Tuff Truck 2012 Results

Top 10
Place Team Name
1 Tough Dog
2 Team OPW
3 Rock Rash
4 Army Barbie
5 BARZOOK
6 Rockracing 4×4
7 Team Wheelboyz
8 Bridgestone
9 Oh Deere
10 TEAM ANABOLIC

The Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge (TTC) is a three day, hard as they come, 4WD competition event. The TTC is gruelling and enduring, and provides a real test for competing teams as they push themselves and their vehicles to the absolute limit. Boulders, Rock, Mud, Giant Tyres, Deep Deep Holes and Ruts make up the terrain that competitors must conquer… in hope of taking out the annual perpetual Tuff Truck trophy.

Motor Enthusiasts Conference 2012 - Duncan Gay

The Hon. Duncan John GAY, MLC Member of the Legislative Council Minister for Roads and Ports, speaks at the inaugural Motor Enthusiasts Conference Eastern Creek raceway.

He addresses the topical issues relating to modifying motor vehicles. An Absolutely brilliant day for Motor Enthusiasts Today, thankyou to The Hon. Duncan John GAY, MLC Member of the Legislative Council Minister for Roads and Ports from all Motor Enthusiasts present today. Your speech today has ensured we all can get back to building and getting on with our passion.

I really appreciated his honesty, knowledge on the topic of modified vehicles and humour, he is a top bloke doing a top job. Hunty

Euro NCAP Says Jeep Compass "Disappoints"

The latest results from Euro NCAP, which is equivalent to the IIHS in North America, brings good news for some, and bad news for others.

The two vehicles tested by the European body are the new 2012 Honda Civic 5-door hatchback and the redesigned Jeep Compass crossover.

Starting with the good news, Honda's compact model was awarded the maximum five star rating, achieving high scores in all areas of assessment and putting it on a par with the top models in its category.

Euro NCAP said that the passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact while the car scored maximum points in the side barrier test. It also offered adequate protection in the more severe side pole impact, and scored top points for the protection it offered to pedestrians.

The facelifted Jeep Compass, on the other hand, achieved only two stars against the 2012 criteria, with the European body stating that it "underachieved" in most areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment.

According to the results, the compact SUV showed poor protection levels for passengers, particularly in the side pole test, while in pedestrian protection, it scored a "disappointing" 23 percent.

"Compact SUVs are the most popular sport-utility segment in Europe, but the Jeep Compass did not demonstrate itself as strong contender on safety in comparison to other tested competitors in the same category," Euro NCAP said in a statement.

Commenting on the latest results, Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, said:

"The results published today show clearly that a 5 star these days means a lot more than a 5 star some years ago. Many car makers have moved on and so have we. Cars based on older technology, brushed up and marketed as new are not providing the same levels as safety as the newest models developed against the new targets. Consumers interested in a fair comparison will not be fooled by these results."

Next Jeep Liberty to get shrunken Pentastar V6

The replacement for the aging Jeep Liberty is expected to debut at next January's Detroit Auto Show, and when it does, a brand-new Pentastar powertrain will reportedly be spinning underhood.

According to Automotive News, Chrysler will offer a downsized 3.2-liter V6 in the Liberty mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF. The current Pentastar V6 displaces 3.6 liters and has been well-received by both critics and buyers in everything from the refreshed Dodge Journey to new Chrysler 300.

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne reiterated to AN that efficient transmissions play a huge role in the development of engines. "If we had known the eight-speed was coming, we could have made the [3.6-liter] Pentastar a 3.2-liter," he said.

Currently, the Liberty is available with a 3.7-liter SOHC V6 that produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque backed by a four-speed automatic transmission. This new 3.2-liter/nine-speed combo will surely improve performance, not to mention overall efficiency, though specific power and fuel economy details are still up in the air at this time.

Jeep recalls 210K Liberty SUVs over corrosion issues

Chrysler has announced that it's recalling 209,724 Jeep Liberty models for lower control arms that may fracture due to rust.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says the recall covers certain vehicles manufactured between July 3, 2003 and July 14 2005, which were originally sold or are currently registered in states with a high probability of rust.

In the right conditions, the lower control arms could rust to the point of fracture, leading to a loss of control and a potential accident. Reuters reports Chrysler is unaware of any accidents caused by the defect.

The automaker intends to notify owners and begin the recall by the end of April this year. Those vehicles covered by the campaign will have their control arms replaced free of charge. See below for the full recall notice.