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MotorTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 I'm Fred Williams from 4 Wheel and Off-Road Magazine
00:18 and Dirt Every Day.
00:19 I've got my credentials, I'm at SEMA.
00:21 I'm gonna show you all the cool stuff that I like.
00:23 It's big trucks, stuff on big tires, off-road vehicles,
00:27 anything that's fun for playing in the dirt.
00:29 Let's go check it out.
00:30 (upbeat music)
00:32 So you know that I like big four-wheel drives,
00:40 big off-road vehicles, and stuff on big tires.
00:42 And this is probably the biggest off-road vehicle
00:45 at SEMA this year.
00:46 This is the Curavan.
00:47 It's a massive Unimog truck and trailer camping device.
00:51 This is Don.
00:52 Don's in charge of the whole program.
00:54 What is this thing for?
00:55 - Well, the Curavan's an exploration vehicle.
00:57 Basically, it's to go wherever you want
00:59 and be able to survive from minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit
01:02 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:03 - It's a little different than just a Jeep with a tent.
01:05 - Yeah, it's a little different than a Jeep with a tent.
01:07 It's got hard-sided living quarters
01:09 that have really high R-value insulation
01:11 so we can control the temperature.
01:12 And it's actually nice and comfortable inside.
01:15 - Seems to have a plethora of electronics.
01:18 - Yeah, there's a lot of electronics.
01:19 We have over 27 radios.
01:21 There's all sorts of different communication protocols,
01:24 satellite, gotta stay connected
01:25 when you're out driving around.
01:26 - So you guys are doing some groundbreaking technology
01:29 on this thing.
01:30 It seems like a lot of different systems there.
01:32 What type of off-roading upgrades have this thing had?
01:35 - We've upgraded the suspension
01:36 to a hydropneumatic suspension
01:37 so there's no coil springs or shocks.
01:39 It's all nitrogen and hydraulics.
01:41 There's actually a fluidic computer in the valve block
01:43 that actually sets the damping for a roll.
01:45 - A fluidic computer?
01:46 - Fluidic computer.
01:47 - We're gonna need one of those next year
01:48 on one of our projects.
01:49 (Don laughs)
01:50 Well, thanks for talking to us, Don.
01:51 - Yeah, no problem.
01:52 (upbeat music)
01:55 (upbeat music)
01:57 - Here's the thing about SEMA.
02:03 There is something here for everybody.
02:06 It's literally mind-blowing and sensory overload
02:10 when you come to this place.
02:11 So we are at the Maxxis Tire booth.
02:13 You guys have been watching Dirt Every Day.
02:15 You know our Mad Maxxis Off-Road Runner Project.
02:17 This is where it all started,
02:19 but we're here today to talk about tires.
02:21 So John, 42-inch Trepidos.
02:23 - Yes.
02:24 - That's a big tire.
02:25 Tell me about this tire.
02:26 - Well, I think it was originally a challenge from you,
02:30 I think, saying, "Hey, you know,
02:32 "I think we need a bigger tire than a 40."
02:35 And from all the customer feedback,
02:37 "Hey, you know, we need something bigger.
02:38 "We need something bigger,
02:39 "and in America, bigger's better."
02:40 So I went to the engineers and I asked,
02:43 "Hey, can we just build a 42 Competition 17
02:46 "for all the hardcore enthusiasts out there?"
02:48 And we've actually made some little changes.
02:50 We've made some additional sidewall
02:53 and actually tread changes.
02:54 - It looks really cool.
02:55 I like this.
02:56 - This should provide some additional traction on slick rock
02:59 and also the lines on the tread surface
03:01 is also gonna help on slick rock.
03:02 - It looks bigger than some other 42s
03:04 I've seen in the market.
03:06 How big is this tire?
03:07 What's the overall diameter?
03:08 - Yeah, so if you remember our conversation,
03:12 I think you mentioned that a lot of guys build 40,
03:14 but it's not really a true 40.
03:16 So I challenged the engineers to really build one.
03:19 So this, inflated, is almost 42 1/2.
03:22 - So it's over 42.
03:23 - It's over 42 inches tall.
03:25 - We've talked about this tire on Dirt Every Day,
03:27 but here at SEMA, we have your new Razor.
03:30 - Yes.
03:30 - What's the story behind this tire?
03:31 - After getting a lot of feedback from our customers,
03:33 they wanted something a little bit newer.
03:36 And our big horn has been in the product lineup for a while.
03:40 So what we wanna do is we wanna do a modern MT.
03:43 A little bit more quiet
03:44 with a very, very aggressive sidewall.
03:47 The sidewall's brand new, much thicker than before
03:50 for puncture resistance and also for sidewall traction.
03:53 - And you're offering this up to a 40?
03:55 - We may not stop there.
03:56 - All right, let's keep doing cool stuff.
03:58 - Yes.
03:59 - Thanks, John. - Awesome.
03:59 (upbeat rock music)
04:02 - This is Levi Shirley's car.
04:07 He just won the Ultra Four, and the thing's awesome.
04:11 This is a big year for Cummins.
04:17 Cummins has been making diesel engines for a long time.
04:19 They have a brand new diesel engine in the Nissan Titan,
04:22 and it's the first time you guys have been at the SEMA show?
