine, brand manager for Ford. “Now we hear buyers say they’re thinking about things like improving fuel economy, and saying ‘Give me more fuel economy,’ there’s no reason why we wouldn’t do that. The tricky thing, especially in the truck segment, is that consumers aren’t willing to compromise. If they really only wanted fuel economy, we could do that. But you need truck capability, too.”

Ram also has employed different engine methods to increase fuel economy. Starting several years ago, Ram utilized cylinder shutoff mechanisms in a way to save on fuel.

Previous attempts at cylinder deactivation by several automakers in the past led to spotty results, but Ram is confident the technology and others will pay off for consumers.

“With every one of our power trains, we get 20 mpg or over on the highway right now,” said Bob Hegbloom, director for the Ram truck brand.

Hegbloom credits that to improved cylinder deactivation technology, a newly available six-speed automatic transmission and torque converter in Ram pickups.

But like Lapine and others, Hegbloom admits the full-size market may be slow to adopt newer technologies because consumers aren’t willing to forgo big-hauling figures for fuel economy on the road.

“As we go out, we’re looking at a number of things including reducing weight and others … to improve fuel economy.”

Richard Bame, manager for Toyota’s Tundra line, said it’s a fine line that he and other automakers must walk when it comes to fuel economy in full size trucks.

“Fuel economy is the Holy Grail if you can get performance and economy, right?” he said. “If you can show me a way to get fuel economy and performance together, the world will beat a path to your door.”

That may be why Toyota has been slower to adopt methods like cylinder deactivation and turbocharging, because Bame said the automaker is cautious not to adopt “unproven” technology.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROME — An animal rights group has urged Pope Benedict XVI to “truly go green” and insist that the next popemobile is made without leather.

PETA said it has written to the pope with the request following the Vatican’s confirmation Wednesday that Germany’s Mercedes-Benz auto company is making a study of a hybrid, energy-saving popemobile. The car would replace the current Mercedes vehicle used when the pope travels abroad.

PETA spokeswoman Ashley Gonzalez says leather production is not only “toxic to the environment, it’s also hell for cows.”

The letter, which is dated June, 22 and also sent to The Associated Press, said PETA counts many Catholics among its members and suggested that a leather-free car could “help the environment and prevent animal suffering.” (more…)

By James R. Healey
USA TODAY

It’s about time: More than six years into its life, the big Chrysler 300 sedan, the flagship of the company’s premium brand, finally gets an update.

The makeover is about three years tardy by industry standards, delayed by Chrysler’s 2009 bankruptcy reorganization, which put it under control of Italy’s Fiat Auto. And when you show up late to the party, you better bring the biggest or best gift.To keep the Chrysler Group’s rebound on track, the 300 not only must be better than its forebear — which kept the brand alive in the dark days — and its rivals, but the new model also must exude the quality famously absent from past Chrysler Group products. (more…)

By Craig Trudell
Bloomberg News

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — U.S. auto sales probably ran at the slowest pace of the year in May, a pause in demand before lower gas prices and rebounding production in Japan fuels the most annual purchases since 2008.

May light-vehicle deliveries, to be released Wednesday, may have run at a 12.1 million seasonally adjusted annual rate, the average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The pace exceeded 13 million each of the last three months and was 12.6 million in January, according to researcher Autodata Corp.

Toyota and Honda are speeding returns to normal production after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami idled factories and created shortages of parts. U.S. sales of cars and light trucks may rise to 13 million this year, the average of 16 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. That would be the most since 13.2 million in 2008. (more…)

By Jerry Hirsch
Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — With the future of gasoline prices uncertain, cars and trucks that run on compressed natural gas — fuel that’s about half the cost of gasoline — are getting another look.

Los Angeles commercial real estate broker Ted Simpson recently snapped up a Honda that runs on CNG, which in the U.S. has been better known for powering public transit buses and delivery trucks. (more…)

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Auto Writer

DETROIT — Drivers get nervous whenever the “check engine” light illuminates on their dashboard. It can signal anything from a missing $3 gas cap to repairs costing thousands of dollars.

But think of the light as a way to stay on top of problems and extend the life of a car. Often, it’s warning about problems that can be avoided by keeping up with regular maintenance, says CarMD, a maker of vehicle diagnostic equipment. (more…)