Tag Archives: Ford

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger

One Turbo Gasoline And Three Turbo Diesels, Including A New 3.0 V6 Diesel

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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One of the main highlights of the new 2022 Ford Ranger is the introduction of a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine. Unfortunately, Ford did not give any horsepower figures for this engine, or for any engine to be offered for that matter. The only detail that the company shared is that it “feels really tough in the sense that it’s got endless power and torque, which is exactly what our customers wanted”.

Considering that diesel engines are not that popular here in North America, the chances of Ford offering this engine on our market are slim. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t hurt for us to imagine what a torquey diesel-fed V-6 Ranger would feel like.

As for the other diesel engines, this will be a 2.0-liter diesel in single- and twin-turbo configurations. In the outgoing Ranger, the single-turbo motor produced 180 horsepower and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque, while the twin-turbo diesel produced 210 horsepower and 370 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque.

Ford will also continue to offer the 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo gasoline engine, though just like the other engines, Ford did not provide any power figures. For the outgoing model, it produced 269 horsepower and 310 lb-ft (410 Nm) of torque.

Transmission options for the new 2022 Ford Ranger include a 10-speed automatic, 6-speed automatic, and a 6-speed manual.

Upgraded T6 Platform, Increased Capability

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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The new 2022 Ford Ranger rides on an upgraded T6 platform that offers increased capability and better comfort, and it can also support electrification in the future

Ford confirmed that the Ranger rides on an upgraded T6 platform that features a 50 mm (1.97 in) longer wheelbase and a 50 mm (1.97 in) wider track compared to the outgoing model. The company also says it has a hydro-formed front-end structure that’s designed to accommodate the bigger V6 engine while also allowing a high degree of electrification. Additionally, this structure enables more airflow to the radiator, which helps keep operating temperatures low when towing or carrying heavy loads.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Ford also improved the Ranger’s ride and handling through its 1.97-inch longer wheelbase and 1.97-inch wider body, revised suspension, among other structural improvements

Ford also made improvements to its ride and handling capabilities. By moving the front wheels forward by 50 mm (1.97 in), its approach angle and wheel articulation has been improved. The rear leaf spring suspension dampers have also been moved outboard of the frame rails as a way to improve its ride both on- and off-road. Off-road recovery is also made easier with the prominent dual recovery hooks in the front bumper.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Two four-wheel drive (4WD) systems will be offered—an electronic shift-on-the-fly system and an advanced full-time 4×4 system that Ford says has a “reassuring set-and-forget mode”.

Lastly, two four-wheel drive (4WD) systems will be offered—an electronic shift-on-the-fly system and an advanced full-time 4×4 system that Ford says has a “reassuring set-and-forget mode”.

If The Ford Maverick And F-150 Had A Child, The Ranger Would Be It

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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From the outside, the new 2022 Ranger looks like the lovechild of the Maverick and the F-150, with its C-shaped lights, horizontal grille, sculpted hood, and imposing front end.

From the outside, the new 2022 Ranger looks like the lovechild of the Maverick and the F-150. It’s not a bad thing, mind you, because the pickup looks properly modern and sleek. Shown here is the global model, though whichever region the Ranger will be sold, all models now have a more imposing front end that’s characterized by a horizontal grille that’s flanked by C-shaped headlights. Higher variants even come with LED daytime running lights and headlights with Matrix LED technology.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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The side profile is more on the evolutionary side of things, while the rear end gets a more sculpted tailgate, new taillight designs, and an integrated step on the sides of the rear bumper

Covering its engine bay is a more prominent hood, while the side profile is more on the evolutionary side of things. Moving towards the rear, there’s a new set of taillights, with higher variants featuring LED lighting. The tailgate is also more sculpted than before, and for the first time, the global Ford Ranger has an integrated step board at the sides of the rear bumper.

