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Here's why automakers roll out those Texas-themed pickup trucks

Every year, automakers with a full-size truck link make a big show of the Texas State Fair, usually involving a reveal of a new model. Sometimes they show a whole new truck, and other times a special edition centered on the Lone Star state. While some people might write this off as a quirk of the industry, others might be wondering, "What's the big deal with Texas?" As it turns out, part of the big deal with Texas is big truck sales. According to Dave Sullivan, product analysis manager at AutoPacific, Texas buys more trucks than any other state in the country. It's not a small margin either. Edmunds.com, one in five trucks sold in the US are sold in Texas. The state also accounts for 15 percent of the country's large truck sales, which is more than twice that of California, the second largest truck market in America. Even when you break down sales only in Texas, trucks are a huge piece of the pie - Sullivan says that a quarter of new vehicle sales in Texas are trucks. One in five trucks sold in the US are sold in Texas. But it's not just sales that make truck builders give attention to Texas. As Sullivan explained, "Pickups are life in Texas." Both he and Hugh Milne, marketing and advertising manager for the Chevy Silverado line, said that trucks are key fixtures in Texas society, as both work trucks and luxury vehicles (or Texas Cadillacs as Milne called them). Milne said Texas is so important in the truck market that if you want to be successful in the rest of the country, "you've got to be successful in Texas." As for the State Fair, it has become a prime location for reveals in part because of the importance of the Texas market and because of how big the fair is. Milne also revealed that the State Fair also hosts its own auto show, so it's an ideal venue for a vehicle introduction. So there you have it. Why do truck builders obsess over Texas? It's because Texas obsesses over trucks. When you have one market that loves your product that much, you give it the attention it deserves. Related Video: Image Credit: Donovan Reese via Getty Images Auto News Marketing/Advertising Chevrolet Ford RAM Truck f-150 texas state fair

Chevy Silverado Special Ops will go into limited production

Remember the Special Ops edition Silverado? Chevy showcased it as a show truck at SEMA last month. And now it's going into limited production, and proceeds will support the National Navy SEAL Museum. The special pickup was based on a Silverado 1500 in Z71 spec and done up with a special three-tone paint job inspired by the camouflage used on 20th-century warships. Known as Razzle Dazzle, the camo was designed to disguise a ship's form and movements from enemy vessels. Chevy also fitted the show truck with a sport bar, off-road LEDs, lower- and under-body reinforcement, and flared wheel arches packing special 20-inch wheels. Following its debut at SEMA, former GM chairman Dan Akerson (a US Naval Academy alum) and retired Navy SEAL Master Chief Rick Kaiser presented the concept truck at the 116th Army-Navy football game this past weekend. Chevy hasn't said just how many it will build and at what price, but production is slated to be "limited," going on sale in the spring. Related Video: Chevrolet Salutes Special Forces During Army-Navy Game 2015-12-10 - Special Operations Silverado will support National Navy SEAL Museum - Partners with the USX Mt. Everest Team to raise Post Traumatic Stress Disorder awareness - GM Military Discount expands to include all veterans PHILADELPHIA – For the sixth consecutive year, Chevrolet is the official vehicle sponsor of Saturday's Army-Navy Game. During the game, Chevrolet will honor military service men and women, particularly its special forces. Former General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, will join retired U.S. Navy SEAL Master Chief Rick Kaiser, executive director of the National Navy SEAL Museum, to salute the special forces during the presentation of a Chevy Silverado Special Ops Concept vehicle at the game. The limited production version is expected to go on sale next spring. Chevrolet will donate a portion of the proceeds from each Special Operations Silverado sold to benefit the Navy SEAL Museum. "The partnership will also help us aid the families of fallen, injured and active duty Navy SEALs through the efforts of our Trident House and scholarship programs," said Kaiser. Founded in 1985, the museum honors the service and legacy of the U.S. Navy SEALs. Located in Ft. Pierce, Fla., the museum and memorial are recognized as the birthplace of the Navy SEALs.

How long will the 'golden age' of performance last?

High-powered sports and luxury cars were everywhere at the New York Auto Show, prompting the obvious question for enthusiasts: How long will this golden age of performance last? Industry leaders have some time before regulations elevate the Corporate Average Fuel Economy level in 2025. Even then, they expect cars rippling with power to survive in some form. "Is it the end of an era," I don't think so," said Ola Kallenius, Daimler AG board member for Mercedes-Benz cars marketing and sales. "That performance element of individual mobility I don't think will ever go away." Kallenius, who oversaw the company's AMG division from 2010-2013, expects it to continue to grow. Last year, AMG sold a record 68,875 units around the world, an increase of 44.6 percent over 2014, with strong growth in the US, China, and Germany. Still, there's always the potential for gas to spike, and pending fuel economy regulations are looming. That could lead AMG to add electrification to its products, Kallenius said, pointing to the electric SLS as a test case. Chevy is also thinking ahead, said Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer of the Camaro. He wouldn't bite when asked about electrification for the Camaro (he did say "never say never"), but admitted in 2025 "it's going to be pretty tough to sell V8s." For now, things are rosy for muscle cars, and Chevy confidently showcased the 640-hp Camaro ZL1 in coupe and convertible form in New York. "I think that this is truly the golden age of performance," Oppenheiser said. It's hard to disagree. News & Analysis News: The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF was a show-stopper in New York. Analysis: There was a palpable energy when this RF — for Retractable Fastback — was revealed the night before the show at a trendy off-site venue near the Hudson River. Even as a parade of SUVs and flashy luxury cars rolled out the rest of the week, the Miata remained a hot topic. The Retractable Fastback is really a clever targa top, with part of the roof stowing behind the seats, adding about 100 pounds compared to the standard convertible. It makes the car more practical and arguably more attractive. The RF continues Mazda's tradition of selling the Miata with a hardtop variant. The first and second generations offered a detachable one, and a power retractable hardtop (a $1,700 option) was available on third-gen models. Judging by its reception in New York, the RF could prove to be even more popular than its predecessors.