Featured Threads Archive

US authorities bust catalytic converter theft ring that raked in over $545m | New Jersey | The Guardian


Bob Wilson

Last year we moved from the high dollar / high tech world - out into the boonies. Literally 100's of miles from no-where - but it seems some of that environment is quickly catching up to us out here. Went down to Discount Tire to rotate out summer tread into studded tires - to our surprise, this bad boy was just leaving the service center. Mind you - we are OVER 1,100 miles from the closest lucid service center - which would be in San Francisco. Asking permission, the owner stayed around a few extra seconds so I could snap a quick shot



Last Christmas I grabbed a shot of a rivian pickup & I thought that was as rare a moment as could be up here, since they've only made a thousand or more. but the lucid? last I checked there were just a few hundred. Very very nice looking sedan, both inside and out.
I read they have a ton of debt. Yet still I hope they make it.
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The Guardian: Tesla under US criminal investigation over self-driving claims, sources say.
Tesla under US criminal investigation over self-driving claims, sources say | Tesla | The Guardian

The essence is, Musk keeps saying stuff about not having to touch the wheel and the car doing everything while the website says you have to be attentive and holding the wheel at all times.

The New Shape of Innovation: Toyota Crown Arrives in Early 2023 - Toyota USA Newsroom

Won't be able to purchase this mid-sized sedan until early 2023, however, here are the starting prices for each trim. XLE starts at $39,950, Limited starts at $45,550, and Platinum for $52,350. All trims come standard with AWD-i.

Summary:
XLE and Limited trims get the venerable THS system with the 184 hp 2.5L engine, 88 kW (118 hp) MG2, and 40 kW (54 hp) MGR for a total of 236 hp. This system is similar to the Sienna including a bipolar NiMH 230.4V battery and with a weight of 4,250 lb (1,907 kg) scoots along at 7.6 seconds to 60 mph. EPA is slightly above Toyota's initial estimate at 41 mpg (5.74L/100km) combined. That'll give you a range of about 495 miles (797 km) on a tank of gas.

Platinum trim gets the Hybrid Max system with a 340 hp 2.4L Turbo engine, 61 kW (82 hp) MGF, and a 58.6...

One YouTube story is not enough … call it a news rumor. But a Toyota press release or financial report would be enough.

I have long wondered if putting battery packs in the ICE and fuel tank volumes would work at least as good as the Bolt and other similar sized EVs?

Either lock MG1 and MG2 together or let MG1 use a one way clutch for acceleration boost and efficient cruise on just MG2.

Bob Wilson

It’s not based on anything and seems to just slap on the new Crown’s design on the Camry. Looks decent.

https://www.carvibz.com/renderings/sportier-2024-toyota-camry-adopts-crown-like-look-to-consolidate-best-seller-status-in-quick-cgi/

Maybe some should plan better, or just not use an EV. Maybe not using a CHAdeMo vehicle would've helped.
Electric Nightmare: EV Owner Details 15-Hour Trek to Travel 178 Miles (breitbart.com)

So I recently moved my family. I'm learning to navigate my new neighborhood and I parked my 08 Gen 2 next to a Model Y at the grocery store and when I got out..the length and shape of the car body caught my eye. My prius was in the foreground and with the Model Y next to it. The body shape was strikingly similar....I never noticed that before and with all the Model Y's around I will take some pictures next time. It is not a surprise given laws of aerodynamics and when seeking the lowest drag coefficient cars will all look the same eventually. With the gen 3 prius I know more buyers wanted sunroofs, leather, heated seats...etc and thus they changed the body styles.....i wonder if the 2024 Prius from the spy shots we have seen will look more like the Model Y and the Gen 2. We shall hopefully soon see.

A few weeks ago after attending the 50th anniversary cannonball run reunion in NY i set out to break the solo nonstop cannonball record. This was my second attempt. The previous record was 36:03. The new record is 33:45. The story of my run was made public this morning. Enjoy.

Electric-vehicle fires have burned down homes after Hurricane Ian saltwater damage. Florida officials want answers

Electric-vehicle fires have burned down homes after Hurricane Ian saltwater damage. Florida officials want answers
813
Steve Mollman
Sat, October 15, 2022 at 6:48 PM·2 min read



Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda—Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images


It sounds counterintuitive, but electric vehicles that have been submerged in saltwater can catch fire. That’s proven...

When radar chips became sparse, Tesla suddenly stopped using radar in their cars, citing the difficulty of merging the logic of video based logic with data from a radar feed. Over the course of a few months they were able to replace much of the auto-pilot functions with video based environmental awareness. Now they are dropping the ultrasound sonar sensors that are used to locate nearby obstructions, including pedestrians. It looks like they are citing cost savings.

