Auto Industry News: Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Ups the Ante Off-Road, NHTSA Eyes Up New Safety Standard & Goodguys Crowns Hot Rod of the Year
The 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison caps off May’s list of truck debuts, ushering in a variety of segment-leading off-road capability, just as the industry’s go-to adventure brand Jeep announces it is developing autonomous off-road tech. Whaaat?? The Engine Block has all the details, along with a rundown of the most interesting corporate hookups to occur over Memorial Day Weekend and an update on NHTSA’s progress making automatic emergency braking a standard safety feature on all new vehicles.
But first, meet the polarizing winner of Goodguys’ coveted 2023 Hot Rod of the Year award…
Goodguys Names 2023 Hot Rod of the Year
Every year, the Goodguys Association recognizes 12 of the nation’s finest show cars and trucks. Known as the “Top 12 Awards,” they are handed out at a series of events throughout the year.
Following March’s 2023 Street Rod D’ Elegance (which went to a beautiful 1934 Plymouth PE Deluxe Sedan), the organization just awarded its second accolade of the year during the 17th BASF Nashville Nationals. And the coveted title of 2023 Hot Rod of the Year went to something decidedly less traditional…
’34 Ford Coupe – “Saint Christopher”
Coby Gewertz’s big and bold ’34 Ford coupe took home the honors – and it’s easy to see why. From the polarizing striped paint job to the souped-up Hemi to the retrofitted high school desk chairs inside, this thing screams hot rod.
“I set out to build a car that goes back to when drag racing was still cool,” said Gewertz, who pulled inspiration from ’60s and ’70s racers, as well as his own experiences as both an artist and lifelong hot rodder.
The coupe, named “Saint Christopher” after the patron saint of travelers, started life as a body shell acquired from American Pickers star Mike Wolfe. It spent five years in builder Bill Ganahl’s shop South City Rod & Custom slowly turning into the brash creation you see today – or as Ganahl calls it, “a cartoon on wheels.”
The vehicle features a long list of traditional hot rod custom touches, such as the chopped top, rows of louvers across the roof and deck lid, vintage magnesium wheels and 331 cubic-inch vintage Hemi engine. Though, it really is that wild paint job of angled vertical stripes separated by gold leaf striping that first turns heads.
Head over to Fuel Curve for a full run-down on the build, and keep an eye out for more show car kings and queens. Goodguys will be crowning 10 more vehicles throughout the 2023 season including awards for Muscle Car, Street Machine, Truck of the Year and other top categories for classic vehicles.
In Case You Missed It…
The NHRA is looking for a new title sponsor. Late last month, the drag-racing sanctioning body announced that Camping World declined to renew its contract after the 2024 season. By all accounts, the split seems amicable, and leaves the NHRA with ample time to find a replacement. With a noticeable uptick in participation and attendance, it’s a safe bet the series will find another top name to place on the marquee.
More Extreme Machines
The last of May’s mid-size truck debuts made its appearance over Memorial Day Weekend. All-new for 2024, Chevy’s updated Colorado ZR2 Bison joins the newest generation Toyota Tacoma and new-to-market Ford Ranger Raptor in bringing even more off-road grunt to the smaller-hauler segment.
Built to conquer any terrain, the Bison is chock full of off-road enhancements courtesy of American Expedition Vehicles (AEV).
Most notable among these upgrades are the sturdy steel front and rear bumpers, constellation of skid plates, and unique fender flares complementing massive 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory Mud Terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels.
Those tires are the largest offered in the segment, providing the Bison with a leading 12.2-inches of ground clearance. When put to the test on rugged terrain, drivers will find a best-in-class approach angle of 38.2 degrees, with a 26-degree departure angle, and 26.9-degree breakover angle. A new set of segment-exclusive Multimatic front and rear Jounce Control Dampers should help smooth out bumps and cushion hard landings along the way.
Power matches the regular ZR2, as well as the upcoming GMC Canyon AT4X AEV, with the standard 2.7L Turbo High-Output powertrain making 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque routed through an 8-speed automatic and 2-speed transfer case. Payload and towing come in just under the ZR2 at 1,050 pounds of cargo and a 5,500-pound tow rating.
No word on pricing yet, but current Bisons start just under $80k. The 2024 model is set to hit dealer showrooms later this year.
Did you know…?
