Motor News

In a recent article, I criticized the lifting-and-lowering technique known as the “Carolina Squat,” suggesting it makes a vehicle look “like it was dropped off a five-story building with 10,000 pounds of bricks in the bed.”More than 70,000 people showed they have no sense of humor by petitioning to have the practice banned in North Carolina.Obligingly, the state’s House of Representatives has indeed voted for a ban, and if it passes the Senate, it could be in force by the end of the year, notes WCTI. Okay, I’m sorry I made fun of the Carolina Squat. I’m sorry I mentioned that my friend Keith, who used to own an off-road shop, called that genre of trucks “squatters and poopers.” I’m sorry I said that their exhaust always sounds like someone threw a string of M-80s into a half-full metal Porti-Potti. Actually, I didn’t say that, but I should have. For some reason, squatted trucks all have the same exhaust note, and it’s “1978 Chrysler Cordoba with cracked exhaust manifolds, played through Limp Bizkit’s stage amplifiers.” Trucks that are jacked up in the front and lowered in the rear–the aforementioned Carolina Squat—are dumb, but I don’t think they should be illegal. They’re on their way to that status, though, as the North Carolina House recently passed a bill to swat the squat from our roads.

House Bill 692 says: “A private passenger automobile shall not be modified or altered by elevating more than three inches from the manufacturer’s specified height in the front and lowering the automobile more than two inches from the specified height in the rear.” Well, you can do that, but you can’t drive such a thing on a public road. And if you do, and you’re written up for it three times, you can lose your license for a year. Despite my regular use of legal jargon, Latin, et cetera, I’m not a lawyer. But it seems like the North Carolina House isn’t exactly banning the Carolina Squat, here. To meet the criteria, your truck (or donk, or really-go-your-own-way Eagle Premier) has to be both jacked up in the front and lowered in the back by a total of at least five inches. So you could leave it stock at the rear and jack the front up 10 inches. You could lower the back one inch and raise the front by five. You could lift both ends by a foot, and plenty of people do. You could do lots of different things, is the point, so long as you leave one end or the other under the mandated threshold.Which raises a lot of other questions, namely: How are cops going to measure this? Will they have to become experts in Chevy Tahoe suspension geometry (of squatted SUVs, 98 percent seem to be Tahoes)? I’m assuming this will work the same way it does with window tint, which is to say the cops will have some way to generate a measurement, but ultimately it comes down to a judgment call. That tint is too dark; that truck is too squatty. Here’s your court date.Now, I still believe that squatting your truck is insanely stupid. It looks so dumb, brah. You didn’t just land a sweet jump in the Mint 400 and nobody thinks you did. But is it really dangerous? Do we have reams of data proving that squatted trucks are a menace to society, or is this just a get-off-my-lawn reactionary beatdown on questionable automotive aesthetics? Just because a Change.org petition got more than 70,000 signatures doesn’t mean that a particular modification should be illegal. Maybe that seems like a lot of people, but we’re talking about a platform where almost 3000 people signed a petition to change the name of fire ants to “spicy boys.”Truck squatting will run its course all on its own, without legal intervention. It’s a dumb fad, and dumb fads always pass. Maybe the next thing will be raking your truck—lower the front, jack up the back!—or replacing the bed with an eight-person hot tub. Either way, I’m sorry that I wielded my vast influence in such a way that the squatters and poopers might well be an endangered species.Furry steering wheel covers, though: those should be illegal and punishable by the maximum allowable extent of the law. Somebody start a petition.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Ford’s new Maverick small pickup is here, and it’ll go on sale in the fall starting at $21,490. A hybrid powertrain and front-wheel drive are standard, targeting 40 mpg in the city, though a nonhybrid turbocharged 2.0-liter is also an option and can be equipped with all-wheel drive. Most Car and Driver editors went the all-wheel-drive route, and our prices ranged from around $24,000 to over $32,000. Using Ford’s online configurator, this is how we’d buy the new Maverick:

