The Truck Show Podcast May 26, 2026

S3, E94 - Have You Heard? Truck News!

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17:48

Topic

fast lane 2030

“Fast lane 2030” is a company roadmap for the next several years. It’s about building new cars faster and selling more electrified models by 2030.

Term

plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrids are cars that can drive on electricity like an EV, but they also have a gas engine. You can charge them at home or at a charger, and the gas engine helps when the battery runs low.

Term

range extended EVs

A range-extended EV is mostly an electric car, but it has a backup system that helps keep the battery charged. That can make the car go farther without needing to stop and charge as often.

Company

Stellantis

Stellantis is a big car company that owns multiple brands. Here, they’re talking about their plan for what kinds of cars they’ll sell and where.

Car

Dodge Copperhead

Dodge is bringing back the “Copperhead” name for a new high-end hypercar. They also say it will use the new Charger platform, which is basically the car’s main engineering “foundation.”

Car

The Dodge Charger is a car built for performance, usually with strong engine options. The podcast is talking about a new “base” design it’s using, which can change how the car drives and what kinds of engines it can use.

Car

Dodge GLH

Dodge is talking about a new “GLH” sporty crossover/SUV. They also mention the old Omni GLH, so the name is meant to suggest a performance version, not just a regular family SUV.

Concept

badge engineering

Badge engineering is when the same basic car gets sold with different badges and logos. Sometimes it’s not a totally new design—more like a re-skin or re-label.

Car

Dodge Omni

The Dodge Omni is a smaller car model from Dodge’s past. The podcast mentions the Omni GLH, which was a performance-themed version, and uses it as an example of how car names can be used to suggest performance.

Car

Dodge Hornet

The Dodge Hornet is a small SUV/crossover. The podcast is saying it hasn’t been doing well and discussing whether Dodge will replace it with something new.

Car

Jeep Scrambler SRT

They’re talking about a Jeep Scrambler with an SRT performance version. The big point is it’s meant to look and act like a dirt-capable Jeep, but with more power and sportier handling.

Car

Jeep Gladiator

The Jeep Gladiator is Jeep’s pickup. They’re saying the Scrambler SRT would use the Gladiator’s basic structure, which affects how it rides and handles.

Term

IFS

IFS means the front wheels don’t have to move together as one unit. That helps the truck keep better control over bumps and ruts.

Term

IRS

IRS means each rear wheel can move on its own. That typically makes the vehicle ride smoother and grip better on rough ground than a solid rear axle.

Term

solid axle

A solid axle connects the two wheels so they move together. They’re saying this new Jeep might avoid that design in favor of suspension that can react to bumps more independently.

Car

F-150 Raptor

The Ford F-150 is a large pickup truck. The podcast is talking about whether a new version could be tuned to feel more sporty than a normal F-150.

Car

Ford Bronco

The Bronco Raptor is Ford’s off-road performance Bronco. They’re comparing it to the kind of handling and attitude they think the Jeep Scrambler SRT could have.

Term

392

Here, “392” is shorthand for a big V8 engine option used in certain high-performance Mopar vehicles. They’re wondering if the Scrambler SRT would use that engine.

Topic

Easter Jeep Safari Jeep scrambler concept

They’re bringing up a Jeep concept shown at Easter Jeep Safari. The idea is that this concept could hint at what a future production Scrambler might look like or how it might be set up.

Car

Challenger Hellcat

The Dodge Challenger is a muscle car, meaning it’s built for strong acceleration and performance. The podcast is discussing which engine to put in it and whether the top-level option is more than some buyers want.

Car

Jeep Recon

The Jeep Recon is an upcoming electric Jeep. The podcast is talking about an EV version and what it might include, since it’s a way for Jeep to bring its SUV style into electric power.

Term

two-liter hurricane

“Hurricane” here is the name of an engine family, and “two-liter” tells you it’s a 2.0L engine. The hosts are saying the new Jeep might use that specific engine as its gas option. Knowing the engine name helps you predict how it might drive and what tech it uses.

Car

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of Jeep’s bigger, more mainstream SUVs. In this segment, the hosts say a new Jeep (the EV recon) might use an engine that’s already showing up in the newest Grand Cherokee. So it’s a clue about what kind of gas engine you might expect.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is a popular off-road SUV that’s famous for being able to remove the doors and roof for an open-air driving experience. The hosts are basically asking whether a new Jeep product will feel like a Wrangler, but without some of the downsides. So Wrangler is the benchmark for that “want it, but not all of it” buyer.

