2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch Edition on 2040-cars

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Ford readying 2015 F-150 drift truck for SEMA

Between the Mustangs you'd find in Formula D and the Fiestas in the Global and World rallycross championships, there's no shortage of Ford drift cars on the scene. But at the upcoming SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Blue Oval automaker intends to show off a different kind of drift machine.
Created in collaboration with driftmeister Vaughn Gittin, Jr., this custom F-150 has been designed for "on- and off-road capabilities, as well as drifting and jumping." It's got a suspension with components from Kibbetech King and Air Lift Performance to give it 12 inches of travel and comes packed with 5 Recaro seats. Other details remain limited, but if the rendering above is anything to go by, it ought to be pretty awesome.
Alongside the Gittin truck, Ford will also be showcasing another F-150 designed together with freestyle motorcross rider Brian Deegan, packing the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and a long list of enhancements. Between these two trucks, Ford hopes to extend its winning streak for the Hottest Truck award that it's taken four years running now. Feel free to read more in the press release below.

Recharge Wrap-up: 1st Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell in Bay Area, Nikola Tesla rally

Enthusiasts in Croatia are celebrating Nikola Tesla with an EV rally. This June, drivers of a wide variety of electric cars will take part in the 2016 Nikola Tesla EV Rally Croatia. The rally takes place over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from June 1 to June 5, 2016. It is being billed as "the quietest and most beautiful rally ever." Nikola Tesla would have turned 160 on July 10 of 2016. Check out the invitation video above, and read more at the rally website or on Facebook. Mexico is fining Ford $1.05 million for selling vehicles without proper environmental certifications. Mexico's Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) says that the automaker sold some 4,690 vehicles without required compliance certificates related to emissions and noise level regulations. The offending vehicles include 2015 and 2016 models from both Ford and Lincoln. Read more from Automotive News. Hyundai has sold its first Tucson Fuel Cell in Northern California. The hydrogen powered crossover was sold by Capitol Hyundai of San Jose. "Capitol Hyundai is excited to be a qualified dealer for Hyundai's zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell hydrogen electric vehicle," says Capitol Hyundai owner Shaun Del Grande. "Our location in the Bay Area region is Hyundai's first in Northern California, making it more convenient for local residents to conveniently acquire their new Tucson Fuel Cell CUV, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions where they work and live." Tucson Fuel Cell drivers have accumulated over 1 million emissions-free miles in California since the car went on sale in 2014, preventing over 400 tons of CO2 emissions. Read more in the press release below. CAPITOL HYUNDAI OF SAN JOSE CELEBRATES FIRST FUEL CELL CUSTOMER DELIVERY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA First Hyundai Fuel Cell Dealer in Northern California Proudly Delivers its First Fuel Cell amidst a Rapidly Growing Bay Area Hydrogen Infrastructure SAN JOSE, Calif., May 2, 2016 – Capitol Hyundai of San Jose, California, a proud member of the Del Grande Dealer Group, delivered the first zero-emissions Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell hydrogen electric vehicle in the Northern California region today. Capitol Hyundai is the fifth qualified dealer for Hyundai's Tucson Fuel Cell, and the first Hyundai fuel cell dealer in Northern California. Hyundai was the first manufacturer in the U.S. to offer consumers the opportunity to lease a mass-produced fuel cell vehicle, the zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell CUV.

Want a V8 on the cheap? Buy a work truck

In case you didn't notice, V8 cars have gotten pretty expensive. If you want a modern muscle car like the Dodge Challenger R/T, Ford Mustang GT, or Chevy Camaro SS, you'll need between $34,000 and $38,000 for a stripped out example of one. The cheapest of those is the Challenger, and the priciest is the Camaro. These are also the cheapest V8 cars the companies offer. But if you absolutely have to have a V8 for less, there is an option, work trucks. As it turns out, all of the Big Three offer their most basic work trucks with V8s. And because they're so basic, they're pretty affordable, especially when sticking with the standard two-wheel drive. A Ram 1500 Tradesman with a V8 can be had for as little as $29,840, which is a little more than $4,000 less than a Challenger R/T. For a bit more at $30,275, you can have a Chevy Silverado W/T, almost $8,000 less than a Camaro SS. The most expensive is the V8 Ford F-150 starts at a starting price of $30,670, which is a bit over $5,000 less than the Mustang. Of course you'll be in an ultra bare bones vehicle with few comforts, and the price will go up if you add stuff, but we're bargain hunting here, and sacrifices are sometimes necessary. Besides, what you lose in comfort, you gain in loads of cargo space and towing (try to look at the bright side). Also, as a side note, all three trucks are available with optional electronic locking rear differentials. At the discounted price of these trucks, you still get a heaping helping of power. The most potent of the trio is the Ram 1500 Tradesman with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque generated by a 5.7-liter V8. Compared with the Challenger R/T, the Ram is up by 20 horsepower and they're tied for torque. The value proposition is even more stark between the two vehicles when looking at the price per horsepower. Each pony in the Ram costs $75.54, while the Challenger charges you $90.91. The Challenger is also more expensive per horsepower than its close competitors. The F-150's 5.0-liter V8 is just barely behind the Ram with 395 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. That's still more power than the Challenger, and it matches the torque of the 2017 Mustang GT. On the down side, it still would be down 20 horsepower on that same 2017 Mustang, and it's behind by 60 horsepower and 20 pound-feet on the new 2018 Mustang GT. The F-150 also just edges out the Mustang in the dollar per horsepower measure.