A Modern And Technologically-Advanced Interior

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Ford calls this pickup the “smartest, most versatile and most capable Ranger ever”. The “smartest” part is evident in the interior, where it debuts a number of firsts for the Ranger nameplate.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Whereas the Ranger pretty much arrived in the North American market with an outdated interior, that isn’t anymore the case with this new model. Most variants come with the latest SYNC4 infotainment that first debuted in the Mustang Mach-E. In the case of the new Ranger, this is controlled via a 10.1- or 12-inch portrait touch screen. Despite having a larger screen, Ford still kept its hard buttons, which is what you would prefer to interact with especially when going through rough roads.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Working in conjunction with the SYNC4 infotainment system is a fully-digital instrument cluster, though Ford has not given any details on how big the screen is. There’s also a built-in modem for the FordPass telematics system that lets owners control vehicle functions and access Ford’s concierge service via their smartphones. Other interior features that the Ranger has are a wireless charging pad and more clever storage solutions, though Ford did not release full details yet on how these work.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Other new features for the 2022 Ford Ranger include a small electronic gear shifter and an electronic parking brake

Apart from these tech features, the new 2022 Ford Ranger’s overall interior design looks far more interesting and appealing compared to the outgoing model. One of its highlights is its small electronic gear shifter and electronic parking brake, for better or worse. There are also various interior color and trim choices available depending on the variant.

The Ford Ranger Is Ready For Your Next Adventure

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Thanks to the 1.97-inch increase in width, Ford is proud to highlight that despite being an incremental increase, this provides a noticeable improvement in cargo volume. Ford, however, did not say how much has the bed size increased over the outgoing model, but they say it’s enough to add another “sheet of building plywood or a full-size pallet”.

Speaking of the bed, the new Ranger offers a cargo management system that consists of dividers that can hold various items. Owners can create different compartments using a system of ultra-strong spring-loaded cleats that clip into rails bolted to each side of the cargo box. The tailgate can also double as a mobile workbench with an integrated ruler and clamp pockets, just like in the F-150.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Lastly, the 2022 Ford Ranger comes with Zone Lighting, which provides exterior lighting on all four corners of the Ranger that can be controlled via the FordPass app or the SYNC4 infotainment

Lastly, the Ford Ranger is also available with a feature called Zone Lighting, which first made its debut in the F-150. This set of lights that surround the vehicle can be controlled via the FordPass app or the SYNC4 infotainment system, and this can be useful in your next camping adventure or your construction work.

When Will It Go On Sale?

Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Ford Ranger
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Swipe up to know more about the new 2022 Ford Ranger and what it has in store

Production of the 2022 Ford Ranger will begin in 2022 in Thailand and South Africa. Ford has not yet revealed when it will arrive in the North American market, but we expect it to arrive for the 2023 model year and look slightly different from the global version. The next-generation Volkswagen Amarok will also be based on the new Ford Ranger, which means its unveiling should also happen quite soon.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender

Overview

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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In his latest video, YouTuber Sam CarLegion subjected these two potent off-roaders in a series of tug-of-war battles

The contenders? Well, they’re amongst the best off-road rigs that are currently on sale, i.e popular Ford Bronco Badlands against the mighty Land Rover Defender P400. Let’s look at specs to see how these two top-tier off-roaders stack up against each other before they battle it over four rounds with their various off-road modes.

2022 Ford Bronco Badlands

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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In the grey corner, we’ve got the Ford Bronco Badlands, which features a 2.7 liter EcoBoost V-6, that produces 325 hp & 399 lb-ft of torque paired to a 10 speed auto box with 4WD

In the grey corner, we have the popular Ford Bronco in Badlands spec. Under the hood lies a 2.7-liter turbo V-6 EcoBoost engine that produces 325 horsepower and 399 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco features a 10-speed automatic transmission with a four-wheel drive. The Badlands sits pretty much at the top of the Bronco range with only the Edition One doing one better.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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The Badlands pretty much sits at the top of the Bronco range and the one seen here is sitting on proper off-road tires. It can two about. It has a dedicated tow mode and cal haul 3500 lbs

Ford designed it to be the ultimate off-roader with its GOAT mode system also including the rock crawl mode. You’ve got differential lockers on the Ford as well. The Bronco Badlands can tow 3500 pounds and tips the scales at 5320 pounds. The Badlands sits on 17-inch rims wrapped in proper 35 inch off-road tires.

