When I was 16 years old, I could buy a tank of gas for the cost of two weeks allowance. Today, I buy that same tank of gas for about the price of an oil change. (I drive a Honda). Â Every time I cruise past a ‘filling’ station and see those large numbers steadily climbing, my wallet whimpers a little. Yet I can hardly imagine the intense wailing of a wallet resting on the dashboard of say, an 86 Chevy Blazer, or any utility vehicle.
This is why, when I read an article in Autoweek, I became very excited for what the auto industry is currently developing:
Engineers from Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. will work together to develop a hybrid powertrain for use on rear-drive trucks and SUVs, the companies said on Monday. The automakers also will collaborate on basics for future in-car information technology, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The rear-drive hybrid powertrain is expected to be ready for use later this decade. The goal is to improve the fuel economy of trucks and SUVs without cutting back on their ability to tow or haul payload, said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s head of global product development.