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Ram shared with dealers its idea of a concept for a mid-size EV pickup truck. The electric concept reportedly would share a lot of visual features with the 1500 Revolution concept (pictured above) that Ram showed at CES earlier this year. The mid-size concept would fill a Dakota-shaped hole left in the company’s lineup since the Dakota was discontinued in 2011. Ram is getting dealers ready for a possible mid-size EV pickup to enter the lineup in the near future. The company showed dealers at a meeting in Las Vegas its ideas for a mid-size EV pickup concept, according to a report from Automotive News. The new concept evidently shares a lot of its aesthetic with the full-size 1500 Revolution concept that Ram first revealed at the CES technology show in January. Dealer Randy Dye described the concept as “the future” in a statement to Automotive News. “We’re going to be back in that [mid-size] game,” Dye told the publication. “Without a doubt, it looks like a Ram,” he said.More on RamDye, who owns Daytona Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram and Maserati-Alfa Romeo of Daytona in Daytona Beach, Florida, explained to Automotive News that Stellantis officials previewed 30 new products for multiple brands during the meeting. The meeting was apparently the first of its kind in eight years for retailers who were with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles before it was merged with the PSA Group to create Stellantis. Ram debuted the full-size 1500 Revolution concept to a lot of excitement in January. The design was imaginative and innovative, with a highly configurable interior and third-row jump seats. But when the production version was revealed a month later, many of the exciting features shown in the concept were gone. The folding midgate along with its integrated third-row jump seats were seemingly set aside. A new mid-size EV pickup would likely be received well. Small and mid-size trucks from other manufacturers have sold in large numbers in recent years, and Ram could make up for the 11-plus years it has been without one since the Dakota was discontinued.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.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

The Ford F-150 Lightning will be followed by a new electric pickup truck that will start production in 2025.Codenamed Project T3, Ford says the second-generation truck will and benefit from simplified manufacturing.The follow-up to the Lightning will be built at Ford’s huge Blue Oval City factory in Tennessee.Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company’s next electric pickup truck is going to be “like the Millennium Falcon”—whatever that means.Farley’s comments come with today’s announcement that Ford plans to follow-up the F-150 Lightning with a new EV truck that will go into production in 2025. While details about the second generation are scarce, we’re told it is codenamed Project T3 (as in Trust the Truck).Besides improving on the current Lightning’s driving range and towing capabilities, Ford says the next-gen truck will be “fully updatable” and “constantly improving.” These types of features are expected to be made possible by a new electrical platform and the expanded availability of over-the-air (OTA) updates.More on Ford’s EV PlansFord’s second electric pickup truck will be built at its Blue Oval City factory, a $5.6 billion, 3600-acre campus outside Memphis, Tennessee. The new state-of-the-art campus also includes a battery plant as part of a partnership with energy company SK Innovation. Not only are the benefits of all of this said to include simpler, more efficient, and more cost-effective manufacturing processes, but they’re claimed to allow Ford to build up to 500,000 EV trucks per year at peak production.Today’s announcement about the F-150 Lighting follow-up come on the heels of Ford forecasting a loss of $3 billion on EV sales in 2023. The increased losses are partly due to the company’s big investments in its facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee along with the money its spending on alternate battery chemistries. Of course, Ford understands this is part of the process of expanding its EV division, and it will continue to ramp up production of the Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E.Earlier this month, Ford said it hopes to build 150,000 Lightnings annually by the end of this year. That would triple the truck’s production. The Mach-E will also be built in higher volumes, with the company in January saying production will increase nearly 67 percent, from 78,000 units last year to 130k in 2023.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 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

Kia and Hyundai are recalling 570,000 vehicles with a potential fire hazard while parked. Affected models include the 2019–23 Santa Fe crossover, 2022–23 Santa Cruz pickup, and 2022–23 Kia Carnival minivan, totaling over 570,000 vehicles.Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. Hyundai and Kia issued a warning for owners of over 570,000 vehicles across multiple models and years to park away from structures, due to a fire risk. Hyundai Santa Fe models from 2019–2023 are at risk, as are 2022–2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Kia Carnival models. The fire risk stems from a defect with tow-hitch harnesses installed either as original equipment or purchased as a dealer accessory. The potential fire risk occurs through water accumulation on the tow hitch harness circuit board, which may cause an electrical short, and ultimately a fire. Hyundai reports a total of 567,912 affected vehicles combined across models, though the estimated percentage of vehicles with the defect is only one percent. NHTSA documents show Kia reporting 3555 vehicles potentially involved, also estimating a one percent defect rate.HyundaiNHTSA documents show that Hyundai has identified six total incidents related to the recall, with one report of a fire and five reports of thermal damage isolated to the trailer harness. NHTSA documents also show that there have been no reported instances of fires with the Kia Carnival. Neither manufacturer has identified injuries related to the recall. Owners of any of the affected vehicles are advised to park their vehicles outside, and away from any structures or other vehicles until a repair has been completed. Documents show that Hyundai plans to inspect affected vehicles and remove the tow hitch harness as necessary while working on a long-term solution. Once the final repair is available, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit. Documents from Kia show a plan to verify whether the vehicle has a genuine Kia accessory tow hitch, and install a new fuse and wire extension kit where necessary. Owner notification letters will be mailed to those affected in May, 2023. Concerned owners can always check their VIN number on the NHTSA website.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