Car

Dodge Ram

Ram is a truck brand. The podcast is saying Ram is expanding or updating its truck lineup, and it also mentions suspension choices like solid axles that can affect how well the truck handles rough roads.

Car

Ram Rampage

The Ram Rampage is a small pickup truck that the hosts say is being brought to the U.S. from Brazil. They compare it directly to the Ford Maverick, which is a similar size and buyer. They also hint at what engines it might offer.

Car

Ford Maverick

The Ford Maverick is a small pickup that many people use as the reference point for the “compact truck” market. The hosts are saying the Ram Rampage will compete with it in the U.S. So it’s a clue about who the Rampage is aimed at.

Car

ProMaster Pro Master City

The ProMaster City is a small van made for everyday driving and deliveries. The podcast is saying it’s coming back with a redesigned version, which could change what it’s like to own and use.

Term

unibody

Unibody means the truck’s body and frame are built as one integrated structure. The hosts are pointing out that the U.S. version of the Rampage uses this design. That can affect how the truck rides and how it’s put together compared with more traditional truck designs.

Term

25% chicken tax

The “chicken tax” is a nickname for a U.S. import tariff that can make it more expensive to bring certain light trucks into the country. The hosts are saying the Rampage might be moved to U.S. production so it doesn’t get hit with that extra cost. That’s why manufacturing location matters for pricing.

Car

Ford F-150 Lightning

The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup truck. The podcast is discussing when it’s expected to start being produced and how it might be positioned compared with other very high-performance trucks.

Car

Dakota SRT

“SRT” usually means a more aggressive, higher-performance version of a Dodge. They’re discussing a possible Dakota SRT and whether it could come with a V8 engine.

Car

Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger Raptor is a tougher, off-road version of the Ranger pickup. Here it’s mentioned because it’s currently the most powerful midsize truck they’re talking about.

Car

RAM charger SUV

The Ram Charger SUV is a planned Ram SUV, and they’re talking about the gas version (not the electric one). They also suggest it could get a very powerful Hellcat-style engine to take on big luxury SUVs.

Term

platform

A “platform” is the car’s underlying structure and engineering base that other models can share. Sharing a platform usually helps manufacturers build related vehicles more efficiently.

Car

Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is a big luxury SUV. The podcast is talking about making it a high-performance version, meaning a much stronger engine than a typical luxury SUV would have.

Term

Hellcat powered

“Hellcat” is Dodge’s name for a super-powerful engine. They’re guessing the SUV could use that same kind of high-performance setup.

Term

Godzilla

“Godzilla” is a nickname for Ford’s large 7.3-liter V8 gas engine. It’s the engine Ford puts in many Super Duty trucks, and the show is talking about Ford changing which size engine is the default.

Term

D stroke

“Stroke” is how far the piston moves up and down inside the engine. A “D stroke version” means Ford changed that piston travel to make a different displacement/character from the original engine.

Term

upcharge

An “upcharge” just means the added price for upgrading to a better option. Here, it’s the extra money to get the bigger 7.3-liter engine instead of the smaller one.

Term

split outputs

“Split outputs” means the same engine can be sold in two different power levels. The hosts are saying Ram decided to stop offering the lower-power version and just make the higher-power one the default.

Car

Peterbilt 536

The Peterbilt 536 is a commercial truck model. In this story, U-Haul is using it for a medium-duty moving truck, and they’re pointing out the size and engine setup.

Term

six point seven liter gas Cummins

That’s a 6.7-liter engine made by Cummins, and it’s the gas version. The hosts mention it because the engine choice is a big part of what makes this moving truck work well.

Term

gross vehicle weight rating

GVWR is the maximum weight the truck is allowed to be when it’s loaded. It includes the truck itself plus whatever you put in it, and it affects what kind of license you need.

Term

commercial driver's license

A commercial driver's license (CDL) is the special license needed to drive many heavier trucks. In this case, the truck’s certified weight is set just under the threshold that would normally require a CDL.

Term

direct injection

Direct injection is a way of feeding fuel into the engine. Instead of fuel being added before the air enters the cylinder, it’s sprayed right inside the cylinder to help it burn more efficiently.

Term

estimated eight miles per gallon

MPG is how efficiently the truck uses fuel—how many miles it can go on one gallon. The host uses that number to estimate how far the truck can travel before refueling.

