This year will be the 40th consecutive year that the Ford F-150 has ranked as the best-selling truck in America, and the best-selling vehicle period for 35 years. When Henry Ford built his first truck in 1900, and launched Ford Motor Co.’s first truck line in 1917, this kind of success had not been envisioned. And when Ford premiered its F-150 truck line in 1948, it is doubtful that they had foreseen that their pick-up that would become “America’s Truck” for four decades running.

Freshening the 13th-generation F-Series that began in 2015, Ford proclaims that this year’s version is: “tougher, smarter and more capable than ever”. New features include standard Auto Start-Stop for all engines, an all-new 3.3-liter V-6 with port and direct-injection technology and flex-fuel capability, and electronic six-speed automatic transmission with selectable drive modes – normal, tow/haul and sport. In fact, there’s improved power and fuel economy all around with gains in the majority of its engine choices.

The 2018 F-150 features a number of design updates and technology enhancements including driver-assist and connectivity, standard auto start-stop for better fuel economy, an electronic 10-speed automatic that features selectable drive modes – normal, tow/haul, snow/wet, eco-select and sport (standard with all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost®, 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter V8 engines

Major exterior freshening across the lineup includes new grilles, bumpers, lighting, tailgate outer, appliqués and wheels. And adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection are available.
Manufactured at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, my 4x4 test truck with a SuperCrew® cab and carried a bed of 6.5 feet and measured 231.9 inches long, 77.2 inches high for the 4x4, and 79.9 inches wide on a 145.0-inch wheelbase.

The F-150 provides plenty of power through five engine choices, including a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 that delivers 325 hp and 400 lbs.-ft. of torque; the all-new 3.3-liter Ti-VCT FFV engine that is good for 290 horses and 265 lbs-ft.; the 3.5-liter V-6 turbo engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing that produces 375hp/470 lbs.-ft; the turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost high-output V-6 engine that increases last year’s power numbers to 450 hp and 510lbs.-ft. of torque. And the 5.0-liter Ti-VCT VB FFV engine that growls out 395 hp and 400 lbs-ft.

My test XLT was powered by the 375-hp 3.5-liter turbo engine, and I found it powerful and responsive. On the track, I finished off a zero-to-60mpg sprint in 6.9 seconds, en route to a 15.4-second quarter-mile (hand-timed). The Ford F-150 is a confident highway cruiser and it also handles heavy payloads and smoothes out road irregularities. Rack-and-pinion, electric power-assisted steering is aggressive and predictable, and coil-on-shock, long-spindle double-wishbone independent front suspension with a stamped-steel lower control arm, and a Hotchkiss-type non-independent live rear suspension with leaf springs and outboard shock absorbers work well together to provide a level truck ride. Four-wheel vented ABS disc brakes deliver responsive stopping ability.

And I worked it hard on the highway and on soft off-road pot-holing, and averaged 16.2mpg.

The cabin is packed with amenities and is spacious, with 40.8 inches of front headroom and 40.4 inches for those in the cab. Front legroom was a generous 43.9 inches with second-row passengers getting 43.6 inches. Shoulder room is a comfortable 66.7 inches in row one and 65.9 in the rear seats.

The 2018 Ford F-150 comes with a truckload of standard safety items including first-row side-impact airbags; antilock brakes; electronic stability control and roll stability control.

For 2018, Ford F-150 is offered in six basic trims with tweaks for engines, bed length and cab size. The base XL starts at $27,705; the XLT which I tested, started at $33,300; the upscale Lariat bases at $41,015; the aggressively powerful and stylish Raptor starts at $50,625; the King Ranch® model starts at $51,930; the upscale Platinum trim starts at $54,485 and the top-tier Limited starts at $61,360.