I find this change to be odd since it comes at a time when most car manufacturers are improving their ability to detect and avoid accidents by using more sensors and AI.

The link below has a video that shows that there are some really big blind spots in the car's camera field of vision. Most alarming is that there are areas in front of the car that would not see a child playing.

Tesla saves an estimated $114 per car by removing USS

The 2023 Toyota Corolla lineup have been redesigned with new engines and a new AWD option for the Corolla Hybrid. Final specs are out.

The 2023 Corolla Sedan
2023 Toyota Corolla Sedan Revs Up Power, Safety, Tech and Value - Toyota USA Newsroom
Features: Higher power but better gas mileage. The 2.0L power jumps up 22% for 169hp over the 2022 1.8L 139hp. Gas mileage goes up to 32 city/41 highway/35 EPA combined versus the 2022 30 city/38 highway/33 EPA combined (6% EPA combined jump).

The 2023 Corolla Hybrid
Toyota Boosts 2023 Corolla Hybrid with All-New Infrared Edition, New Grades and Available AWD - Toyota USA Newsroom
Features: Available AWD. More power but lower gas mileage. The new hybrid system jumps from 121hp to 134hp (11% hop) and...

Brand-new Tesla Model 3 completely runs out of charge without warning despite the guess-o-meter still showing 139 mi and leaves the doctor stranded in the left lane of the freeway during her only the third drive with her new vehicle.

And I thought it was bad when the auto-high-beam system got disabled without explanation on my Prius Prime last night, probably due to a bug, only coming back on after turning the car off and on.

@bwilson4web, is she your daughter?

Sony–Honda Mobility announced their EV yesterday, to be built in America for full federal tax credits and be available for preorders in 2025. We are still waiting to hear from Apple on their "Project Titan" EV.

This is the first time a computer/multimedia company will be producing an EV. The EV will be designed to be a connectivity & productivity & entertainment center with near-full-self driving capability.

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Sony Honda Mobility Inc. | News - 10.13.2022...

I know, I know, what the heck is the Toyota Stout? Well it's not the dark beer version of a Toyota but a really small light truck that was sold in North America between 1964 and 1969 with a 1.9L engine. It is a rare vehicle that occasionally is seen at classic car shows. It was sold worldwide from 1960 to 2000 and was succeeded by the Hilux in Europe.

When it was sold it was about the size and weight of the RAV4. Apparently Toyota wants to reintroduce this as a compact pickup based on the RAV4 so it'll use the TNGA-K platform. The popularity of the Ford Maverick caught Toyota by surprise and they are looking to see if they can slot this under the Tacoma. It may not be called the Stout, but since Toyota has not copyrighted a new pickup truck name it may get the name dusted off like the Crown. Supposedly it'll be introduced in 2023 as a 2024 model. Odds are it will be a totally hybridized line like the Crown, Sienna and Venza since the Ford Maverick is available as a hybrid....

New Honda announcement

Honda's new $4.4 billion EV battery plant will be built in Ohio (cnbc.com)

Our state is next door and we currently have two mega-battery Automotive battery plant being built.

2 new plants will make Kentucky battery-powered state | Kentucky | thetimestribune.com

Japanese e-vehicle battery company to build Kentucky plant - ABC News (go.com)

"In Kentucky, the Envision AESC project follows last year's announcement that Ford and its battery partner will build twin battery plants outside Glendale in central Kentucky. That mega-project will create 5,000 jobs to produce...

Gas vehicle registrations down year-over-year: StatCan | CTV News


The Daily — New motor vehicle registrations, second...

Tesla accidentally leaked the locations for 340 more superchargers plus more around the world.
Tesla Might Have Leaked the Location of Hundreds of New Superchargers

You'll have to open the twitter link to see the map of the future Superchargers.

Now if we can get Electrify America, Chargepoint, EVgo, Blink, etc.. to follow through and match, we might have the beginnings of a great next step.

2023 Nissan Ariya Priced From CA$52,998 In Canada, Tops Out At CA$69,998 | Carscoops

"Found at the base of the Ariya range is the Engage FWD variant equipped with the entry-level 63 kWh battery pack. Packing 214 hp, 221 lb-ft (300 Nm) of torque, and up to 346 km (215 miles) of range, this model will set back shoppers CA$52,998 ($38,589).

One step up in the 63 kWh range will take buyers to the Ariya Evolve e-4ORCE with all-wheel drive, 335 hp, 413 lb-ft (560 Nm), and 330 km (205 miles) of range, priced from CA$60,598 ($44,123). Priced between these two models is the Ariya Venture+ FWD with the larger 87 kWh battery and packing 238 hp and 221 lb-ft (300 Nm). It can travel up to 482 km (300 miles) on a single charge and costs CA$59,498 ($43,322)."