Car

Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is a large pickup truck used for work and towing. The podcast is pointing out that some versions can rack up a lot of miles, which usually means they’re built to last if they’re maintained.

Term

twin turbo v6

A twin-turbo V6 is an engine with six cylinders where two turbochargers help it breathe better and make more power. Here, the recall is about leftover manufacturing debris inside the engine that can damage internal bearings.

Term

machining debris

Machining debris means tiny bits of metal that can be left inside an engine during manufacturing. Toyota says some engines may have had debris that wasn’t fully removed, and that debris can lead to internal bearing problems.

Term

number one main bearing

A main bearing is a critical part that helps the crankshaft spin smoothly inside the engine. Toyota says debris may cause the number one main bearing to fail, which can lead to serious engine problems.

LIVE

Have you heard it's truck news? Yes. No

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Have you heard?

Well, I'll fill you in because we got a whole lot to talk about the first thing is

Stellantis gone wild. They had investor day 2026 last week and they went absolutely nuts

You can tell that the company is being run by

Enthusiasts and people who want to win rather than being counters who want to squeeze every last drop of profit out of the company

They debuted a plan called fast lane 2030 which highlights a

41 billion dollar investment into our region 69 billion globally

product development cycles that got cut from 40 months down to 24 months and

They want back into the volume game the enthusiast market and vehicles that people want and can afford so globally

The breakdown appears to include 29 EVs 15 plug-in hybrids or range extended EVs

Non-plug-in hybrids and 39 gas powered models

Stellantis is now saying that four of their brands are global. So that includes Jeep

Ram Pujo and Fiat and

The rest are now regional brands and that would be Chrysler Dodge Citroen

Opel and Alfa Romero. So this whole plan the fast lane 2030 for the US

It means a 50% increase in market coverage

11 new vehicles delivering more than 35 percent more volume by 2030

Nine of the vehicles are targeted to be under 40000 dollars and two under 30000 dollars

So here are a few highlights. We'll start with Dodge

Not a lot of truck news obviously, but they get a new hypercar called the Copperhead

which has tones of the Copperhead concept vehicle from many many years ago and

Seems like it is underpinned by the new charger platform

So it'll be really interesting to see what that turns out to be people who saw it at the investor meeting said there were

3d printed models and it sounds pretty cool. They're also getting a sporty

crossover slash SUV called the GLH so you'll

Remember the old Omni GLH, which was the exercise in badge engineering itself

But this GLH just like the Shelby tagline goes like hell is

Destined to replace the floundering hornet, which itself was just the alpha tonal really badge engineered

I mean it's there's almost nothing dodge about it

And Chrysler gets to be the affordable brand and it'll have several new models coming out

But the real news is with Jeep. How about a scrambler SRT?

Say what? That's right. The scrambler SRT is based on a gladiator

but it's going to be a two-door and

Apparently it's reminiscent of the EJS concept by the same name and it sounds like it's going to get IFS

And then maybe independent rear suspensions

IRS IFS no solid axle and it's supposed to share platform with a gladiator that's getting redesigned so that mean the gladiator

Goes IFS. I don't know and I don't think the gladiator will go IRS

But I think they're trying to fit IRS under the scrambler

It sounds like they're trying to make a sports car for the dirt

So I don't know if it'll be quite like Bronco Raptor. It sounds like maybe a little bit more sporty maneuverable

but they want to have four seats a

Removable top the rear seats can be adjusted or swiveled to face rearward

It's got a lean forward grill and it sounds like it's going to be an SRT product or there'll be a SRT version of that

Which means it'll probably get a 392

Google Easter Jeep Safari Jeep scrambler concept and you'll see what I'm talking about

It sounds like they're trying to bring that to market as long as it doesn't replace Wrangler and solid axles

That's a Jeep thing that has to stay

But if they're gonna experiment with some other stuff and do some other suspension design and cater to the go fast crowd

And it's gonna be a standalone product. You might have my attention. So let's let's just see where it goes

But by all accounts, it was super rad

What engine do you want in it? Do you want the 392 is a hellcat and something like that too much?