2022 Land Rover Defender P400

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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In the blue corner, we have Land Rover’s latest generation P400 Defender that features a 3.0-liter inline-six, which produces 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 8 speed auto with AWD

Next, in the blue corner, we have the latest generation of the Land Rover Defender P400 from across the pond. Under the hood lies a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, that produces 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed auto box sending power to all four wheels.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Unlike the previous old-school Defender, this latest model is loaded to the gills with a lot of high-tech off-road hardware like an electronic differential and Land Rovers legendary Terrain Response System. This particular example of the Defender can tow 8201 pounds and has a curb weight of 5035 pounds. The Defender comes wrapped in standard off-road tires with much larger rims.

So having looked at the specs, the Defender has the higher horsepower and can tow more, but the Bronco is on proper off-road knobbly tires and even though it can tow lesser, it has a dedicated tow mode. Let’s see how things pan out in this tug-of-war.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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So on paper, the Defender has more power but can that compensate for the Broncos off-road tires on snow?

Tug-Of-War: Land Rover Defender P400 vs Ford Bronco Badlands

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Well, lets find out as these two thoroughbreds go head to head over four rounds

Both Sam, who is sat in the Bronco, and Richard in the Defender buckle up to battle out in a series of tug-of-wars lasting four rounds. For round one, they decide to do just have the SUVs in their 4×4 automatic mode.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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For round one, both SUVs are in their automatic 4WD modes. Both drivers take their foot off the brakes and gradually begin to apply pressure on the gas pedal

With that, they take their foot off the brakes and begin to gradually hit the gas pedal. Well, despite the extra power on the Defender, it, unfortunately, began to spin its wheels and struggled to put those 395 ponies to the ground. The Bronco was had better traction and as a result, managed to pull the Defender to the other side. So that’s round one to the Badlands.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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For the second round, Richard in the Defender decides to engage his differential with low range and switches it up to the dedicated off-road mode. Will that make a difference? The short answer was no. It was more wheel spin for the Defender this time round as well.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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For the final two rounds, Sam has the Badlands set to its most extreme settings with traction off, both differential lockers activated with four-wheel low. It was no contest this time around and the Ford pulled the Defender well beyond the midway point. So the Bronco takes the final two rounds as well.

Final Thoughts

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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At the onset, we wanted to know if more power could compensate for better traction? Well, you have your answer. To sum it up, Sam says that they could do this all day long and it was the better tires that were helping the Bronco in this face-off.

Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Tug Of War: Ford Bronco Badlands vs Land Rover Defender
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Now, although he feels that the Defender offers a far more refined on-road experience of the two, the Land Rover is more suited for a more mature audience. The Bronco meanwhile is most likely to be cheaper to both buy and run and he wouldn’t hesitate to give it some stick when he’s out with it in the elements.

You can watch both off-roaders battle it out in Sam’s video below

Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance

F-150 VENOM 775 Supercharged

Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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In the red corner, we have the stunning Venom 775, SWB F1-50 single cab Venom, with the heritage package. Under the hood lies a 5.0-liter Coyote engine that produces 775 hp & 685 lb-ft

In the red corner, wet have a beautiful two-door VENOM 775 F-150 sport truck that features the Heritage livery package and it really is a looker, with the contrasting white bits adding dollops of character to this truck. Under the hood of this single cab pickup lies a Coyote 5.0 liter Supercharged V-8 engine that produces 775 horsepower and 685 pound-feet of torque. It weighs in at 6050 pounds. You can switch between two or four-wheel drive. To top it off, the lowered suspension gives this sport truck a better stance.

Jeep’s Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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In the silver corner, we have a stock Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk that’s rocking a 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 under the hood and turns out 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels and tips the scales at 5356 pounds. Now out of the box, the Trackhawk is a beast and is mega when it comes to getting off the line.

Round One

Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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The pair turn around and line up for a second pass. The driver in the Trackhawk switches it up to Track mode. Will that make a difference?

Now that we’ve looked at the numbers, let’s see how all this performance translates to on the track. They line up for the first pass. The hammer drops and despite being the heavier of the tow vehicles, here, it’ the Venom that took the lead from the get-go, and that gap only got bigger as the pair approached the quarter-mile line. Now the Venom is not your average Ford work truck and has even previously given the GT500 a tough time. So that’s round one to the sport truck.

Round Two

Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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And it was a lead that only got bigger

For the second round, the driver in the Jeep switches it up to Track mode to see if that makes a difference. Well, long story short. It was. The Jeep had a much better launch this time around and it was neck and neck for quite some time, however, beyond 120, the F-150 began to pull away from the Trackhawk and mashed to clinch the win once again.

