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Report: GM to unveil new SUVs at the State Fair of Texas?

Filed under: SUV, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

With General Motors just having rolled out its new fullsize truck twins – the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra – for 2014, now it seems to be time to focus on its big SUVs. The Truth About Cars is reporting that the 2015 Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and 2015 GMC Yukon lineup will be making their debuts later next month at the State Fair of Texas, which kicks off on September 27.

To date, we’ve only seen spy shots of the new Chevy and GMC SUVs (shown above in Yukon XL guise). Based on those spies both trucks seem to be taking a different styling direction than their pickup truck counterparts – just check out the Ford-looking headlight design on the next-gen Chevys.

We reached out to GM for comment and heard back simply that there is no official announcement about the new Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon. Still, the report definitely makes a solid leap of logic, as Texas is a top market for GM’s fullsize SUV lineup. It also appears that GM is still planning a separate launch for the next-gen Cadillac Escalade.

GM to unveil new SUVs at the State Fair of Texas? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Aug 2013 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Texas motorists a little overexcited about first In-N-Out Burger

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

In-N-Out Burger

The first Texas In-N-Out Burger draws a crowd – Click above to watch video after the jump

By all accounts, In-N-Out Burger makes a delicious sandwich. The chain has been a fixture in California for decades, but has only recently begun creeping its way across the country, bringing its much-lauded burgers to those who don’t live in SoCal. In-N-Out’s nostalgia for 1950s and ’60s carhop burger joints and cruise night culture is another big consumer draw.

When In-N-Out opened up its first franchise in Texas last week, the restaurant’s renown had people lined up for miles to get their hands on one of the joint’s never-frozen patties. The line was so impressive that the cops showed up to deploy cones and direct traffic safely through the parking lot and drive through.

While In-N-Out makes a good burger, it can’t possibly be worth voluntarily subjecting yourself to a mile-long traffic jam. Let’s not forget that this is just the drive-thru line. We can only imagine the chaos inside the restaurant. Click past the jump to see the madness for yourself.

Continue reading Texas motorists a little overexcited about first In-N-Out Burger

Texas motorists a little overexcited about first In-N-Out Burger originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 May 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas House approves nation’s fastest speed limit at 85 mph

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

85 mile per hour speed limit sign

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and now it seems everything might be faster too. The House of Representatives in Texas has approved a new transportation bill, and it includes legislation that would allow the Texas Department of Transportation to raise speed limits to 85 miles per hour. The state’s Senate is presently considering a similar measure.

The DOT cannot simply go out and slap up a fresh new set of 85-mph speed limit signs. Both engineering and traffic studies must be done before motorists are given a green light to those increased speeds. Don’t feel too bad for those speed-restricted Texans, though. 85 mph wouldn’t be much of a stretch for Texas, since the state already enjoys 520 miles of highway with an 80-mph speed limit.

[Source: Chron.com | Image: University of Michigan]

Texas House approves nation’s fastest speed limit at 85 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twin-Turbo Corvette flips while going 230 MPH at Texas Mile

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 crash

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 crash – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hinson Motorsports was on its way to breaking another speed record this weekend at the Texas Mile when its twin-turbo Corvette Z06 took an off-track excursion. The combination of speed and grass didn’t go over well, and the ‘Vette turned over once before landing back on its wheels.

Thankfully, the driver walked away from the wreck, a testament to the Texas Mile’s strict safety standards, and the strength of Hinson’s Corvette. With the driver OK, Hinson Motorsports is focusing on coming back stronger than ever with a new car.

Gallery: Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 Texas Mile crash

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 Texas Mile crash

[Source: TheDailyHoon | Images: TheDailyHoon]

Twin-Turbo Corvette flips while going 230 MPH at Texas Mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche buffs go searching for great German beer… deep in the heart of Texas?

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Porsche

Texas beer run roadtrip in Porsches

A good roadtrip needs a few items for success; great people, interesting destinations and, of course, the right vehicles. We can’t vouch for the people on a personal level in this tale, but Autoweek took on a Texas roadtrip and seems to have gotten the ingredients just right. How do six tuned Porsches, 800 miles and four breweries sound? As long as the drinking is done when the driving is finished (which of course it was), then you would be correct to say it sounds like heaven on earth.

Autoweek’s Jeff Bolton embarked on a quest for good German beer, using good German sports cars to shuttle him around the Great State of Texas. Starting in Dallas, the crew moves about until they end up in Shiner, Texas, where they chat with long-time brewmaster Jimmy Mauric.

If roadtrips were eligible for awards, this Texas Porsche beer run would be an early front-runner for Best of 2011. Head over to Autoweek to read about the trip, and be sure to check out the video as well.

[Source: Autoweek]

Porsche buffs go searching for great German beer… deep in the heart of Texas? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Texas man becomes human speed-trap warning sign

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

speed trap

Running into a speed trap is a gut-wrenching feeling. Regardless of whether you are going two or 20 mph over the limit, you always have to glance in your mirror to make sure Johnny Law isn’t on your tail. In that spirit, a Lakeway, Texas resident is fed up with the traps in his town and has decided to fight back against them all by his lonesome. Lance Mitchell, co-founder of the website SpeedTrapAhead.org, is taking to the streets and warning other motorists about nearby speed traps.