I I don't know and then it was also noted that the EV recon known as the EJ electric Jeep is

Going to have an ice option. They're actively working on putting a gasoline engine in that we've talked about on podcast before

But now I guess it's unofficially official

Guessing it'll probably be the two-liter hurricane, especially if it's the one that just came out of the new Grand Cherokee, which is super potent

Is this a four-runner pilot competitor because originally EJ was supposed to replace Wrangler until

Smarter minds prevailed said no, this is gonna be its own product

And it has a lot of the Wrangler remove the windows and doors and all that kind of stuff

But it's a you know, it's not a convertible

So it's really interesting. It's close to Wrangler, but it's not the same thing

So does it cater to somebody who thinks they want a Wrangler or they want the open-air feel of Wrangler?

But they don't want the drawbacks of a Wrangler and they don't need the off-road capability or they just need a little bit of off-road capability

I'm not sure. Where does that leave Wrangler? Again, hopefully with a solid axle. All right moving on to Ram

Ram is finally gonna get to be the full-line truck brand. It's always wanted to be we've been talking about know that the 28 Dakota is coming

Possibly sharing a platform with a refresh gladiator. I think that would make sense

But we've been talking about the rampage, which is built in Brazil

And it looks like Ford is getting a competitor for the Maverick because the rampage is coming to the United States

It's also gonna be the return of the reimagined pro master city van and ram charger full-size SUV

But not much was discussed on the presumably still upcoming ram rev which is the range extended

So a lot of questions there going back to rampage

The US spec unibody rampage, which is currently built in Brazil

Well, it'll be essentially identical to what you get in South America. It'll go head-to-head with Maverick

You can expect the two-liter hurricane at least as one of the engine options

Maybe the 1.6 also out of the which is a hybrid out of the Cherokee

Our guess is that production will be moved to the US so they avoid the 25% chicken tax any terrorists coming from Brazil

Production is supposed to start in 28 and I wonder if lightning will trade the TRX for rampage

Because I know he really likes that little truck and thinks it's super cool

And you'll probably be the the first one ready to slam it on the ground and replace as many

All right, I'm moving on to Dakota

So Dakota still coming a few more details

Rams says the upcoming Dakota will be the most powerful mid-sized trucks

So currently that title goes to Ranger Raptor at 405 horsepower and they've confirmed there will be a Dakota SRT

So could that possibly mean a v8 mid-size again?

Would you buy a Dakota with a 392? I know I would we know the gladiator is gonna get it soon

Also Dakota was said to be a bit wider than the competition for more interior room

So the question is does the Dakota go more in the vein of off-road TRX or street truck Rumblebee?

And I think that's a question that we are all gonna be anxious to find the answer to and the base Dakota will be one of

The vehicles under $40,000 again for the base now moving on to the RAM charger the SUV

Not the battery electric version of the RAM based on the grand wagon here

So of course that's built on the same platform as the RAM 1500 the DT so that all makes sense

CEO Tim Kinnisk has confirmed that the RAM charger SUV will eventually include

Guess what SRT model?

So what better way to compete with the Escalade than a Hellcat powered SUV?

I mean that could be pretty cool, right?

Unknown right now, but we are guessing it'll still be available in the two lengths that the grand wagon here is available in so

Man, that's a lot of stuff

There was a lot of things that came out of that those are the ones that are important to the truck show podcast audience

But if you look at the entire

Stellantis picture

They're they're going all in and it's great to see the vehicles that are coming out and I'm I don't know. I'm super stoked

All right moving over to Ford there's some big news in the super-duty lineup and

Everybody loves the 7.3 liter Godzilla and not too many people knew that there was a entry-level engine a 6.8 liter

So the 7.3 liter Godzilla was introduced for the 2020 model year and then Ford made a 6.8 liter version

Which was effectively a D stroke version of the 7.3

well that came out in model year 2023 and

No longer available

So apparently Ford is saying you know what quote-unquote to better align with the needs of our customers

We're making the 7.3 liter v8 our most powerful and popular gas engine the standard engine across the super-duty lineup

And if you look at it, there's only a thousand dollar upcharge to go from the 6.8 to the 7.3

So there wasn't a huge cost savings there and power went from 405 horsepower and 445 pound

Feet of torque to 400 and thirty horsepower and 485 pound feet

So at that point why not just get the the bigger engine so Ford seems to be following a trend that

itself

Kind of did with the six point seven liter high output power stroke being the standard engine for

2027 and ram also do the same thing on the 2025 ram where they said nope no more split outputs

The high output is gonna be our standard engine

So I feel like that's just the way the industry is moving

I don't know if it's because there's enough profit margin in there or they like the higher prices or

Customers just didn't care and they wanted best best best

They might as well just capture that from all customers not sure but no more two versions of the Godzilla in the super-duty