My XLT, which adds SYNC®, the Power Equipment Group and Chrome Front and Rear Bumper to the XL, based with a Regular Cab and 6.5-foot box; the 3.3-liter engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and 4x2 drive, but my test drive upscaled a bit. A Super Cab added $5260 and the 6.5-foot box; and as I am a 4x4 truck guy, that option was added for $3495. I am also a “more power” guy, and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with the 10-speed transmission added $2595.

Shadow Black paint was a standard color, and the interior was augmented with the 301A option which added some great tech conveniences for an additional $2150, then discounted by $1000.

A drop-in bedliner added $350; box side steps added $325; the remote start system added $195; power sliding rear windows with privacy tint and defroster added $350; reverse sensing system added $275; Black platform running boards were $250; the voice-activated navigation system was $795; Sync® 3 with voice-activated communications and entertainment system with 911 Assist®, Vehicle Health Reports and an 8.0-inch center-stack touch screen with audio control and compass added $450, and Destination charges were $1295. That put the sticker-as-tested at $50,285, but regional incentives of $3250 knocked the price down to $47,035, so check with your local dealer.

You can see the 2018 Ford F-150 and more than 2,000 trucks that span decades, in a celebration of trucks featuring Big Rigs, Mini Trucks, Antiques, Custom Vans, 4x4s and more, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 3-5 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This event and has been the epicenter for all things truck since 1991.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

It all started in 1974 and to this day, the theme remains the same; Fall Carlisle, the event that started it all for Carlisle Events, is also the event that wraps the annual events season. That remains true in 2018 as the event which draws 100,000 guests from around the world, takes over the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds from October 3-7.

Fall Carlisle is an auto lover’s paradise with 82 acres of automotive pieces and parts, merchandise, collectibles, cars and trucks for sale and more. The best part is that items are for sale person to person and anyone looking to buy can do at fair and reasonable prices. Fall Carlisle is a sensory experience too, as guests have a chance to see, feel and touch items before purchase, unlike anything that could happen online. That’s what makes dealing at Carlisle so unique and what has kept guests coming back for more. Camaraderie is also key to the success of Fall Carlisle. Guests travel from far and wide to Carlisle to make new friends or simply catch up with old ones.

The thrill of the hunt is a key element to an event like Fall Carlisle. Everyone is shopping for that hard to find item and the first one to it wins so to speak. This also goes for cars and trucks that are for sale by owner within the car corral. Some of the best deals are found at the most unsuspecting of times. While the gates open at 7 a.m. each day, there’s a bevy of excitement that happens before the sun comes up and in some cases, after it goes down too.

Fall Carlisle offers a big charity tie-in for 2018 as well. Steve Mercurio from Pro Metal Shop in Danville, Pennsylvania has spent the past several months fabricating a special pet transport which is set to be auctioned as part of the Fall Carlisle auction. Proceeds benefit a local animal rescue, Speranza.

Another great feature to Fall Carlisle is the VIP Power Picker program. For just $99, the power picker pass gives guests access to the grounds for all five days of Fall Carlisle. In addition, ON GROUNDS parking is available just inside of Gate 5. Once on-site, Carlisle Events wants to help our VIP’s shop with ease. As part of the access, guests get a FREE canvas shopping tote sponsored by Hemmings Motor News, FREE direct taxi service from their parking space to a drop spot of their choosing and FREE parts hauling from pick up to their car. This is an amazing value and is available online now!

Not only does the swap meet and car corral draw guests in, the accompanying auction, powered by Carlisle Auctions does the same. With a century of automotive history up for grabs, Carlisle Auctions will run a three-day event, October 4-6 and offer buys and sellers alike the chance to immerse themselves in automotive history!
Complete details on both events, including links to buy single day tickets, weekend passes, become a vendor or be part of the auction as a buyer or seller can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

The 2018 Cadillac V-series promises “passion without compromise,” and the 2018 CTS-V certainly upholds the pledge with luxury, sophisticated technology and Corvette-like power for an uncompromising driving experience. The Cadillac CTS-V is the street-inspired version of the championship-winning Cadillac DPi-V.R race car, and the 2018 CTS-V is built for performance and equipped with luxury — including new smart auto-activated heated steering wheel and Apple Watch integration.

