Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Truck, Off-Road

It doesn't really matter what age you are, we can all agree that monster trucks are awesome. How can you argue with a 20-foot tall tube-frame harbinger of destruction, mowing down row after row derelict cars and trucks? Every "SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!," somewhere in America, a dirt-filled arena is hosting this spectacle of high-horsepower automotive carnage.

For the more mathematically inclined, monster trucks are a also feat of engineering, sending over 10,000 pounds hurtling through the air at 30+ mph. To this end, Car and Driver has put together a little breakdown of the physics behind these beasts. For instance, a monster truck needs 1,500 horsepower, developed from a supercharged, alcohol-fueled V8 to rocket into the air at a 45-degree angle at 40 miles per hour. The likes of Bigfoot and Gravedigger reach a peak altitude of 32.5 feet, moving through the air at 32 miles per hour.

When a monster truck makes its descent, things get interesting. A direct landing can come down with the force of 25,500 pounds. That's enough to turn a Crown Victoria or Oldsmobile 88 into a doormat.

Some other fun facts: two-thirds or roughly 7,000 pounds of a monster truck is unsprung weight. In the main, that means the wheels, axles and rubber. The tires themselves are about 66 inches tall.

C/D explains that with the four-wheel steering systems on these behemoths, these trucks can maintain spins in a nearly inverted turning radius. As their speed rises, the center of gravity pushes to the outer wheels, and the truck can topple over.

Hold on to your corn dogs.

Car and Driver dissects the physics of monster trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Land Rover, Luxury

The current Land Rover Range Rover is equally capable of going up mountains, going down Munich's Maximilienstrasse and going across Kenya's Masaai Mara. The next Range Rover, which we've seen plenty of spy shots of, appears set to wade into territory completely new to it: a long-wheelbase version. A set of extra-lengthy rear doors have been spotted on one of the camouflaged prototypes navigating the English midlands, the expectation being that a longer Range Rover is being developed for markets like China that crave stretched models with ample leg room in the back seats.

The bigger back end will negate some of that 600-to-800-pound weight loss we've been hearing about for the next big Land Rover, but most Chinese and Middle Eastern buyers won't care. It isn't known if the extended version will come to the States, but a recent report in Automotive News suggests that if it did come, it could fit a third row of seats and become a challenger to the Mercedes GL, which is currently the best-sellling full-sized luxury utility here. And for those who'd like even more gumption than the current Range has, an article in Car says a higher-capacity V8 is being looked at "for power-crazed countries where fuel prices matter less."

Long-wheelbase Range Rover in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

The Detroit News reports that Chrysler has filed a complaint with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission seeking the return of a $2.5 million security deposit charged to the automaker's Kokomo, Indiana facilities by Duke Energy, plus interest. The called Duke's actions "unreasonable and discriminatory"

In 2009, after Chrysler's bankruptcy and corporate overhaul, Duke requested a security deposit because it viewed the freshly-minted Chrysler Group LLC, allied with Fiat, as an entirely new customer.

Chrysler says it had already set up a prepayment system that "mitigated any risk to Duke" and negated the need for any security deposit, but it caved and paid the sum when Duke threatened to cut off power to the four Kokomo facilities.

According to the report, Chrysler has asked for the deposit back, but Duke Energy says it won't return the money until Chrysler makes 12 consecutive payments, maintains a long-term credit rating of "BB" through Standard & Poors, and Duke determines Chrysler's financial status and acceptability of risk.

Chrysler argues that Duke has not established any criteria for that final element, and both parties will meet in Indianapolis on August 15 to start hashing out the situation.

Chrysler wants $2.5M security deposit back from Indiana electric utility originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal

Chicago Kafkaesque system for moving vehicles to clear space for municipal work or TV/movie production is not working as advertised. In theory, it's straightforward: the city tows someone's car to an out-of-the-way parking space to make room and enters the new location into a database within 20 minutes of the move. Drivers looking for their cars can call 311 or go online to find out if their car has been relocated. In practice, it's typical big-city municipal Hell.

The problem, says the Chicago Tribune, is that the relocation info doesn't always make it into the system in a timely manner. Not only can it take more than 20 minutes, but some residents didn't realize the city had moved their cars until the Tribune called them and told them, weeks later. The city of Chicago says that it posts notices giving residents at least 24 hours warning when possible, but sometimes an emergency means that there's no warning.

Some residents report instances of no notice being given even when there should have been. As a result, there are owners who have reported their cars stolen when, in fact, they were merely relocated and never properly recorded by city employees. After filing police reports, canceling insurance, etc., their cars are eventually "found" and the mix-ups are cleared up. Sure, the car owners are happy to get their rides back, but there has to be a better way to handle the matter of vehicle relocation, as the reporting process is, at best, inconsistent.

The Tribune says 17,000 cars were moved last year. How many of those were lost in the system is not known. Chicago officials say they plan to provide car owners with additional advance notice via posted signs and an early warning system that details when work is scheduled to occur in the city's neighborhoods. For the moment, however, know that if your car goes missing in The Windy City, it might not be because of bad guys.

What's your take on Chicago's policy? Keep reading to weigh in on the poll we've posted below.

Continue reading Would you be upset if Chicago moved your car without asking? [w/poll]

Would you be upset if Chicago moved your car without asking? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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