Yahoo Autos 5 hottest trucks from the Detroit auto show
For years, the truck market has been pretty predictable. Ford was the top seller; then came Chevrolet/GMC. Small trucks got little attention. And diesel engines were only for heavy-duty beasts.
But a look at the truck market in 2015 shows that things have changed. Ram has become a true contender in sales, and small trucks are finally getting the attention they deserve. Last year, GM rolled out the Chevy Colorado, and the GMC Canyon debuted For 2015, Toyota is quick to respond with a freshened Tacoma. And that’s just the beginning.
—George Kennedy
Ford F-150 Raptor
With the new Ford F-150 on the market, it was only a matter of time before we saw an off-road-ready Raptor variant. The Ford F-150 Raptor is back with just-as-wild styling and a new twist. The lighter body meant Ford could swap out the big V8 for a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 making 411 horsepower. Adding to the Raptor’s repertoire is a 10-speed automatic transmission, massive Fox racing shocks, and unique LED lighting and camera tech to aid in blasting down trails at night. The new Raptor goes on sale in the fall of 2016.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Meant to be a study in both form and function, the Hyundai Santa Cruz was designed with the city dwelling millennial in mind. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, producing 190 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque. Hyundai claims this powertrain returns fuel economy in the high-30-mpg range. Power is sent to the road through Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive setup. The extended-cab setup has rear-hinged doors, while the expandable bed features drawers for added utility. We expect styling from this concept will influence future Hyundai SUVs.
