Car Reviews

The American dream is six feet long, three tons and has eight cylinders. It is the pick-up truck Ford F-150, the best selling car in the U.S. in a generation. And it's likely to change soon nothing. On the contrary, the U.S. economy is on the upswing and thus increase the sales of massive car with its large loading areas.

"Great pick-ups are also in May went better than the industry as a whole," says Ford analyst Erich Merkle. Sales of the F-150 surged 31 percent high, the competitive model Chevrolet Silverado by General Motors grew by 25 percent and the Ram trucks made by Chrysler sold 22 percent more than last month.

Thus, the sales grew three times faster than the market overall. Every second car that is purchased in the United States, is a pick-up truck or an SUV.


But where does this new desire of Americans comes to the gas-guzzling big boats? "The construction is booming," says Ford's U.S. sales chief Ken Czubay. Pick-up Trucks are the workhorses of the American cars, comparable to pickup and closed vans in Germany. If a craftsman or a contractor has to transport something, then it's the stock pick-ups.

For farmers, these cars because of their off-road capability and their high tensile essential tools. In addition, leisure Cowboys simply love the beefy appearance, the raised seating position and the bubbling of the large-volume engines. Therefore include pick-ups, even in major metropolitan areas like New York City are on the road, although the natural terrain lies more in the vastness of Texas.

Ford F-150: American Way of Life

Michele cancer from Edmunds.com automotive website had already proclaimed the Auto Show in Detroit in January, the "Year of pick-up trucks." And she was right. The factories extra shifts. "It's a great time to be in the truck business," says General Motors' U.S. sales chief Kurt McNeil.

The jubilation is no accident, because of pick-ups of very well deserve. The technique is relatively simple and thus cheap, the numbers are high and the prices are climbing rapidly in regions of a premium car. Allow pick-ups have played a crucial role that the "Big Three" of Detroit to the turmoil of the economic crisis solid stand again. As a sign of the renaissance of the U.S. automakers General Motors on Thursday versa building in the major stock market index S & P 500 returns.


U.S. manufacturers also benefit that Americans actually still buy American in this segment. Not even the usually strong Japanese auto companies have so far managed to take this bastion. VW offers its Amarok pick-up in the United States not only just begun - because he is one size smaller than Ford F-150 and Co. What is needed is "full size", ie full size. Smaller pick-ups in the car format, which are popular in Asia or Latin America, eke out a niche existence in the United States.

However, the big pick-ups need to slim down, even if only internally: all manufacturers offer as an entry engines more fuel-efficient six-cylinder now and in the use of aluminum in new models reduces the weight. Even in the U.S., gasoline prices have risen and the government has tightened the requirements for consumption.