Final Thoughts

Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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Stock Jeep Trackhawk Takes On The Venom 775 F-150 By Hennessey Performance
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Now both vehicles employ a supercharger and pack AWD traction. The Jeep is lighter, but the Ford packs more power. Lets see how these numbers translate on track

This particular example of the Trackhawk is going to soon get an upgrade, taking its power output to 1000 horses. Can’t wait to see these two go head 2 head again to see if the added ponies make a difference.

Watch how things unfold in the video below

Buy/Drive/Burn: V6 Midsize American Sedans of 1997

We continue our 2007 and 1997 sedan series with its fourth installment. We’ve covered V6 Japanese sedans from two different decades, as well as American-branded entries from 2007. Today we step back to the midsize V6 sedan class of 1997. The Big Three beckon you with medium build quality, equipment, and value for money in a midsize sedan; a segment in which only GM deigns to participate in 2020. Let’s go.

Note: We’re counting these three as mid-size today, though the Intrepid leans into the full-size category. The Dodge Stratus is too small to play here.

Dodge Intrepid

1997 saw the first generation Dodge Intrepid wrap up its run, arguably as the most stylish car of this trio. It was replaced by a larger second generation the following year which seemed built even more poorly than the first-gen. Developed over its tenure, by 1996 Intrepid had standard ABS, and an Autostick shift-it-yourself feature for the four-speed automatic. Today’s car is well-equipped ES trim and features the larger 3.5-liter V6 good for 214 horsepower. You’ll pay around $22,910.

Ford Taurus

The third-gen Taurus was in its second model year in 1997, as its design went from aero three-box to ovoid, customers were less than thrilled, and Ford began to pay less and less attention to its mass-market family car. The model’s first two years saw a different trim lineup than the latter two, with G, GL, LX, and SHO as the initial group. Base models received a 3.0-liter Vulcan V6, but the LX stepped up to the 3.0 Duratec mill that made 200 horses (instead of 145). Today’s LX sends those horses through a four-speed AX4N automatic. Yours at $21,610.

Pontiac Grand Prix

The popular and cladded Grand Prix was newly in its sixth generation for the ’97 model year. Aggressive in styling and with Pontiac’s Wide-Trac stance, the Grand Prix was a go-to for many family sedan buyers at the time. Just two trims were available on Grand Prix, the base SE in sedan guise, or GT in coupe or sedan forms. The GT sedan (today’s pick) uses the Buick 3800 V6 good for 195 horsepower. Ask is about $20,319.

Three sedans around the $20,000 mark, which is worth the Buy in 1997?

[Images: Chrysler, Ford, GM]

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Buy/Drive/Burn: The Cheapest Full-size, Truck-based SUVs in America for 2021

We continue the Cheapest Of series today on Buy/Drive/Burn, and check out the least expensive full-size truck-based SUVs on sale in America in 2021. And we’ve been generous today and equipped each of them with four-wheel drive to avoid any usability concerns. Today’s trio is very close in price but diverges elsewhere. Let’s go.

Chevrolet Tahoe

The Tahoe is new for 2021, is the cheapest vehicle here. This year it gains a host of updates including an independent rear suspension and some very in-your-face-styling. General Motors believes more trims are better, and offers Tahoe in LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country variations. At the lower end, an LS starts at $49,600, and a High Country is $68,200 before options. Unlike the others here, the power plant depends on trim and is provided via the stalwart 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8 (High Country only), or a 3.0-liter inline-six turbodiesel. The 5.3 and diesel are both available at the LS level, and the V8 is slightly cheaper. A 4×4 LS is available in eight different free colors, most of which are grey-ish. Seats are covered in cloth here, but buyers can choose between Jet Black and “Very Dark Atmosphere,” or as you’d call it light gray. A bench seat can replace the front console, but that’ll cost you $250. With no options selected and after the freight charge of $1,695, the Tahoe asks $54,295.

