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Okey doke, we've finalized our plans, and a half-dozen brand-new 2008 4x4 test 'utes are arriving at our palatial offices in Los Angeles . . . Next week, we'll take 'em out and flog 'em, crawl 'em, drag 'em, slag 'em, and otherwise pummel them to within an inch of their mechanical lives at our annual weeklong Four Wheeler of the Year test, to be held at our Top Secret Mojave Proving Grounds. Hummer H3 Alpha: 300hp 5.3L GM V-8, 4-spd automatic, 4.00:1 low-range, 4.10:1 axles, electronic center diff-lock, rear locker, 285/75-16 tires. Hummer H2: 390hp 6.2L GM V-8, 6-spd automatic, 2.64:1 low-range, 3.73:1 axles, electronic center diff-lock, rear locker, 315/70-17 tires. Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD: 360 lb-ft 3.0L V-6 turbodiesel, 5-spd automatic, 2.72:1 low-range, 3.73:1 axles, front and rear electronic limited-slips, 245/65-17 tires. Jeep Liberty: 210hp 3.7L V-6, 4-spd automatic, 6-spd manual, 2.72:1 low-range, 3.21:1 axles, open diffs, 235/65-17 tires. Nissan Pathfinder: 310hp 5.6L V-8, 5-spd automatic, 2.60:1 low-range, 2.94:1 axles, open diffs, 265/65-17 tires. Toyota Land Cruiser: 380hp 5.7L V-8, 6-spd automatic, 2.62:1 low-range, 3.91:1 axles, open diffs, electronic center diff-lock, 285/60-18 tires. Now before you start flaming us with "Why aren't you also testing the (insert brand name here)?", remember we only test vehicles for FWOTY that are all new or substantially revised for the coming model year. So, who do you think will win, and who will likely finish last? Just to make this interesting, we'll send out a box of Four Wheeler swag to any of you out there who can correctly guess the finishing order, top to bottom. If nobody guesses right, we'll send out some goodies to the blogger(s) who comes closest. We'll be blogging live from FWOTY whenever time permits next week, and we'll publish the results in the February 2008 issue. But for now, let the debating (and the guessing) begin!
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