Latest news with #pickup
Forbes
a day ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross The Isuzu D-Max faces fierce competition, having done so since the first-generation pick-up was launched back in 2001. However, the latest guise is attractive, packed with tech, and is reasonably priced, but should you hand your hard-earned cash to Ford instead? After a week of use, here are my thoughts on the Isuzu D-Max. What Is The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross? The V-Cross sits second from the top in Isuzu's D-Max pick-up range, costing £38,255 (OTR + VAT). Buyers can choose from five models: the entry-level Utility, the DL20 and DL40, V-Cross, and the range-topping Arctic Trucks AT35, which costs a mighty £57,005. My loaner was the V-Cross—think of it as Isuzu's answer to the Ford Ranger Wildtrak. Isuzu D-Max V-Cross All versions get the same 1.9-litre 162bhp 265lb ft engine found in the previous D-Max, and buyers can choose from a six-speed manual, with a lock-out to prevent you from accidentally choosing reverse instead of first gear, and a six-speed automatic, like the one tested here. All Isuzu D-Max pick-ups come with four-wheel drive as standard, except the cheapest Utility guise, which is rear-wheel drive only. Likewise, each version will haul 3.5 tonnes and carry more than one tonne in payload. My test car was also equipped with a hard top and a light bar - it looked the business. Driving The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross The D-Max has always been a durable and dependable workhorse, but Isuzu has added a new Rough Terrain model for better off-road traction as part of a recent refresh. It also gets various safety and infotainment upgrades, but underneath, it's the same old no-nonsense pick-up truck. I spent most of my time driving the D-Max on the road. Here, it performed well, although the 1.9-litre powerplant felt incredibly underpowered when overtaking or climbing hills. Likewise, diesel clatter is present under acceleration and the automatic gearbox, while smooth, hesitated before dropping cogs. Isuzu D-Max V-Cross interior Its turning circle is mighty impressive at 12.5 meters. It outperforms the Ford Ranger here, and means it's less cumbersome when navigating through tight towns. It gets an overhauled infotainment system, and all versions get an 8.0-inch screen as standard, while the V-Cross gets a larger 9.0-inch screen. The system is easy to use and the touchscreen is quick enough. Its interior won't win any design awards, but everything inside the D-Max is functional, the materials are solid, and there's plenty of room in the back for two adults and a medium-sized dog. Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Practicality And Load Space The Double Cab's bed offers 1,520mm versus the Single Cab's 2,290mm, putting the former at the lower end of the market. Isuzu D-Max V-Cross load bed With the hard top equipped, my loaner's space was reduced even further. It was also fitted with a zipped carpet that could be removed with a wrestle, but I found it easier to blanket the rear during skip runs. Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Verdict The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is a handsome and durable brute capable of towing 3.5 tonnes, like its rivals. It's not anywhere near as polished or as powerful as the Ford Ranger, but the latest refresh has added much-needed refinement. Therefore, if you need a pick-up truck that'll keep on trucking, the D-Max is a fantastic choice. The Isuzu D-Max is easy to use, is capable off-road, will carry lots if you choose the right body, and comes with a generous warranty.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM skips EVs to expand pickup, Escalade production in Michigan
GM skips EVs to expand pickup, Escalade production in Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog. According to recent reports by the Detroit Free Press and Reuters, General Motors further revealed new plans for a key facility that was initially intended to make electric vehicles. In a statement, the automaker said that it will move production of the Cadillac Escalade luxury full-size SUV to the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan, while also adding capacity for the gas-powered Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. Currently, the Escalade is produced at the Arlington Assembly plant in Arlington, Texas, alongside its mechanically related cousins, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. According to the automaker, the added Silverado and Sierra production at Orion is intended to supplement existing production capabilities in Fort Wayne, Indiana. GM is set to expand gas-powered car production amid slumping EV demand The announcement comes about a month after General Motors announced multi-billion-dollar investment plans to support domestic auto manufacturing. On June 10, GM announced that it would invest about $4 billion over the next two years to support its U.S. manufacturing plants and efforts to produce gas and electric vehicles. Although the automaker did not specify how much money each plant would receive, it said that the $4 billion would help reconfigure facilities, including the Orion Assembly, the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas, and the Spring Hill Manufacturing plant in Tennessee, for future GM vehicles. Originally, Orion was set to be reconfigured for electric vehicle production; however, slowing EV demand triggered delays in restarting the plant. As a result, GM designated the Factory Zero electric vehicle plant in Detroit as the dedicated facility for manufacturing the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer EV, and Cadillac Escalade IQ. Currently, the Orion assembly manufactures battery modules for full-size EV vehicles made at Factory Zero. In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, a GM spokesperson said that to keep up with customer demand, it will begin production of the gas-powered trucks and SUVs at Orion in 2027. 