If he’s out on the road and spots a police officer in a speed trap, Mitchell will backtrack to a spot ahead of the trap, then don a bright orange “Speed Trap Ahead” t-shirt in order to alert other motorists of the waiting radar run around the bend. While the Austin American-Statesman notes that it’s illegal to warn others of an enforcement action, it is not illegal to warn others when the enforcement pertains to matters of the traffic code. In fact, Mitchell believes he is doing the same work as the officers initiating the speed traps but also saving everyone money in the process. People slow down when they see him thus avoiding a ticket and a raise in insurance premiums.

Needless to say, the Lakeway Police Department doesn’t exactly agree with Lance Mitchell’s methods. It’s fined him, jailed him and eventually the two went to court. Mitchell won and then turned around and sued the town and a few of its police officers. A confidential settlement was reached and the unemployed Mitchell can now breathe easy for a few months thanks to the cash infusion. We’re guessing that it also gives him some more free time to wear his orange t-shirt…

[Source: Austin American-Statesman | Image: Corbis]

Report: Texas man becomes human speed-trap warning sign originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Twin-turbo crashes at Texas Mile

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Safety, Videos, Lamborghini, Racing

Underground Racing Lamborghini Gallardo crash

Underground Racing Lamborghini Gallardo crashes at the Texas Mile – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Texas Mile had scary moment last weekend when a twin-turbocharged Lamborghini Gallardo built by Underground Racing left the track at well over 100 mph. Driver Richard Holt was attempting to pilot the machine to a new standing mile world record, though once his parachute opened to slow the car, the Lamborghini veered off of the course, clipped a small wall and catapulted end over end. Miraculously, Holt walked away from the incident after being cut free from the wreckage by rescue workers. He was later observed at a local hospital before being released.

Reports peg the modified Gallardo as packing somewhere between 1,500 and 1,900 horsepower. Holt actually passed the mile marker at 235 mph and it’s suggested that a crosswind is to blame for the sudden change of direction upon the chute’s deployment. Accidents like this one underscore the value of conducting high-speed runs in authorized locations with plenty of rescue workers on hand. Hit the jump to watch a video of the entire run.

[Sources: Dragtimes, Small World News Service]

Continue reading Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Twin-turbo crashes at Texas Mile

Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Twin-turbo crashes at Texas Mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee named ‘SUV of Texas,’ Ford named winning ‘Truck Line’

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Dodge, Ford, Jeep

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 Ford F-150

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Ford F-150 – click either image for high-res gallery

Ford, Jeep and Ram have new feathers to stick in their caps. The Texas Auto Writers Association has voted Ford the official Truck Line of Texas, while the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has landed the title of SUV of Texas. Despite FoMoCo’s line of top-notch trucks, the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn was awarded the much-coveted Truck of Texas honor. We expect to see each respective manufacturer tout their new titles in ads any day now.

The Texas Auto Writers Association holds an annual Texas Truck Rodeo every year, giving journalists from the state are given the opportunity to drive nearly every truck on the market over a two-day period. At the end of the event, votes are tallied for each award category and the winners announced. In addition to the categories just mentioned, there were other awards handed out, including Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4×4, Mid-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4×2 Texas Edition, Luxury Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, Heavy Duty Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4×4, and Outstanding Feature: Ford/ MyFord Touch.

This year’s big winners make plenty of sense to us, as Ford has crammed the F-150 with a slew of excellent drivetrain options and the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a massive step in the right direction for Chrysler. Likewise, the Ram Laramie Longhorn offers one of the best interiors of any pickup available right now, and its supple rear suspension strikes us as just the thing for traversing the Lone Star state.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost

[Sources: Chrysler, Ford, Pickuptrucks.com]

Jeep Grand Cherokee named ‘SUV of Texas,’ Ford named winning ‘Truck Line’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn edition debuts in Texas

Filed under: Truck, Dodge

2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn

2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn – Click above for high-res image gallery

As part of the kick-off ceremonies for the State Fair of Texas, Chrysler debuted its latest version of the Ram – the Laramie Longhorn edition. (Think King Ranch, only Chrysler). Available on 1500, 2500 and 3500 trims, the Longhorn can be had in a variety of two-tone color schemes, including the model-specific sagebrush green and white gold seen in the stock photos.

The real story with the Longhorn is its interior, which is done up in full leather with real woodgrain trim throughout. (For reference, even the highest-grade Ford F-150 isn’t available with real woodgrain.) Added touches like flap-closure pockets on the front seatbacks with a metal buckle and magnetic clasp and unique seat piping look like a high-zoot cowboy’s dream, and with the plethora of Longhorn badging both inside and out, this is sure to be the sort of pickup that no one wants to get dirty. Consider it your fancy-pants out-on-the-town truck.

Saddle up and make the jump to read the full list of Longhorn upgrades in Chrysler’s press release, and take a gander at some high-res shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn edition debuts in Texas

2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn edition debuts in Texas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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