Introduced in 1990, the Arion Hercules was a step up for Arion into the American market. It was offered with 3L I6, 5L V8 or the largest V8 Arion had made ever: 8L V8. It was somewhat well-received, though the “smaller” I6 was more popular in the UK than USA.
For the year of 1999, a new special edition was released: Hercules 402S Extreme, a high-performance variant of the 8L V8 powered truck, featuring 402hp, 6-gear manual transmission, lower ride height, side-exhausts, sports bodykit, bonnet, and wing, as well as a geared differential. However later update in 2003 provided a minor boost to horsepower and overall quality.
It was by no means the fastest sport truck around, able to get to 157mph and a 0-60 in 5.7s was still quite astonishing for a close to 2-ton truck. Even as a sports truck, it could still haul 2221kg of load weight, and 1700kg of towing weight, whilst also achieving just under 16mpg (UK).
So you want a work horse ? What about a work stallion ?
The mid-range 3.5L I6 has been reworked and been given a new breath with a turbo, and is now producing 440hp and 780 Nm of torque. Paired to a 5 speed manual and our All Wheel Drive System, the Apalache SXT can go from 0 to 100kph in less than 4.5 seconds, and flirt with speeds above 250kph. All while maintaining 11L per 100km.
With a 6.0L all-alloy OHV V8 sending 350bhp and 375 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual and geared LSD, plus more than a metric ton of load and towing capacity, you’ll never be late for deliveries ever again.
It seems to me the ideal winner in the ‘Flatout Races’ nomination. Excellent collab.
I also really liked the design of the headlights in the style of the Chevy Express.
Well coded car.
Issues with towing figures not showing, and then showing, not sure of the issue. I’ll use tow and load figures together as a number which should work out.
The Cheval Boxer Superfast, a 400hp, RWD, six speed manual truck featuring a 6.1l v8 and some awesome graphics and a big ole wing. it also tows stuff! so buy it, NOW!
A unforgettable retro-sport-truck that you keep forgetting exists
The PWR generally elicits one of 4 reactions in people; you either don’t like it, hate it, really hate it… or love it with all your heart.
With its over 4000lbs of load capacity (and 3000 more of towing), as well as its top-of-the line reliability and environmental resistance, you can claim that this thing and its V8 is “sensible” and “not useless.”
But we all know why you really need it: for that 6.6 second 0-62 and sub-15 quarter mile.
With 250hp, an LSD, and brakes that cannot fade no matter how hard you try, there is only one rule to driving the PWR; if it’s not sideways, you’re doing it wrong.
In a bid to appeal more to younger buyers it was decided to add a sporty Sport trim to the new-for-2003 mk4.
A big lazy V8 was considered not “hip enough”, so with the help of some Swedish meatball enthusiast tuning company, the small block 211cid was given a breath of life with twin turbos. Whether the twinturbo was actually better than a proper atmo bigblock was debatable, except in fuel economy.
Anyway, it does run a quarter mile in 13:74 seconds with the 5-speed manual. A 4-speed automatic also available for those with a less hands-on approach to driving. While light on interior amenities, the Turbo trim includes som QoL extras including a sunroof, aircon, cargo cover and side cargo rails. A Blue Line V8 Awareness pinstripe, special badging, a more aggressive grille and some…towhook mounted spherical fashion statement (optional dealer delete), together with a set of obnoxious paint options (as submitted Fun Yello) distinguish the Turbo from less overpowered trims. 100% made in Best North America!
Coming up on the weekend leading up to the final submission day. No Automation updates that I can see yet which is good. Shall I stick with the Nov 13th deadline? We have a decent field so far, will get specifics out with pings later after work.
My car tows 1432 KG instead of the required 1500. I tried higher ride and stiffer springs, did not work.
Will it be an instant bin? If not, please tell me, then you*ll get another entry tomorrow. Everything else looks nice and competetive.
Unfortunately, the interior is very basic slapped together, but I had to work overtime today…
Truck monocoque, solid rear axle with coil springs. I considered it as the most accurate for a new 2003 sports truck. Sending in an older ladder frame 90s design would have been a disadvantage imo.
The requirement is in lbs, not kg. 1432 kg is equal to over 3100 lbs, or over double the requirement. So your truck is perfectly fine.
I made the same mistake as well, and didn’t catch it until I went to submit. I thought my truck was gonna “just barely” meet the rules, but turns out it was more than good enough. :D
In 2003, the Gasmean Globus Company released the second generation Yosemite, trading the ladder frame against a truck monocoque, and fitting the rear axle with coils instead of leaf springs.
This allowed for a much better drivability, although hard offroading was not recommended, but marketing surveys said that Yosemite customers usually use their vehicle for - yes. you get it: Driving to work and the supermarket.
The same analysts saw good potential in a sporty onroad-version, and here it is: The ST-57 package!
It features:
A manual transmission if you want one
a 5.7 V8 instead of the usual 4.6
viscous differential
a rear spoiler
unique alloy wheels
special paintjob colors “Vitamin C”, “Viper”, “Yello”, “Le Frog” and “Candy”.
Accents in “Satin Black Pearl”
In the picture you see a 2003 ST-57 painted in “Vitamin C” with a stickshift.
Hey all, I spoke too soon on the update thing, looks like a “small” update came through which seems to have more than small changes to stats. If anybody needs to resub, let me know. I’m thinking of extending based on the update, but I would be OK with quick feedback on that and if we should just proceed or give it more time. QFC’s are usually quick but updates do throw wrenches.
edit: I quickly threw in one car with the new update and indeed, the stats changed considerably. Drivability, Comfort, Prestige, etc all affected.
