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PickupTrucks.com's latest test results in a familiar winner [w/video]

PickupTrucks.com has gone and thrown the latest batch of half-ton pickups into a cage match to see who would come out on top. The site put the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2013 Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan through a battery of tests. Those included 0-60 miles per hour acceleration, 60-0 mph deceleration, fuel economy, a hill climb, and payload and towing. They even threw the rigs on an autocross course to evaluate overall handling. Each truck was given points based on how it scored in each evaluation.
Who came out on top? Somewhat surprisingly, the 2013 Ford F-150 walked away with the gold, though fewer than 50 points separated first and fourth place. Head over to PickupTrucks.com to read the full evaluation and the final results. You may be shocked to see exactly where some of the segment's newest additions placed. You can also watch a video on the test below.

Specialty Vehicle Engineering's 750-horsepower GMC Canyon fully revealed

GMC's celebrated Syclone will turn 30 in early 2021, but nothing suggests the company will mark the occasion by releasing a modern interpretation of the pickup. New Jersey-based tuner Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) is taking the matter into its own hands by building a limited number of GMC Canyon trucks with Hellcat-like power. Although the original Syclone received a turbocharged V6, the 2021 model gains a 5.3-liter V8 normally found in bigger vehicles, including the Sierra and Yukon. SVE rebuilt it with forged aluminum pistons, forged steel connecting rods, high-lift valve springs, a custom crankshaft and upgraded fuel injectors among other aftermarket parts. It also added a supercharger to raise the eight's output to 750 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Power flows to the four wheels via a strengthened 8-speed automatic transmission and a permanent all-wheel-drive system. For context, the first Syclone gave the Chevrolet Corvette a run for its money with a fuel-injected, 4.3-liter V6 turbocharged to 280 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. These numbers were spectacular in the early 1990s since the Sonoma that Syclone was based on shipped with the 105-horse Iron Duke four-cylinder as standard. Even compared with the Sonoma GT that got a naturally aspirated 4.3-liter V6 with 195 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, the Syclone was impressive. SVE installed six-pistons front calipers that clamp 13.6-inch slotted rotors, and it kept the factory brakes out back. It also lowered the suspension by two inches in the front and five inches in the back, upgraded the shocks, and added a heavy-duty rear sway bar. These modifications help drivers make the most of the extra power, but SVE hasn't published performance specifications (like the truck's zero-to-60-mph time) yet. Surprisingly, the eight-cylinder weighs almost the same as the V6 it replaces so the engine swap doesn't affect weight distribution. Visually, the Syclone can't be mistaken for a run-of-the-mill Canyon. It wears a deep front bumper, has cladding over the rocker panels and rides on 20-inch alloys. Edition-specific emblems round out the look, and the list of options includes a body-colored grille as well as a folding tonneau cover. SVE's images show a truck painted black, which was the only color offered on the 1991 model, but it's available in any factory hue. Inside, the modern-day Syclone gains special floor mats and a numbered plaque on the dashboard. Leather is optional.

GM issues CUV stop-sale due to Goodyear tires [UPDATE]

UPDATE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that only 6,281 tires were installed on the CUVs, when in actuality, there were 6,281 CUVs affected by the stop-sale order, totaling 25,124 tires. The story has been edited to reflect this. General Motors has issued a stop-sale order on some 6,300 of its Lambda platform crossovers due to a pending recall on their 18-inch Goodyear Fortera HL tires. The affected vehicles include all three flavors of GM's large CUV platform, consisting of the 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. Goodyear is recalling a total of 48,500 Fortera HL tires after discovering "very small" cracks in the tread, found during internal testing. Of the affected tires, 32,100 were made for GM, Goodyear told Automotive News. According to GM, 6,281 CUVs were fitted with the questionable rubber, totaling 25,124 of the company's 32,100 tires. The remainder were stocked as replacements, a GM rep told Autoblog. The remaining 16,400 tires were built specifically for the aftermarket. Goodyear reports that the cracks do "not indicate a safety issue." Meanwhile, a GM spokesman told AN that stop-sale "will eventually lead to a non-compliance recall by GM." Featured Gallery 2015 Chevrolet Traverse View 21 Photos News Source: Automotive News - sub. req. Recalls Buick GM GMC Safety Crossover gmc acadia chevy traverse goodyear