Joey Capparella’s $24,045 2022 Ford Maverick XLT

Ford

Ford

The best thing about the Maverick is that it’s cheap, but the XL model is a bit too base for even me—a noted base-model enthusiast. Plus, the midlevel XLT is still remarkably affordable and comes with desirable equipment such as cruise control, 17-inch wheels to replace the XL’s steelies, and nicer cloth upholstery for the seats. I stuck with the standard hybrid powertrain for its efficiency and chose the Cactus Gray exterior paint. There were only two options I felt were necessary: $155 for a sliding rear window and $115 for a full-size spare tire (after my recent flat-tire snafu in our spareless long-term Toyota Supra, I’m not chancing it). My Maverick XLT hybrid rings in at $24,045, which is still less than the starting price for a Honda Accord. – Joey CapparellaElana Scherr’s $25,540 2022 Ford Maverick XL

Ford

Ford

Okay, I want a cheap truck. I’m imagining this truck having been an option back when I was in art school, when we all needed a truck, but never for towing or major payload. Trucks back then were for hauling around bags of clay and plywood for plinths and large unflattering self-portraits done in oil. Also dogs and drunk friends. So I want this cheap, XL, but not hybrid, because I can’t with the CVT. I can’t. So second choice after trim is engine, and it’s the 2.0-liter turbo-four because then I get the eight-speed automatic. Color options are weak sauce. This truck would look good in green. The black is pretty sharp, but I always advocate for color, so gonna go Velocity Blue. I was going to skip the tow package, but on closer read, it gets you better cooling and a different drive ratio, and since I’m planning on all-wheel drive anyway, I’m suckered into it. Ford Co-Pilot360 I’ll pass on; I think I can handle keeping myself in the lane. I love the 17-inch steelies, so I have no sorrows about those wheels. I’m mildly tempted by the sliding rear window, but to add it I have to add Co-Pilot, so I’m afraid the dogs will have to live without their heads out the back window. My big splurge will be the $3305 for the all-wheel-drive powertrain, because as an artist, I might need to spend a weekend in a remote cabin in the snow, thinking about the wonder of nature and the soul of man. All in, my Maverick will cost me $25,540. – Elana ScherrConnor Hoffman’s $27,995 2022 Ford Maverick XLT

Ford

Ford

My goal is to make my Maverick as rugged as possible, and the first step is selecting the nonhybrid turbo 2.0-liter engine so I can get all-wheel drive. I want the mid-grade XLT model for the cloth seats, and it’s getting painted in Area 51, which is what I’d get on a Bronco. The all-wheel-drive option costs $3305, and it’s needed to add the FX4 off-road package ($800) that adds things like unique black 17-inch wheels with all-terrain rubber, skid plates, and additional drive modes, including hill descent control. I’m skipping other packages such as the 4K Tow package, even though the FX4 package adds a trailer hitch receiver, because I probably won’t be towing with my Maverick. And I’m adding a full-size spare for $115. With only $3135 in options, this off-road-ready little pickup comes in at $27,995, which is under half the price of my dream truck, the F-150 Raptor. — Connor HoffmanDavid Beard’s $32,240 2022 Ford Maverick XLT

Ford

Ford

The base XL rolling on steel wheels is appealing to me, but its limited color palette and the inability to add the off-roady bits such as tow hooks, skid plates, and the trail-pounding drive modes of the $800 FX4 package is a deal breaker to me. And as nice as the top Lariat version might be, optioning it up flirts with a modestly equipped Ford Ranger with a transfer case. That leaves me with the XLT powered by the optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter sending torque to all four wheels for $3305 and sprayed in Hot Pepper Red for $390. In addition to the FX4 package, the $745 tow package with its transmission cooler and the lower 3.81:1 final-drive ratio (standard with all-wheel drive is 3.63) is a no-brainer for me. While 4000 pounds isn’t much, it’s enough to pull around some motorcycles or snowmobiles. I questioned my XLT Luxury package selection, but the heated seats, steering wheel, mirrors, and remote start will pay off in the arctic months. Plus, it includes a power inverter and a spray-in bedliner. And why not have a soft folding bed cover to keep the gear dry for an extra $560? Have you even seen what salt does to carpet? Gross. Shelling out $135 for all-weather floor mats is money well spent. As is $115 for a full-size spare tire. Lastly, I’m adding the Smoker’s package for $70, not for the extra 12-volt plug, but because I can. All in, I’m at $32,240 for a trucklet that should be moderately capable. Smoke ’em if you got ’em. –David BeardDrew Dorian’s $32,845 2022 Ford Maverick XLT

Ford

Ford

I know the Maverick is intended to be the affordable Ford truck, but I couldn’t help myself from adding a lot of options to the midrange XLT model. What can I say? I like nice things. Right off the bat I switched from the standard front-wheel-drive hybrid setup to the optional turbo four and all-wheel drive, so that added $4390 to the bottom line. I also added the 4K Tow package for $745 and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance bundle for $540. The XLT Luxury package requires a hefty $2345 outlay, but I couldn’t say no. It adds a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, body-color exterior mirrors, remote start, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, a spray-in bedliner, a 400-watt power inverter, and a lot more. I chose Alto Blue for $390 because I think it perfectly complements the XLT’s Navy Pier interior scheme, which pairs dark navy blue and heather-gray seat fabric with white door inserts and orange interior accents. I also couldn’t help myself from upgrading to the optional polished aluminum 17-inch wheels. They’re the same size as the standard rollers but they cost $795. I just think they look nicer. For another $795 I splurged on the power sunroof, and for $155 I added a manual sliding rear window. After my shopping spree, my Maverick rings up at a relatively lofty $32,845. –Drew Dorian More

The new 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup has a starting price of $21,490.XL is the base model, and better-equipped XLT and Lariat trim levels will also be offered. A front-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain is standard and a turbo 2.0-liter inline-four engine is optional on all models.Meet the new entry-level Ford: the 2022 Maverick pickup. With a starting price of $21,490, it’s now the cheapest model in the Blue Oval lineup, undercutting the EcoSport SUV by a few hundred dollars. This base price also makes the Maverick, a crew-cab truck with a 4.5-foot bed, an interesting alternative to compact sedans such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

2022 Ford Maverick XL
Ford

Of course, that base price is for the sparsely equipped XL model (pictured above), which comes with front-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain that uses a 2.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine. A more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is optional on all trims, and comes standard with front-wheel drive and offers all-wheel drive as an option. The 2.0-liter engine costs $1085 and all-wheel drive is another $3305 on top of that.The XL lacks features such as cruise control, power-adjustable mirrors, proximity-key entry, and alloy wheels. Options include a CoPilot 360 package ($540) with driver-assistance features and a towing package ($745) if you opt for the 2.0-liter engine.
The XLT trim starts at $23,775. It adds cruise control, 17-inch wheels, power-adjustable mirrors, and a keyless entry keypad. It also opens up more available option packages, such as an FX4 off-road package ($800, including all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a few other rugged add-ons) and an XLT Luxury package ($2345, including a power driver’s seat, remote start, and additional power outlets)The Lariat occupies the top of the lineup, starting at $26,985. It comes standard with features such as a power driver’s seat, LED headlights, and a power-sliding rear window. The CoPilot 360, FX4, and towing packages are also optional on this model, as is a Lariat Luxury package ($3340) with features including adaptive cruise control, an upgraded sound system, heated seats and steering wheel, and a Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Certain Lariat models will also be available with a First Edition package ($1495), which includes the Luxury package, a sunroof, and is visually differentiated with a black roof, First Edition badges, and different wheels.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The new Super Sport version of the Bugatti Chiron has 1577 horsepower and reaches a claimed 273 mph.It’s similar to the Super Sport 300 car that was created to commemorate the record-breaking 300-mph Chiron.The Chiron Super Sport costs around $3.9 million, and deliveries will start in 2022.Two years after it produced 30 roadgoing Super Sport 300 versions of the record-setting 300-mph Chiron, Bugatti is now launching another iteration of what is pretty much the same car. This one is simply dubbed the Chiron Super Sport, and although it shares almost all of the bodywork of the 300 version, we’re told that it is intended to be more comfortable and usable in everyday use. It also has a speed limiter, one that will prevent it from going beyond 273 mph even in its Top Speed mode. We’re imagining this won’t be too much of an issue for most potential buyers, and it still allows owners to feel superior to buyers of the Chiron Sport, whose cars are limited to a mere 261 mph.

Like both the record-setting car and the 300, the Super Sport has revised bodywork designed to help it at high speeds. This package was designed in conjunction with Dallara, the famous race-car chassis builder, and features a rear deck that is around 10 inches longer to help hold laminar airflow to the body for as long as possible to reduce drag. Exhaust pipes have also been relocated from their central position on the regular Chiron to split pairs on either side of the larger rear diffuser. And there are nine holes at the top of each fender to help release pressure from the front wheel wells.
While the regular Chiron and Chiron Sport make do with 1479 horsepower, the Super Sport has been upgraded to a brawnier version of the company’s 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, using new turbochargers and a revised cylinder head to increase output to 1577 hp. This version has a redline of 7100 rpm. Peak torque of 1180 pound-feet is unchanged from the lesser cars, but is accessible over a broader spread from 2000 rpm to 7000 rpm.Bugatti doesn’t make any official claims for 60 mph times—these are regarded as a little passé these days by hypercar makers—but says the Super Sport can blast its way to 124 mph in 5.8-seconds and to 186 mph in just 12.1 seconds. For reference, when we tested the Chiron Sport earlier this year, we confirmed it to be the quickest road car we have ever tested, with a 4.4-second sprint to 100 mph and a 15.7-second run to 200 mph time. And this one should be even quicker.
Bugatti says the Super Sport is designed to deliver high-speed stability and refinement when being operated at the sorts of speeds other supercars can only dream about achieving. Opportunities to experience it unleashed will likely be limited for most owners, certainly those far away from the German autobahn network. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth traveling to try to experience such forces.The Chiron Super Sport will cost around $3.91 million, with customer deliveries beginning in early 2022. Tempted?
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Kia has revealed the design of the new Sportage, and it has an interesting look.The new model will likely share engines and mechanical components with the related Hyundai Tucson.We expect the new Sportage to arrive in the U.S. in early 2022 as a 2023 model.Hyundai-Kia is continuing to push the design envelope in the compact-SUV class with the new Sportage. Although it looks completely different from its sibling, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson, both of these crossovers feature a bold appearance with interesting details and side surfacing.
The global version of the Sportage seen here features an unconventional front-end lighting setup with low-mounted headlights and prominent boomerang-shaped LED lighting accents. In the rear, the taillights look similar to the new Kia EV6 electric car. The greenhouse subtly slopes down toward the D-pillar and the beltline rises, creating a the impression of a somewhat rakish silhouette without an actual coupe-like tapered roofline as seen on some luxury SUV models.Inside, the Sportage looks far more upscale than its predecessor. A digital instrument cluster and large widescreen infotainment system look to be mounted under a single piece of glass. This large fixture is flanked by shapely air vents on either side. A rotary shifter is visible on the center stack along with an array of various buttons.

Kia has still not released mechanical details about the new Sportage, but we have an idea of what to expect from the U.S. version. The powertrain lineup is likely to mirror the Tucson’s, meaning a 2.5-liter inline-four will serve as the base engine with possible hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives to follow. We hope Kia will install the more powerful turbo 2.5-liter four as well as an optional upgrade.Look for more information about the U.S. model to come later this year, as the Sportage is likely to arrive on our shores in early 2022 as a 2023 model.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced late Sunday the Model S Plaid+, the most potent version of the car’s upcoming performance-oriented tri-motor “Plaid” variant, will not make it to production.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

In a series of tweets, Musk announced the Model S Plaid+ had been canceled because there’s “no need” for it in the lineup, claiming the regular Plaid model is “just so good.” The Model S Plaid+ was set to be the most capable car from Tesla yet. The company never released exact specifications, but said it would have over 1100 horsepower, be quicker than the regular Plaid model, and have more range—520 miles on a single charge versus just 390 miles for the standard Plaid model.

Musk sent a follow-up tweet promising the regular Plaid model will still do zero t0 60 in under two seconds (Tesla’s site claims an exact 0-60 of 1.99 seconds). Horsepower is set at 1020, and the quarter-mile comes in a claimed 9.23 seconds at 155 mph. So while it won’t have the range, the standard Plaid should still be a rocket ship. Tesla originally priced the Model S Plaid+ at $139,990 before hiking it up to $149,990 in March. Pricing for the regular Plaid model will start at $119,900 before any EV incentives or options. According to Tesla’s configurator, deliveries should start sometime in June.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Ford builds the Mustang at two plants, with the gas model being made in Michigan and the electric Mach-E coming from Mexico.So far in 2021, the production numbers are clear: 27,816 Mach-Es and 26,089 gas-powered Mustangs.The ICE Mustang still outsells the Mach-E by around 3 to 1 in the U.S., but that’s not the case in EV-forward places like Norway. If you’re looking for yet one more sign that the automotive industry is making a shift to electric vehicles, look no further than Ford’s 2021 production numbers. So far this year, Ford has built more electric Mustang Mach-E crossovers than gas-powered Mustang coupe and convertible models.Ford builds vehicles with the Mustang name in two locations. Gas-powered Mustang two-doors are made at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. The electric Mustang Mach-E crossover is built at the Cuautitlan Stamping and Assembly Plant in Mexico. As first reported by Bloomberg, through the end of May, Ford built 27,816 Mach-Es and 26,089 standard Mustangs. The Mach-E was introduced last year, so this is the first time Ford has made more electric than gas ones.

These are global production figures, not sales numbers, of course. But Ford is seeing strong Mach-E sales in other countries, especially Norway, which has long been a leader in EV sales thanks to strong government incentives. Those incentives helped the Mach-E become the best-selling vehicle in Norway May, which was the first full month the EV was available there. The Mach-E sold 1384 units in Norway last month, about 10 percent of all vehicles sold there. Second and third place were held by plug-in vehicles as well, with the Toyota RAV4 hybrid and the Skoda Enyaq taking second and third place, respectively.In the U.S., Ford sold 1945 electrified Mustangs and 4436 gas-powered ones in May. For the first five months of 2020, Ford sold 10,510 Mach-Es and 29,710 gas-powered Mustangs. In California, which has the strongest EV support laws in the U.S., one out of every four Mustangs sold last month was a Mach-E. No matter where the Mach-E is being offered, Ford said the Mustang Mach-E “is essentially selling as soon as it hits dealer showrooms,” given the short, 10-day average turn time.”We are really excited about the success that we are having with our launch of the all-new Mustang Mach-E, not just here in America, but globally too,” a Ford sales analyst, Erich Merkle, told Bloomberg in an emailed statement. “To be fair, please keep in mind that Mustang and Flat Rock have been impacted by outside factors, which has been the semiconductor chip shortage.”Whatever the causes are for Ford to build more plug-in Mustangs than gas-powered ponies, this likely won’t be the last time this happens. Ford has made strong claims about it electrified future, and plans to offer 40 electrified vehicles globally by 2022, with 16 of those fully electric and the other 24 being plug-in hybrids. Ford’s EV plans are strong in Europe, where Ford expects all of its passenger vehicles to be all-electric by 2030.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The 2022 Ford Maverick will debut tomorrow at 6 a.m. ET on Ford’s YouTube channel and social media outlets. The Maverick is a new small pickup truck that will slot in below the mid-size Ranger in Ford’s lineup. It will go on sale in the fall, and we expect it to be priced well below the Ranger.Ford is unveiling its new compact pickup truck tomorrow, Tuesday, June 8, at 6 a.m. ET, and it will go on sale in the fall. You’ll be able to watch the debut live on Ford’s YouTube channel or its social media outlets in the morning.

Ford released a teaser video for the new pickup last week, and we spotted a hybrid badge on the tailgate. We also expect the Escape’s 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to be an option, since the Maverick will share a platform with it and the new Bronco Sport crossover. It’ll have a unibody construction rather than the Ranger’s body-on-frame structure and compete with the Honda Ridgeline and upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz.

The new truck will be built alongside the Bronco Sport at Ford’s plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, and arrive in the fall.We’ll know more early tomorrow morning, but if you’re not an early riser, check back here for all the details on the 2022 Ford Maverick.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More