Jeep is developing autonomous driving systems that can tackle off-road conditions, testing the next-gen tech in familiar stomping grounds. Two 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid SUVs were seen rock-crawling in Moab, sans drivers. In the interest of expanding access to rugged adventures, the automaker believes the technology can help off-road rookies – as well as veterans – get out of sticky situations. Jeep will reveal more information on the program via video this summer.
NHTSA’s Next Safety Goal
NHTSA is seeking approval from the Biden administration on a proposal to make automatic emergency braking (including for pedestrians) mandatory equipment on all new vehicles. The crash-avoidance tech would join other federal standard safety equipment like seatbelts, airbags, tire pressure monitors and back-up cameras.
If finalized, NHTSA says the rule would save at least 360 lives a year and reduce injuries by at least 24,000 annually. “In addition, these AEB systems would result in significant reductions in property damage caused by rear-end crashes. Many crashes would be avoided altogether, while others would be less destructive.”
Safer Stopping Power
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) uses a variety of sensors to detect a potential collision and then automatically applies the brakes – without the driver having to touch the pedal. Some of these systems only work for other vehicles, but with pedestrian fatalities at record highs, NHTSA would require vehicle-to-pedestrian technology be part of the new federal standards.
AEB has proven very effective in low-speed, rear-end collisions, but still has some evolving to do where high-speed impacts and perpendicular collisions (like T-bone crashes) are concerned, according to tests performed by Consumer Reports.
Still, any reduction in speed is good when a collision is imminent. As such, NHTSA’s new rule would require AEB systems to avoid other vehicles at speeds up to 50 mph if a driver fails to react and up to 62 mph if the driver applies some braking. Pedestrian avoidance would be set at speeds up to 37 mph.
Expected Addition
The proposal does not come as much of a surprise. In 2016, twenty automakers signed a deal with the U.S. government pledging their commitment to include the technology on all new vehicles by last year. They came pretty close, with IIHS reporting the technology was standard on 73% of new vehicles.
According to NHTSA’s proposal, automakers would be looking at an additional cost of about $82 per model for each design cycle change. If it passes, they would need to comply within 3 or 4 years, depending on certain criteria.
Notable Hook-Ups
Spring flings aren’t just for riled-up teenagers. Several big names announced new partnerships recently. Here are just a few you should be aware of.
Ford & Tesla
In a surprising move, automakers Ford and Tesla announced last week that they will start sharing EV charging tech as early as next year.
The deal will open up access of Tesla’s 12,000 Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada to Ford customers, and will use the Tesla NACS adaptor (as opposed to the CCS standard certified by SAE and adopted by most other EV automakers.)
According to Ford, the partnership will double the number of fast-chargers available to Ford EV customers.
Waymo & Uber
In another surprising pair-up, Waymo announced a new multiyear plan to put its driverless vehicles on Uber’s ride-hailing and food delivery platform later this year. The rollout will start in metro Phoenix and once fully integrated, will allow users to order a Waymo “Driver” on the Uber or Uber Eats mobile apps.
The agreement is an interesting one, as Waymo and Uber were once bitter rivals embroiled in a nasty lawsuit. In 2017, Waymo sued Uber after the ride-hailing giant acquired an autonomous trucking company started by a former Waymo engineer, presumably using Waymo’s intellectual property. The man pled guilty but was later pardoned by then-President Trump.
It’s possible this partnership is a part of the lawsuit’s settlement, though there’s been no confirmation of that.
Michigan Dairy Farmers & Canadian Distillery
The most unusual partnership emerged over Memorial Day Weekend between Michigan milk producers and a vodka distiller in Ontario, Canada. The two are planning a unique venture that will turn milk byproduct into biofuel.
The distillery’s technology is currently used to transform milk permeate into vodka, and was used during COVID to create hand sanitizer. Noting “there’s only so much vodka people can drink,” Dairy Distillery founder Omid McDonald said the company began looking at other high-volume uses.
Teaming up with Michigan’s dairy farmers will allow the two groups to turn milk byproduct into roughly 2.2 million gallons of ethanol a year which, when blended with gasoline, can offset 14,500 metric tons of carbon a year. The deal also helps the farmers create more value for the milk being processed from their cows, as they struggle to remain profitable in a post-pandemic industry.
The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Be sure to check back Wednesday for a Q&A with the experts at Auto Meter on how to select the best gauges for your setup. Then, come back on Friday for a rundown on the best off-road experiences in the U.S.’s Lower South.