'GM will begin production of the Cadillac Escalade, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickups at Orion Assembly in early 2027 to help meet continued strong customer demand,' the GM spokesperson told Freep. 'GM is proud to call Michigan home, and these moves will further strengthen our manufacturing footprint.' New manufacturing plans come at a conscientious time for GM Although the details of General Motors' production decisions were announced when the automaker announced its multi-billion-dollar domestic manufacturing investment nearly a month ago, the timing could not come at a better time. Currently, the Trump administration's tariffs on vehicle imports are putting direct pressure on the auto industry, and his latest round of double-digit tariff threats is being directed at trade partners, including Mexico and South Korea, countries where the automaker makes some U.S.-market vehicles. Previously, GM indicated that these tariffs would cost the company between $4 billion and $5 billion this year, which prompted executives to revise GM's full-year earnings guidance. In addition, the recently signed "Big Beautiful Bill" contained provisions that eliminated fines for automakers failing to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules, making it easier for automakers to build more gas-powered vehicles. According to a 2023 Reuters report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined GM more than $128.2 million for failing to meet CAFE rules during the 2016 and 2017 model years. Final thoughts Pickup trucks and full-size SUVs are some of the most profitable and best-selling vehicles for General Motors. According to a slide deck on GM's website, the first half of 2025 was the best first half for both its pickups and full-size SUVs, while data seen by GM Authority shows that overall Chevrolet Silverado sales improved by 2.15%, with 283,812 of them leaving Chevy dealers from the beginning of the year. Though the Big Bill eliminates CAFE fines, it also contains provisions eliminating the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, which could dent General Motors' Equinox EV and Blazer EV sales numbers come September. We will have to wait and see. GM skips EVs to expand pickup, Escalade production in Michigan first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Auto Express
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Poer pick-up truck will actually be good, says GWM
GWM's assault on the UK market has gone down a new avenue with several sub-brands set to be introduced. One of these is Poer, and its model, teased here for the first time, will be a pick-up truck, which is looking to take on the Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max. As part of GWM's 'brand portfolio', which already contains the ORA 03 electric supermini and the Haval Jolion Hybrid Pro SUV, Poer will launch in the UK in September this year, with pricing and further details due to be announced in August. Advertisement - Article continues below Although the shadowy teaser image doesn't show us much, we can actually ascertain plenty about the Poer pick-up's design. That's because the GWM Poer is already on sale in other markets incuding the United Arab Emirates and Australia; the model in this new picture doesn't look too different to the version unveiled in China way back in 2020. The Poer pick-up only comes in a five-seat, four-door, dual-cab bodystyle in other markets and features a ladder-frame chassis and the ability to switch between two and four-wheel drive. Power comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 188bhp and 360Nm of torque going through an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF. Inside, the fairly contemporary-looking cabin features a nine-inch touchscreen sitting above a suite of buttons for regularly used functions such as the air-conditioning. There's also a seven-inch display for the driver, heated and six-way adjustable seats, a 360-degree camera and level 2 autonomous driving - although we'll have to wait and see how much of this comes to the UK cars. Given the relatively keen pricing of GWM's Haval Jolion Hybrid Pro, we expect the Poer to be one of the cheaper pick-up trucks, possibly undercutting the £43,480 (inc VAT) price tag of the similarly equipped Isuzu D-Max DL20. Buy a car with Auto Express. Our nationwide dealer network has some fantastic cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from... Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Biggest US carmaker pauses production for best-selling trucks