The Cadillac CTS was launched in 2002, taking the “CTS” name from the vehicle it replaced in the line-up, -- the Catera -- CTS meant: “Catera Touring Sedan”. The CTS-V derivative was launched in 2009 as a 4-door luxury mid-size sports sedan with muscle car power. What the “V” stands for is unclear (and it may simply be a marketing device), though Cadillac owners speculate that it stands for victory, velocity, voracious, or Vette-derivative. That could make sense, as the CTS-V is equipped with a V-8 engine shared with Corvette: the 640hp, 630 lbs.-ft. of torque LT4 engine. For me, a proper description might be: a loaded, pampering, heavyweight four-door-luxury sedan with Corvette power. Or call it: a Super Sedan

For the 2018 model year, the CTS-V adds an automatic heated steering wheel, an updated infotainment system interface, two USB charge ports for the rear passengers and new exterior colors: Satin Steel Gray Metallic, Vector Blue Metallic and Genesis Metallic.

The CTS-V comes in only one trim, with numerous available packages, and it is loaded with a carbon fiber hood, Brembo high-performance brake system, Launch Control enabling full-throttle acceleration from a stop for maximum performance, Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer-only tri-compound tires, an interior with high-performance seats and driver-focused interface, and driver-selectable driving modes for touring, sport, snow and track.

Constructed with a unitized welded steel body, nearly every exterior panel on the CTS-V is unique, from the fascias and fenders, to the hood, rear spoiler and rocker moldings – and each was designed to support the car’s capability, contributing to lift reduction, enhanced cooling and improved aero management. Weighing in at a confident 4141 lbs., CTS-V stands 197.6 inches long, 57.2 inches high and 72.2 inches wide on a 114.6-inch wheelbase.

As for the Corvette-like power, CTS-V muscles up with its 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that throatily engages 640 horses and 630 lbs.-ft. of torque. The direct-injection fuel delivery system is EPA rated at 14mpg/city and 21mpg/highway. A manual is not offered, but the paddle-shift eight-speed, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive transmission with a torque converter clutch delivers instantaneous power. After a week of pedal-mashing, I never approached top fuel economy and averaged 14.6 mpg

The responsive power meant that I experienced no supercharger lag, and on the track, my off-the-lot-tuned CTS-V blazed to a 3.9-second zero-to-60mph sprint during a 12.1-second quarter-mile under less-than-perfect track conditions.

Inside, a performance-focused cabin with handcrafted refinements was filled with high tech, infotainment and luxurious comfort. With seating capacity for five, interior accommodations are roomy up front and tight in row two with 40.4 inches of front headroom and 37.5 inches in the rear. Legroom is 45.7 inches in row one and 35.4 inches behind, and shoulder room is 56.9 and 53.3.

CTS-V safety features include dual-stage driver front air bag, driver and front passenger frontal front seat thorax and pelvic, rear thorax protection for outboard seating positions, side-curtain and driver and front passenger knee airbag and an airbag passenger sensing system.

The 2018 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan starts at $89,790. Crystal White Tricoat premium exterior paint added $600 and was mated to a Light Platinum interior with Jet Black accents. The Luxury Package added $2500 for a rear camera mirror, tri-zone climate control, heated rear outboard seating positions, power rear-window sunshade, manual rear side window sunshades and more.

The $600 Advanced Security Package added a shielded theft-deterrent alarm system with dedicated power source; inclination sensor that activates an alarm during unauthorized jacking and/or towing; steering column lock that prevents steering without the appropriate fob or key; locking wheel lugs to help prevent wheel theft and laminated glass rear door windows to help absorb impact without shattering.

