With my growing fascination for pickup trucks nowadays, I was particularly fancied by this article by Autoblog that, according to sources from PickupTrucks.com, the US Border Patrol is considering to acquire at least Ford F150 SVT Raptors for their rough terrain work. So why, among other hardcore trucks capable of chasing down crooks across the desert trying to cross the border, taking the Raptor into consideration as their transport of choice?

The guys at Autoblog describes the Raptor as nothing short of spectacular. They said it best, exclaiming, “Imagine bounding across the Nevada desert at 100 mph (fuel cutoff) and then leaping 45 feet through the air, landing, and doing it again and again and again. That is the magic of SVT and their Raptor.” That’s how monstrous the Raptor is. The secret lies in Fox Racing shocks: 11.2 inches of gas-shock suspension travel in front  and 13.4 inches at the rear. Not to mention the 5.4liter V8 and the new 6.2liter V8 variation under the hood. Plus, the Feds don’t want some fancy upholstery. Instead, they opt to don a more bareand brute type of cockpit to convey that they really mean business.

Read on the article for more details.

About 186, 000 GM mid-sized Colorado and Canyons, along with other Isuzu variants, are being recalled for faulty brake lights. Either they stay on or don’t have any at all.

According to a press statement via NHTSA, dealers will inspect and replace the components free of charge. Parts will be available by February 2010. Owners will also have to return the part in order to swap it for a new part when it becomes available. The vehicles were either originally sold or currently registered in 14 states and territories via a program to cover other locales.

Read the press release after the jump.

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):

CHEVROLET / COLORADO 2004-2009
GMC / CANYON 2004-2009
ISUZU / I-280 2006
ISUZU / I-290 2007-2008
ISUZU / I-350 2006
ISUZU / I-370 2007-2008

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 28, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V310000
RQ09001

NHTSA Action Number: RQ09001
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Potential Number of Units Affected: 185903

Summary:
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.

Consequence:
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER’S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY FEBRUARY 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Notes:
GM RECALL NO. 09049. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .