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There is a simple rule in the truck wars: numbers always go up. It doesn’t matter if it’s the maximum towing capacity, maximum horsepower, or maximum number of cupholders: This year’s full-size trucks must provide more in every category. That’s why we were surprised to see that, for 2024, the new Ford F-150’s max payload number has actually fallen compared to last year’s model.The 2023 F-150 offered up to 3315 pounds of hauling capacity. For 2024, that number falls to 2455 pounds.An 860-lb drop sounds cataclysmic. But for the trucks people actually order, it’s not going to make much of a difference. Because while that 3315-pound number provided Ford with plenty of bragging rights, actual buyers almost never optioned a truck to have that kind of hauling capacity. It required you to get a 5.0-liter V-8 single-cab 4×2 truck with an eight-foot bed, the Max Trailer Tow package, and the Heavy-Duty Payload package. That last package is what gave it the 800-pound payload advantage over the rest of the lineup, but Ford axed it to limit configurations.”The 2024 F-150 still offers best-in-class max payload capability. Payload was reduced when the Heavy Payload package was removed for the 2024 model year,” a Ford spokesperson told Road & Track.The company focused heavily on eliminating order complexity for the new F-150. That means eliminating as many packages as possible. Given that the Heavy Payload package was rarely optioned and required a bunch of tweaks—including different springs, tires, drivetrain cooling, etc.—it’s not surprising to see it’s off the menu. Especially because, as the spokesperson noted, Ford’s max payload figure still trumps all of its rivals. If you want more than that, you’ll have to get a heavy-duty truck.Related Stories”We’re simplifying our offerings based on how we know customers actually use their vehicle and running the business more efficiently,” the spokesperson told R&T. “We’re also bundling the most popular features and making it even easier for customers to quickly build, price, and order the F-150 that best meets their work and recreation needs. This results in many benefits: higher quality, improved customer experience—easier for customers to order and dealers to stock, and faster to turn the units.”Reviews EditorArguably the most fickle member of the Road & Track staff, Reviews Editor Mack Hogan is likely the only person to ever cross shop an ND Miata with an Isuzu Vehicross. He founded the automotive reviews section of CNBC during his sophomore year of college and has been writing about cars ever since.Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.  More

AAA’s Roadside Assistance service is a lifesaver for enthusiasts and normal drivers alike. Being able to get a tow, jump, or splash of fuel when your car is stranded is essential, and it’s a key reason that most people on our staff keep their AAA memberships active. The only problem is that when you need it most—in a remote area, without anyone to help—you may not have cell service and end up stuck regardless. That is, unless you have an iPhone 14 or 15. In its keynote address announcing the new iPhone lineup on Tuesday, Apple announced that last year’s Emergency SOS via Satellite function is getting an upgrade. Owners of last year’s iPhone are already able to request emergency services, call search and rescue, or send their location to a friend.Apple But soon, owners of iPhone 14 and 15 models will also be able to connect to AAA via satellite. They’ll be able to message the nation’s largest roadside assistance provider and report whether they are locked out, out of fuel/charge, have a flat, are unable to start the car, or are stuck. AAA notes that it does not do off-road recovery, though, so don’t think they’ll rescue you from the backcountry trail you promised your buddy you could handle. If you’re on a road, though, the roadside assistance service will be covered by your normal plan’s terms. If you’re not a AAA member, you can pay per use of the service. Apple includes two years of Emergency SOS Via Satellite with all new iPhone 14 and 15 purchases.Reviews EditorArguably the most fickle member of the Road & Track staff, Reviews Editor Mack Hogan is likely the only person to ever cross shop an ND Miata with an Isuzu Vehicross. He founded the automotive reviews section of CNBC during his sophomore year of college and has been writing about cars ever since. More

Nissan has revealed the Frontier Hardbody Edition, which it teased earlier this month.The retro-inspired truck features cool 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and a sport bar. The $3890 package is available on the SV Crew Cab 4×4 trim, giving the Hardbody Edition a starting price of $42,095.The 2024 Nissan Frontier Hardbody Edition arrives as a throwback-inspired model that harks back to the original Hardbody from the 1980s and ’90s. Nissan teased the truck earlier this month, and now it has revealed details and pricing. Unsurprisingly, the production version of the mid-size pickup truck looks nearly identical to the Project Hardbody concept that debuted at the 2022 Chicago auto show, though Nissan’s choice of tire has changed.The Hardbody package is only available on the SV Crew Cab 4×4 trim, which starts at $38,205. Adding the $3890 package pushes the price to $42,095. The production version of the truck is shown here with red paint like the OG version. It also has cool 17-inch wheels that mimic the originals. The hardcore BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires from the teaser are gone and have been replaced by a less aggressive set of Hankook Dynapro AT2 all-terrain tires. Apart from the tire swap, almost all of the visual alterations for the throwback edition make their way to the production model. Black overfenders, a front skid plate, and some special decals round out the visual changes. A sport bar is mounted behind the cab, but it lacks the lights seen on the concept.For 2024, Nissan also adds a new SL trim for crew-cab models. It’s a more comfort-focused trim that adds LED lighting, leather-appointed seating, and a 10-speaker Fender audio system. Pricing for the SL starts at $40,975, while the base S trim starts at a much lower $31,105.More on the HardbodyThis content is imported from poll. 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.