04:25 - That's right.
04:25 - So Steve and Brittany are here.
04:27 These two really helped me with our off-road runner project.
04:30 These engines are in the works to be crate engines?
04:33 Or what's the deal?
04:34 What's gonna happen here?
04:35 - Fred's kind of our pilot for this crate engine promotion.
04:38 - Pilot, aka guinea pig.
04:40 - That's right, guinea pig.
04:41 He's helping us work through what we have to do
04:43 to make this happen.
04:44 - You got the V8.
04:45 You're known for your inline six cylinders.
04:47 What other crate engine ideas are in the works,
04:50 or are you just doing 'em?
04:50 - So the main thing for the crate engine program
04:53 is people want four cylinders,
04:55 do people want inline six cylinders,
04:57 or do people want V8s?
04:58 And ultimately, we'd like to offer all of the above,
05:00 because each application's different.
05:02 Hot rod guys might be drawn to the V8,
05:04 Jeep guys might like the four cylinder,
05:06 and the big truck guys might like the inline six.
05:09 - What type of power numbers
05:10 are you estimating for each size?
05:13 - So we would like to, on the four cylinder,
05:15 be in the 300, 350 foot pounds of torque range.
05:19 The inline six, anywhere from 600 to 850 foot pounds
05:23 of torque range, and the V8 around 560 to 600 foot pounds
05:27 for the kit engine.
05:28 - So SEMA 2017 crate engines.
05:32 - I hope so.
05:32 - Cross your fingers.
05:33 - Cross your fingers.
05:34 Take my serval.
05:35 - Thanks, Dan.
05:36 - Thanks, Fred.
05:37 - Thanks, Fred.
05:37 - Yeah.
05:38 (upbeat music)
05:41 (upbeat music)
05:43 - We're here with Matt Glass from ARB.
05:54 ARB has been a huge supporter
05:56 of 4 Wheel and Off-Road Magazine.
05:57 They make really cool stuff.
05:58 Matt, tell us about this brand new truck.
06:00 - So this is actually our brand new bumper
06:02 that we're gonna have released for this truck in the spring.
06:04 This is the new Summit Series Bar.
06:07 Couple slight differences than our traditional deluxe bar.
06:10 We've updated the styling to match the new designs
06:12 the trucks are coming out with these days.
06:15 Updated the upper hoop, larger diameter,
06:17 LED turn signals and daytime running lights,
06:20 larger fog lights with a nice little Lexan cover as well.
06:23 Rock chips, replace the Lexan,
06:25 don't have to replace the fog lights.
06:27 We moved the winch control pack down a little bit.
06:30 - That doesn't block the radiator.
06:30 - Doesn't block the radiator, better air flow going to it.
06:33 But, as always, the traditional aspect of an ARB bumper
06:37 is airbag compatibility.
06:38 So this thing will make sure that your airbag deploys
06:40 at the proper point in time
06:41 if you get in a bad enough wreck.
06:43 But it's also give you a level of protection
06:45 that's going to allow you to deflect
06:47 any sort of animal strikes or other incidents
06:49 that you might have out in the back country
06:50 while you're out exploring.
06:51 - So what else is new with ARB?
06:52 - This is actually our 40th year.
06:54 - Really?
06:55 - Yeah, absolutely.
06:56 So to celebrate, we're doing something
06:59 a little bit different.
07:00 We asked our fans to pick four, five different vehicles,
07:03 asked them what their favorite trucks were
07:05 for the last 40 years.
07:07 US fans, what do you think they said?
07:10 - Jeep.
07:11 - Obviously.
07:12 So we're building this great little 2004 TJ.
07:15 - Really, a TJ, not a JK?
07:17 - Not a JK, no, absolutely.
07:18 Keeping it a little bit heritage, a little bit classic.
07:20 - That's cool.
07:21 - That Jeep is going to join the other four vehicles
07:23 that are being built in Australia.
07:24 We're sending it in a container over there.
07:26 Those five trucks are going to tackle
07:28 the Simpson Desert together as part of a big celebration
07:30 of our 40th year anniversary.
07:32 - Can I ride in the container and go to Australia with you?
07:34 - We won't put you in the container,
07:35 we'll get you on a plane,
07:36 but you're absolutely welcome to join us.
07:37 - That's even better.
07:39 I can't wait.
07:39 - We'll see you down there.
07:40 - Let's go play in the desert.
07:41 (upbeat music)
07:44 My challenge for this SEMA week
07:56 was to find a really cool truck for the drag race.
07:58 Every year they drag me out here to the middle of nowhere
08:01 to some airstrip to drag race.
08:02 I'm an off-road guy, I need to have a truck.
08:05 Knowing Nissan was involved this year,
08:07 I wanted to find a really cool Nissan truck,
08:10 and I'm pretty sure I found the coolest one available.
08:13 (engine revving)
08:16 This giant automotive trade show held in Las Vegas,
08:26 all these people, all of our friends
08:27 in the automotive industry come to Vegas for a week,
08:31 and you can only imagine how tired we are
08:34 by the end of the week from working,
08:37 because we don't stay up late,
08:39 we're always here early in the morning.
08:41 - We always get enough sleep.
08:42 - We always get plenty of sleep,
08:44 and we eat really well, and--