Kia recently showed off the newly redesigned third-generation Soul, and one of the most interesting changes had to do with the fully electric version. Using a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery borrowed from the Hyundai Kona EV, the Soul EV promised to pair boxy practicality with electric efficiency. But until today, we still didn’t know what kind of range the Soul EV would offer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 2020 Kia Soul EV has a total range of 243 miles. That works out to a fuel economy rating of 127/101/114 MPGe (city/highway/combined), as well as an estimated $3,250 in savings over the course of five years, by the EPA’s estimates.
But most likely due to the Soul’s less aerodynamic styling, its corporate cousin the Hyundai Kona EV actually manages to squeeze a longer range out of the same battery pack. The Kona EV earned a 258-mile range rating from the EPA back in August. But [...]
A couple of weeks ago, a photo surfaced showing a Ford F-150 equipped with a fastback-like bed cap, complete with window louvers. We first saw it on Twitter, but apparently, it had been making the rounds on Facebook and forums before that. Was it someone’s custom one-off or something you could buy? Was it kind of cool or completely horrible? At the very least it was interesting.
Eventually, The Drive figured out that these are real bed caps you can actually buy. They’re built by a shop called Michigan Vehicle Solutions in Southgate, Michigan, and retail for $3,995. And since the liftback is lockable, you can safely store valuables in the bed without worrying they’ll get stolen. Due to the unique and controversial nature of the Aero X, the story quickly spread all over the internet.
As we watched the Aero X get picked up on site after [...]
Feast your eyeballs on the awesome Toyota 86 British Green Limited model that lucky Japanese buyers can order now through May 31 for just under $30K at today’s exchange rates. The right-hand-drive variant of the car is slathered in special British Racing Green paint and sits on fantastic-looking bronze-colored wheels.
While we hope that each piece of 86 news will bring word that Toyota has seen fit to offer a little power bump—or maybe even a turbocharger—that remains unfulfilled. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual (where it makes 205 hp and 156 lb-ft) or six-speed automatic transmission (200 hp, 151 lb-ft). It also sports bright-red Brembo brake calipers, Sachs dampers as seen on our TRD special-edition model, a tasteful black spoiler, and those 17-inch wheels. Underneath, the car gets panels to smooth airflow so as to increase overall stability.
The new Subaru Legacy may not get a wildly different design, but with a nicer interior, more technology, and an optional turbocharged engine, we have a feeling it’s destined to be a hit. But if the Legacy can get a more powerful engine option, why not other Subarus such as the Forester and Crosstrek? According to Tom Doll, Subaru North America’s president, it’s because demand for those two cars is already too high.
“You could argue, and some people do, that for the Crosstrek we should have a higher-performance engine in that car,” Doll told us in an interview at the recent Chicago Auto Show. “But on the other hand, we’re selling as many as we can get. We haven’t really hit the top with the Crosstrek yet. Same thing for the new Forester. The new Forester is a sensational car, and it’s a home run, particularly the Sport model that you see over here. [...]
Ford’s heavy-duty truck gets a thorough update for 2020. Not only does it receive two new engines, but it also gets a 10-speed automatic transmission and chassis upgrades. Plus, Ford is boosting towing and payload capability to keep up with the competition. We know that design ranks pretty far down the list of important characteristics for a heavy-duty truck, but after the criticism Chevrolet received on the styling of its new Silverado HD, it’s clear people care about how these trucks look. With that, let’s examine how the 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty has changed in terms of design.
Much of the new design has to do with functionality. Up front, the different grilles have been updated to improve powertrain cooling. A new bumper also helps keep temperatures at bay. Meanwhile, Ford promises better performance from the redesigned headlamps. Certain models feature a lighting border around the headlamps. This element has changed from the signature [...]