For anyone who's ever wanted to drive a Peterbilt, but they don't have the necessary commercial drivers license

Well U-Haul has your back with a brand new offering a medium-duty Peterbilt

536 base moving truck dubbed the EM for an easy mover

It's a 29 foot box 36 feet overall when you include the truck has

2057 cubic feet of storage space and it's got the six point seven liter gas Cummins

B six point seven octane

Which in and of itself is another story the six point seven liter

B six point seven octane is essentially the diesel engine with a different head and spark plugs and a few other things

But it was designed for

Companies and fleet customers that wanted to have a gasoline option with the durable straight six

makes sense for a company like U-Haul because most of their customers are buying gas anyway and

They aren't going to be as familiar with pulling up to the diesel pump

And U-Haul just didn't want the headache of putting the wrong type of fuel in there

So they're going all gas whereas in the rest of the Peterbilt 536. I believe it's a pack our diesel

That's the options anyway

It'll first be deployed to the Los Angeles and Philadelphia regions and I believe it was deployed this weekend because Memorial Day

Weekend appears to be

One of their hottest moving weekends. So a few specs that we got from U-Haul

It's got a loading ramp width of two feet seven inches a max load of 11900 and 39 pounds

The gross vehicle weight rating

25 999 so that is one pound less than what you would be required to have a commercial driver's license

Empty weight is 14060 pounds to win capacity up to 10000 pounds clearance height twelve feet passenger capacity three

And it has power windows power locks cruise control air conditioning and yes disc brakes again

The powertrain six point seven liter turbocharged direct injection gas engine with 300 horsepower and 600 and sixty pound feet of torque

Takes regular unleaded gas fuel tank size is sixty gallons and it gets an estimated eight miles per gallon

So quick calculation that gives you about a 400 and eighty mile range

However, U-Haul says that if you're staying in the city and you're gonna pick it up and deliver it back to the location that you got it

From it'll only be 4995 a day plus mileage to rent and

That's it's pretty awesome

So I find it interesting that the manufacturer is the ones who certify gross vehicle weight rating and obviously Peter built new hall got

Together so we want anybody to be able to drive this truck and that's why it certified exactly to 25108

So go rent yourself a truck and experience a Peter built medium duty from your friends over at U-Haul

All right, let's end it on some recall news

Alright going back to Toyota for this one on the Toyota tundra so far

225,000 non hybrid three point five liter twin turbo v6 is mostly associated with the tundra

But also affecting Lexus SUVs have been recalled do according to Toyota for machining debris

Well Toyota just added another

44,000 more 24 tundras to the headache of a recall with the same quote as before and that is quote-unquote

There's a possibility that certain machining debris may not have been cleared from the engine when it was produced

So what happens is whatever this debris is causes the number one or I guess number two bearing to fail

But what's puzzling to me is that this batch of engines was produced under tighter safeguards because the release continued

Quote-unquote the engines involved in this new recall were produced using additional controls for removing manufacturing debris

We have found that even after these additional controls and remaining debris could be sufficient to cause damage to the number one main bearing and

Lead to this issue

So if you're worried about later-built tundras Toyota says engines produced after those

Included in this recall were manufactured with an improved number one main bearing to help resist certain debris that might remain

so it sounds like they

Haven't totally fixed the contamination issue and I don't know if they have a bearing that has more clearance or what happens

And then that allows the oil to flush through them

But sounds like you're not out of the woods

even if you have a later 24 or early 25 model as of this point Toyota says they've completed

77,000 recall repairs so far and

No word in the story that I read if you've already

Paid for engine work where they replaced components if it wasn't covered in this recall if you had out of pocket

What do you do? I assume you can go back to your dealer or contact customer service

Maybe for reimbursement now that that vehicle is covered

But I'm sure there's some edge cases or or people in the middle

Anyway, if you are curious if your tundra is part of the recall again, no hybrids only the twin turbo v6

Standard ice engines go to your local dealer run your VIN number and they can tell you where you're at with it

All right, that's gonna wrap it up for this episode of truck show podcast

Have you heard and man? There's a lot of a lot to cover and by the way the news is getting cranked out left and right right now

So I'm guessing our next have you heard will be just as interesting

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0:00

17:48

S3, E94 - Have You Heard? Truck News!

Dodge Copperhead

Dodge GLH

RAM charger SUV

Peterbilt 536

About this episode

Original notes