Ford Expedition

Ford’s Expedition is F-150 based as you’d expect and has been on sale in its current guise since the 2018 model year. It’s available in five different trims presently: XL STX, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum. Prices range from a base of $49,025 to nearly $74,000 for the Platinum. All trims feature the same 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6, which produces 375 horsepower. In XL STX trim, all six available paint colors are free of charge, and one of them is brown. All seats are covered in cloth at this level, and the only color on offer is Ebony. The 4×4 upcharge is added to the acquisition fee of $656 and the destination charge of $1,695 for a grand total of $55,385.

Nissan Armada

The most expensive entry of today’s trio is also the only one from Japan. The Nissan Armada in its current guise is sold as the Patrol elsewhere in the world and shares a body with the more expensive QX80 and a platform with the Nissan Titan. Available in four trims, S, SV, SL, and Platinum, the Armada ranges from $48,600 to over $65,000 before options. All trims share the same naturally aspirated 5.6-liter V8 used across Nissan’s truck line that’s good for 400 horsepower. Colors available for free on the SV 4WD trim include black and silver. Interiors are dark gray or tan, and the leather has an -ette at the end of it. The four-wheel drive and shipping fee add up for a base price on the Armada of $57,095.

Three big SUVs, all of them ask for around $55,000 of your dollars. Which one goes home with you?

[Images: GM, Ford, Nissan]

Dominos, Nuro Team Up to Test Driverless Delivery Vehicles

Domino Nuro R2 Robot delivers

Domino’s and Silicon Valley startup Nuro are partnering to use the self-driving R2 robot to deliver pizzas in Houston.

The development of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technology can sometimes be as easy as pie, a pizza pie that is.

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based pizza chain Domino’s and autonomous vehicle developer Nuro Monday unveiled a new self-driving pizza delivery vehicle. The two companies will be testing in a Houston neighborhood.

The way it works is that select customers who place a prepaid website order from the participating Domino’s store can opt to have their order delivered by R2, the nickname for the driverless vehicle, which got approval to drive on roads in California in February 2020 — first vehicle to get that approval in the U.S.

These select customers receive text alerts updating them on R2’s location and provide them with a unique PIN to retrieve their order once the vehicle arrives at their home. Customers may also track the vehicle via GPS on their order confirmation page. Once R2 arrives, customers will be prompted to enter their PIN on the robot’s touchscreen. R2’s doors will then open upward, revealing the customer’s hot Domino’s order.

Pizza delivery explores future of AVs

Domino Nuro autonomous pizza delivery

Domino’s and Nuro are launching autonomous pizza delivery in Houston, beginning this week.

“We’re excited to continue innovating the delivery experience for Domino’s customers by testing autonomous delivery with Nuro in Houston,” said Dennis Maloney, Domino’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer.

“There is still so much for our brand to learn about the autonomous delivery space. This program will allow us to better understand how customers respond to the deliveries, how they interact with the robot and how it affects store operations.”

Domino’s spokeswoman Dani Bulger said this system will not eliminate Domino’s need for delivery drivers, as this is a test intended to keep us ahead in the world of technology.

“We’ve introduced many innovations over the years, which have changed the roles of some jobs, but employment has continued to grow,” Bulger said. “We believe autonomous vehicles will play a role in our overall delivery strategy, alongside our delivery drivers, as we continue to provide the best delivery experience possible to our customers. We don’t use third-party delivery aggregators.”

This isn’t Domino’s maiden voyage with autonomous delivery vehicles. In 2017, the pizza maker teamed with Ford on a similar project in Ann Arbor. The test program ran six weeks and used driverless Ford Fusion sedans converted for specially for the project. Each vehicle is equipped with a heated compartment that can carry up to four pizzas and five side dishes.

The Niro R2 is designed to tackle the “last mile” deliveries, like groceries.

Much like the Nuro-Domino’s collaboration, customers punched in PIN to gain access to their order. There actually was a person behind the wheel of the prototype delivery vehicles — a Ford engineer monitoring the operation of the test cars. But the windows of the vehicles will be blacked out and there was no direct interaction with customers.

Size matters

The Silicon Valley startup rolled out its first iteration of R2 last fall. It’s specifically designed for “last mile” deliveries. To that end, the R2 is small. And that’s for a specific reason. Narrow vehicles allow for better passive and dynamic safety. This could help prevent pedestrian fatalities on roads.