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Updates for Android Auto include more functionality, with new apps and entertainment options.Users can improve productivity in the car with audio-only Webex and Zoom conference calls and virtual meetings while on the road, or pass the time while charging up your EV with Prime Video series or in-car web-browsing.For Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis models, there’s also a new phone-based digital key for your car.Automakers spend millions in R&D on designing their infotainment systems, but it increasingly seems like they should just leave the work to the phone companies. Case in point: Android Auto’s latest updates provide even more useful features for drivers, all packaged with the smartphone you probably already have in your pocket.GoogleOn the productivity side, new in-car apps from Webex and Zoom will make it easier to join in on conference calls while behind the wheel. A transition to virtual work untethered plenty of folks from their desks. Still, having to pull over to fumble for your phone or laptop to join in on a virtual meeting is a pain. Now, you can chime in—audio only, of course—while on the move, turning your Android Auto–equipped car into a mobile office.The latest update comes with new entertainment options for vehicles with built-in Google, and none too soon, either. As EV early adopters long ago learned, public chargers aren’t always placed next to that perfectly quaint coffee shop. Waiting around to top off your EV can bore you to tears. Rolling out for Volvo and Polestar brand vehicles (and, overseas, Renault), a new Prime Video app allows users to stream their favorite shows while the electrons trickle in. There’s also a new Vivaldi internet browser for web surfing.InfotainmentCars with Google onboard also have access to an app from the Weather Channel. When downloaded, this app allows your Honda to give you forecast updates as you drive along, something that’s ideal for road trips and day-to-day commutes. The app even offers an onboard weather radar map view of your planned trip.Lock and Unlock for Hyundai/Kia/Genesis Last, Google is expanding its rollout of digital vehicle keys, something that’s already available in some European markets. For some Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles, the use of a compatible Pixel or Samsung phone allows users to unlock and start their vehicles with just their phone. You can also send this digital key to other phones, should you lend your car to someone else.For now, most of these features are tied to certain vehicle brands, but Google says the apps will soon be more common. There are still holdouts, including Rivian, but between Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the industry may be working toward a more standardized type of onboard infotainment.This content is imported from poll. 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.Contributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator gets a refresh that brings the same updates as the Wrangler. Along with a new version of the brand’s seven-slot grille, the Gladiator adds a 12.3-inch touchscreen and newly available power-adjustable front seats.Jeep’s truck also adds two top-tier models—Mojave X and Rubicon X—and there are new AEV upfit packages.The Jeep Gladiator is basically the Jeep Wrangler, just with a longer wheelbase and a cargo bed. Earlier this year, the Wrangler received a refresh that was highlighted by a new-look grille and an updated dashboard design, so it was only a matter of time until the pickup truck benefited from the same treatment.Gladiator Glow-UpThe 2024 Gladiator now sports a restyled version of Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille. Along with being visually slimmer, its textured slots are said to help improve engine cooling. With Jeep discontinuing the optional diesel V-6, that leaves the 285-hp V-6 as the lone powerplant—at least for now, as the Gladiator is destined to get the brand’s 4xe plug-in-hybrid powertrain at some point.The Gladiator’s other exterior changes aren’t as noticeable, but they’ll likely be appreciated. For instance, the antenna is now built into the windshield unlike the old one that could get caught on branches out on the trail or damaged in hands-free carwashes. Seven new wheel designs further help freshen up the truck that’s entering its fourth model year. A new soft-top is also now standard on the entry-level Sport trim.Jeep has revised the Gladiator’s dashboard too. Not only does it now have narrow horizontal vents above the HVAC controls, but there are new soft-touch materials on the instrument panel. We all know Jeep loves Easter eggs, and the Gladiator adds them with markings on all four corners that represent the four cardinal points on a compass. On top of the dash is a bracket for mounting accessories (a feature already found on the Ford Bronco). The Mojave trim level also gets a new steering wheel with thumb contours; the seats have more bolstering too. Without further ado, the crown jewel of the Gladiator’s updated interior is the horizontal 12.3-inch touchscreen. The big display is standard on every model and replaces the previous 7.0 and 8.4-inch units. The new infotainment screen uses UConnect5 software, which comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has improved voice commands and backlight technology that’s said to make the screen easier to see in direct light—like when the Jeep’s top is inevitably dropped. As with the ’24 Wrangler, the Gladiator offers Jeep Adventure Guides that detail 62 trails via the navigation system, and there’s a “Follow Model” that provides trail information such as waypoints in real time. Plus, the subscription-based Trails Offroad add-on allows access to over 3000 trail guides.Gladiator Advancements Designed to take it slow off-road, the Gladiator still has a host of features for keeping occupants safe on the street. For 2024, every model adds side-curtain airbags in both rows. Jeep says it also made structural changes to improve side-impact performance, and the second row has outboard seatbelts. The Sport S and above also now have standard forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.JeepJeepIt might surprise some, but the Gladiator hasn’t had power-adjustable front seats—until now. A set of 12-way power seats (Jeep says they’ve been tested for water fording) are offered for the first time. They’re included with two new models, the Mojave X and Rubicon X, which are billed as the most capable and luxurious Gladiators. They also have nappa leather to go with steel bumpers, steel rock rails for the bed corners, a full-time transfer case, and an integrated off-road camera. AEV PackagesThe 2024 Gladiator is also available with three upfit packages from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). The Upcountry and Upcountry+ includes a 2.0-inch suspension lift and 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires. While both setups have unique wheels and fender flares, the “+” package gets a beefy front bumper and a non-winch cover plate.Opting for AEV’s Level II package gets more extreme, bringing 37-inch BFGs and a 2.5-inch suspension lift with Bilstein dampers. Other notable measurements include a 57-degree approach angle, a 26-degree breakover angle, and a 34-degree departure angle. The Level II kit also comes with the aforementioned front bumper, a front skid plate, and a Warn Zeon 10-S winch. The AEV upfits have to be placed through local Jeep dealers. While Jeep hasn’t yet announced pricing for the updated Gladiator, we expect slight increases across the lineup, which previously started just under $41K and eclipsed $53K for the top-tier Mojave and Rubicon models. With orders now open, 2024 Gladiators will reach dealerships at the end of the year.This content is imported from poll. 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.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More