Lifestyle

Few modern vehicles practically chant “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as aggressively as a full-size pickup. Still, even America’s best-selling vehicle, the Ford F-150, is sold only in a few places outside of the good ol’ United States of America—officially that is. Blame the higher fuel costs, smaller streets, and greater rates of taxation of other countries. The reality is the template of full-size trucks simply does not translate into volume sales in most markets. This doesn’t mean those across the pond can’t get import a full-size truck to their shores if they really want one. While Ford might not want to cannibalize sales from its popular Ranger in foreign markets, other automakers have no such small pickups whose sales it needs to protect. No surprise, then, that ...

When you keep your EV plugged in, you expect it to be ready to go when it is charged, right? Unfortunately, that is not the case for some owners whose Ford Mustang Mach-Es were built on or before February 3, 2021. As reported by The Verge, the Mach-E’s software does not allow the SUV’s onboard 12-volt battery to be charged while the bigger, primary drive battery pack is being charged. Wait, huh? Yep—even some EVs have onboard 12-volt batteries for starting and powering accessories when the car is off, just like conventional internal-combustion vehicles do. This means there is a remote possibility that, if that 12-volt battery dies, an electric vehicle cannot be started—again, just like a gas-fed automobile—because that smaller battery handles the circuitry for powering the vehi...

With the pandemic, various delays, and waiting lists, it’s a little hard to imagine what a “normal” dealership experience might be like for customers of the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport. Automotive News reports that these SUVs’ buyers might be in for a different sort of consumer experience once the pandemic passes. Ford dealers are already working to set the Bronco siblings apart, literally, from other Ford models with standalone retail stores. And Ford itself is keen on the idea, generating renderings at dealers’ request. The aesthetic can best be described as “outdoor clothing retailer”. This is certainly no accident, and the spaces appear to include raw-looking materials such as wood and concrete. According to a statement pro...

Ever feel like the pizza delivery person is judging your life choices? “Two large pies—is anyone else home?” Or, “Really? A $2 tip?” Maybe you just don’t like interacting with other people, hence the pizza delivery order in the first place. Rather than dealing with a restaurant’s worth of potential interactions, you’ll work up the courage for a single meeting with a delivery driver. Has Domino’s Pizza got the solution for you: A pizza delivery robot. Yes, the robots have come for your pizza delivery jobs, but before you rise up with pitchforks raised, put down that lighter and the molotov cocktail and, instead, relax. The R2, the self-driving pizza bot made by Nuro, is only being pressed into service in Houston, Texas. For now, at least. Keep...

For those who duct tape their phones to the dash to use an app for navigation directions (or plop their phones in the cupholder) because their vehicle does not have a built-in navigation system, General Motors is offering a better solution. Starting April 30, GM will roll out a new app called Maps+ for about 900,000 customers with vehicles purchased in the last few years that could use a navigational upgrade. Maps+ incorporates navigation with apps like Marketplace and personal assistant Alexa to offer a more cohesive experience where drivers have a host of connected services at their fingertips. They can plan their day by finding the stores or destinations they want, get the directions, know the speed limit at any point in the journey and other pertinent information like finding gas stati...

Did you know that Bentley has already claimed the Production SUV and Production Car records at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb? If not, consider the knowledge dropped. Now that you’re up to speed, here’s the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, a modified Continental GT3 racer that burns biofuel and looks like a grand tourer straight out of hell. The non-Pikes Peak Continental GT3 isn’t nearly as swole, as it packs less fender, less aero, and more greenhouse gas emissions. No, it’s not a hybrid, but as Bentley pivots slowly toward more environmentally responsible powertrains, it made the decision to power this racer with biofuel. A blend hasn’t been finalized yet, nor are the fuel’s total claimed greenhouse gas reductions finalized, but it’s...