Since Nuro vehicles only carry goods, the company can turn safety innovation inside out, shifting its focus to protecting those outside the vehicle.

The R2 features 360-degree cameras, as well as Lidar, short and long-range radar, and ultrasonic sensors. These techs combine that advanced hardware with a robust autonomy stack that includes mapping, localization, perception, and prediction. The result is a representation of the road without any blind spots.

Ford and Domino’s partnered in a test program to deliver pizzas using autonomous vehicles.

Intelligent production

The R2 is built using the principles of “Intelligent Production.” The company uses basic components when they make sense and crafts custom parts when needed. That allows Nuro to build the best system without being limited by the constraints of existing vehicles.

This approach allows Nuro to deploy and iterate quickly to create safe autonomous solutions as quickly as possible.

“Nuro’s mission is to better everyday life through robotics. Now, for the first time, we’re launching real world, autonomous deliveries with R2 and Domino’s,” said Dave Ferguson, Nuro co-founder and president. “We’re excited to introduce our autonomous delivery robots to a select set of Domino’s customers in Houston. We can’t wait to see what they think.”


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Ford Develops Range-Extender Option for Electric F-150

One of the schematics included in the Ford F-150 Electric patent application.

By mid-decade we could see as many as nine or more all-electric pickups from a mix of startups like Rivian and established automakers, including Ford. All face at least one significant challenge, however: a lack of range, especially when towing or hauling a heavy load of cargo.

A newly discovered Ford patent suggests the Detroit automaker might have a solution, however, a drop-in range extender that can be mounted in the bed of the upcoming F-150 Electric where the locking toolbox option normally would go.

Filed Sept. 15 and described in the application to the U.S. patent office as “electric vehicles with removable and interchangeable range extending generators,” the concept isn’t entirely new. Several vehicles already have gone the onboard generator route, including the Chevrolet Volt and the BMW i3 REx.

(Ford planning mid-2022 launch for F-150 EV.)

The generator could be disguised as a removable toolbox.

This approach is distinctly different from a plug-in hybrid where a vehicle pairs an electric drive system with an internal combustion engine that can fire up, either to boost power or to take over when the vehicle’s batteries run down. Significantly, there is a direct link between the gas or diesel engine and the vehicles wheels.

With a range extender, there is no direct link between the engine and the wheels. Its only purpose is to generate current that can be used to either recharge a drained battery or to power the vehicle’s electric motors.

In the case of a pickup, an internal combustion engine could serve a third purpose, functioning as a generator for tools, lights and other goods at a work site. The newly introduced versions of the 2021 Ford F-150, including the all-new hybrid model, will feature the ability to turn the truck into a rolling generator.

Part of the Ford patent application.

The good news with EVs is that batteries are becoming both more energy dense – translating into greater range – as well as less expensive. Manufacturers are promising to deliver at least 300 miles for the various all-electric pickups that have been announced by manufacturers such as Tesla, Ford, Rivian, Bollinger and Lordstown Motors. General Motors has indicated the upcoming GMC Hummer will push up into 400-mile territory.

Those figures should come with big asterisks, however, as they will be impacted significantly – and, likely, quite severely – by a variety of different factors. These include not only the payload a truck is carrying, and the trailer it’s towing, but also by weather conditions. Studies by TheDetroitBureau.com, AAA and Consumer Reports have all indicated that EV range routinely drops by more than 40% when the mercury falls to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Ford electric prototype hauls 1 million pounds.)

That could prove to be a difficult hurdle to clear when pitching to commercial and professional buyers, as many of the manufacturers are planning with their BEV pickups.

The system could also be used as a workplace generator, like the ones that will be offered on the various Ford F-150 pickups for 2021.

Eliminating range anxiety with a built-in generator could overcome that problem. And the way the Ford patent application has been put together indicates the company envisions its extender to be a removable, rather than fixed, part of the F-150 EV’s design. If so, an owner or operator could plug it into the bed only when needed to boost range, removing it to free up bed space at other times.

According to the application, the range-extender design could store as much as 15 gallons of fuel, enough to boost range substantially between fill and charge ups.

In its application, Ford noted that the “toolbox” shaped generator could be “removably positioned within the cargo space and adapted to selectively output power for either charging the battery pack or propelling the (electrically motorized) drive wheels.”