The $1600 Performance Data And Video Recorder Package is a “must-have” toy that allows the driver to capture performance metrics. High-definition video and in-cabin audio in real time includes four overlays - Sport, Track, Performance or no Overlay. Its front-view camera captures each curve and straightaway, and when parked, lets you watch and analyze your driving performance on the Cadillac CUE®1 screen, and recordings can be downloaded to a personal computer to evaluate driver and vehicle performance, make comparisons to improve driver performance and share recordings with friends. This is a performance and video game enthusiast’s “must” buy.

And just to top off the CTS-V with wind in your hair, the rear UltraView® power sunroof was added for $1450. A trunk cargo net added $55, destination and freight charges were $995 and the gas guzzler tax added $1000 for a sticker as tested of $96,090, but a cash allowance of $3500 may be available in your area, so check with your dealer.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

The weather - it was amazing! The people - some of the best on the planet. The parts shopping - unmatched and the cars - hands down were the cream of the crop! The 2018 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals raised the bar and set the standard for future Chrysler events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. Held July 13-15, the event really got started on July 12 with guests rolling in from around the world. Most states in the U.S. were represented, nearly every Province of Canada can claim at least one attendee and Australia had at least 6 guys who made the day-long airplane ride to America’s Automotive Hometown!

So what was the draw? How about a record setting 2,752 (common not period) show cars spanning Mopar production history. There was also the star studded cast of guests that included not only celebrity cars like the famed Hemi Under Glass, but in the flesh personalities like driver Bob Riggle, the Ram Chargers and Golden Commandos race teams, Herb McCandless, Dave Rea of Velocity TV fame, Miss Hurst Golden Shifter Linda Vaughn and many more.

Special car displays also offered a “wow factor” to the show. Building T featured some of the best of the best via the general invitational display, while also hosting 50 Years of the Super Bee and Road Runner. Next door, Building Y boasted some of the best 340 engine based cars anyone has ever seen and just two blocks west of the fairgrounds, the Carlisle Expo Center hosted the 2nd Hurst Nationals. This show within the show offered 100 or so Hurst Prepared and Hurst Equipped rides plus memorabilia, displays, guests and more.

Along with the guests and cool cars, there were seminars-a-plenty. Free once on-site were more than a half a dozen sessions focused on everything from how to get your ride featured in a magazine to value trends of the Super Bee and Road Runner, restoration techniques and some great first-hand stories from the Ram Chargers, Golden Commandos, Herb McCandless and more!

The sights and sounds of the event were palpable too, with engine revs, horn honks and tires squealing all weekend. Some of the best sensory moments came from Dodge via their wildly popular thrill ride program, while the Saturday afternoon burnout offered what’s believed to be a first at Carlisle (for any show); a female enthusiast was the winner! If the ears and nose didn’t get enough, the eyes were treated Saturday too with a special parade lap with Linda Vaughn atop the famed Hurst Shifter car! Crowds gathered to watch this living legend parade by before stopping at Building R for the annual celebrity lunch. It truly was amazing!

The Dodge Charger – America’s only four-door muscle car and the sales leader in the large car segment for five years running is an American muscle car icon.

Charger began its street-muscle saga in 1965, as an option package for the Dart GT, though many point to the 1966 Coronet as its first true incarnation. Charger was mothballed in 1978 and returned in 2006 as a nostalgic re-imagining of its heyday. The inaugural ’65 Charger earned its rep by stampeding out 230 horses, and the 2018 SRT8 Hellcat version more than triples that original power output.

Following a 28-year hiatus, Charger charged back in 2006 and now in the 10th year of its current run, seventh year in the current generation, Charger has gained a loyal current-day following as it awaits a full redesign, expected for 2020 or 2021.

With tweaks made every year, Charger fully enhances in 2019 with upgrades inside and out. Among the 2019 changes will be an all-new grille design, which extends the sinister-looking front end to accentuate visual width and reflects Charger customers’ continuous demand for standout exterior design. 2019 Charger GT and R/T models receive a full complement of race-bred chassis upgrades and features along with new performance looks, such as a performance hood with air induction, styled fascia, sculpted side sills, decklid spoiler and seats.

