Yes, those are Rancho shock absorbers – 16 of them, in fact – mounted beneath the sinister monster truck that eventually succumbs to the trickery of a legendary 1963 Volkswagen Beetle in Walt Disney Studios’ new feature film, “Herbie: Fully Loaded.” The film is a remake of the popular 1968 original, "The Love Bug."

Rancho RS9000X adjustable shocks appear in an extended series of scenes that pit Herbie and his new owner, played by Lindsay Lohan, against a towering monster truck that climbs and crushes everything in its path. The truck is equipped with four extended-length Rancho shocks over each wheel, with the brand’s trademark bright-red shock boots and other graphics clearly visible in several shots. Herbie "outsmarts" the monster truck’s driver, of course, leaving little but the 16 RS9000X dampers intact following a surprise collision.

"The movie’s production team approached us more than a year ago to discuss the availability of extended-length shocks for the demolition derby scene. Our contact was particularly interested in Rancho because he knew of the brand’s heritage as a leader in off-road technology and felt our products would be recognizable and believable for many truck enthusiasts," said Richard Alameddine, vice president of marketing, North American Aftermarket, for Tenneco Automotive. "Needless to say, we were very pleased to be approached and worked closely with the vehicle builder to provide RS9000X shocks that met their length and mounting requirements."

RS9000X shock absorbers enable vehicle owners to manually or remotely (from the cab) tune rebound and damping performance to match a vast range of on- and off-road performance situations. The shocks feature Rancho’s exclusive 15-stage velocity-sensitive valving for enhanced stability and traction. Each shock includes a 16mm-diameter hardened and double-chromed rod, 32mm-diameter piston with fluon band and an advanced rod guide design that reduces friction and improves flow for enhanced ride comfort.

Rancho also offers an optional in-cab remote control kit that permits adjustment of front and/or rear RS9000X shocks while the vehicle is in motion.

"The monster truck definitely could have benefited from our on-the-fly adjustability in its duel with Herbie," said Rancho Engineering Director Bill Johnson. "If the driver had simply stiffened up the damping a bit on all four wheels, he definitely would have been able to avoid that collision."

For more information on Rancho shocks and suspensions, and to locate the nearest Rancho dealer, visit www.gorancho.com or call 1-734-384-7805.