Of course, the big question will likely be one of cost. Ford has not mentioned pricing for the range-extender package. And purchase price is just part of the equation. As far as fleets and other commercial users are concerned, one of the big selling points for EVs is their low operating cost. Adding a range extender could throw that equation out of balance.

Automakers frequently file patents that never make it into production, of course, so it is far from clear that it ever actually will offer the range-extender technology – and, if so, when.

(BMW unplugs range-extending i3 REx.)

The Ford F-150 Electric pickup itself is scheduled to go on sale sometime in 2022, around the time we’ll begin seeing competitive truck BEVs like the GMC Hummer, Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck.

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Detroit Wrapping on Ventilator Production, Returning to Cars

<img data-attachment-id="1733216" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/08/detroit-wrapping-on-ventilator-production-returning-to-cars/shutterstock_1158833029/" data-orig-file="http://lntransportation.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/detroit-wrapping-on-ventilator-production-returning-to-cars-5.jpg" data-orig-size="1000,667" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="silverado production fort wayne GM factory assembly pickup production" data-image-description="

John Gress Media Inc/Shutterstock

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General Motors and Ford Motor Company are about to conclude their prolonged stint of ventilator production. In case you were unaware, these businesses typically manufacturer automobiles (cars, for the layperson) and have allocated a portion of their factory space to build medical equipment that was assumed to be useful during the pandemic. However, the United States now has more ventilators than it knows what to do with, and most of them seem like they won’t be required — so it’s mission accomplished, unless COVID-19 suddenly becomes a much more vicious illness.

Either way, GM and Ford both plan to re-prioritize vehicle production. The Blue Oval moved core staff off ventilator lines and back to their normal places of assembly months ago. Some of the remaining temporary workers hired to assist with the medical equipment are said to have an opportunity building the new Ford Bronco. Meanwhile, GM says it wants to move ventilator production to a facility in Kokomo, Indiana, next month, where it will hand operations over to Ventec Life Systems as it regains the union employs allocated for the project. Temporary hires will be absorbed by Ventec.

According to Reuters, GM and Ventec are in the last leg of completing their joint contract to deliver 30,000 critical care ventilators by the end of August under a $489 million contract with the federal government. Ford has reportedly assembled around 47,000 of the 50,000 ventilators it agreed to supply with help from General Electric Co. That contract is worth roughly $336 million.

From Reuters:

[Health and Human Services] said it has received more than 69,000 ventilators assembled by GM, Ford and their partners, and “both of these delivery schedules are nearly complete.”

Ford and GM earlier this year said they would employ a total of as many as 1,500 people on ventilator assembly lines. Automakers likened the efforts to their switch from making cars to tanks and planes during the Second World War.

While roughly 12,000-15,000 ventilators have been issued to U.S. hospitals, the Health and Human Services (HHS) department reported that the government has nearly 110,000 ventilators stockpiled. While President Trump suggested a large portion of those will be issued to other countries in need, demand has come down immensely. We know the United States shipped heaps of personal protective equipment to China before COVID-19 officially became a global pandemic, and that the plan was to continue doing so while incorporating breathing machines (though the latter would not be donated) once the U.S. had a reliable supply for itself. It was also made clear that other nations would be given priority, as Trump said he planned to donate 200 to the United Kingdom in April.

But treatment strategies changed.

Invasive ventilators have been replaced with sleep apnea machines for at-risk patients or simply rolling them onto their sides and giving them helpful prescriptions. The HHS also confessed that the U.S. probably never needed quite so many units as were being manufactured.  “States initially requested far more ventilators than they actually needed,” an HHS spokeswoman explained, adding that orders were placed at at time where the nation had more questions than answers.

Even though ventilators are being taken off the table at automotive plants, the industry will still manufacture personal protective equipment (masks, face shields) for the foreseeable future. Demand for PPE has not diminished in the slightest, and the situation is unlikely to change while face coverings are still required to interact with the public. It’s a situation we don’t see changing, even as Sweden (a country that went largely mask-free, didn’t do lockdowns, and still avoided mass contagion) has started to claim that masks are effectively useless against the virus. The rhetoric is quite different here, though not terribly distinct from most first-world nations that wanted to exercise the maximum amount of caution.