But there’s plenty to like about the 2018 Charger, which has been named as the Edmunds Best Retained Value® Award for the large car segment – recognizing new 2018 vehicles and brands with the highest projected residual values after five years. The ’18 Charger has also been selected as one of Strategic Vision’s “Most Loved Vehicles in America” list for the fourth consecutive year.

New for 2018 are a standard Parkview rear back-up camera and Parksense rear park assist on all models; new grille and fender badges on the SRT Hellcat; a standard 300hp set-up on the Charger GT; new cosmetics, interior upgrades, wheel packages and colors on various models and larger touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base SXT.

Assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, with a unitized steel body and aluminum hood, Charger pays homage to its past with architecture inspired by the iconic second-generation Charger from the late 1960s. Drawing on cues from the historic 1969 model, Charger’s Coke-bottle design and scalloped body sides, work in concert with the robust hood, fenders, front and rear fascias, headlamps, tail lamps, front doors and spoiler to provide the vehicle with a chiseled, nimble and lighter-weight appearance.

Measuring 200.8 inches long, 75.0 inches wide and 58.2 inches high on a 120.2-inch wheelbase with a curb weight of about 4270 lbs. for my R/T, and ground clearance of a scant 4.9 inches, Charger turns heads with its muscularity, while its wide body hugs the pavement from highway to track.

Charger has been all about muscle for more than half-a-century, and the 2018 version muscles up with several engine choices. The standard Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine rates at 292hp and 260 lbs-ft of torque for an EPA rating of 18/city and 27/.hwy for AWD. The optional Super TrackPack upgrade bumps the power to 300hp and 264 lbs-ft. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 that powered my R/T trim Charger stampedes out 370 horses and 395 lbs-ft or torque. The HEMI system was rated at 16mpg/city and 25mpg/highway and my mixed-use tests averaged 22.2mpg. The super-powered SRT trim utilizes a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 that muscles out 485 hp and 475 lbs-ft of torque for a rating of 15/city and 25/hwy and blazing speed. The Hellcat versions supercharge their 6.2-liter HEMI for a thundering 707hp and 650 lbs-ft of torque for track-worthy speed and performance.

I prefer a muscle stick, but my 5.7 HEMI was mated to a responsive TorqueFlite 8-Speed Automatic Transmission. The push-button start prompts a throaty exhaust note, and engaged, the system kicks in with immediate speed. Highway passing was proud and dominant, and on the track, a zero-to-60mph sprint took only 6 seconds during a 14.4-second quarter-mile.

The driver-oriented interior is well-crafted with premium, soft-touch materials, a full-color 7-inch customizable driver information display gauge cluster, and an instrument panel center stack with the newest Uconnect system. The cabin was comfortable with 38.6 inches of front headroom and 36.6 in the rear seats, 41.8 inches of legroom in row one with 40.1 in row two, and shoulder room of a wide-body 59.5 inches in the first row and 57.9 for second-seaters.

Safetywise, Charger offers more than 80 available safety and security features, including advanced multistage front airbags, Full-speed Forward Collision Warning , Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Stop, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines and 9-1-1 call/Assist Call.

With 11 trims basing from $28,995 for the 292hp SXT to $67,995for the 707hp SRT Hellcat. My370hp test 2018 Charger R/T was fifth on the trim list, base priced at $35,495.

In Go Mango (orange) exterior paint, with Black cloth seats, options added on included the Beats Audio Group for $1095, with Beats™ premium speakers, subwoofer and a 552-watt amp. The Driver Confidence Group added Blind Spot power heated mirrors, Blind Spot and Cross-Path Detection, Auto-Dimming Mirror and more, for $1295; The Navigation and Travel Group with GPS navigation and SiriusXM® Traffic Plus added $995; a Power sunroof added $1295; and a trunk cargo net added $30. Adding Destination charges of $1345 put the sticker-as-tested at $41,500, but regional incentives are available to discount your cost.


Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.