America's second-favorite pickup is taking another break. General Motors has again idled its assembly plant in Silao, Mexico – this time from August 4 through August 15 – pausing production of two of its biggest moneymakers: the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. It's the second stoppage in as many months. The same factory also halted production for two weeks in early July. The Silao plant is just one of several that build the full-size pickup trucks. They're also assembled in Indiana, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. It's not unusual for automakers to temporarily pause production of popular models, especially to retool assembly lines or manage inventory levels. 'Scheduled down weeks at GM Silao are part of a standard operating process focused on optimizing production at our Manufacturing Complex,' the company told But a second two-week shutdown is raising eyebrows, particularly for the Silverado, which sold more than 540,000 units in 2024 – second only to Ford's F-Series pickups. The Sierra is no sales slouch either. The higher-end truck, that comes with more exterior chrome, more luxury interior finishes, and a mechanically similar power center, sold over 340,000 copies last year. Neither car has a reported inventory glut. They also don't have any major reported changes coming to the design that would necessitate a production pause. As of May, Chevrolet had a 65-day supply of vehicles on dealer lots, just under the 70-day industry average. GMC's supply was slightly higher at 77 days. But broader geopolitical and economic factors might be playing into GM's decision, analysts warn. GM has said it is reevaluating how it will build some of its cars in the face of President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs . Mary Barra (pictured), the company's top boss, has said the company expects to pay between $4 billion and $5 billion in tariffs this year. She said the automaker doesn't have plans to pass those costs on to consumers. To reduce those costs, GM is investing heavily in stateside manufacturing. The company is spending $888 million to retool an engine plant in Buffalo, New York, for a new line of V8 engines for large trucks and SUVs. GM is also spending about $4 billion to move production of its top-selling Chevy SUVs, the Equinox and Blazer, from Mexico to plants in Kansas and Kentucky. Last year, GM built 889,072 cars in Mexican factories. Over time, independent experts warned that the move to the US could show up on the popular automaker's sticker prices. 'The challenge for GM will be the higher labor costs,' David Whiston, an automotive analyst at Morningstar, previously told 'The higher costs might need to be passed down to dealers and consumers.' Still Whiston said the company will likely remain profitable this year, despite the major investments and tariff costs. The moves also come as GM doubles down on its EV consumer fleet. In the US, the company has axed two underperforming Cadillac SUVs from production. The company plans on transforming both plants into battery assembly lines, especially for its upcoming re-release of the Chevy Bolt.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
America's biggest carmaker STOPS production for four weeks for its best-selling trucks
America's second-favorite pickup is taking another break. General Motors has again idled its assembly plant in Silao, Mexico — this time from August 4 through August 15 — pausing production of two of its biggest moneymakers: the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. It's the second stoppage in as many months. The same factory also halted production for two weeks in early July. The Silao plant is just one of several that build the full-size pickup trucks. They're also assembled in Indiana, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. It's not unusual for automakers to temporarily pause production of popular models, especially to retool assembly lines or manage inventory levels. 'Scheduled down weeks at GM Silao are part of a standard operating process focused on optimizing production at our Manufacturing Complex,' the company told But a second two-week shutdown is raising eyebrows, particularly for the Silverado, which sold more than 540,000 units in 2024 — second only to Ford's F-Series pickups. The Sierra is no sales slouch either. The higher-end truck, that comes with more exterior chrome, more luxury interior finishes, and a mechanically similar power center, sold over 340,000 copies last year. Neither car has a reported inventory glut. They also don't have any major reported changes coming to the design that would necessitate a production pause. As of May, Chevrolet had a 65-day supply of vehicles on dealer lots, just under the 70-day industry average. GMC's supply was slightly higher at 77 days. But broader geopolitical and economic factors might be playing into GM's decision, analysts warn. GM has said it is reevaluating how it will build some of its cars in the face of President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs. Mary Barra, the company's top boss, has said the company expects to pay between $4 billion and $5 billion in tariffs this year. She said the automaker doesn't have plans to pass those costs on to consumers. To reduce those costs, GM is investing heavily in stateside manufacturing. The company is spending $888 million to retool an engine plant in Buffalo, New York, for a new line of V8 engines for large trucks and SUVs. Industry analysts warned that car prices could shoot up if companies start to make more vehicles in the US GM is also spending about $4 billion to move production of its top-selling Chevy SUVs, the Equinox and Blazer, from Mexico to plants in Kansas and Kentucky. Last year, GM built 889,072 cars in Mexican factories. Over time, independent experts warned that the move to the US could show up on the popular automaker's sticker prices. 'The challenge for GM will be the higher labor costs,' David Whiston, an automotive analyst at Morningstar, previously told 'The higher costs might need to be passed down to dealers and consumers.' Still Whiston said the company will likely remain profitable this year, despite the major investments and tariff costs. The moves also come as GM doubles down on its EV consumer fleet. In the US, the company has axed two underperforming Cadillac SUVs from production. The company plans on transforming both plants into battery assembly lines, especially for its upcoming re-release of the Chevy Bolt.