Presidential candidate Joe Biden recently said that “every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing” and recommended their continued use until at least November of this year. The right has been more flippant about the usefulness of face coverings in general, but even President Trump offered his own tepid endorsement this summer.

We figure this will result in automakers tossing together masks until at least 2021, though the demand this places on companies is much lower than ventilator manufacturing and shouldn’t interfere with the core business of automakers.

[Image: John Gress Media Inc/Shutterstock]

QOTD: Worthy of the Hype?

It’s time to render a verdict, fair jurors.

You’ve now seen the Ford Bronco from every angle, in every guise, and probably spend part of your evening figuring out just what you could afford (sorry, Canadians — the entry-level Base tops $40k in your overpriced country; it’s $28,500 before destination in the U.S.). Ford clearly put a lot of effort into its swing.

Was it a miss, or did the Blue Oval knock it out of the park?

It’s rare to witness online journalists pledge their scarce dollars on a new vehicle, but that’s what some were seen doing last night. It says something about the Bronco’s appeal. There’s a vast array of goodies to be had in the returning model, and a lot of the vehicle’s charm lies in just how basic the Bronco can get — while remaining perfectly capable.

I’ll admit that my own cynical self, annoyed by the megaton of buzz and anticipatory hype foisted upon this returning nameplate, came away quite enamored by the Bronco. That said, it’ll be interesting to see whether the model has staying power in its fight against the long-running Jeep Wrangler. After that initial first year, after the early enthusiasm dies down, who knows where the volume will go.

It at least looks like it stands a chance — there’s just too much going for it. And the build configurations! There’s actually choice to be had here.

So, rather than go on and on about what I like about it, get typing, B&B. Ford aimed to bring back a retro, heritage-steeped model to take on an a rugged rival. Did it meet your expectations, surpass them, or fall short of the mark?

[Images: Ford]

Juiced: Ford Bronco Can’t Seem to Shake Its Association With a Certain Low-speed Chase

Your author was once a CNN addict. As soon as cable TV reached his humble childhood home, you could find him sitting cross-legged in front of that 20-inch set, absorbing a flood of diverse, on-the-scene news reporting taking place in a number of locales outside the Beltway. It was like Opposite World compared to today.

And yes, that impressionable youth stayed up late the night of June 17th, 1994, watching a certain white SUV make its way down an L.A. freeway. Twenty-six years later, the iconic nameplate that famously ferried the guy who played Detective Nordberg from Naked Gun (there was a football career, too, I’m told) is back, due for a July 9th reveal.

What are the odds that the (deferred) debut date happens to be the birthday of that infamous Bronco occupant?

Obviously, one in 365. While we were made aware of the new date over the weekend, the connection to a certain O.J. Simpson first came to my attention by way of a tweet from Motor Authority‘s Joel Feder.

Memories came flooding back. It was a boring chase, as far as chases go, providing no demonstration of the last-generation Bronco’s on- or off-road prowess, with nothing in the way of rock crawling or hill climbing. Let’s be honest — we were all hoping for more entertainment that night. That said, the resulting trial galvanized the world and inspired a Seinfeld secondary character whose existence still brightens my life.

As for the upcoming Bronco, that returning model’s debut was originally supposed to take place at the newly winter-free Detroit auto show — until the coronavirus pandemic scuttled the June event. With a pressing need to get the Bronco reveal out of the way before late July’s F-150 debut, Ford settled on a date.

The automaker’s North American product communication manager, Mike Levine, told the Detroit Free Press that the launch date’s O.J. connection was “purely coincidental.”

As the Juice celebrates his 73rd birthday, the motoring press will be tuned in to the unveiling of Ford’s new Jeep Wrangler-fighting off-roader. Over the past several months, a waterfall of leaks has revealed quite a bit about a vehicle Ford wishes was a bit more shadowy, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t buzz. If anything, there’s more because of the online leakage. It’s a product many, including TTAC’s Adam Tonge, want to get their hands on.

And when it launches, the O.J. connection “will be the lede, or at least the reference point, in every Bronco debut story,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book.

Some vehicles just can’t seem to shake their past, no matter how much the new leadership would like to wish it away. Assuming, of course, that they aren’t in favor of this extra level of attention.

[Image: Ford]